C&L Residences, Collingwood Luxury Housing, Melbourne Homes, Architecture, Australian Building Images

C&L Residences in Collingwood

18 Oct 2021

Design: CHT Architects

Location: Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Images by Oliver Lagasca

C&L Residences

Construction has commenced on the CHT Architects-designed C&L Residences in Collingwood, Australia.

The development, scheduled for completion in 2022, has been created to support the City of Yarra’s Community Infrastructure Plan, and meet a burgeoning demand for residential accommodation in the Collingwood area with 35 luxury apartments.

Careful consideration
CHT Architects’ Managing Director, David Carabott, said work for the project began with careful consideration of the character of Collingwood, a suburb noted for its industrial and commercial architecture as well as present-day residential buildings.

“The building envelope responds to the distinctive character of Melbourne’s inner north-east,” David explained.

“Retaining the heritage 19th Century red brick and bluestone facade of the existing building at the site, the building draws on a minimalist, contemporary language with steel frames and ample glazing.

“The effect is the visual layering of history and architectural expressions which, while discrete, ensures the residential building remains very much in sync with its surrounds.

“Blending into the industrial and diverse context of Collingwood, the dichotomy of red bricks and glazed facades creates a design that is sensitive to the existing site context and history yet strives for a new refined level of modernity.

“At the street level we’ve incorporated a specially designed laneway called ‘Eat Street’ that will include food retail offerings that invite the public to engage with the building – stitching it into the fabric of the neighbourhood.”

Time to dwell
The Oxford Street development, which comprises 35 spacious residential apartment dwellings, each featuring spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows that provide an abundance of natural light and offer sweeping views of the city skyline and local sights.

Emma Alessi, Senior Associate at SORA Interior Architecture & Design – who is working in collaboration with acclaimed stylist Clair Delmar of Studio CD on the project – said the company’s ethos for the C&L interiors is to make “simple, refined and simply-curated provisions for the residents, to embellish their personality”.

“We have worked together to create lavishly spacious residences, with a classic feel and layered contemporary influences,” Emma explained.

“A sophisticated, simple design and neutral palette sets the foundation for endless opportunities to reflect each resident’s personality in the home.

“Great homes have heart and great kitchens provide a natural, central hub that encourages life and interaction.

“A finessed neutral palette allows the scale and proportion to shine through, featuring elegant colour tones and clean, sleek lines with butler’s pantries, robustly proportioned stone benchtops, and plenty of carefully considered storage space.”

Emma said the apartments will feature refined and practical interiors, exemplified by subtly contrasting textures, beautifully crafted kitchen and bathroom joinery, and durable high-quality finishes.

“A sense of layering is added through varying textures within the apartment, including a high attention to detail within the joinery. Our objective in designing every aspect of the C&L interiors is to make life more intuitive, convenient and enjoyable for the occupants” Emma said.

Scoring on sustainability
The Oxford Street development comes with strong sustainability credentials, including a 70 per cent Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard.

This is thanks to sustainability measures across the development that will include recycling 20,000 bricks from an existing building at the site, as well as harvesting rooftop greywater, which will be used in a variety of ways, including toilet flushing and gardening.

The development will also include solar panels to power common areas, specialised glass to moderate internal temperatures, as well as an organic waste digester and electronic waste disposal point.