dWELL FAQs

The competition is open to a variety of entrants, including architects, building designers, materials suppliers, construction specialists, planners, urban designers and students. 

Entrants can participate in either of two competition categories:

• Design professional and experienced practitioners
• Tertiary students

No, however each team must have:

• At least one current architecture student (or similar relevant discipline) to qualify as a student team; or
• At least one qualified architect, building designer or similar relevant discipline to qualify as a professional team.

Below are contact details for professionals looking to join a dWELL project team. If you are looking to expand or diversify your team, you can reach out to any of the below directly.

Looking to join a team? Email us at dwell@lakemac.nsw.gov.au with your profession, experience and contact details. We will add you to the list above.

Once you have your project team, you will need to register for the competition online. This will provide you with a log in to upload and manage your entry throughout the competition.

Each member the team will need to sign and submit their own terms and condition agreement(PDF, 371KB).

No, each entrant may only submit one entry.

The winning designs will claim a share of a $40,000 prize pool and will help boost the teams public profile, with the winner also receiving promotion via Council’s social media and other channels.

We may also work with the winner to build a demonstration home in Dudley based on their design.  

No, all enquiries are to be directed to the dWELL@lakemac.nsw.gov.au.  One round of feedback will be offered following each stage.

The competition will proceed in two stages:

• Stage 1: Expression of interest and description of design intent
• Stage 2: Detailed submission

Timeline

Stage 1 open Tuesday 4 August
Stage 1 submission due Friday 2 October
Announcement of stage 1 winners Wednesday 2 December
Stage 2 open Friday 4 December
Stage 2 closed Friday 29 January
Winner announced Friday 19 March

Council’s new housing strategy outlines the need for increased medium density housing across the City. Lake Mac’s population is expected to grow by 28,000 people within the next 16 years, creating the need for 13,500 new homes. This requirement, together with our new strategy, provides the catalyst to think outside the square in creating better housing options.

COVID-19 has also prompted a rethink of home design and use, with an increasing number of people adapting their homes to double as remote working spaces. With this trend away from traditional 9-5 office work likely to continue, housing design needs to adapt. Our project will incorporate this new way of thinking.

We want to work with the best and brightest innovators in property development, design, materials, utilities, and technology to help them deliver new residences across our City that demonstrate how homes for tomorrow can be built today without a premium price tag.

Given the concept nature of the Specific Solution Concept, a maximum page size of A3 should be utilised.

The development site is located within the beautiful Lake Macquarie coastal suburb of Dudley.  It will incorporate 137 Ocean Street as well as a portion of unformed road adjoining the parcel which is to be closed and incorporated with the lot.

For details of the development site, including dimensions, please refer to the site information sheet(PDF, 2MB) and DWG file containing boundary and contour data for the site. Please read the below terms of use.

By downloading the dWELL DWG file, you agree that:

1. The data may only be used for purposes in direct relation to the dWELL competition run by Lake Macquarie City Council.
2. The data is suitable for competition purposes only and is not to be relied upon for any detailed planning or construction.
3. The Council do not warrant that the data does not contain errors and that the Council shall be in no way liable for any loss, damage or injury suffered by the user or any other person or corporation consequent upon the existence of errors in the data.
4. The user shall use all reasonable efforts to protect the data from unauthorised use, reproduction, distribution, or publication.

A summary of key limitations and physical attributes of the site are included within the site information sheet(PDF, 2MB)

The site can be easily inspected from Ocean Street.  No works are to be undertaken on the site. To assist, we have put together a site information sheet(PDF, 2MB), site photo gallery and drone footage below.

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Yes, a DWG is available and includes the site’s property boundary cadastre and contour information.  Please read the below terms of use.

By downloading the dWELL DWG file, you agree that:

1. The data may only be used for purposes in direct relation to the dWELL competition run by Lake Macquarie City Council.
2. The data is suitable for competition purposes only and is not to be relied upon for any detailed planning or construction.
3. The Council do not warrant that the data does not contain errors and that the Council shall be in no way liable for any loss, damage or injury suffered by the user or any other person or corporation consequent upon the existence of errors in the data.
4. The user shall use all reasonable efforts to protect the data from unauthorised use, reproduction, distribution, or publication.

The site is identified as being within a designated bush fire prone area (buffer zone).  A Bushfire Hazard assessment has not been completed for the site, however for the purposes of the competition, a BAL rating of 19 should be applied to your concept design considerations.