Refined Rhythm – McKinnon by Ritz&Ghougassian

Nestled at the bustling intersection of two suburban streets in Melbourne’s south east, Ritz&Ghougassian’s McKinnon building has a commanding formal composition. In this somewhat ordinary context, Ritz&Ghougassian has made a distinctive visual statement. Accommodating 41 apartments over five levels, the building showcases a formal harmony that serves as a model for modern suburban housing.

Both striking and understated, the building has an elegant presence from the street. The architects’ meticulous approach to its form has resulted in a refined and coherent structure. The geometry of the building is accentuated on the façade, where fluted precast panels depict a sense of rhythm and movement. The singular use of concrete adds a feeling of gravitas, highlighting the building’s refined volume and form. Carefully composed windows and balconies punctuate the unified grey-white façade, demonstrating the architects’ keen attention to detail and form.

The architects’ meticulous approach to its form has resulted in a refined and coherent structure.

Inside, the building is a study in contrasts, offering an abundance of natural light and a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. The two- and three-bedroom apartments are spacious and airy, featuring high ceilings, large windows and balconies with steel-battened balustrades. A central courtyard pierces through all levels, creating a sense of openness and community. Frosted floor-to-ceiling glass allows light to enter the building while also providing privacy. On the ground floor, the granite paving and raised fern garden provide an oasis, a place of respite. The courtyard serves as a focal point for the residents of the building, providing an opportunity to make connections.

There’s a lightness to the materials used in the eatery’s design that juxtaposes and complements the solidity of the concrete building.

At the eatery on the ground floor, large sliding glass panels open the building to the street, encouraging visitors to come in and stay awhile. Built-in concrete seating on the exterior invites passers-by to linger, promoting a sense of community. Inside is a dynamic and playful space crafted with timber-framed fibreglass panels that divide the rooms and line the ceiling. The translucency of the panels interacts with the changing light of the day, casting subtle shadows and an amber glow throughout the interior. The warm, inviting space is enhanced with timber joinery and furniture. There’s a lightness to the materials used in the eatery’s design that juxtaposes and complements the solidity of the concrete building. Both the interior and the building at large are stripped back, the experience relying on the subtleties of few materials and their overall composition.

Ultimately, Ritz&Ghougassian’s precise approach has produced a cohesive and sophisticated design, a building that is both bold and harmonious. McKinnon is an elegant expression of what contemporary suburban housing can be.