Moonee Ponds is a vibrant and established village with a diverse community and a rich history. The brief for Penny Lane was to capture and replicate this village character as a microcosm. Our approach considered form, materiality, orientation and amenity.

Penny Lane comprises two buildings joined by a laneway network that provides pedestrian access between the two, and also into Puckle and Young Street.

A 10-storey residential building on the south of the site incorporates ground level retail and three levels of basement and podium car parking for residents, public and staff. It utilises a shallow u-shaped floorplate to house two separate residential communities, both equal in status and quality. Each community has a distinct entry point and lift lobby, but all 114 apartments come together to share the communal amenities, including a private lounge, gymnasium and podium garden.

The building has been designed to prioritise the capture of natural light. Apartment living spaces are oriented north or west with floor to ceiling double glazing, or alternatively, are positioned to look over the landscaped podium garden.

The podium garden draws inspiration from nearby Queens Park, with endemic and exotic planting, a fire pit for evening gatherings and quiet nooks for contemplation. Apartments on podium level facing south and east will all enjoy private terraces, which open out directly onto the garden.

The architectural form and materiality speak to the suburb’s strong gridded street network combined with the organic shapes of Queens Park and Moonee Ponds Racecourse. We adopted a defined grid layout for the façade, interlinking with a curved form treatment on the northwestern corner. The vertical elements undulate in and out at each level to create a geometric pattern which is replicated on the south facing facade.

The prevailing materials of glass, steel and concrete are softened at street level by vertical planting, bluestone and recycled bricks salvaged from the existing building. Moveable screens to the western façade in warm timber tones provide shade and shelter for residents on demand.