North Melbourne Residential Project Carves a New Niche

Published by
Tess Ritchie
April 14, 2015

A North Melbourne residential project gave architecture firm Woods Bagot a chance to experiment, to ‘carve into the block’ so to speak, and create four separate, charming buildings, rather than one large monolith.

 

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With the smallest building containing just 20 apartments, and the largest only 43, the individual buildings retain a human scale without sacrificing space. The buildings are clad in concrete and metal, with the saw tooth roofed factory buildings in the surrounding neighbourhood serving as a starting point for the façade aesthetic.

With sight lines drawn to the surrounding churches and schools, residents will be continually drawn to the leafy streets and parks nearby.

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“We wanted to build on the history of North Melbourne, with its light industrial warehouses, as well as the neighbourhood’s emerging sense of cool,” says Peter Miglis, Principal, Woods Bagot.

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Building on North Melbourne’s history, these warehouse-style apartments feature a strong industrial aesthetic, with the metal exterior providing a contemporary edge. Be it concrete, metal or glass, each junction is treated as paramount in the design.

A European-style courtyard creates a protective and private space for residents, while allowing light to filter into the apartments. This light is maximized through generous terrace spaces and large picture windows.

Overlooking the local neighbourhood and city vista beyond, the roof terrace provides an extension of the residents’ living rooms, complete with built-in seating and soft landscaping.

Streamlined joinery ensures a pared back contemporary aesthetic to provide a sense of spaciousness, with both materials and colour palette standing as refined style points

Located on the edge of the city, bound by Courtney, Capel and Queensberry Streets, Assembly offers the convenience of city living, while still being connected to a vibrant local community.

Woods Bagot
woodsbagot.com