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ContactK2 apartments
Location: K2 Raleigh Street, Windsor
Completed: February 2007
Built for: A variety of residents, with a focus on people with a disability
Cost: $32.4 million
Architect: DesignInc Melbourne PTY Ltd
Builder: Hansen Yuncken PTY Ltd
Key facts:
Each K2 Apartment is anticipated to need:
- 55 per cent less mains electricity
- 46 per cent less gas from the mains supply
- 53 per cent less mains water (including irrigation) than a standard apartment each year due to the rainwater harvesting, grey water re-use, solar water heating and photovoltaic panels.
The complex consists of 96 units, one common room and 52 car parks. Approximately 50 per cent of the units are designed for people with disability.
Profile: The K2 apartments are the most environmentally sustainable public housing development in Australia. In recognition of the K2 Apartments' sustainability and socially responsible design, the development has won numerous awards
With features such as rainwater storage, greywater recycling, reduced gas and electricity needs and photovoltaic panels to generate solar power, K2 is the landmark development putting State Government approaches toward issues such as climate change and water scarcity into practice.
96 units are spread across four separate buildings which were specifically designed and positioned to receive maximum natural light. All buildings are oriented on an east-west axis and are staggered across the site, with two front buildings of four and five levels respectively, and two rear buildings of eight levels each.
The height of the buildings and the distance between the front and back pairs were calculated to ensure that every unit would receive northern sun all year round, thereby providing natural light to all residents and improving air quality throughout.
The K2 apartments were also designed to create a healthy environment for tenants. A 'green spine' links the buildings, that is designed to promote interaction between tenants. Tenants have access to a number of gardens and communal spaces.
Pedestrians have priority access over cars, and the property is positioned close to public transport and the CBD. Of the 96 apartments, 49 have been designed to be accessible to the disabled.
About 150 people are living in K2.
Virtual Tour: Take a virtual tour of K2 (MP4 Size 10MB). You will need Real Time Quick player to view this tour or read the 
transcript (Word Size 27KB Pages 6)
More information: If you need more information about the K2 Apartments, the publications below provide more technical details than this website.
Technical Information Kit (PDF Size 7.56 MB)
Tenant Education Kit (PDF Size 6.89 MB)