The Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar nation
Western Australia
Common Ground East Perth is a permanent supportive housing project that places care, dignity and belonging at the centre of the city. Overlooking Moort-ak Waadiny / Wellington Square, the building sits among infrastructure, transport and workplaces, asserting housing as a vital part of civic life.
Grounded in the Housing First philosophy, the project was shaped through consultation with people with lived experience of homelessness, alongside service providers and housing partners. This informed a design approach focused on autonomy, safety and wellbeing, recognising that for many future residents, including a significant number of Aboriginal tenants, this will be a long-term home.
The architecture adopts a welcoming residential character, combining private apartments with shared support spaces that allow residents to choose how and when they connect. Conceived as a durable, high-performance building, Common Ground East Perth reflects a commitment to humane, inclusive housing embedded within the life of the city, creating home.
The Department of Communities (now Housing and Works) engaged Gresley Abas to lead the design of East Perth Common Ground, delivering 112 apartments with integrated on-site support services. Gresley Abas demonstrated a strong understanding of the Common Ground model and housing-first principles, with focus on accessibility, dignity, and durability. The design process was informed by stakeholder consultation and balanced complex technical, urban, and social requirements.
Jonathan Lake, Design Architect
Reece Currey, Project Architect
Tanya Jones, Project Architect
Irene Chan, Graduate of Architecture
Ciaran Beahan, Graduate of Architecture
Daniel Grinceri, Project Architect
Deepti Wetjen, Project Architect
Erich Renner, Technician
Alphazeta Group, Services Consultant
Josh Byrne & Associates, Landscape Consultant
Capital House Australasia, Structural Engineer
Taycon Group, Building Surveyor
Cundall, ESD Consultant
Ralph Beattie Bosworth, Quantity Surveyor
Hatch, Town Planner
Thirdstory, Lived Experience Engagement and Consultation
Kambarang Services, First Nations Consultant
Paola Anselmi + Paul Caporn Public Art Coordinators, Public Art Co-ordination
Inhabit, Facade Engineer