Neometro brings the mansion block back to Melbourne
Melbourne’s most long-standing design-focused development group Neometro is advancing designs for its new site opposite Alma Park in St Kilda East.
Designed by one of Australia's most recognised architects Kerstin Thompson (KTA) and award-winning landcape consultants Myles Baldwin Design, 97 Alma Road by Neometro pays tribute to St Kilda’s architectural heritage and cosmopolitan spirit. The buildings maintain a sense of the existing neighbourhood grain whilst maximising the enjoyment and amenity of Alma Park opposite.
Offering a new take on the mansion block, 97 Alma Road comprises 41 apartments and 21 two-three storey townhouses united by their eclectic architecture and lush garden setting. Designed with healthy living in mind – 97 Alma Road is the next generation of green building that not only includes environmentally responsible and resource-efficient building concepts, but also integrates human wellbeing.
James Tutton, Neometro Design Director explains; “For more than 30 years we’ve been refining our approach to healthy building, establishing a set of pillars—air, light, comfort, connection, mind and body that consider all three aspects of health and wellbeing equally— mental, social and physical.”
KTA has responded to the brief by celebrating connection with the landscape at all scales, from site planning to shared spaces and interiors. The block is divided by landscape pockets, providing garden areas, natural light and ventilation to all apartments. An enhanced sense of community is promoted through quality outdoor shared spaces including the east garden spine, linear gardens with native planting, activated laneways between the townhouses and an apartment roof top terrace with communal food production and BBQ area. The communal courtyard acts as a protected green for the existing trees of significant cultural values and history.
James Tutton continues, “Entries are welcoming, stairs and corridors are imagined as a social and joyful path to everyone’s front door - open air, light filled with glimpses to garden; encouraging healthy and incidental engagement with the neighbours.”
The design concept combines the delight and eclecticism of St Kilda East - home to some of Melbourne's most iconic apartment buildings, and abstracts these elements to suit current living expectations and construction technologies.
Architect Kerstin Thompson comments; “97 Alma Road offers a graceful return to treasured memories, forging a connection with a valued part of Melbourne’s urban history while offering a new approach to multiple housing.”
Unique details, materials and character enrich the project with interesting use of stucco, metalwork, textured glass, coloured tiles and ornamental sun screens. KTA’s vision is to gift each apartment with its own distinguishing architectural element: a bay window, an arch, a sunroom, a delightfully odd-shaped window, or a juliet balcony. A feature that forges an attachment to one’s own home because it’s like no other. Thompson continues, “we really considered what it means to arrive home, celebrating the ‘homecoming’ with civic scaled entries to the apartment building and activating differentiated laneways between the townhouses.”
Aligned to Victoria's Climate Change Framework, which has a target of net-zero carbon by 2050, 97 Alma Road will feature a range of energy-efficient features, including solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and high-efficiency appliances. All units will have passive solar design with direct access to sunlight for periods of the day, and no south-facing apartments. All apartments have cross-flow ventilation. With an eye to low carbon, low VOC and high durability materials. The building will also incorporate passive design principles to maximise natural light and ventilation and reduce the need for artificial heating and cooling. 97 Alma Road is a simple, direct and friendly architecture that shows what can be achieved when design, sustainability and community are brought together.
Jeff Provan, Design Director of Neometro expresses the studio’s congratulations. “We applaud the jury’s decision in awarding the 2023 Architects Gold Medal to Kerstin Thompson whom has an incredible practice spanning more than 30 years and amassing an array of award-winning buildings. Her contribution to architecture is significant and impactful, and we are very proud and privileged at Neometro to be working with her and her team at KTA."
Team:
Developer: Neometro
Architect: KTA
Landscape: Myles Baldwin Design
