Building the Land is located above the railway tracks approximately 250 meters southeast of Strathfield Station in Sydney. The project addresses the demand for affordable housing in dense urban areas by repurposing underutilized infrastructure corridors. By situating new dwellings over active rail lines, the design not only creates much-needed residential space but also integrates the development within the existing transport network.

Spatial Strategy
The scheme is organized on a suspended platform supported above the railway. Residential towers are oriented along an east–west axis to minimize solar heat gain while maximizing daylight penetration into apartments. Safety walls rise six meters above the tracks, creating a protective buffer between the railway and the dwellings. Vertical cylindrical cores containing spiral staircases and elevators ensure accessibility for all residents, while communal terraces and garden spaces are distributed across the structure to encourage social interaction and provide visual relief within the urban fabric.

Materiality and Sustainability
Sloped roofs reference Sydney’s vernacular forms while accommodating solar panels for on-site energy generation. The external envelope employs Structurally Insulated Panels to achieve thermal efficiency, while laminated plywood partitions allow internal layouts to be adapted over time. An incremental construction system supports long-term flexibility, enabling the housing to respond to evolving community needs. The inclusion of green terraces further contributes to environmental performance and introduces shared outdoor spaces within the elevated structure.