Sydney’s CBD prioritises high-end developments, limiting social housing opportunities and reducing diversity. This project integrates social housing within an urban context, addressing past failures while fostering inclusivity. It proposes an architectural solution that removes barriers, encouraging tenants to transition beyond lifelong tenancies towards independence and self-development.

A key challenge in social housing is the lack of ‘place’ and ‘belonging,’ which isolates tenants within their own city. This project counters that by embedding social housing within the urban fabric, fostering integration with the broader community. It unites two tenant groups within a single residential complex, extending into an urban farm and marketplace—not just for survival but for transformation. Unemployed residents gain skills, generate income, and reclaim agency over their futures, shifting from dependence to self-sufficiency. This framework for empowerment evolves into a living system, enriching Sydney’s ecological and social fabric.

Reimagining the underutilised Intercontinental Hotel, the project adopts an adaptive reuse strategy, reserving 60% of its structure for community-driven housing. By embracing tenure blindness, it fosters seamless interaction between social and market-rate residents. Prioritising shared spaces and public engagement, it challenges social housing stigma, reintegrating nature and redefining urban living as inclusive, sustainable, and truly livable.