The Commons

With spectacular views of Kunanyi (Mt Wellington), the seven-storey, thirty-apartment structure in the heart of Hobart is a virtuosic display of ecologically efficient urban residential construction.

This highly environmentally conscious building of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes has achieved a 9-star energy efficiency rating, reaching an extremely high level of thermal performance while creating a liveable, flexible, and desirable space. Incorporating rooftop solar panels and structured according to the latest passive design principles, The Commons is blazing a path to our energy-efficient future.

Each of the living spaces is both highly efficient and extremely liveable. Every apartment features recycled timber floors, double glazing throughout, and all warmed with the latest in hydronic heating technology.

The design and project team were committed to using non-toxic building materials, right down to the varnishes and paints. A wealth of additional features indicates a robust commitment to sustainability – including shared rooftop gardens with fruit trees, vegetable gardens, beehives, water tanks for harvesting rainfall, a kitchen, dining and studio areas, and a car-sharing program for residents with two electric vehicles.

Project Architect Michael Fazzino worked closely with Capral throughout the construction stage to bring this sustainable project to fruition. ‘Being an Australian company, Capral have been our go-to place for windows,’ he observes. ‘From an architectural point of view, the Capral product range is impressive. The Capral website has also been a great resource, being comprehensive and very easy to navigate.

‘Over many years we’ve routinely collaborated with Capral on projects,’ Michael continues. ‘We do a fair amount of apartment work, so with Capral we’ve got a palette of suites to choose from. As every project differs in its brief, it’s just a matter of choosing the right Capral window system to achieve the required aesthetics and thermal performance.’

The Commons project forms a highlight of the architects’ portfolio. ‘We appreciate its simplicity, including the pared-back selection of building materials, with concrete, glass, aluminium, and timber features,’ Michael says.

‘We’re also proud of the building’s ESD credentials,’ he adds. ‘We needed to achieve a 9-star rating across the board, which required extremely high insulation values, highly recyclable materials such as concrete and aluminium, and strict protocols on waste.’

Project Fabricator Scott Taranto, Director of Taranto Windows and Doors, worked closely with the ESD consultant and Capral to maximise the system’s thermal performance, achieving a U-value as low as 1.8 on the fixed units. ‘We used Capral products throughout on this project, as we do regularly,’ he says. ‘We fabricated and glazed the windows and doors, then shipped them interstate to the site.’

For Scott, the Capral’s Futureline system’s outstanding thermal performance and contemporary clean lines met the Core Collective design brief. ‘The European hardware, also supplied by Capral was high-end. It’s such a bonus to work on quality manufactured systems and to also achieve such high levels of performance.’

Environmentally, significant thought went into the windows. ‘The frames were thermally broken, which really boosts their performance and level of comfort for occupants – particularly in a Hobart winter,’ Scott notes.

The technical support and advice received from Capral was much appreciated. ‘We consulted with Capral throughout,’ Scott observes. ‘Achieving such high-end thermal properties required extensive toing and froing with Capral to find the ideal glazing specification, also assisting to achieving a particularly high SHGC value.’

The Commons has already gained significant acclaim since it was completed earlier this year. As this productive collaboration proves, sustainability and beauty can be two sides of the same coin.