Snowy Hydro Cabramurra Staff Accommodation

Set within the alpine terrain of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, the Cabramurra Redevelopment reimagines Australia’s highest town as a modern operational hub. The project delivers critical infrastructure enabling Drive-In Drive-Out (DIDO) permanent staff accommodation, designed to respond and adapt to the challenges of an extreme alpine climate.

Modscape + Modbotics was engaged to deliver a turnkey modular solution for the remote township, incorporating 52 one-bedroom dwellings and a community centre—constructed from 139 prefabricated modules.

While the dwellings are primarily timber-framed to balance efficiency and environmental performance, the community centre features a steel structural system to support large open spans and heavy snow loads.

All buildings are designed to meet the operational demands of Cabramurra’s extreme conditions, with temperatures dropping well below freezing and regular winter snowfalls. High-spec composite cladding and carefully integrated insulation ensure year-round comfort and energy efficiency.

The site plan features three townhouse typologies tailored to suit the steep terrain and varied workforce needs. Each typology carefully balances privacy, solar access, and circulation—optimising orientation and passive design principles.