ENVI Micro Urban Village is a great example of innovative and practical planning which illustrates great promise in achieving the vision of planning excellence in Queensland. It is a worthy recipient of the 2021 Wendy Chadwick Encouragement Award. By seeking to combine urban design and affordable housing, the project team for ENVI Micro Urban Village shows the planning community new ways of increasing density without compromising liveability, human scale and community.

Applying the philosophy of 'compact village living with a lighter footprint' has resulted in a diverse development that fits into its local community and offers residents the benefits of good design. The project shows that small planning projects can bring significant improvements to local communities by showing new ways of achieving a common planning objective: in this case increasing housing density and diversity.

The courage of the team in taking the risk to create this project as a demonstration of what is possible is acknowledged. ENVI Micro Urban Village has the ability to inspire others to try something new. The judges applaud the project team and the assessment managers for working together to take detailed planning in a new direction to provide an example that has the potential to be applied widely across Queensland.

ENVI Micro Urban Village is a brilliant addition to the urban landscape of the Gold Coast. The unique response to high density in close proximity to services and transport is a shining example of what can be done with a progressive regulator and developer who innovates. Seamlessly integrated into the existing neighbourhood, the density achieved is a surprise and the building response, simply outstanding. This housing product in a desirable walkable neighbourhood plays with space to provide a choice of housing typologies, regardless of age in life, for the discerning buyer. Whilst the understanding of product was a hard sell to institutions and others in the property industry, the buyers snapped these up, reminding us all, that innovative small-scale and affordable development sells.

Architecturally designed micro terraces offer multiple dwelling configurations and provide a refreshing new approach to house and land packs. This innovative and materially rich development, a significant contribution to Southport’s community and urban fabric. The meaningful, layered engagement with the street is amplified through intriguing details in material, light and landscape. Articulation and arrangement of breeze blocks, brick work, figured screens, expressed battens and paint coupled with stepped built form and innovative planting bring character to the locality.

The ENVI Micro Village is a much needed exemplar of affordable, high quality, density done well. Each dwelling displays smart internal design and importantly, a skilful combination of external facades, materials and landscape design. ENVI is a clear lesson to the industry and the community, that through good urban design, higher density affordable housing can be seamlessly integrated into any neighbourhood.

This challenge – to transform one house into ten desirable affordable homes – is an important case study for our growing cities. The homes are thoughtfully designed to respect the local context and to overcome fears of higher density within the local community. This project demonstrates a new approach to high-density housing that is both affordable and aesthetically stimulating. Good to see a high level of original and innovative thinking behind this successful outcome.