Zetland is undergoing significant transformation into a high-density residential and mixed-use precinct. The design responds to this urban evolution while acknowledging the site’s Indigenous and industrial heritage. Mulgu Park is conceived as the civic and social heart of the precinct, with the surrounding built form shaped to support a rich and diverse public realm. Variation in building height and massing is intentionally expressed to create spatial interest and urban character, drawing reference from successful urban parks around the world.

The masterplan comprises four mid-rise residential buildings defining three edges of Mulgu Park. The fourth edge is addressed by a row of three-storey townhouses. The built form adheres to parameters established in the Stage 1 Development Application, including setbacks, height limits, and view corridors. Buildings S1 and S2 are dual-aspect, acting as a buffer between the park and the traffic along Epsom and Link Roads. Buildings S3 and S4 front the future Defries Avenue and adjoin existing development to the west. Heights range from 5 to 8 storeys, with a 14-storey tower element marking the southeastern corner of S2.

A continuous colonnade at ground level stitches the built edges together, establishing a unifying architectural language around the park. This element becomes a “Sequence of Galleries,” incorporating public art developed in collaboration with Indigenous artists and communities. The park remains the focal point, with the architecture forming a sensitive and deliberate backdrop.

Buildings S3 and S4 adopt a rational structural grid to enable efficient planning. Façades are differentiated through nuanced material and articulation strategies, creating a coherent family of forms. Block S3, which fronts Mulgu Park, is carefully designed to preserve winter solar access. Sustainability underpins the design, with green roofs, solar energy generation, rainwater harvesting, native planting, and low-impact materials contributing to long-term environmental performance and urban resilience.