Melbourne architecture studio Edition Office and development group Neometro have unveiled plans for a striking 18-unit apartment complex at 450 Gore Street in Fitzroy, one of Melbourne's most leafy inner suburbs. The monolithic concrete building is scheduled for completion in early 2026 and aims to demonstrate how increased housing density can be successfully integrated into established neighborhoods without sacrificing quality of life for residents.
The collaboration between Edition Office and Neometro represents a shared commitment to rigorous design principles and deep understanding of Fitzroy's unique urban character. Edition Office, the Melbourne-based architecture studio, focused on consolidating the residential program into a sculptural and enduring concrete form, while Neometro concentrated on embedding human-scale qualities throughout the living environments. Both firms bring decades of experience working within Fitzroy's distinctive urban context.
The apartment complex will offer a diverse mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units, each designed with careful attention to daily living rituals and long-term adaptability. Kitchen areas, dining spaces, and living rooms have been thoughtfully proportioned to support cooking, entertaining, and social activities. The development will also feature loft residences with impressive five-meter-high ceilings that create a dramatic sense of volume and atmosphere throughout the living spaces.
Concrete was selected as the primary building material for its exceptional durability and unique ability to register the passage of time, creating the project's defining material identity. While the exterior presents a robust, structuralist architectural language that contrasts boldly with the surrounding leafy streetscape, the interiors have been designed to be sensitive and highly adaptable. This approach to material honesty is intended to help anchor the building within Fitzroy, a suburb known for its successful coexistence of historic architectural layers and contemporary additions.
Environmental performance represents a key priority for the development team. The project is targeting an impressive 7.5-star NatHERS energy rating and will incorporate fully electric services throughout, high-performance thermal insulation, and a long-term carbon-neutral power agreement. Many of the apartments will benefit from dual-aspect layouts that provide residents with views of Fitzroy's charming backstreets, neighboring suburbs, or distant vistas toward Melbourne's central business district.
For Neometro, which has maintained an active presence in Fitzroy for nearly four decades, this project continues their substantial legacy of residential development throughout the suburb. When combined with Edition Office's distinctive architectural approach, the Gore Street complex presents an innovative model for contemporary urban living that manages to be monolithic in its visual presence while remaining thoughtfully sensitive to both its immediate context and the needs of future residents.
