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➤ Rory Gardiner

Fenwick

 
 

 

Before European settlers arrived, the site of this multi-residential project, located in Kew, a suburb east of Melbourne, Australia, was part of the ancestral lands of the Wurundjeri people. Today, as parts of Melbourne’s urban core and surrounding lands are returned to Wurundjeri stewardship, Edition Office approached this project with a profound respect for the Wurundjeri people’s culture, history, and spirit. Striking a delicate balance between preservation and modernization, the design reflects a commitment to honoring the original custodians of the land.
 
 
 
 
 
➤ Rory Gardiner

 

Perched on the edge of an escarpment with the Yarra River—referred to as Birrarung by the Wurundjeri—flowing nearby, the site boasts direct views of the river’s natural beauty and expansive vistas extending to the northern valley. Within this panoramic setting, the challenge was to balance the density of new development with the openness of visual permeability. The design team transformed this geographically privileged site into a vital link between urban life and the surrounding natural environment. By integrating distant views and leveraging the site’s natural assets, the project creates a shared connection to this rare and valuable resource for both residents and the wider community.
➤ Rory Gardiner
➤ Rory Gardiner
➤ Rory Gardiner
➤ Rory Gardiner

 

Edition Office took full advantage of the site’s natural topography to design nine new residential units, replacing the original structure. These are organized into three independent wedge-shaped volumes, with each floor plate subtly shifted and rotated to break up the massing and create a dynamic sense of movement along the vertical shear walls. This design not only disperses the building’s visual impact but also allows for clear sightlines through the gaps between the structures, offering unimpeded views of the expansive horizon. In terms of height and visual scale, the buildings maintain a low-profile modesty that harmonizes with the proportions of the surrounding residential neighborhood.
 

 

 

 

 

➤ Rory Gardiner

 

The living spaces are oriented to the north to embrace uninterrupted views of the river and valley, drawing the distant landscape deep into the interiors. The facades facing this open green space are clad in copper mesh screens that provide privacy while still allowing connection to the surrounding environment. These copper screens, designed to weather naturally over time, imbue the architecture with a sense of vitality, contrasting with the deliberately robust texture of the precast concrete construction. The material palette, blending with the eucalyptus trees in the area, enables the building to integrate seamlessly into the riverside escarpment, appearing as an elegant extension of the natural landscape.
➤ Rory Gardiner
➤ Rory Gardiner
➤ Rory Gardiner

 

 

 

Beyond the exterior’s integration with the environment, the interior spaces are designed to evoke a sense of joy and comfort. Flooded with natural light, the private interiors offer a refined blend of warmth and tranquility. Flack Studio brought the surrounding environmental context into the interiors, creating spaces that balance subtle drama with tactile materiality. The aging patina of the copper screens and the gradual maturation of the surrounding gardens further enhance the narrative of life’s passage. Circulation paths are designed to feel like a journey, with carefully crafted thresholds, transitions, and material interactions that provide residents with a delightful sense of exploration.
➤ Lillie Thompson
➤ Lillie Thompson
➤ Lillie Thompson
 
➤ Lillie Thompson
 
➤ Lillie Thompson
➤ Lillie Thompson
➤ Timothy Kaye
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