Architect: Carr
Location: Armadale, Victoria, Australia
Completion Date: August 2022
In August 2022, Carr completed work on 835 High Street in Armadale, a suburb of Melbourne. The medium-density residential project is located on Armadale’s busiest boulevard, known for its slew of luxury retail shops, gallery spaces, and cafes. At nearly 100,000 square feet, (9,278 square meters) the building consists of six stories and 26 units, including one penthouse. Retail space and parking are located on the ground floor.
835 High Street’s facade is characterized by a stepped grid concrete form that accommodates landscaped balconies while also meeting drainage requirements. The setbacks are located along the north and south faces of the building, while furrowed concrete panels shield the east and west portion. By leaving the structural concrete components bare, the design team expedited the construction of the project and reduced costs.
The facade’s subdued color palette arises from exclusive use of concrete and large spans of glazing. The project’s only color emerges from balcony planters, which intentionally spill over onto the facade of the building. Units feature large windows, framed by the columns of the concrete grid, which offer views of the surrounding neighborhood with Melbourne’s skyline in the distance.
Chris McCue, managing director at Carr, commented, “The palette is achromatic with natural cement renders and stone, paired with soft grey window frames— bringing gentleness to the project.”
The two ground floor retail spaces, roughly 6,000 and 1,300 square feet, respectively, have been leased to Leaf Grocery and Lune Croissanterie. The development also contains two basement floors with room for 65 parking spaces and 45 bicycles.
The interiors are floored with European oak while bathroom and kitchen surfaces incorporate white marble.
Acre, the project’s landscape architect, sculpted gardens along apartment balconies and the penthouse roof. The penthouse features balcony space which wraps around the perimeter of the building, containing a rooftop pool and garden. The gridded concrete columns act as arbors supporting overhead vegetation shading the exposed roof. In time, the greenery will grow out onto the concrete, adding detail and color to the facade. Carefully placed anchoring structures will facilitate the growth of climbing plants.
Stephen McGarry, associate director at Carr Architects, told AN “specific planting species were selected relative to facade orientation.” Eventually, due to the continued growth of overhead greenery, “a merging of vertical and horizontal species will occur and naturally create shading for the interior spaces.”
A large, nearly 43-foot void overlooks the lobby and is occupied by a sculpture designed by Australian artist Anna-Wili Highfield. The piece, aptly titled Bird, is an ascending series of 15 brass swallows mounted within the atrium. Highfield has worked on commissions for Tiffany & Co., Hermes, and other luxury retailers.
Project Specifications
- Architect: Carr
- Location: Armadale, Victoria, Australia
- Completion Date: August 2022
- Construction: Flux Construction
- Landscape architect: Acre Studio
- Project management: PAXpm
- Construction materials: Reckli
- Lighting: Peter Zumthor (Lobby), Viabizzuno
- Stone and tiles: Signorino
- Artist commission: Anna-Wili Highfield
- Stylist: Jess Kneebone
- Flooring: First Element
- Fixture and fittings: Apaiser, Astrawalker
- Appliances: Miele, E&S Trading
- Rugs and carpets: Tretford (Common area only), Gibbon Group
