Natalie Keynton

Ever-increasing land prices in Melbourne continue to drive up the cost of living, creating an increasingly unaffordable property market. As a result the private rental sector is the fastest growing in the market despite 92% of Australians aspiring to ownership.¹ This reflects Australia’s cultural values which prioritise ownership, as reflected and reinforced in our financial systems, however, this thesis takes the position that ownership is only idealised because the alternative - private rental - is so bleak. Through an exploration and acknowledgement of the failure of both ownership and private rental to provide quality, affordable housing options, this thesis questions: How can the City of Yarra pioneer a new tenure model to secure affordable housing in perpetuity? While re-imagining apartment living as an attractive, secure and flexible way of living, how can we showcase life in a more equitable, vibrant precinct?

This precinct proposes a co-operative development of 100 units. As a co-operative member, each resident has access to an apartment with a private balcony, which provides the amenity of the Australian Dream’s back garden, as well as a range of facilities across the precinct. Conceptualised as a villa in the garden, the project has the feel of the leafy suburbs, while strategic activation creates a mixed-use precinct mimicking the intensity of the city.

^{[1] HIA, ‘Home ownership matters’, (HIA media release, March 2019)}