It was innovation and sustainability that saw architectural firm Breathe Architecture and developer Small Giants take out the top gong at the 2014 Victorian Premier’s Design Awards recently.
Winning for their work on The Commons apartments, the project was selected as the overall winner for its innovative approach to design, resulting in apartments that are generous, simple, affordable and sustainable.
With a design strategy previously unseen in Australia, The Commons is a vertical community where residents share rooftop gardens, solar hot water, electricity generation systems, a rooftop laundry, bike parking and communal beehives. The design, which the judges called “a working prototype for urban living,” has been a catalyst for bringing together socially responsible individuals who are now striving to give back, not only to their neighbours, but also to improve their broader community.
The annual Victorian Premier’s Design Awards celebrate the very best of Victorian design and innovation and provide a unique platform for Victorian designers and businesses to showcase their best work to a national and international audience.