Viridi

An oddly-shaped 1566 sqm residential site. A brief to complement Grattan Gardens, not overshadow them. Viridi was always going to need a creative response.

Nestled between South Yarra and Windsor, the brief for Viridi was a building that would enhance community living, natural integration, and sustainability. The architectural response was deeply contextual, drawing from Prahran’s historic cottages, lush parklands, and rich material palette. The tessellated terracotta façade, a first-of-its-kind execution in Melbourne, reflects surrounding earthy tones and deep greens, creating a living, shifting surface that responds to changing light conditions.

A vision that would bring movement, warmth, and depth to the streetscape.

Designed to echo the contours of the landscape, Viridi’s form rises like a natural extension of the adjacent Grattan Gardens, embedding itself rather than imposing on its surroundings. The building’s sloping geometry is precisely engineered to avoid overshadowing pedestrian pathways and public spaces, preserving daylight access throughout the year.

Behind its tessellated façade lay a complex build. We scanned the globe for tiles with the precise weight and shade. Over 2000 terracotta roof tiles were sourced from Spain, glazed in different exacting hues. Holding their substantial weight meant detailed exploration of new manufacturing options that would be work both visually and structurally.

The complexity of Viridi’s execution demanded seamless coordination across design, construction, and engineering teams. Extensive workshops were held with Cobild, Inhabit, and local façade engineers to ensure the structure’s material selection, tiling methodology, and sustainability initiatives were fully realised. Developed during COVID-19 disruptions, the project was delivered on budget and on time, reinforcing the power of collaborative problem-solving and technical ingenuity.

Beyond aesthetics, Viridi was engineered for environmental performance. The façade itself acts as a thermal insulator, reducing heat loss in winter and overheating in summer. Double-glazed windows, passive solar design, and high-efficiency insulation further contribute to the building’s energy-efficient footprint.

Reaching beyond standard multi-residential design, this unique outcome is equal parts poetry and pragmatism. A distinctive new character on the Melbourne skyline.