Merri Green is a multi-residential development in Northcote and was envisaged as a project that put residents first and provided dwellings of such generous proportions and quality that they could be seen as ‘forever homes’. Design decisions were constantly reviewed against this overarching idea and a committed client ensured that these outcomes were followed.

The townhouses on the western perimeter of the site overlook the environmentally sensitive Merri Creek, while the townhouses on the northern boundary abut Northcote Golf Course.

Local context, community values and sustainability were key drivers for the design.

In collaboration with our landscape architects, we came up with the concept of the internal piazza – part activated community space, part vehicle access and car park.  Coloured concrete pavers, a detailed ground pattern and pockets of garden soften this space and invite residents to explore its potential as a community gathering place.

The townhouses are ‘wrapped’ in a screen of spotted gum, the purpose of which is twofold.  The operable screens provide sun-shading and privacy for the residences, and blend visually into the stands of eucalypts running along the Creek corridor. This screen provides a unifying façade that reduces the overall scale of the development. 

Every townhouse has its own solar panels feeding into a Tesla battery, and the apartment complex a shared solar system.

The townhouses were, in part, constructed with locally sourced recycled bricks; recycled blackbutt has been incorporated into internal joinery; and No-VOC paint is used throughout the development.

Rainwater tanks collect stormwater for reuse in toilets and landscape irrigation. Rainwater is also filtered through the paving and diverted into the seven rain gardens which naturally filter the water and remove pollutants before releasing it into the stormwater system.