Emporia Apartments

by Idle Architecture Studio

This new eight storey apartment complex located opposite Melbourne’s iconic Prahran Market is an expression of playfulness which contrasts its dense context.

Located only a stone’s throw from Chapel Street and a short walk from Faulkner Park, this new apartment complex is ideally located with the trams and trains on the doorstep and surrounded by some of the best coffee Melbourne has to offer.

The striking landmark building was conceived by Idle Architecture Studio as a fluid, curvilinear form and it has a freedom of expression and playfulness that contrasts its dense context. Utilizing white concrete, glass, bronzed aluminium, this composition of heavy and light elements achieves a dynamic form.

The façade is a filter providing a semi-solid screen that frames expansive Melbourne views from the apartments, which have an exceptional level of amenity and finish.

Facilitating connections was a clear aim of the design brief- connections between residents, interactions between occupants and the street below, connections between public and private spaces and juxtapositions of materials and forms.

The inclusion of communal areas helps build connections and transforms a ‘run-of-the-mill’ apartment block into a community for living. The foyer acts as a welcoming, transitional zone, utilizing a warm materials palette and generous perimeter seating, encouraging people to linger.

The Level 1 terrace overlooks the footpath and is nestled within a crafted garden with timber panelled walls and a sculptural canopy above. Residents can utilize this area for gatherings with fellow occupants or with visitors.

Punctuating the ground floor transitional zone are high-end retail spaces, offering a buffer between the street and the apartments. In total the eight-level building accommodates 140 apartments.

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