A “mountainous” zigzag roofline and vibrant yellow balconies outline the ParkLife condo block within the Brunswick neighbourhood of Melbourne, designed by native studio Austin Maynard Architects.
The block is situated inside Nightingale Village, a group of six condo buildings by totally different architects for housing not-for-profit Nightingale Housing that each one display its improvement mannequin, aiming to create housing which is “environmentally, socially and financially sustainable”.
The whole Nightingale Village improvement was shortlisted within the sustainable constructing class of Dezeen Awards 2023.
Bordered by neighbouring buildings to the east and west, Austin Maynard Architects opened-up the block of 37 residences to face a public park to the north, to which it presents a collection of floor flooring gardens and a facade of yellow balconies.
Slicing via the centre of the block is a yellow-painted pathway, which forges a brand new connection between the park and the extra city situation of the entrance of the block, in addition to offering safe bicycle parking for residents.
“Our website was difficult, with pre-existing interface to the east and proposed planning for an condo constructing of an identical scale on the rear,” defined the studio.
“Fortuitously, simply previous to building, the council acquired the rear website and authorized a public park as an alternative.”
“Now afforded a lush outlook we have been in a position to share the chance with The Village,” it continued.
“By separating our ParkLife group entry and safe bike parking we made a pathway, making a central walkway proper via the centre of our constructing, to attach The Village ‘hub’ at Duckett Avenue with the brand new park.”
ParkLife is split into one, two and three bed room residences, in addition to two of what Nightingale Housing calls “Telihaus residences” – space-efficient subsidised dwellings which might be designated social housing.
Flats are organised on the entrance and rear of the block, with two massive “mild courts” on the centre permitting every to incorporate dual-aspect areas and an exterior widespread house alongside the carry and stair cores.
On the roof, shared amenities together with a rest room, laundry and drying space sit alongside a sheltered terrace and the “amphitheatre”, an space of stepped wood seating that overlooks the entrance of the block.
“Designed in collaboration with the Panorama Architects Openwork, [rooftop] areas embody a productive backyard with fruit timber and an actual grass garden for picnics,” defined the studio.
“There’s a lined deck, sufficiently big for giant gatherings, with an electrical barbecue, sheltered from the tough solar and powerful winds.”
Austin Maynard Architects drew on visible motifs from its earlier residential initiatives for the finishes of the block, such because the zigzagging roofline from RaeRae Home, and the yellow color utilized in My-Home.
White metal cladding covers the outside, with cables, grills and rods to permit vegetation to develop, and internally the residences have been stored “intentionally easy”, with timber flooring, white partitions and concrete ceilings.
“The intent was to permit the group to personalise their properties moderately than apply too many finishes and textures,” defined the studio.
“Engaging, useful areas have been created with nice views and plenty of mild, which could be embellished in any approach the residents wish to make the condo their house,” it continued.
Different condo buildings accomplished as a part of Nightingale Village embody Leftfield, an reasonably priced housing block by Kennedy Nolan completed with ochre-pigmented concrete.
The images is by Tom Ross
