Location:        Ringwood
Status:            Town Planning
Category:       Multi-Unit Residential

Located in the heart of Ringwood, this proposed multi-unit residential development seeks to embraces its location by referencing aspects of context, street interfaces, and the projected urban development possibilities for the precinct. It aims to provide a considered and appropriate built form, to an already varied and eclectic local architectural environment, on a site uniquely located on the edge of a residential and commercial zone.

The development proposes a four level residential development accommodating 40 apartments, and providing for a mix of tenure: 5 three bedroom apartments; 28 two bedroom apartments; and 7 one bedroom apartments. The development also includes basement car parking, providing a total of 45 car spaces for the residents, along with two visitor spaces.

Being fully cognisant of the urban/suburban context in which it is located, the development explores a simple palette of materials – brick, timber and black metal – in its architecture. The entry level and first floor are anchored together with a simple 2-block white brick façade, mimicking the domestic scale of local architecture, whilst using a playful exploration of cut-outs, recesses and punctuations to articulate the balconies and glazed elements of the building. This playfulness is further enhanced by treating the balustrades with vertical palisades to continue the broken solidity of the brick form, whilst maintaining compliance with ResCode. The second floor sits subservient to the main façade, both by a deeper street setback, as well as utilising timber cladding which will age and merge with the landscaping of the site. The top floor has an even deeper setback, clad in a dark material, to avoid visibility from the street and maintain the almost domestic scale and architecture of the development.

The east and west façades, which are reduced in horizontal scale by the use of vertical recesses, are articulated with a series of incisions into the volumes, helping reducing the visual impact of the development. Fins wrap the façade to provide verticality, as well as provide a unifying architectural articulation. The building effectively employs a classic architectural language with an underlying urban materiality, suitable for the development’s context.

The development takes advantage of its North-South orientation to maximise natural light and ventilation to all apartments, with no borrowed light or internal courtyards required. Added to this, generous ground floor courtyards, which will encourage planting zones, and large upper floor balconies, ensure no element of the amenity of the apartments is compromised for the future residents.

By utilising materials and design strategies that reference the surrounding suburban landscape, the development nestles itself into the surrounding fabric whilst presenting a contemporary, yet subtle and considered, architectural interjection to the area. The natural materials and appropriate landscaping treatment provide warmth and texture to the building which, along with well-thought-out internal layouts and good amenity, will nurture a sense of belonging for the future residents as well as providing excellent living environments.

Location:        Lumley Court, Prahran
Completion:   February 2016
Category:       Single Apartment + Gallery

The grandeur of the Art Deco era meets contemporary detail in Lumley located in Williams Road, Prahran. It is a quality boutique residential development incorporating refit and new build. The project consists of two independent components: a three level residence incorporating a separate entry, garage and private art gallery (JAHM); and six two-bedroom apartments each with large courtyards or balconies. Adjacent to Lumley Gardens and close to cosmopolitan shopping neighbourhoods and public transport, Lumley offers a relaxed and sophisticated lifestyle within a vibrant urban setting. The gallery façade references the iconic work of Bridget Riley and Gene Davis with striped suburban window awning.

With an 8 star energy rating the project encompasses many environmental initiatives including solar generation for 100% electrical needs, double glazing, high thermal performance and rainwater harvesting.

The apartments boast a sophisticated material palette creating an elegant living space.  The kitchens feature timber veneer cabinetry, marble splashbacks and European appliances. High ceilings and abundant natural light are offset by generous courtyards or balconies.

The Art Deco character of the original building influences the interiors of the four original apartments; dark timber stained floors, original fireplaces, moulded cornices, panelled doors and soft grey walls.  The spaces are of generous proportion and allow for the seamless fusion of deco and contemporary design. Light timber floors and white walls carry a distinctly contemporary feel through the two new apartments.

Photography - Andrew Wuttke

Location:        Chapel Street, St Kilda
Completion:   December 2015
Category:       Multi-Unit Residential

ARTHOUSE evolved from two derelict houses with a shopfront facing Chapel Street, St. Kilda. In the 1920s the shopfronts operated as a milliner and a confectioner respectively. Since then it has housed families, business operators and squatters alike.

