Ferrars place

Research Background: The Victorian Architecture Awards are a peer award program in architectural design by the discipline's peak body, the Australian Institute of Architects. The annual process involves submission of documents,public exhibtion and presentation of the work, judging by a peer review panel, and publication in a catalogue issue of 'Architect Victoria'. The work Ferrars Place by Graham Crist's practice Antarctica was entered in the 2013 program. (Graham Crist and Brendan Jones are Founding Directors of Antarctica). Research Signifiicance: The work is a privately commissioned residential work constructed in 2013. It received a Commendation for Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations and Additions) award. The work forms part of an ongoing investigation into high quality sustainable housing, particularly in relation to urban density and the benefits of small footprint dwellings. Details of the peer review process for the AA awards available at http://www.architecture.com.au/events/ state-territory/victorian-chapter/victorian-awards . Research Contribution: The project is framed as a viable alternative to the luxury villa typical of affluent Australian urban areas. It compressed high-quality design values into a 50% reduced volume and footprint compared with typical benchmarks. It provides a replicable prototype for the dense urban villla, with significant implications for the sustainbility of residential urban fabric.