Community Infrastructure – 17 Union Street by Neometro and BKK Architects

Situated within Melbourne’s culturally diverse and inner-city suburb of Brunswick, 17 Union Street by Neometro and BKK Architects is a community infrastructure.

With 39 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, it is a residential building that captures the area’s unique character. Simple finishes and locally sourced materials make up a palette that minimises visual clutter and obstruction. The floor-to-ceiling windows enable natural light to shine in and extend the living of each apartment.

The use of black powder-coated steel and the choice to customise white or timber veneers honours the Brunswick surrounds.

Internally, Neometro and BKK Architects sought Clare Cousins Architects to create flexible spaces to suit each residents’ urban lifestyle. Built-in study nooks, kitchen islands and a rooftop garden all provide modern necessities. The use of black powder-coated steel and the choice to customise white or timber veneers honours the Brunswick surrounds. “We conceived these apartments as like a chest of drawers, with a simple infill façade that could be interchanged over time,” explains Simon Knott, Principal Architect at BKK Architects. “We also wanted to create a building with a presence that would age gracefully and patina over time.”

Activating the street level for pedestrians, and incorporating retail shops and bicycle pathways, 17 Union Street has transformed the rundown Jewell Station into a mix-use precinct. Designed to adapt to the future with growing vines, it is built to last many decades.