Buildings, like living creatures, pass through the cycles of creation, maturation, degradation, and eventually rebirth/regeneration. This notion laid the foundations for the ARTHOUSE development, which includes two art murals that reference the history of the original shop premises. A photographic record is mounted within the new building, memorialising its rich past.

ARTHOUSE retains the shopfronts whilst integrating façade murals by local street artist Tunni Kraus whose inspiration references its original purpose. Behind nestle 12 apartments that pioneer a new urban direction, with architecture that is responsive to its location and environment - a new beginning for the site. The three level development sits comfortably in the streetscape. Single level dwellings and two-to-four storey apartments occupy the close proximity.

Forms fold and interlock to create a series of volumes. Materials used are robust and urban. The original redbrick is reused and the exposed concrete soffits within the apartments adds to the simplicity of form. Finely crafted detailing creates an urban oasis in the heart of a pulsing community.

The aim was to create a benchmark development within the Port Phillip area for Environmentally Sustainable Design. The apartments utilise best practice design principles which incorporate natural light and ventilation. 10 of the 12 apartments face north. The 7.6 energy star rating represents many environmental initiatives including solar generation for 85% of electrical needs, double glazing, high thermal performance and rainwater harvesting.

Photography - Jaime Diaz-Berrio

Location:        High Street, Windsor
Status:            Unbuilt (Town Planning Stage Only)
Category:       Multi-Unit Residential

The WiLo development (High Street Prahran) was proposed as a mixed used development. Taken to town planning stage by Justin Architecture, it consisted of 48 apartments, 3 retail tenancies and basement car park.

The contemporary design, materials and finishes were intended to complement the industrial language of this particular area.  These included white rendered concrete as well as mid-grey and dark grey tones. Copper decorative panels were a feature of the High Street, as well as the Victoria Street, facade.

Location:        Williams Road, Prahran
Completion:   February 2016
Category:       Multi-Unit Residential

The grandeur of the Art Deco era meets contemporary detail in Lumley located in Williams Road, Prahran. It is a quality boutique residential development incorporating refit and new build. The project consists of two independent components: a three level residence incorporating a separate entry, garage and private art gallery (JAHM); and six two-bedroom apartments each with large courtyards or balconies. Adjacent to Lumley Gardens and close to cosmopolitan shopping neighbourhoods and public transport, Lumley offers a relaxed and sophisticated lifestyle within a vibrant urban setting. The gallery façade references the iconic work of Bridget Riley and Gene Davis with striped suburban window awning.

With an 8 star energy rating the project encompasses many environmental initiatives including solar generation for 100% electrical needs, double glazing, high thermal performance and rainwater harvesting.

The apartments boast a sophisticated material palette creating an elegant living space.  The kitchens feature timber veneer cabinetry, marble splashbacks and European appliances. High ceilings and abundant natural light are offset by generous courtyards or balconies.

The Art Deco character of the original building influences the interiors of the four original apartments; dark timber stained floors, original fireplaces, moulded cornices, panelled doors and soft grey walls.  The spaces are of generous proportion and allow for the seamless fusion of deco and contemporary design. Light timber floors and white walls carry a distinctly contemporary feel through the two new apartments.

Photography - Andrew Wuttke

Location:        Caulfield North
Status:            Marketing + Contract Documentation
Category:       Multi-Unit Residential

The proposed development in Edith Street, Caulfield North has three frontages; the eastern is to Edith Street, the southern is Salisbury Street and the western along a ROW.

The proposed development will be comprised of four townhouses. Three will be three bedroom, two bathroom and two car spaces. The fourth is a two bedroom, two bathroom with one car space.

The surrounding neighbourhood is a medley; contemporary development and private residential homes, mid-century apartments and houses, as well as Victorian and Edwardian semi-detached homes. It is also bounded to the south by Caulfield Junior College (the rear of school).

The project utilises best design practice principles whereby the townhouses have their private open spaces facing north with all bedrooms on level one maximising natural light and ventilation. The proposed development will incorporate double glazing throughout, cross ventilation and solar boosted hot water. In addition, the proximity to schools, public transport, shops and parks makes the location ideally suited to young families and couples.

