FourSq
Leicester Street Townhomes
Small footprint, generous, thoughtfully crafted homes that embrace and evolve the local character.
Located on the corner of two narrow, cobbled back streets in the heart of the inner-Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, the Leicester Street Townhomes provide a contemporary, hybridised take on the Victorian terraces and post-war brick warehouses of this inner urban locale. When our client, FourSq acquired the site, it came with an existing block of outdated flats, and an active planning permit for a 30 apartment development. Fortunately, FourSq saw the potential of the site, and was motivated to achieve a better outcome and explore a very different design direction. Together we created a truly unique housing offering: a collection of five, high-end vertical homes that provide versatile, comfortable, inner-urban living spaces and simultaneously shape a sense of respite from and connection with the immediate Fitzroy neighbourhood.
Big Picture Thinking
Our design approach sought to maximise the built footprint, reinterpreting the idea of high-density living by providing low maintenance, generous vertical homes that offer all of the amenity of a single-level house, in an inner-urban context. Providing a sense of address with a bold masonry tower landmark to the corner, each of the five mini-towers are arranged around a long internal, richly landscaped courtyard, facilitating natural light and cross ventilation to each home, and creating a sense of sanctuary and retreat from the street. Every inch of these four level homes is hard working and considerate of an ageing in place market, incorporating two or three generous bedrooms with ensuite and walk-in robe, a private internal lift, car stackers, landscaped rooftop terraces, and a versatile space at ground level that can be utilised as an extra bedroom, lounge or office. Physically and psychologically separated just enough from the rest of the home, these ground floor spaces feature a door to the street so that clients, grown-up children or housemates can come and go independently.
Collaboration and Humility
With FourSq being both a particularly hands-on client and the building contractor for the project, our working relationship represented a true design partnership from the outset, where each party’s voice helped to shape the design outcome. Similar to an Early Contractor Involvement contract relationship, we drew upon our collective expertise and experience in discussions around construction methods, materiality and buildability, working together to optimise the design and deliver exemplar quality, well-built homes.
Playfulness and Innovation
Over half of Fitzroy is still occupied by the factories and warehouses built after World War II, well before it became the epicentre of cool urban grunge. The character of this neighbourhood combines this gritty, industrial warehouse aesthetic with the multi-storey, ornately-decorative Victorian terrace house typology. In order to truly reflect and respond to the neighbourhood context, our design for the Leicester Street Townhomes, captures elements of both of these typologies, with the facade combining a planar red brick street wall with contemporary geometric cutouts and bespoke detailing above. Internal spaces are characterised by natural light at each level, exposed concrete ceilings, high-end Italian kitchens, and carefully integrated services, reflecting a sense of industrial imperfection alongside bespoke craftsmanship that shapes a unique sense of identity for each home.
Transformative Places, Holistic Benefits
The Leicester Street Townhomes design completely reinvented the previous planning permit, shaping a new hybrid residential typology for this suburban context. Public and private interfaces are carefully considered to enable connection with the street, the neighbourhood and this internal residential community, whilst retaining a sense of privacy and sanctuary. The mini-tower concept has unlocked a new dimension of this inner-urban site, enabling each resident to enjoy fantastic views from the roof terrace and providing a grounded presence within and profound understanding of the changing urban environment.