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STAINFORTH COURT HOUSING ESTATE

HOBART TASMANIA | 1958

Architects Division for Housing Department Tasmania

In the 1950’s, the Tasmania’s Housing Department explored apartment construction to fill a gap in the private rental market of quality accommodation for young people and couples before they transitioned to buying a home. Although more expensive to build and therefore rent, these costs were thought to be offset by the transit cost savings and other benefits of living more centrally. Stainforth Court is 10 minutes outside central Hobart, surrounded by recreational parkland and the Derwent River. It is connected to the city and factories by public transport. 

Distinctly modernist in design, the five and six level concrete buildings are configured in groups of three outward facing blocks connected by a central stairwell. Each block contains four double-storey family units and either two or four single units, all arranged in pairs that run the length of the block. This provides a more intimate lobby arrangement than a long corridor, greater acoustic privacy as each flat shares only one wall, and windows to all bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens on the sides of the blocks. Living rooms are at the end and have full height windows opening onto a balcony, shared with the adjacent neighbour. The buildings on the estate are staggered to avoid overlooking.