The subtle palette includes concrete render with black highlights to the window surround. A timber recessed volume articulates the façade along Salisbury Street, which also conceals the garage doors. A patterned screen highlights the entry experience adding a delicacy to the robust material selection.

The architectural form is inspired by the mid-century apartment buildings and homes for which Caulfield is renowned for. Traditional terraced houses are also references whereby the language of the façade is consistent, punctuated only by entries.  The design has been treated as a single entity to reflect the residential living style of the area. It also acts as a bridge between the other houses and the multi-unit dwellings in the street.

The architecture engages both Edith Street and Salisbury Street whilst retaining the original garage to the rear of the site (adjacent to the ROW). The architectural form is a refined envelope with functional and carefully considered internal layouts. The proposed development will nestle in to the surrounding neighbourhood and contributes to its environment.

Location:        Surrey Hills
Status:            In Construction
Category:       Multi-Unit Residential

The proposed development is for an additional level to two individual units at the rear of a block of 4 units in Surrey Hills. The current two bedroom units are exposed orange brick, circa 1960s.

The primary objective of the project is to create residences suitable for family living. The existing units contain two bedrooms, poorly oriented living spaces and no connections between living spaces and private open space. The new addition aims to override these shortcomings.

The top floor is materially treated as a single element to complement the adjoining residences but also to distinguish new from the old.  A shadow line delineated the new addition.

The simple palette consists of timber, steel and rendered brick.  The building is read as whole, rather than individual units, broken up by shadow reveals and screens. Courtyards and terraces are designed to maximise privacy, solar access and liveability.

The internal layouts are responsive to the existing conditions. Initially, Unit Three had little exposure to a northern aspect. The proposed design reconfigures the ground floor to include a new master bedroom suite with WIR and ensuite and the addition of a study. At level one the open plan living, dining and kitchen / meals area have a north easterly aspect opening to an upper level terrace, which is screened from the neighbours.

Unit Four is also reconfigured, however, the ground floor areas will open to a rear deck with a north easterly aspect.  A master bedroom suite which will include a WIR and ensuite at ground level. The addition at level one includes two bedrooms, one bathroom and rumpus room. The bedrooms have an easterly and northerly aspect and the rumpus room opens to a west-facing balcony with screening for privacy.

The layouts maximise solar access and are designed for the day-to-day activities of their young families.  

Location:        Carnegie
Completion:   2015 (Construction Photos)
Category:       Single Residential

The proposed development is for an additional level to an individual unit at the front of a block of 3 units in Carnegie. The current two bedroom units are exposed orange brick circa 1970s.

The project aims to create a residence suitable for family living. The current unit had two bedrooms, poor flow between the living spaces and private open area.

The top floor is materially treated as a single element to complement the adjoining residences but also to help distinguish the new from the old. The roof profile references the residential character of the streetscape. Courtyards and terraces are designed to maximise privacy and solar access.

The simple, robust palette contains timber, steel and existing brick. The texture of the brick base will remain as a reminder of the unit’s origin. The level one horizontal cladding separates the new addition from the original building.

The internal layouts are responsive to the existing layouts. The design reconfigures the ground floor to include an open plan kitchen, dining and living area with a direct connection to the north facing garden. At first floor level, a new master bedroom suite with WIR and ensuite, two bedrooms, a main bathroom and balcony are added.

The layouts maximise solar access and are designed for the day-to-day activities of the young family who inhabits the space.

Photography - Jaime Diaz-Berrio

Location:        Westbury Street, St Kilda East
Completion:   April 2013 (Stage 1)
Category:       Educational

Christian Brothers College (CBC) St Kilda is an inner city (Port Phillip) secondary boys School. The brief was to create an environment to foster best practice in boys education and specifically a fidelity to Edmund Rice Chrism.

The redevelopment focused on energising underutilised school spaces and the creation of meaningful connections with the surrounding public domain. We believe the upgrade contributes not only to the school but to the pedestrian walkway along Westbury Street and visitors to Alma Park. The project uses a series of interlinking architectural and urban art strategies to create engaging environments for the school and local community. The schools public presence is now celebrated as a result of the design initiatives.

