Serneke announces commitment to innovative group dwelling

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Swedish-backed Serneke Australia has joined a group of local people in committing to a unit in the latest project at LandCorp’s WGV development in White Gum Valley.  The application for Development Approval was submitted to the City of Fremantle this week. The ground-breaking WA project, initiated by Geoffrey London, Professor of Architecture at UWA’s School of Design, uses the German Baugruppe process to bring together would-be owner/occupiers and create a Baugruppe, or “building group”. 

Collectively Baugruppe WGV has worked with Fremantle architect Michael Patroni to develop the overall design of the group housing project.   The process creates instant community with members prioritising their own needs while working together to design the shared spaces. “With no developer involved, the participants will pay approximately 10 per cent below market value for their new homes,” said Professor London.

Serneke is one of Sweden’s fastest growing construction companies, with a turnover of almost a billion Australian dollars. Last year Serneke merged with local company Consortium Builders as the first step in an ambitious international expansion plan. 

In Sweden, Serneke is renowned for delivering medium and high-density developments into existing communities with a core commitment to the health and well-being of residents.

Managing Director of Serneke Australia, Andrew Abercromby, said the White Gum Valley project was an ideal opportunity to demonstrate how new levels of environmental and social sustainability can be built into medium-density housing projects in Perth. 
 
“The participants in Baugruppe WGV are a diverse group of people who will have individually-owned, private one, two and three bedroom apartments in addition to a common guest flat/multi-purpose area, community gardens and outdoor living including a barbecue area, a rooftop terrace, with various services, such as PV power, optimised for the group.”

Serneke is proposing a number of innovations in their approach to the construction process, with much of the work prefabricated off-site.  “This will shrink the construction period from the planned 15 months to less than nine months, while minimising disruption to the existing neighbours, and substantially reducing waste,” said Mr Abercromby. “We will build to near Passivhaus levels, which will ensure a low-energy building that is comfortable year-round and much cheaper to operate than most Australian homes. “Perhaps most significantly, this project represents a model that can be adapted to all sorts of medium-density, residential infill developments throughout the metropolitan area.”

Serneke is focused on multi-residential and community projects in Perth and is keen to be involved with local architects and developers from the earliest stage, as a design and construct contractor, possibly taking an equity share in stand-out projects.

There are one or two remaining opportunities at White Gum Valley for home owners wanting to participate in the project by contacting Cindy Loffell at Dethridge Groves Real Estate on 0412 120 050 or cindy@dgre.com.au

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