Retro-fit

A minimal-intervention rejuvenation of a 1970s apartment block in inner-city Melbourne provides an appealing alternative to demolition and rebuilding.

When impact-focused investment practice Tripple bought a block of 15 studio apartments in the heart of Fitzroy, it was clear the three-level structure needed work. The apartments were almost unliveable: with no heating or cooling or fixed cooking equipment, the basics were hardly there, and shared facilities were limited to a coin laundry and a car park.

But Tripple director Jake Marabel-Milgrom says the building had a lot going for it. Close to the city and public transport, it had “good bones”, with a compact plan and modest finishes typical of 1970s apartment complexes. Rather than demolish and rebuild, the team saw an opportunity to upgrade what was already there, testing out the proposal that a series of straightforward improvements could deliver better performance and living conditions while still stacking up financially over the long term. “The building represented so much embodied carbon already,” Jake explains. “If we knocked it down, that would be wasted.”

The Tripple team worked with architecture practice Kennedy Nolan, environmental consultants Finding Infinity, and builders Wilderness Building Co. on the project, taking a deliberately light-touch approach. Rather than reworking the existing structure, the focus was on improving performance and amenity for the tenants with minimal intervention.

Each apartment was stripped back and fitted with upgraded insulation, double-glazed windows and draughtproofing for improved airtightness. Gas systems were entirely replaced with efficient electric ones, including efficient heating and cooling, heat pump hot water and induction cooktops, and a rooftop solar PV system allows the building to generate more energy than it consumes. These measures are estimated to reduce residents’ energy bills by around 80 per cent compared to before the retrofit – as well as delivering many benefits that are less easily quantifiable, like thermal comfort and quiet interiors.

Despite their small footprint of around 30 square metres each, the studios have been carefully reworked to feel flexible and liveable, with bulky elements such as island benches removed and layouts simplified to make better use of the available space. The basic kitchen areas were upgraded to compact but fully equipped kitchenettes. The tones of the clinker brick structure informed the palette of finishes, with dark red laminate joinery bringing warmth to the interiors. “There is an emphasis on creating a sense of domestic comfort, on making places for people that are warm, welcoming and beautiful, in their own modest way,” says architect Patrick Kennedy, principal at Kennedy Nolan.

Led by Wilderness Building Co’s efforts and initiatives, construction was approached with a focus on minimising waste. Materials such as tiles, timber and fixtures were carefully removed, stored in the undercroft and reused throughout the project. Existing door frames were kept and timber reworked into joinery, handles and bathroom cabinetry, while bricks from former window sills were reused to repair the original building fabric. Even the electrical switchboard boxes in each apartment were built with materials from site. Salvaged elements were also reintroduced in shared areas, including the communal laundry, where former kitchen splashback tiles make a checkerboard of orange and yellow.

A mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR) in each apartment helps maintain fresh air and stable internal temperatures, reducing reliance on active heating and cooling. Residents are supported with a user guide that outlines how to get the best from their homes, encouraging new habits. “You don’t need to open a window for fresh air,” it explains, detailing how the MVHR and other systems work.

Beyond the apartments, shared spaces are designed for everyday interactions. The underused car park and undercroft have been turned into a communal laundry and gathering area, the latter centred around a long bench that functions as workspace, dining table and social hub. Smaller leftover spaces have been repurposed into a reading nook on one floor and a co-working area on another. “The shared spaces were designed to build fellowship among the predominantly single-person households,” explains Patrick. “The aim was to support a sense of community within the building.” Landscaping also plays a role, with a shared vegetable garden and composting.

The apartments, now known as Wilam Ngarrang, meaning ‘place to reflect’, were named in consultation with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. A mural by Wurundjeri artist Alex Kerr draws residents into the shared spaces, embedding a visible cultural presence. “While working with the Indigenous council, they told us they wanted their community to feel welcomed,” says Jake. “They said seeing and hearing their culture was the best expression of that.”

Wholly owned by Tripple, the apartments are leased through ethical real estate agency HomeGround, with two offered at below-market rates to support low-income households. The remainder are typically rented to professionals, both singles and couples, drawn to the inner-city location and compact studio layout.

Achieving the retrofit and still keeping rents affordable required close collaboration across the project team, with the cost of every decision weighed up carefully. “If we had spent more, the rents would have needed to go up, and nobody wanted that,” says Jake. This discipline shaped everything from material reuse to the streamlined detailing. Early on in the project, the team drew up a ‘shopping list’ of the initiatives they wanted to include, categorising them into environmental, social and ‘have to do’ (like concrete repair and a new back fence), and prioritising them to inform the budget process. Happily, Jake reports that in the end, just about all of it was able to be included.

Wilam Ngarrang stands as an important proof of concept: a financially and environmentally sustainable, replicable retrofit of an existing apartment building to extend its lifespan and achieve increased amenity for tenants – importantly, without increasing rents to a point where the community would need to move to a new area. “The project demonstrates how we can build on what’s already there in our cities, to make liveable and affordable housing,” Jake sums up.