Forbes Residences Perth

PROJECT BRIEF

Approved in April 2020, Forbes Residences was developed through WOHA’s five key ratings for new developments: Green Plot Ratio, Community Plot Ratio, Civic Generosity Index, Ecosystem Contribution Index, Self-Sufficiency Index. The result is a development that engages with its surrounding built and natural environment holistically.

The building is separated into several vertical neighbourhoods of roughly three floors each. Each neighbourhood has its own vertical hanging gardens, allowing green amenity to all residents. Extensive vertical plantings to three sides, extend to all the building’s levels, flanking the sky garden tree. Selections have been based on plants that are resilient, low maintenance plants and have a naturally occurring pendulous habit.

A green oasis, the building provides a Green Plot Ratio of 115% and 182% of the site area as landscaping which is well over 25% Western Australia Planning Commission’s policy requirements. It has numerous public spaces (gardens, parklets etc.) which drive the community plot ratio to 170% and a civic generosity index of 5/5.

Ecosystem Services offered by the vegetation of the Forbes Residences.  

MEDIA

Forbes Residences Official Website

Cover Image: Visual by MJA Studio x WOHA

OUR APPROACH

We evaluated the ecosystem service performance of Forbes Residences based on the rich variety of greens it provided at various levels. The ground level allowed for tall trees and medium to tall shrubs. Elevated structures allowed multi-layered plantings of shrubs and small floral trees and cascade plantings on the edges. The plantings in the balconies were assumed to be at an average of 20% of the balcony area. The ecosystem service performance of a typical built-up suburb in Perth was also calculated which translates to a minimum of 10% deep soil area plantings based on policy requirements.

Forbes Residences was 430% more effective at filtering air, 190% more effective at regulating air temperature, 490% more effective at sequestering carbon dioxide than a typical built-up suburb in the neighbourhood.

Connecting landscapes through ecology, food and culture across novel typologies. Visual by MJA Studio x WOHA