A "mountainous" zigzag roofline and bright yellow balconies define the ParkLife apartment block in the Brunswick neighbourhood of Melbourne, designed by local studio Austin Maynard Architects.
The block is located within Nightingale Village, a collection of six apartment buildings by different architects for housing not-for-profit Nightingale Housing that all demonstrate its development model, aiming to create housing which is "environmentally, socially and financially sustainable".
Bright yellow balconies enliven Melbourne apartment block by Austin Maynard Architects
The entire Nightingale Village development was shortlisted in the sustainable building category of Dezeen Awards 2023.
Bordered by neighbouring buildings to the east and west, Austin Maynard Architects opened-up the block of 37 apartments to face a public park to the north, to which it presents a series of ground floor gardens and a facade of yellow balconies. Two large "light courts" were arranged between the apartments to create dual-aspect spaces
Cutting through the centre of the block is a yellow-painted pathway, which forges a new connection between the park and the more urban condition of the front of the block, as well as providing secure bicycle parking for residents.
"Our site was challenging, with pre-existing interface to the east and proposed planning for an apartment building of a similar scale at the rear," explained the studio.
"Fortunately, just prio...