Maddy Laslett and Andrew MacKinnon

Common Green

By replicating much-loved characteristics of Melbourne’s middle suburbs like open green space, ground floor entry and a gradient of public to private from the front to the back yards, Common Green proposes a solution to Melbourne’s increasing housing problem.  At its base, Common Green is a highly adaptable two-storey, four-bedroom, two-bathroom module that, when arranged in clusters on any site, provides interstitial green space on both the ground and first floors.  The modules have been optimised for both private and communal living and an indoor-outdoor lifestyle with a strong emphasis on shared outdoor spaces. Establishing clusters of modules creates micro communities and microclimates and provides summer and winter spaces for year-round use.

The outdoor space facilitates a mixture of productive gardens, native gardens, space for play and intersections for gathering. As you walk in from the street, the outdoor spaces transition from the neighbourhood reclaimed nature strip and commercial space, to the community lawns and elevated connections, to cluster green and patio spaces, to private patios and terraces. The first-floor elevated walkways that connect the cluster green spaces are inspired by the Australian verandah vernacular and provide connections between clusters that foster greater community relationships. The reclamation of the nature strip creates a barrier between the road and the site and establishes a community relationship with the neighbourhood providing space for bike storage, community gardens, commercial enterprises and gathering.

The four-bedroom housing module can be adapted in both short term and long-term timelines and is able to cater for a growing family, and allow for ageing in place, growing and shrinking with its occupant’s needs. This flexibility in the module allows for divisions of the ground floor to transform the module to accommodate varying household requirements from a studio apartment to a four-bedroom unit. Dual ground floor access, cladding dictated by orientation and central entrances and circulation ensure that the module performs in all orientations. Adaptations require only minor renovations as all plumbing and electrical points are placed so they work for all adaptations. The comfort of future occupants was at the forefront of design decisions, with all spaces given access to natural daylighting and adequate privacy. A central void and highlight windows flood the downstairs with light and polycarbonate south-eastern walls create atmospheric living areas.

The module’s environmental considerations ensure a low impact lifecycle both environmentally and in maintenance regime.  A structurally insulated panel (SIP) spine coupled with prefabricated wall and floor cassettes ensure quick and simple assembly with minimal impact on neighbours. The extension of the SIP beyond the module emphasizes the structural spine of the module while providing added privacy and shading.  Passive ventilation, solar panels, hydronic heated slab, good insulation, site water collection and fully electric appliances and services address environmental concerns.  Materials were selected for their combined low environmental impact and enduring qualities.

The flexibility of the planning creates simple replicability for distribution across any site in Melbourne’s middle ring suburbs. This flexibility extends to the proposed private-public partnership that facilitates multiple rental and ownership options, including intertwined government housing, rent to buy and traditional ownership. Common Green rejects business as usual approach of densification by height and challenges the apartment building in favour of the characteristics of the Middle Suburbs that everyone loves.