Design and construction of youth foyers
Youth foyers are designed to be good neighbours, and provide homes for young people that are safe, resilient, affordable, accessible, practical, comfortable, green and healthy.
The optimal design and location of a youth foyer balances:
the local demand for services
the ability to include the right mix of apartments and shared spaces
sustainability through value for money and service delivery.
Location
Young people living in youth foyers are working to achieve their education or employment aspirations.
When choosing the location of a new youth foyer, consideration is given to the proximity to local education institutions, public transport and connection to local amenities and services.
Design principles should reflect the local climate, existing place character, and culture and community values.
Design
Balance
When designing youth foyers we consider the local climate, existing place character, and culture and community values.
The design of a youth foyer balances the practical requirements of an independent home environment with shared spaces to positively support young tenants.
This requires the right mix of spaces where young tenants can learn tenancy and life skills, while engaging with peers and support providers as needed:
self-contained units with study areas
shared outdoor, socialising and recreational areas
private meeting rooms, office and training spaces.
Off-street car parking and covered outdoor areas are also built into the design.
The design of the youth foyer considers the diverse needs of young people and local demand for supported accommodation to help young people achieve longer-term social and economic outcomes.
The youth foyer model in Queensland has been designed with young people, service providers and adapted to meet the specific needs of each community.
Co-design
In many cases, youth foyer developments are designed cooperatively with the community. For example, Bark Architects led the co-design of the Logan Youth Foyer with local stakeholders including:
- Logan City Council
- the on-site service providers (Wesley Mission Queensland)
- the property and tenancy managers (Community Housing (QLD) Ltd.)
- current and former young residents of the existing Foyer.
New youth foyer developments
A proposed Cairns Youth Foyer is in the planning stage, with community consultation occurring in 2024. Have your say on the proposed Cairns Youth Foyer.
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