Assemble, 15 Thompson Street, Kensington

Hayball worked closely with client Assemble, landscape architects Oculus, and sustainability consultants Atelier Ten to resolve a complex brief across a challenging site. The team sought to balance the individual needs of residents with the shared needs of the local community.

Particular focus was given to flood and climate resilience, fostering a highly productive collaboration with Atelier Ten. Passive design was embedded as the most meaningful approach to sustainability — prioritising self-finishing and robust building materials, daylighting, and cross-ventilation. These strategies were achieved across 100% of apartments, thoroughly exceeding the brief and BADS regulations.

Universal access was also achieved in all apartments, setting a benchmark for aging in place and fostering intergenerational communities. An informed brief from Assemble established high aspirations from the outset — explicitly encouraging the team to “break the mould” of Victorian apartment supply. This led to a project inspired by European exemplars, incorporating combined building services, best-in-class studio apartments, pet friendliness, and a strong emphasis on social and communal amenity in place of conventional apartment living.

The design team worked collaboratively through early design, documentation, and delivery stages — testing materials, managing site constraints, and coordinating disciplines to bring the vision to life. Close collaboration with the builder throughout construction ensured the project’s ambition was upheld — and ultimately exceeded. Today, residents live in a place that reflects their values, balancing comfort, sustainability, and community in an everyday way.

15 Thompson Street was designed around liveability, community connection, and environmental performance. The project delivers on its promise — offering high-quality, low-impact homes that meet residents’ real needs while adding long-term value to the Kensington neighbourhood.

A central park forms the heart of the development, providing a cross-site link and new public space between Stubbs and Thompson Streets. The ground plane is open and welcoming, featuring endemic planting, shaded seating, and a new pedestrian connection through the site. With local retail to come, the project will continue to evolve within its urban setting; it’s the internal street-like experience and diverse mix of spaces that create its unique identity.

The building’s form and materiality reflect its context — fluted concrete references the local heritage silos, while brick detailing echoes nearby warehouse architecture. Two residential clusters flank the park, offering a more human scale of living. Apartments are accessed via breezeways and open stairs that animate the façades, enhance cross-ventilation, and encourage everyday interaction.

Shared amenities are integral to the project — designed not as additions, but as essential to the lived experience. Residents can host friends in the bookable guest apartment, work on personal projects in the communal workshop, or gather on the rooftop garden, kitchen, or sports court. These spaces foster ownership and connection that extend beyond individual dwellings.

Functionally, all apartments are naturally lit, with many achieving full cross-ventilation. Materials were chosen for comfort, resilience, and sustainability. The building is fully electric, with rooftop solar supporting shared area energy use.

Designed from the inside out, 15 Thompson Street delivers high-performing, low-cost, architecturally rich housing that enhances quality of life — setting a new benchmark for community-led, sustainable apartment living in Victoria.

15 Thompson Street reimagines the lived experience of urban housing.

Centred around sustainability, community connection, and long-term value, the design supports Assemble’s financial model by embedding passive design principles, durable material selections, and shared building services. Innovation is expressed through generous communal amenities: a guest apartment bookable for visiting friends and family, a multi-purpose room conceived as a modern-day Scout Hall (used more than 60 times in the first two months), a DIY workshop, and 700 square metres of rooftop amenities catering to all ages — including cooking and dining areas, a dog run, sports court, planter beds, and a chicken coop. These are not luxury additions but everyday spaces that extend the home and enrich daily life.

The building’s open-air breezeways replace traditional corridors, improving ventilation and fostering neighbourly interaction. Three distinct access points reduce scale and provide the experience of smaller neighbourhoods within the development.

At an urban level, the design unlocks value on a complex, underutilised site adjacent to major infrastructure, transforming it into a connected, green, and accessible place for residents and the broader community.

This is housing designed for the long term — not only in cost and durability, but in its capacity to build community and deliver lasting value — demonstrating that ambitious, innovative housing models can successfully balance affordability with aspiration.

15 Thompson Street is already delivering measurable impact for its residents, neighbourhood, and the broader conversation about the future of urban housing.

Socially, the project fosters a genuine sense of connection. The rooftop and communal spaces bring people together across ages, cultures, and lifestyles, while the ground-level park and retail frontages invite the public to enter and enjoy the site. Shared amenities are designed not just for recreation but to promote wellbeing, safety, and pride of place. Early feedback indicates exceptional engagement with these spaces — particularly the multipurpose rooms and rooftop garden — as residents use the building in ways that exceed expectations.

The project directly supports key Victorian Government goals, particularly in delivering a housing model that promotes long-term stability. As resident Talia shared:

“It’s amazing to move into a place that embodies my values around sustainability and community. These are values I practice in every other part of my life — and can now live every day in my home.”

Environmentally, the project is a strong performer. Its all-electric operation, passive design, rooftop solar, and natural cross-ventilation reduce energy demand and support low-carbon living. The landscaped escarpment reconnects the site with regional waterways and restores local ecology through endemic planting.

The development targets at least 70% affordable homes for moderate-income households, as defined under Victorian planning conditions — where rent remains under 30% of household income. Locked-in leases, stable purchase pricing, and reduced operating costs promote financial security, while durable materials and efficient detailing minimise maintenance.

At a city scale, 15 Thompson Street demonstrates how repurposed industrial land can be transformed for public good. It challenges assumptions about apartment living and provides a replicable, future-focused model for sustainable, community-led housing in Victoria.

Environmental sustainability was embedded in every aspect of the design — from structure and materials to energy use and resident behaviour — resulting in a project shaped by passive design principles rather than aesthetic gestures. Thermal performance, acoustic comfort, and natural light were prioritised through orientation, massing, and meticulous detailing.

The building operates on 100% electric power, with rooftop solar supporting shared systems. Passive strategies — natural cross-ventilation, thermal mass, and abundant daylight — ensure stable indoor conditions with minimal reliance on mechanical systems. Open-air breezeways and consolidated services improve performance while reducing material intensity.

Design decisions were guided by both context and long-term sustainability: the building is designed for durability and adaptability, reducing embodied energy and waste across its lifespan. Shared amenities minimise duplication, while the resident workshop encourages repair over replacement.

Material selections reflect local heritage and environmental responsibility — recycled brick, vertical steelwork, and fluted concrete reference the area’s industrial character while offering longevity and low maintenance. Finishes were carefully tested for durability, low toxicity, and their ability to maintain quality under high use.

The landscaping strategy restores local biodiversity and supports stormwater management. The central park and on-site water system draw from the topography of nearby Moonee Ponds Creek, while endemic planting provides habitat for native species.

Active transport is prioritised, with more than 400 bike parking spaces integrated into the design. A dedicated bike entry — modelled on Dutch precedents — separates cyclists from cars and pedestrians, improving safety and convenience. Car parking was intentionally minimised to encourage low-carbon living.

Together, these strategies create a resilient, low-impact building that reflects a circular mindset — demonstrating how everyday housing can contribute meaningfully to a regenerative urban future.