Elgin Towers
Elgin Towers
Client:
Homes Victoria
Location:
Melbourne, Victoria
Collaborators:
Mala (landscape), RPS (community consultation)
Scale:
248 homes
Status:
Due for completion 2028
Contact Person:
Oliver Mayger
Architectus is lead designer for Elgin Towers, part of the largest urban renewal initiative in Victoria’s history.
A partnership between the Victorian and Federal Governments, the initiative will redevelop Melbourne’s 44 public housing towers into high-quality, accessible homes and increase social housing by at least 10 per cent.
Like the city’s other aging high-rise housing, Elgin Towers was built to outdated design standards. Reaching the end of their useful lives, the 60-year-old towers are no longer fit for modern living, particularly for young families and people with disabilities.
Working with Homes Victoria, we’ve designed contemporary, sustainable new housing to replace the 17-storey red brick towers in the inner-city suburb of Carlton.
Incorporating 248 social homes with private balconies, the two new 16- and 18-storey buildings will boost housing stock on the currently unoccupied site by 26 per cent.
“Every single one of these homes in Carlton will become a modern, energy-efficient and accessible place for people to call home…”
Clare O’Neil
Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness
High-quality housing for a range of community needs
Elgin Towers is designed to meet the changing needs of the community, with apartments ranging from studios to four and five bedroom homes. The spaces for larger families are a direct response to resident feedback on the project.
Other features include better accessibility, reverse-cycle heating and cooling, ceiling fans, a laundry in each apartment, double-glazed windows and modern kitchens.
Designed to create warm, energy efficiency environments with plenty of natural light and ventilation, the homes are set to achieve 5-star Green Star and 7-star NatHERS ratings.
New outdoor spaces and better connections
The new development, funded through the Federal Government’s Social Housing Accelerator Program, will also include community spaces, a kitchen garden, a communal terrace, and new shared spaces linking to parkland nearby.
Early demolition works have started at the site. The next stage of demolition of the vacant 20 Elgin Street and 141 Nicholson Street towers will start in early 2025, with construction expected to be completed by 2028.
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Client:
Homes Victoria
Location:
Melbourne, Victoria
Collaborators:
Mala (landscape), RPS (community consultation)
Scale:
248 homes
Status:
Due for completion 2028
Contact Person:
Oliver Mayger
Key People
Oliver Mayger
Principal
Sector Leader Living
Melbourne
Canberra
Elizabeth Seuseu
Associate Principal
Melbourne
