Malvern Hill Apartments

A finely modulated Melbourne apartment complex by SJB offers an alternative in medium-density living.

In the leafy inner-Melbourne suburb of Malvern, Malvern Hill Apartments delivers 111 new dwellings in a new model for medium-density housing in established residential areas. Concluding a development that began on this one-hectare Elizabeth Street site with Malvern Grove Apartments, Malvern Hill offers spacious interiors, expansive outdoor spaces, quality materials and a good deal of attention paid to the outlook both from within and around the buildlings.

The site is close to the retail and commercial strip of Malvern Road. In contrast with many new multi-residential buildings on main streets, this site is relatively land-locked, effectively concealing the development, which is accessed via an introduced landscape spine.

The facade reads as a series of individual dwellings expressed with a rhythmic placement of material elements.

The facade reads as a series of individual dwellings expressed with a rhythmic placement of material elements.

Image: Jaime Diaz-Berrio

To this facade, Malvern Hill reads as a series of individual dwellings, expressed through the rhythmic placement of external timber cladding alternating with precast framed balconies. The main entry is located discretely halfway along the street. The oiled spotted gum cladding provides tonal warmth responding to the residential setting and soft landscaping.

A view of the split-level central courtyard.

A view of the split-level central courtyard.

Image: Jaime Diaz-Berrio

As a result of the tight constraints of the site the four buildings are arranged around an expansive split-level courtyard. The peaceful quality created within this space provides an interesting environment that is at once both intimately protected from the street and neighbours, and provides an attractive outlook for many of the residential dwellings.

Within the courtyards, solid timber bench seats wrap up from the timber decking, defining different spaces for activity, while mature trees and abundant ground cover will diversify the colour and texture of the garden views over time.

Credits

Project
Malvern Hill
Architect
SJB Architects and Interiors Melbourne
Melbourne, Vic, Australia
Project Team
Charles Justin, Tony Battersby, Oliver Mayger, Tamara Dunkley, Rohan Appel, Igor Nikolovski, Fiona Coakley
Consultants
3D Renderings FloodSlicer
Acoustic design Renzo Tonin & Associates
Building surveyor Gardner Group
Civil consultant Reeds Consulting
ESD Sustainable Development Consultants
Fire engineering Thomas Nicolas
Interior design SJB Architects and Interiors Melbourne
Landscaping Tract Consultants
Quantity surveyor Slattery Australia
Services ALA Consulting Engineers
Structural Robert Bird Group
Town planning SJB Planning
Traffic consultant Cardno Grogan Richards (Vic)
Waste management consultant Leigh Design
Site Details
Location 14 Elizabeth Street,  Malvern,  Melbourne,  Vic,  Australia
Site area 15500 m2
Project Details
Status Built
Completion date 2012
Category Residential
Type Multi-residential
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