AUSTRALIA — National architecture and design practice, Hayball, is continuing to lead the research into the social value of architecture and design in Australia, with plans to utilise a grant and recently created monetisation framework, to measure and quantify the social impact of the design of ‘Redfern Place’.

Located at 600–660 Elizabeth Street, Redfern, Redfern Place will deliver 350 homes, a new community facility and a new head office for Community Housing provider Bridge Housing on a site that has been predominantly vacant for over 10 years.

A consortium led by Bridge Housing with infrastructure advisor Capella Capital, Hayball is appointed as precinct executive architect and design architect for two of the buildings, while Silvester Fuller and Architecture AND will be leading the design of individual buildings. Aspect Studios will lead the landscape design and Yerrabingin will lead the project’s First Nation’s design narrative, weaving history, engagement and discovery throughout.

Implementing a design approach that aims to provide ultimate liveability for users in the long term, Hayball will apply its recently received ‘Design Thinking’ grant awarded by the Alastair Swayn Foundation (ASF) to forecast Redfern Place’s social value. To do so, Hayball will utilise the recently created SIGMAH calculation—a tool created by Swinburne University, the Australian Social Value Bank (ASVB) and Community Housing Industry Association Victoria (CHIA)—and prepare a case study report for an industry benchmark.

“We know that architecture has a fundamental impact on peoples’ and communities’ wellbeing. However, to demonstrate and evaluate how our design decisions influence well-being, architects need empirical data. In Australia, there is currently no agreed methodology in place to measure the social value of projects,” explained Hayball Principal Dave Tordoff.

“To capture the complete picture of creating social value through design, we need to further investigate how we can establish social value principles at the beginning of a project and track this through the whole project timeline. Ultimately, we want to forecast the social value that could be created through design and then evaluate the social value created when it is completed.”

Hayball is known for its community-led approach, and Redfern Place will build on this by providing a layered sense of connection and belonging at every scale. Prioritising increased public benefit, over 3,500 sqm of community space have been provisioned for local services, amenities and communal spaces for both residents and the community. A large central courtyard, multiple rooftop gardens and breezeways will be key features that contribute to the precinct’s social and environmental resilience, and longevity.

Instilling an authentic connection to Country, Yerrabingin will lead the project’s First Nation’s design narrative, weaving history, engagement, and discovery throughout. Additionally, 10-15 per cent of all of Bridge Housing’s allocation of homes will be dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tenants in a commitment to engagement with First Nations communities.

“We’re pleased to see the project continue into its design development phase, working with some of the country’s most significant leaders in architecture, design, and consultancy to bring this project to life. It will provide a blueprint for how the community housing sector, working in partnership with government, institutional investors, commercial lenders, and the private sector, can deliver social and affordable housing stock at scale,” said Bridge Housing COO, Simone Parsons.

The utilisation of the ASF Grant for Redfern Place marks the next chapter for Hayball’s work in pioneering social value measurement within the Australian architecture and design industry – complementing its recent partnership with the ASVB to measure and quantify the social value of its CRT+YRD project, as part of the award-winning affordable housing Nightingale Village project located in Brunswick, Victoria.

“Following the 2022 Budget Paper ‘Measuring what Matters’, we know that the Federal Government are now looking for demonstrable outcomes. The rise of social value on the policy agenda is a real opportunity for us as architects to demonstrate the value of what we do for people and communities. The ASF grant, and its application for the study of the projected social value of Redfern Place, will allow us to create, test and implement a tool for measurement, then communicate our research to empower others to join the conversation,” added Tordoff.

Together with the ASVB and Bridge Housing, Hayball is developing the ASF ‘Design Thinking’ study to be made available in September 2024.

Construction of Redfern Place is slated to commence in 2025, with the project projected for completion in 2028.