Projects

A major catalyst in the ongoing transformation of the Brunswick area, the redevelopment of 253-259 Brunswick Road, reimagines an existing vacant Cable Tram Engine House with a student accommodation complex, adding to the vibrant, genuinely mixed-use precinct, and aims to set a new benchmark of respecting and enhancing heritage architecture in Melbourne.

A 7-storey tower delivers 111 student accommodation beds through a mix of studio and dormitory style living, with the existing heritage Cable Tram House reconceived with associated communal areas, reception and cafe space.

One of the hallmarks of the design vision lies in the integration of the Cable Tram Engine House into the design, respecting the early transport history of the site and its context within the evolution of Melbourne’s public transport network. The façade of the typical late Victorian Industrial building on the ground plane is entirely retained with legible entries while at high level the proposed building forms are set back from the heritage façade crafted sculpturally to subtly reference the heritage building below, acting as an urban marker sitting comfortably within the neighbourhood skyline.