Located in Zetland, Paragon is a triangular ‘island’ site bounded by Link Road, Epsom Road and South Dowling Street. Responding to the future urban context Paragon has been developed as a collection of buildings with a public plaza, pedestrian through site connection and retail spaces that respond to each street edge condition. The development provides a mix of residential, retail and showroom uses with substantial public and communal spaces that reinforce the ‘place’ and connectivity within the broader context of the area. The orientation of apartments, apartment planning, passive and active building systems have all been incorporated in the planning of the development to minimise energy use, resources and to provide a high level of amenity to residents.
A distinct ‘bar’ form building is provided to Epsom Road oriented with its long façade to the adjoining plaza. The ground floor level is setback to form a colonnade to Epsom Road and a natural awning to the plaza for active retail uses. The building form is articulated in a clear and playful horizontal nature with a stepped increase in height towards South Dowling Street.
Two buildings are provided to the northern section of the site with a connecting 2 storey podium. A small tower form sits to the southern edge of the podium. The tower form is modelled to provide excellent amenity and to increase the verticality of the facades to create a more dynamic and slender tower form. The tower extrudes a component at the base to provide additional street edge definition to Link Road and the Plaza. A second building holds the prominent northern corner of the site. This building arranges most of the living areas to the north and west with a more enclosed relationship to the freeway to the east. This approach to the apartment amenity provides a dynamic layering of curved wall elements that form a distinctive corner composition and ‘gateway’ to the development. This considered approach to the building forms has ensured a familial response to the site and local context.
