Melbourne Terrace Apartments - a close up

Melbourne Terrace was one of the first in a batch of residential buildings that spearheaded the apartment boom in the central city area of Melbourne in the early 1990s.  Promoting the benefits of medium/high density apartment living, it also helped regenerate the city’s northern market precinct.

The large building is divided into four sections, each with its own name and entrance: Equus, Mondo, Roma and Fortuna. Figurative bold sculptures by Peter Corlett and copper veneered doors highlight each of the four entrances.

_{Corner Franklin and Queen Streets, Melbourne, 3000}

_{1994 Katsalidis Architects (Nonda Katsalidis)}

Each section has a northerly aspect, heavy concrete construction (to minimize noise) and individual lifts and staircases are included with each unique entry. A shared car park with its entrance in Anthony Street, stretches across the two lower levels of all four sections of the building.

The exuberant building’s façade is made up of copper oxide-etched balcony slabs, copper cladding, mannered window surrounds, serrated edged off-form concrete slabs and a distinct articulated roof line.

The apartments are all generous in size with ceilings well over three metres high (a Katsalidis signature). Many are duplexes allowing the apartments to be floodlit during the day and some even occupying up to three levels.

This idiosyncratic styled building is significant as an early outstanding example of the work of noted award winning Melbourne based architect Nonda Katsalidis.

Images below taken by Peter Maltezos

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