In the past, prior to working with The Sociable Weaver Group, I felt very disconnected from the beauty and expansiveness that is possible within the built environment. Growing up at the foothills of Mount Dandenong, on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the greater Kulin Nation, connection to self, to community and to the earth was something I largely associated with the natural environment.
Now I see how the built environment can be a link towards human and planetary flourishing. The Commons Hobart, which lies on the country of the Muwinina people, on the edge of Hobart’s CBD, is a glorious example of this.
Built by Small Giants Developments, and designed by Hobart locals, Core Collective Architects, The Commons is a seven-storey apartment building with 30 homes. As with all of the work of Small Giants Developments, the purpose is summed up beautifully by Creative Director and Co-Founder, Berry Liberman, “Our intention is to use the built environment to contribute to the world in a meaningful way, and to show how humans can live in harmony with nature and experience profound individual and social flourishing.” This, I believe, is the way of the Next Economy in the built environment – thoughtful, considerate designing and building that truthfully and carefully holds the wellbeing of people and the planet at the forefront.
Marrying meaningful intention with true impact, The Commons Hobart is set to become Australia’s first carbon positive apartment building, with each home achieving a nine star NatHERS rating. The clever passive design, and quality, non-toxic materials used throughout the building are not only fantastic for the planet, they provide a healthy and grounded foundation for the residents to function as their best selves.
The more I learn about the built environment, the clearer I see how a building can act as a thread, weaving in and around and holding together the inhabitant’s overall sense of belonging and wellbeing. The Commons has a Walk Score of 99 out of 100, and is considered a “Walker’s Paradise,” meaning, for an able-bodied resident, the daily coffee run, weekly visit to the Farm Gate Market and stroll to the waterfront can all be done without a car.
Of the many thoughtful aspects of The Commons Hobart is the way the building is designed and built to truly hold each resident. Each home has a northerly aspect with views of Kunanyi/Mount Wellington, as well as access to a shared rooftop with solar panels, tanks to capture rainfall, a veggie garden, and The Commons beehive. It’s as if the building itself is a gentle hand on the back saying, “I’m here. What do you need? A shared meal? Space for introspection? Fresh veggies? A cuppa on the rooftop? I’ve got you.” This feeling, I believe, stems from a set of design and build principles in which empathy takes a front seat and the ego is kindly told to jump in the back.
At this moment, residents are readying themselves to move into their homes. From what has been a long journey, imagining what’s ahead for this wonderful community is a true joy. The summer rooftop barbeques, exploring the new neighbourhood, the deepening connections and relationship building, and perhaps most subtle and profound of all – the underlying exhale and dropping of the shoulders that inherently comes with such togetherness.
After taking part in the NEST (Next Economy Strategy Team) Storytelling Workshop, with Lydia Fairhall, Damon Gameau and Berry Liberman, I’ve been spending a lot of time in stillness, journeying inward and inviting my imagination as I dream of what I’d like to see in the Next Economy. My mind is flooded with vibrant, beautiful visions, and sitting among them lies the presence of more buildings like The Commons Hobart.
For every carbon positive building, every decision made from a place of empathy over ego, every human who feels connected to themselves, to community, and to the natural world around them, I feel us propel closer to a more vibrant and harmonious world.
