The Victorian Public Housing Renewal Program includes nine redevelopment projects by the State Government to provide an uplift in the quantity and quality of social housing in Victoria. The North Melbourne development comprises of 127 social housing apartments (ranging from 1-bedroom to 4-bedroom units) and 17 townhouses; designed and delivered in partnership between MCR (Architect), MAB Corporation (Developer), Homes Victoria (Client) and Housing First (Operator). At its core, the design presents a deep commitment to the destigmatisation of social housing.
The development is intricately integrated with the urban fabric. Social and private housing that is contextual, tenure-blind and enriches the soul. The design response is an artful conglomeration of housing typologies – the small tower, the row house and the courtyard – into something new, providing high quality public and private housing; a well-mannered streetscape to Haines St; and a memorable urban street between the development and the primary school on the new Kirner Lane. The private townhouses are split over three levels on a shallow footprint to maximise natural light.
Each has a private garden framed by a arched brickwork and street entry. The social housing is broken into five smaller communities. Each within a five-story block, arranged to maximise light, cross ventilation and northern aspect. Each community has a unique entry foyer with uplifting interiors featuring flora native to the locality – serving as a wayfinding strategy and providing a sense of identity for the individual communities. The communities are connected by a generous colonnade along Kirner St with a warming spotted gum soffit and parabolic openings for light, view and a place to sit.
Between each block are shared garden courtyards – providing oxygen and outlook for the overlooking residents.