It's been less than a year since DPN Casa Capace welcomed its first resident, and we are ecstatic that our home is being recognised as a 2020 winner in the Master Builder Excellence in Housing Awards.
The Master Builders Association of NSW Excellence in Housing Awards is recognised throughout the industry as the hallmark annual event for the commercial, industrial and civil engineering sectors. The Awards celebrate outstanding achievements by companies and individuals in the NSW building and construction industry.
DPN Casa Capace has completed its first multi-dwelling home for NDIS participants at Oran Park in Sydney’s south west. The new Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) guidelines for innovative housing models help architects, builders and the community to find new and better ways to build specialist housing for people with disabilities. “This significant project was a true collaboration between BA Murphy Constructions, Casa Capace and Aaron Stevens Architects.” Said Casa Capace Managing Director, Sam Khalil.
DPN Casa Capace's pilot home at Oran Park in Sydney’s south west
Award-winning homes
These innovative, multi-dwelling homes for people with disabilities are the first of their kind in Australia. With six bedrooms across two dwellings, the homes provide intimacy and community for NDIS participants who wish to live independently at fully accessible and high physical support levels in SDA.
The build has been delivered with meticulous attention to detail, countless hours of planning - both design and logistically - and on a timeframe that was exceptionally challenging. There is absolutely nothing standard about this home, from the design brief, to the full home automation system, to the cabinetry, fixtures and fittings and material palettes.
What the judges’ had to say:
“The outcome of this pilot program was exceptional, with the builders performance and the quality of finish to such a high standard that the client has secured funding for 35 new dwellings to be rolled out.”
A collaborative approach
Some of the challenges faced throughout the build include:
- Design and implementation of the fully automated home, with voice control on all moving components of the home: doors, benches (adjustable heights for different participants), TV's, blinds, Audio System and beds.
- The custom colour palette on the door handles and furniture (for the visually impaired) grab rails, tapware and light fittings.
- Joinery to the entire house was fully imported to the highest level of finish and scale. We saved 50% of the cost by sourcing off shore. Landing three full shipping containers of joinery was extremely challenging, from the design and QA process, right through logistics and installation.
- The timeframe was exceptionally tight, due to the dwelling being a pilot home, there was a lot of changes, variations and revisions along the way. The end date could not move, as we had the Prime Minister opening the project.
To enable independent living from a wheelchair, standard home features include: oversized doors and corridors; open plan kitchens, dining and living; larger spaces to allow for mobility devices and flush, single level living inside and out, plus innovative home automation, large format windows, designer appliances and quality finishes.
The Result
The outcome was exceptional, with the quality of this pilot home of such a high standard that Casa Capace has secured funding for a further 35 dwellings to be rolled out in 2020, in Ballina, Clifton Springs, Coffs Harbour, Central Coast, Geelong, Taree, Warrnambool, Western Sydney and Wagga Wagga.
About BA Murphy Constructions
BA Murphy Constructions is a multi-discipline construction company, offering construction services across NSW, QLD and Vic. They construct Residential, Multi-Residential, Commercial, NDIS and Industrial Construction projects across all region. The team at BA Murphy Constructions has forged an reputation for their no-nonsense approach to a variety of construction projects, delivering great outcomes for clients. They constantly embrace innovative practices and principals that result in cost-saving efficiencies and environmentally conscious alternatives.
About Casa Capace
Casa Capace is a stand-alone, social impact business, incubated within the DPN Group, sharing the same values and leveraging DPN’s core capabilities to provide quality housing for Australians with disabilities. A DPN Casa Capace home is beautifully designed with practical features to help people with specialist accommodation needs to live the life they want.
About Master Builders Association of NSW
The Master Builders Association of NSW (Master Builders) is the leading building and construction industry association across the state. A not for profit organisation, it is chartered with representing and furthering the interests of the building and construction industry.