Claire Arbuthnot

Community Housing Project

This collaborative housing project is embedded within the culturally diverse and richly historic area of Brunswick West. The design proposal weaves together this land’s diverse historical identities with layers of architectural form, circulation, and light to provide the fabric from which a community can grow to flourish for generations to come.

The proposal facilitated community engagement in the design process to ensure a functional and effective design that would accommodate the future inhabitants. The final proposal provides residents with the opportunities to build connections with their neighbours at both macro and micro levels.
The Soft Use strategy for the building's layout allows residents to interpret the undetermined spaces. This flexibility means the design can inherently accommodate a diverse group of people and adapt to the changing needs of society in the future. Using a prestressed concrete system as a hard shell for units enables this adaptability. The raw nature of the building’s structural form not only minimises finish costs and ongoing maintenance but also serves as a striking architectural feature.

The proposal is designed to connect residents with the history of the land, their neighbours, and the buildings they inhabit, to ultimately facilitate a space where a community can thrive.