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As government and industry work to accelerate housing delivery across NSW, final-year 91ɫ��Ƭ architecture students are tackling the same affordability, density and sustainability challenges shaping new housing developments as part of a design competition.

The students are using Landcom’s The Joinery Annandale project as a real-world design brief, working with its planning controls, site data and delivery constraints to explore how well-designed housing can meet the needs of a growing city.

Landcom is transforming the former WestConnex construction site in Annandale into a mixed-use precinct with around 580 homes, including build-to-rent housing for essential workers.

Head of the 91ɫ��Ƭ School of Built Environment Professor Philip Oldfield said the partnership gives students valuable experience working on the challenges facing cities today.

“This partnership with Landcom is a great example of how 91ɫ��Ƭ architecture students are exposed to real-world projects with industry partners,” Professor Oldfield said.

“The experience will provide a platform for our students to have impactful careers tackling some of the greatest challenges we face in our cities today, such as housing affordability.”

Designing for affordability and belonging

Embedded in coursework at the 91ɫ��Ƭ School of Built Environment, the competition connects academic learning with the practical realities of delivering new homes.

Prominent Sydney practitioners Simon Mather and Alexander Koll of MAKO Architecture lead the course alongside 91ɫ��Ƭ academics Dr Michael Zanardo and Shaowen Wang, bringing specialist housing design expertise to the studio.

Students are working with real planning controls, site data and delivery constraints to develop medium- to high-density housing projects for the Annandale site. Their designs must balance planning and delivery requirements with affordability, sustainability and the needs of future residents.

Among the students taking part is Raphaela Challita, whose colourful housing scheme reimagines affordable housing through interconnected micro-community spaces and adaptable homes. The proposal is designed to foster a lasting sense of ownership, dignity and belonging among residents.

Landcom CEO Alexander Wendler said the competition challenges students to confront the same questions faced by those working across the housing sector.

“We’re asking the next generation to take on the same challenges we face every day: how to deliver well-designed housing that people can afford,” Mr Wendler said.

“This is about giving future designers early exposure to what it actually takes to make homes happen.”

Preparing the next generation of designers

The initiative forms part of Landcom’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2026 and reflects a shared focus on preparing the next generation of designers to help address NSW’s housing challenges.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said innovation would be critical to delivering more homes that meet the needs of communities.

“Embracing innovation will be critical to NSW delivering more homes that meet the needs of communities, and this is a great example of government, industry and education working together to do just that,” Mr Scully said.

“The Joinery Annandale is a flagship NSW Government project, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this important partnership supports students to gain a real-world understanding of what’s involved in housing delivery.”

More than 30 students from the final-year Housing stream are taking part in the competition. A total prize pool of $10,000 is available, including $5,000 for the winning design.

Finalists will be shortlisted in September, with the winners announced at GradEx, the 91ɫ��Ƭ School of Built Environment’s graduation exhibition, in December.

By developing concepts within real-world planning constraints, the collaboration is helping students build the skills, capability and experience needed to contribute to housing delivery from the beginning of their careers.