Housing the Future: Six Points

4. Communal Living
Current models of inner-city living should continue
to diversify their offerings and evolve in accordance
with future living and working lifestyles. Rather than
a one-size-fits-all approach, the residential property
market and its associated housing policies should aim
to be more flexible, responsive and inclusive overall.
The resurgence in co-housing initiatives such as
Melbourne’s Urban Coup reflects an increasing desire
for community-centric owner-occupier housing
that is still amenable and close to the city centre. An
increasing number of prospective purchasers are
hoping to have more say in the design of their property
if they will be living there long-term: that is, they wish
to invest not just for short-term financial gains but
also qualitative returns that will see them through the
various phases of life. Committed owner-developer
groups such as Urban Coup allows such choices to be
made.
Perhaps more architects should be having these
open-ended, nebulous conversations: is it currently
feasible, for example, to raise a family or age-in-place
in an apartment tower? How can we future-proof
vertical communities from demographic stratification,
and ensure yields don’t all skew towards 1-bedroom
student shoebox apartments?
The decision to live communally or ‘grow old
with your apartment’ should not be a reluctant
compromise on location, access, tenure type, price or
choice. Alternative models should be embraced and
investigated to avoid homogenous development or
income-bracket favouritism.
This apartment-and-townhouse project champions
housing diversity in an otherwise cookie-cutter
multi-residential development climate.
The “assemble your home” concept gives purchasers the
ability to tailor their dwelling to financial and functinal
needs, providing a choice of standard or premium
options for their kitchen, bathroom and flooring, and a
range of extras such as a dog door, flexi-room, fold-down
bed or kid’s bath. There is a more nuanced palette of
choice on how individuals wish to live than traditional
models, while balancing construction efficiency, site
density and overall financial viability.
WestWyck Ecovillage, Brunswick.
Stage 1 by Peter Mills & Michael McKenna.
Stage 2 by Multiplicity.
Image by ArchitectureAU.
Westwyck comprises a cluster of 30 apartments
and townhouses around and within the former
Brunswick West Primary School. The units have
been developed in stages over a decade and are fitted
with solar panels, rainwater harvesting, grey-water
recycling and above-standard insulation, as well as
common landscaping areas and vegetable gardens. Its
affordable, ecological and community focus has drawn
much interest by like-minded locals and continues to
outperform itself in the housing market.
With a mission to repurpose the vacant schoolhouse,
developers Lorna Pitt & Mike Hill (also committed
owner-occupiers) have taken a long-term view on
the housing project and are personally invested in
community building. Recognising the importance of
122 Roseneath St, Clifton Hill by Icon Co, Wulff Projects good design, they also partnered with similarly-aligned
& Assemble. (currently in design documentation phase). local architects (named above) for creative heritage work
Image by Assemble.
using cost-effective, sustainably sourced materials.
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