Esplanade Brighton
Embodying 25 years of planning, Esplanade Brighton sees contemporary architecture tailored to its coastal location. Designed by Wood Marsh for developer SC Land, the buildings adjoin a green spine that connects to the bay view.
Set on a Melbourne foreshore close to the CBD, Esplanade Brighton looks out to the beach, Greenpoint Park and Port Phillip Bay. “As well as apartments, we knew we wanted to offer townhouses as a variation of the homes within the neighbourhood,” says Lance Chu, director at SC Land. The design was entrusted to Wood Marsh, who quickly determined that a garden spine and collection of buildings would be best suited to the landscape. “It was important to have a spine running down the site so that, from the rear, there would be visual access to the water,” explains Randal Marsh, partner at Wood Marsh. “Rather than having a large, singular building blocking the view, we placed an apartment block on either side of the central channel.” This also enabled a more intuitive housing arrangement, where apartments occupy a level each and the penthouse has rooftop access.
Aesthetically, Esplanade Brighton forms an abstract interpretation of boat pieces washed onto the shore. One of the apartment blocks features sandy white, rough-cast rendered walls punctuated by round windows, while the other champions black, ribbed zinc with subtle ribbon glazing. Together, they celebrate the visual and textural diversity of the coastal environment. “The townhouses also pay homage to the surroundings,” says Chu. “When we were first shown the designs, their teak timber screens were described as ‘blown out’ – in application, they serve as an elegant reference to wind-driven products.” Dappling the natural light, the screens also animate the northern side of the site.
From the street, residents are drawn into the complex by two curved walls. “There’s an element of surprise in that the path twists before unfurling into the landscaped garden,” says Marsh. Ahead, the apartment blocks drop from north to south, preserving the beach view for neighbouring homes. The apartments’ interior design complements the quality of its architecture: an open floor plan ensures spatial flow, natural materials connect individual elements, and recessed windows foster a sense of privacy. With high‑performance glazing, the blocks achieve a development average of 7.8 stars under Australia’s Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). Many of the apartments score over 8.5.
“Architecture is a complex profession, and it requires a lot of trust between the parties involved,” says Marsh. “We are lucky to have clients who love design and are prepared to embrace new possibilities.” Enhancing the existing coastal fabric, Esplanade Brighton forms a strong example of thoughtful, innovative building.
Architecture and interior design by Wood Marsh. Build by Minicon and BESIX Westpac.
Landscape design by Taylor Cullity Lethlean. Landscape construction by Gardens of the Sun.
Engineering by Wrap Consulting Engineering. Development by SC Land.
