Designed by Breathe Architecture, The Commons is about sustainable urbanisation – a replicable triple bottom line development with apartments that are spacious, generous, simple, affordable, sustainable, and that value add to the community.
At its core, The Commons is about people, not architectural form.
But what is most impressive is the way in which people use the building; the way they interact with it.
It’s how they smile and talk to each other in the lift.
It’s their generosity toward one another.
The sense of community and camaraderie that quickly developed in the building surprised the design team.
The Commons is filled with great neighbours and good people and the architecture played a role in this community building.
It has been a magnet for people of similar values to come together to build a community.
They treat common areas like the rooftop garden with pride.
The Breathe Architecture design team’s strategy for The Commons was to build more with less.
To give space and height, light, and air.
To give people what they needed, not what the marketing agents thought would sell.
The Commons is made up of a series of small, but delightful architectural moments.
And the whole, together, is so much more than the sum of its parts.
Project Details
Project Size – 3,460 m2
Site Area – 755 m2
Completion Date – 2013
Building Levels – 4
Project Team
Architecture
Breathe Architecture
Breathe Architecture is a Melbourne-based studio, designing world-class architecture with an enduring and meaningful impact on housing affordability, accessibility and sustainability.
Environmental Consultants
Sustainable Built Environments
Sustainable Built Environments (SBE) was formed in 2001 by a multi-disciplinary team of industry professionals passionate about the role that the built environment could have in shaping thriving communities and cities.
Acoustic Engineering
Acoustic Logic
Acoustic Logic Consultancy was formed in 1994 based on the foundations of a company dedicated to the provision of both high-quality and practical consulting services in the field of noise and vibration engineering.
Photography
Andrew Wuttke
Andrew Wuttke is based in Melbourne and has been working as a photographer in the world of advertising, architecture, and fashion for fifteen years.
Dianna Snape
Dianna Snape is an Australian architectural photographer based in Melbourne, specialising in interior photography, landscape photography, and architectural photography.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2022 Breathe Architecture. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2022 Andrew Wuttke and Dianna Snape. All Rights Reserved.
The Builtworks Quest
At Builtworks, we’re on a multi-year quest to document, showcase, and spotlight the best of Australia’s built environment.
That’s why we’re creating this comprehensive online archive and educational resource that showcases a diverse and eclectic range of project types and scales.
Together with showcasing older exemplars of enduring merit, we spotlight and celebrate new and recent additions to Australia’s built environment.