Flanking a central common courtyard, the two five-storey buildings that comprise this student housing are on the Clayton campus of Monash University. What sets this project aside from other interiors of this type is its uncompromised and stylish vision. With an emphasis on social gathering and interaction, all shared spaces have been centrally located in each building. Communal spaces are double-height, which plays an important role in connecting all levels volumetrically. The feeling is one of spaciousness, which is further enhanced by the ample natural light that streams in through generously sized windows. The interior’s real gem is in the studio apartments, which, despite their small size, have been extremely well resolved. Identified as a new benchmark in affordable housing, this well considered contemporary project reinvigorates the genre.
“The interplay between materiality and light in the building’s common zones provide a level of detail and interest not normally seen in student housing,” said Natasha Palich, jury member and principal architect at Sense Architecture.
Monash University Student Housing, BVN Architecture
