Located at the intersection of Johnston and Lulie Streets in Abbotsford, adjacent to Victoria Park Station and the rail corridor, the project is being developed alongside MODEL and is progressing through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program, with design input from the Office of the Victorian Government Architect.
The development delivers 250 apartments within a mid-rise precinct composed of three articulated building volumes, supported by resident amenity and a small commercial component. The apartment mix is calibrated to suit the target build to rent demographic, with a strong proportion of studios and one-bedroom dwellings complemented by two-bedroom apartments.
A key driver of the design has been to treat the site as an urban precinct rather than a singular building. The massing strategy breaks down the scale of development into three volumes that respond to the different site interfaces. The Johnston Street frontage adopts a more robust, urban expression, while the Lulie Street presents a finer-grain residential character;. The rail interface integrates activation and managed privacy for residents.
This project reflects a bold commitment to decarbonising at scale, delivering long-term environmental and financial returns, and fostering a strong community-focused living experience.
As Australia’s first large-scale apartment complex designed for Passivhaus certification, it sets a new standard for energy efficiency, aiming to reduce consumption by 70-80% while enhancing comfort and indoor air quality for residents. The use of mass timber, a renewable alternative to traditional materials, not only lowers the carbon footprint but also accelerates construction timelines, reducing costs and waste.
Beyond Passivhaus certification, the project is targeting 6-Star Green Star and 9-star NatHERS ratings, a 50% reduction in embodied carbon, 100% renewable energy, and net-zero emissions.
