Breese St by Milieu

DKO Architecture & Breathe Architecture with Milieu Property

Designed as a collaboration between DKO Architecture, Breathe Architecture and Milieu Property, Breese St was informed through careful study of the requirements of urban living anchored in nurturing community and championing sustainability. The architecture fits the narrative of Brunswick’s industrial heritage of the past while leading to a sustainable future.

In approaching the project, the design team prioritised ethics over aesthetics. Smaller footprints, less applied finishes, more robust materials and more efficient construction. Aiming to build less and give more. Careful attention is paid to the lifecycle of each material used. Designed with material sustainability at the forefront, materials are recycled, recyclable, low carbon and locally sourced where possible.

Breese Street’s residents will form a genuine community, one where neighbours connect – not over the fence in this instance, but while tending gardens on the rooftop. This ‘backyard in the sky’ includes native plants, beehives and a community vegetable plot intended to support a natural ecosystem which attracts wildlife. Barbeque, outdoor dining areas and communal workspaces again encourage chance encounters and social interactions. The rooftop also includes a shared laundry and clothesline to reduce energy and water usage. A 20,000-litre tank collects rainwater to be redirected to garden irrigation, while a compost area will minimise food waste and contribute to the garden.

The interior palette was balanced with simple, strong shapes and finishes such as white steel detailing, soft sheer curtains and simplistic pendant lights. The team wanted to celebrate beauty in raw, honest materials; create delight through the use of crafted and textured details and use natural materials with warm undertones to reference the feeling of home and play on shape through geometric components. Interiors include low VOC materials, recycled timber floors, carbon neutral bathroom tiles and raw brass tapware.

Photography by Tom Ross.