Gadigal Land
New South Wales
Y Suites on Margaret project in Redfern is a purpose-built 18-storey student accommodation development provides 410 beds with associated indoor and outdoor communal spaces located on multiple levels, and retail tenancies on ground floor.
The project engaged with connecting to Country framework to create a unique building that references key indigenous cultural practices and traditions. The architectural interpretation of the art of weaving was adopted to provide a rich, tactile metaphorical “basket” or podium to house the building. In a way, it is curating the streetscape program to provide a didactic and accessible experience, with reference to traditions, past and present.
The building is expressed as two tower forms, emphasised through height and setback strategies, and defined through an articulation that supports the transition of precinct granularity.
‘Mana-gubra,’ a five-storey mural created by First Nations artist Leanne Tobin and curated by Nicole Monks, is located on a prominent building facade.
From the client’s perspective, Y Suites on Margaret is a thoughtfully designed student housing project that exceeds the brief. Antoniades Architects has delivered a beautiful building that sensitively embeds Indigenous storytelling through weaving-inspired forms, contributing meaningfully to Redfern’s evolving urban fabric. The design provides a safe, supportive and socially engaging environment, enhancing student life through shared communal, recreational and learning spaces that foster connection, collaboration and student productivity. Efficient planning enables cost-effective independent living while supporting operational sustainability and a vibrant, inclusive living-learning community.
Andreas Antoniades, Design Architect
Renu Varshney, Project Architect
Dyan Prakash, Graduate of Architecture
Zoe Deliat, Graduate of Architecture
Kusum Lata, Project Coordinator
Con Kallos, Senior Project Coordinator
WSP Australia Pty Ltd, First Nations Consultant
Jensen Hughes Pty Limited, Access & BCA Assessment
Acoustic Logic, Acoustic Consultant
Urban Arbor Pty Ltd, Arborist
Vipac Engineers and Scientists Limited, Basix & Sustainability
JHA Engineers, Civil Consultant
G Force Technologies, Electrical Consultant
Aspire Sustainability Consulting Pty Ltd, Section J & Green Star
Inhabit Australasia Pty Ltd, Design Performance Solutions
EES Fire, Wet & Dry Fire Services
Stantec Australia Pty Ltd, Fire Engineer
WMA Water Pty Ltd, Flood Management
Douglas Partners, Geotechnical & Contamination
Weir Philips Heritage & Planning, Heritage Consultant
MGP Building & Infrastructure services Pty Ltd, Hydraulic Consultant
RPS AAP Consulting Pty Ltd, Landscape Consultant
ARA Mechanical group, Mechanical Consultant
Webber Design Structural Engineering, Structural Engineer
LTS Limited, Survey Consultant
Urbis, Town Planner
Waste Audit & Consultancy Services (Aust) Pty Ltd, Waste Management
Waterproofing Integrity design & testing services, Waterproofing
SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd, Reflectivity Wind
Leanne Tobin, Artist
8th Wonder Studio, Precast Concrete Artwork
Nicole Monks (Mili Mili), Curator
Aspire, ESD Consultant
Safe Master Height Safety Solutions, Facade Maintenance
Advanced Precast, Precast concrete/brick panels
Simplex Engineering, Substation
McKenzie Group, Certifier
Austral Archaeology, Heritage Consultant