Shiel Street North Melbourne, Community Housing Project | Clare Cousins Architects

Anchored by a captivating washed red brick plinth, Shiel Street Community Housing exemplifies how quality housing can be simple, affordable, and uplifting. A single, bold setback challenges planning convention to simplify the building’s form, linking the streetscape and tree canopy, while improving value for money and resident amenity.
Communal rooftop gardens occupy the setback, offering generous shared landscape spaces activated by residents, with panoramic views across the city beyond. The upper levels are recessive, textured to offset the brickwork below, and focus on preserving access to natural light. Balconies in particular are provided with thoughtful screening to ensure both privacy and views, with details carried across multiple scales for consistency. Internally, a looping central circulation spine elegantly resolves the complexity of the deep site footprint, improving safety, enabling personalisation, and increasing everyday functionality with additional storage for residents.
A refined and robust material palette is carried throughout, delivering spaces rich in texture and character. Though apartment variation is modest, the project supports NDIS-compliant dwellings and homes managed by Aboriginal Housing Victoria, contributing to a socially diverse and inclusive residential community. Flooded with natural light, apartment interiors belie their affordability, demonstrating that thoughtful design can elevate everyday living without compromise.