Victoria and Vine by Cox Architecture | 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards

Victoria and Vine by Cox Architecture | 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Wurundjeri

Victoria & Vine creates a mixed-use residential and retail precinct that seamlessly integrates with the surrounding fabric of the vibrant Collingwood area. Celebrating the suburb's industrial heritage whilst drawing inspiration from New York's thriving meatpacking district, Victoria & Vine introduces a touch of eclectic charm and refined elegance to the urban fringe.

Comprising nine distinct buildings, each with its own unique identity, the development showcases a juxtaposition of contrasting elements such as colour, composition, materiality, and spatial massing.

The buildings unfold gracefully, rising from six stories in the middle of the block to a maximum of 11 storeys at either end. This carefully orchestrated height graduation creates harmony with the surrounding urban landscape, with apartments and 200 meters of street frontage providing an inviting platform for seven boutique retail tenancies.

Victoria & Vine offers a canvas for residents to live and thrive within an architecturally innovative environment that expertly weaves together industrial aesthetics with contemporary sensibilities. The mix of one, two, three, four, and six-bedroom apartments provides accommodation for mixed family sizes and lifestyles. The development showcases 28 three, four, and six-bedroom luxury penthouses, adding an extra dimension of exclusivity and grandeur. By offering such diversity, this project highlights its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, aiming to create a community that harmoniously coexists in its vibrant surroundings.

The design response infuses a touch of urban energy and sophistication. Just as the New York meatpacking district transformed into a hub of dynamic activity, Victoria & Vine imbues a new vivacity into the suburb with its modern interpretations and motifs drawn from the Collingwood’s historic cottages and warehouses, morphing effortlessly into the development's architectural language. Paying homage to the nearby heritage-listed former Foy and Gibson factory, the precinct's design elements converge to create a seamless connection between the past and present.

Victoria & Vine stands as a testament to the power of holistic design, transforming an entire suburban block into a contextually sympathetic residential and retail precinct. Embracing Collingwood's industrial heritage and drawing inspiration from iconic architectural landmarks, both local and international, this development serves as a beacon of excellence in contemporary architecture. As Melbourne's artistic urban-fringe suburb continues to evolve, Victoria & Vine represents a model for responsible and forward-thinking urban development, blending diverse housing opportunities, retail experiences, and cohesive design into the fabric of Collingwood's vibrant community.

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The Australian Institute of Architects Presentation to Juries offered entrants in the 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards an opportunity to address judges with their nominated projects.

Featuring some of Australia’s most prominent architects, Presentation to Juries is a rare opportunity for the public to learn about the influences behind some of Victoria’s most innovative buildings and follow the architectural process from concept to construction.