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This responsive centre provides short-term accommodation and support for homeless men.

The site is a disused nineteenth century primary school building and grounds in an inner city suburb. Four groups of sixteen rooms are arranged in separate buildings that frame a large internalized landscape courtyard. Each building contains communal lounge and laundry facilities to encourage new friendships and social interaction.

The buildings are clad in beautiful black wire cut bricks from wood fired kilns. The bricks lend a dignity to these modest buildings and reference the original brick school building. At the center of each building a zinc skylight unfolds to allow natural light into the communal corridor spaces below. 

The entry building is of two parts - a brick clad anchor that contains chapel and communal facilities, and a large entry awning lined in zinc that opens up toward the internal landscape of the facility. The central landscaped court with its meandering walls and series of walkways linking active and passive areas has become a principal expression of architectural intentions for this project.

Care is taken with detail for pragmatic reasons of low maintenance but also to increase the enjoyment of inhabitation regardless of the brevity of stay.

  • Traditional Custodians Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people
  • Client Salvation Army, Department of Planning & Development
  • Location West Melbourne, Victoria
  • Project Duration 1994 - 1996
  • Selected Awards
  • Award of Merit: Multi-unit residential category, Royal Australian Institute of AAward of Merit: Multi-unit residential category, Royal Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Chapter

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