Nightingale Marrickville by SJB

Nightingale Marrickville – designed by SJB in collaboration with Fresh Hope Communities and Nightingale Housing – is a purpose-built, build-to-rent housing development that introduces a new urban model prioritising community and sustainability. It showcases how intelligent, effective design can deliver economical housing without sacrificing quality through smart spatial planning, reductive design and sustainable material choices.

At the core of SJB’s design for Nightingale Marrickville is the concept of Teilhaus, or ‘part-of-house’ in German. This approach emphasises small-footprint, private living spaces designed to maximise functionality and comfort through considered layouts and multi-functional joinery. The 54 studio-style apartments, ranging from 22 to 31 square metres, exemplify this philosophy by maintaining a high degree of utility and flexibility within compact dimensions. The intelligent use of space is evident in the layout, from strategic placement of windows to innovative storage, ensuring that each unit feels open and connected to the broader community environment.

The intelligent use of space is evident in the layout, from strategic placement of windows to innovative storage, ensuring that each unit feels open and connected to the broader community environment.

Beyond the private compact homes, Nightingale Marrickville has generous communal spaces that serve as the lifeblood of the community. These areas, including shared kitchens, laundry facilities, dining areas and an outdoor terrace, are designed to encourage interaction and foster relationships among residents. They serve not just as amenities but essential components of the Nightingale Marrickville lifestyle, designed to enhance social cohesion and collective wellbeing. Further emphasising community and fairness, these homes are allocated through a simple ballot process, ensuring equitable access to this innovative housing model.

Sustainability is woven into every element of the development – the building is powered entirely by renewable energy, sourced from solar panels and 100 per cent GreenPower. Rainwater collection systems for garden irrigation and the exclusion of private car spaces, paired with proximity to public transport, further reduce the ecological footprint of the residents. These features not only promote a greener way of life but also significantly lower living costs, making sustainable living accessible to more people.

Sustainability is woven into every element of the development – the building is powered entirely by renewable energy, sourced from solar panels and 100 per cent GreenPower.

The impact of Nightingale Marrickville reaches beyond its immediate confines. Its design principles challenge traditional development models by demonstrating that increased density does not have to compromise quality of life. As the first Nightingale Housing venture in Sydney, and building on the already delivered 517 homes under the Nightingale model, the project has been enthusiastically received by locals and the architectural community, heralding a new era for medium-density housing that prioritises people over profit.

As cities continue to grow and evolve, the success of Nightingale Marrickville offers a hopeful glimpse into the future of urban development. It proves what can be achieved when pioneering design is harnessed to serve community and sustainability. The project not only provides its residents with a quality place to live but also cultivates a lifestyle that deeply values community and sustainability.

Architecture and interior design by SJB. Build by CD Construction. Styling by David Harrison. Landscape design by Dangar Barin Smith. Development partners by Nightingale Housing and Fresh Hope Communities.