Breathe Architecture Revolutionises Melbourne Apartment Design

According to Architecture and Design, The Nightingale, is a 20-unit development that would sit across from the practice’s multi-award winning project The Commons, designed to challenge the way Melbourne builds its apartments, and change the way its residents perceive these buildings.

Breathe’s founder, Jeremy McLeod

told the The Age, "There is a great apartment culture in Europe, northern America, most other countries actually. But not in Australia. Here, if you don't have money, you might rent an apartment if you have to, but it won't be peoples' first choice.”

The Nightingale will attempt to surpass the environmental credentials of The Commons, being Zero Emission Ready with no gas reticulated to the apartment portion of the block. The team is also aiming for only renewable energy to be supplied to the development, both onsite and offsite.

Other ESD goals, according to Urban Digestor, are:

• A commitment to an 8-star average energy rating

• No cooling to be provided in the apartments

• High efficiency central heat pump hot water system

• 10kW minimum solar photovoltaic system

• 7,000L rainwater collection and reuse system plumbed to central washing machines

So far, $2.7 million has been raised to kick-start the development, with investors including a number of architects such as Six Degrees, Andrew Maynard and Clare Cousins.

However, the project has not yet been approved by Moreland Council.

Mayor Meghan Hopper

asking fellow councillors to check out The Commons, “so they can understand what the architects are trying to do” with the Nightingale.