A hidden, dreary undercroft and enclosed recreational facilities were transformed into vibrant and flexible spaces. The design of the central spine also activates spaces that were stagnant and transient.

Urban school campuses are generally space poor. The reconfigured internal layout created additional spaces without increasing the building footprint providing a valuable hub for students in place of a thoroughfare.

Design inspiration emerged from the notion of a traditional “piazza”, stained glass patterns found in churches and the 3-star school logo.

Overt references to artist Felice Varini to generate patternmaking and optical illusions informed the connections between geometric forms throughout the courtyard spine, glazing frames, seating + paving, and created an active experience in what has been a transient space. Colours inspired by the Australian landscape, and the flow between building elements and the surrounding parkland represent a triumph of interlinking architectural and urban art strategies to create inviting spaces that people want to engage with.

Photography - Jaime Diaz-Berrio

Location:        Westbury Street, St Kilda East
Completion:   September 2015 (Stage 2)
Category:       Educational

Christian Brothers College (CBC) St Kilda is an inner city (Port Phillip) secondary boys School. The brief was to create an environment to foster best practice in boys education and specifically a fidelity to Edmund Rice Chrism.

The redevelopment focused on energising underutilised school spaces and the creation of meaningful connections with the surrounding public domain. We believe the upgrade contributes not only to the school but to the pedestrian walkway along Westbury Street and visitors to Alma Park. The project uses a series of interlinking architectural and urban art strategies to create engaging environments for the school and local community. The schools public presence is now celebrated as a result of the design initiatives.

A hidden, dreary undercroft and enclosed recreational facilities were transformed into vibrant and flexible spaces. The design of the central spine also activates spaces that were stagnant and transient.

Urban school campuses are generally space poor. The reconfigured internal layout created additional spaces without increasing the building footprint providing a valuable hub for students in place of a thoroughfare.

Design inspiration emerged from the notion of a traditional “piazza”, stained glass patterns found in churches and the 3-star school logo.

Overt references to artist Felice Varini to generate patternmaking and optical illusions informed the connections between geometric forms throughout the courtyard spine, glazing frames, seating + paving, and created an active experience in what has been a transient space. Colours inspired by the Australian landscape, and the flow between building elements and the surrounding parkland represent a triumph of interlinking architectural and urban art strategies to create inviting spaces that people want to engage with.

Photography - Jaime Diaz-Berrio

Location:        Wellington Street, St Kilda
Status:            Unbuilt (Town Planning Stage Only)
Category:       Commercial

Buzz, an innovative design company seeks a new Head office which reflects is philosophy. The commercial development on Wellington Street, St. Kilda retains the existing building with the addition of two levels of office space. The profile of the architectural form is volumetric and sculpted to alleviate the massing of the adjoining properties. The form and materiality of the façade provides opportunities to frame the city views while providing efficient shading to the north, creating an optimal working environment within. It was inspired by the ancient art of origami, the works of Ruth Asawa and the form + detail of Buckminster Fuller’s Geodesic Dome.  

The design includes four new tenancies at ground floor level with a café fronting onto Wellington Street. The remaining three tenancies would suit smaller ’start-up’ businesses by virtue of their size. The opportunity to support new business practice is seen as a desirable outcome for the building owner.

Levels one to three will be commercial office space for Buzz. Central to the proposal is the creation of comfortable, open plan working environments, which facilitate communication and creativity.

The orientation of the site creates the opportunity to include a double height, north facing winter garden with outdoor terrace areas on levels two and three, both of which overlook the city. These levels incorporate a large central atrium space, which opens out at the roof level. The atrium strengthens both the visual and physical connectivity between each of the floors, allowing for natural light and cross ventilation throughout the space.

The articulation of the Wellington Street façade creates a seamless transition between levels, providing coverage for the ground floor entry and terrace area as well as folding back to minimise the massing to the south west corner.

The facades envisaged will be constructed from steel and clad in three primary materials. There will be two colours and profiles of perforated steel mesh, one dark and the other a bronze. The mesh panels will form the parts of the facade where there is to be natural ventilation and light into the balcony space behind. The different perforations can be alternated to introduce more or less light into the space. A solid metal composite panel will clad the structure behind, provide shading where required, and frame the views.

