ABITO APARTMENTS, FITZROY

The brief for the award winning Abito was to integrate the heritage value of the existing streetscape in a new residential project delivering environmental design innovation. The construction was very demanding given the logistical constraints of the inner-urban environment. The building features 60 luxury apartments, a double basement car park and a number of retail tenancies. The Urban Development Institute of Australia recognised Hickory’s work on Abito by awarding the project their 2006 Award for Excellence, Medium-Density Development.

The building addresses the corner and transitions its height to meet its eastern neighbours.  By directing vehicle access to the laneway, the street frontage is reserved for retail and residential entries.  The continuous ground floor and the indented upper floors respond to the residential character across Victoria Street, while the flat treatment of the eastern façade responds to the adjacent industrial architecture. The variation in the exterior walls also permits access to light and air for internal rooms and upper level landscaped terraces. The graffiti/mural finish on the lowermost walls fits in with the graffiti on other surrounding buildings, while conserving the pink/green colour scheme of the project.

This post is part of the Monday Murals meme.