Habilis 悉尼社会住房项目丨澳大利亚悉尼

Habilis

A pioneering new model for social housing

Habilis

Project Story

Details

Awards

Habilis is a Sydney-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing long-term, purpose-built accommodation for individuals who have experienced homelessness due to severe mental illness. Focused on creating stable and secure living environments, Habilis developments offer not only housing but also the opportunity for residents to rebuild independence with the support of coordinated, on-site services.

The first in a planned series of projects is located on Parramatta Road in Summer Hill. Developed through a design-led process that emphasises both dignity and practicality, this project marks the first of its kind in New South Wales, drawing on proven international precedents in Finland, Italy, and more recently, Victoria.

The Summer Hill project includes 20 self-contained studio apartments ranging from 20–30 square metres. Each unit features a private bathroom, cooking facilities, and a balcony, providing residents with both autonomy and a sense of personal space. The compact scale allows for an efficient, manageable cluster, fostering a supportive micro-community while maintaining privacy.

The development includes a caretaker’s unit, shared laundry facilities, a small office for service providers, and secure entry, creating a safe and structured environment. Landscaped communal gardens and open spaces offer residents the opportunity for social interaction and community-building-central elements of the project’s commitment to social sustainability.

Designed around a landscaped courtyard, the development incorporates the adaptive reuse of an existing furniture factory building, combined with modest new additions. The arrangement creates a calm, inward-facing setting, visually and physically connected to the adjacent Hawthorne Canal GreenWay-enhancing amenity and promoting wellbeing through access to open space and nature.

Opened in May 2024 by NSW Minister for Housing Rose Jackson, the Summer Hill project reflects Habilis’ ambition to provide a socially sustainable housing model—one that aligns the needs of vulnerable individuals with the interests of care providers, community stakeholders, and ethical investors.

“Habilis is a deeply humane and sensitive architectural response to one of society’s most urgent challenges: chronic homelessness and mental illness. Through the thoughtful adaptive reuse of a disused industrial site, this project redefines what social housing can be – in both form and function.”

“Every aspect of Habilis reflects a deep understanding of the barriers faced by its future residents: from safety and autonomy to the importance of connection and continuity of care.””

Architecture AU Award for Social Impact Jury Citation, 2025

Details

Client

Habilis

Builder

Structure

Structure

Structure Consulting Engineers

Mechanical

Acor

Electrical

Acor

Hydraulic

Acor

Landscape

Gallagher Studio

Photographer

Katherine Lu

Awards

2025

Architecture AU – Social Impact Award – Winner

Urban Developer – Development of the year – Social Infrastructure

AIA NSW Sustainability Award – Commendation