The simplicity of form and the finely crafted façade translates a series of patterns and shadow play into the space, which changes throughout the day to create a unique working environment. The proposal will be a vibrant and unique component of the St Kilda tapestry, helping to articulate the mixed-use quality of Wellington Street.

Location:        Caulfield North
Completion:   2013
Category:       Single Residential

Photography - Jaime Diaz-Berrio

Location:        St Kilda
Completion:   2010
Category:       Single Residential

The alteration and addition to a single fronted Victorian weatherboard in St. Kilda nestles behind a heritage facade. The brief was for a home that would evolve with the needs of its young family. Budgetary and spatial constraints were amplified by a south facing back yard.

The new addition replaces a warren of “lean-to” rooms at the rear of the existing house. A simple box structure forms the living hub which is tilted to capture northern light. Old and new are stitched together via a timber-lined tunnel, which also contains a laundry and storage. When transitioning from the original to the new the ceilings soar to provide an open contemporary space which is respectful of the existing dwelling. The glazed doors open onto the backyard merging the living space with the garden. Despite the house’s small footprint the renovation outcome is a generous, spacious and refined home, flooded with natural light.

Photography - Jaime Diaz-Berrio

Location:        Hampton
Completion:   2011
Category:       Single Residential

Beginning as a kitchen renovation, this project grew into the total revamping of the rear living and kitchen / dining area of the Hampton House.

The challenge was the half metre level difference between the kitchen and living area, the lack of north facing window and poor space utilisation.

The strategy was to open up and integrate the spaces. The height variance was absorbed by kitchen joinery to integrate previously incongruent spaces. The living area was increased by six square metres and the addition of the double glazed sliding doors to the north connects the external area and maximises natural light.

The outcome is a generous living and kitchen area which demonstrates how minimal yet thoughtful intervention can have significant impact.

Photography - Jaime Diaz-Berrio

Location:        Lorne
Status:            Town Planning
Category:       Single Residential

Current Town Planning Submission - April 2016

Location:        Chapel Street, St Kilda
Duration:        November 2012 to September 2013
Category:       Public / Temporary Event

'FALLOW - Between Abandonment and Rebirth' - transformed two derelict inner-city Melbourne houses into a unique art installation.  The project evolved after architect Charles Justin purchased the run-down dual site on Chapel Street, St Kilda, with plans for a multi-residential development. 

After Charles met artist Robbie Rowlands, whose practice explores the life-span of everyday objects and spaces, they realised the site's enormous potential as a unique, temporary art space. 

Charles was interested in examining the period when a building reaches the end of its life - abandoned, taken over by vandals/squatters, and awaiting either demolition or 'rebirth'.  The project title acknowledged this process, whereby something that is exhausted and untended is eventually regenerated through the exploration of interlinking ideas; memory, history, ownership and materiality come under scrutiny.

Three artists explored this theme by creating interventions with the building's structure and content.  They chose to develop the space in a sustainable manner by strictly limiting new materials and attempting to work with the existing fabric and objects.  Each artist worked on two rooms, collaborating in the connecting space with striking emotive results.

Urban Artist Tunni Kraus blackened one room with dripped ink, whilst transforming the adjacent room into a yellow maze of colour.  An archway carved through the fireplace unites the darkness and the lightness of these two spaces, highlighting the tension between belonging and owning, settling and settlement.  Installation Artist Carmen Reid used items found in the house - electrical cables, mattresses, and other malleable resources - to fashion ropes that embody the processes of change and imply a dreamlike escape narrative.  Sculptor Robbie Rowlands transformed the barely liveable by cutting into existing walls and floors to create sculptural forms representing the tenuous balance between destruction and grace.

When the buildings were demolished all the bricks were reused within the residential development creating a solid physical reference between past and future life.

FALLOW was open to the public for approximately 10 months and engaged over 1,000 visitors.  At its conclusion, the buildings were demolished to make way for the new residential 'Arthouse' building. The development includes two façade art murals by Tunni Kraus that reference the historic shop premises.  In addition, a photographic record of the art project is mounted in the lobby of the new apartment complex, memorialising this intermediate life.

Photography - Andrew Wuttke