2020 National Architecture Awards: National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Jury citation

Salisbury Townhouses is a remarkable adaptive reuse project in which a set of tired, one-bedroom 1960s units with little amenity has been skilfully reconfigured into an ensemble of contemporary townhouses and given a new lease of life. This canny transformation of dormant housing stock has been achieved by adding a lightweight second storey to existing dwellings, reconfiguring plans, forming larger openings in existing brick walls and creating private outdoor living spaces in setbacks adjacent to each house. This is careful architectural work – the work of adaptation rather than erasure, potent work that is increasingly important in the renovation of the Australian suburbs.

Project credits

Architect NTF Architecture; Project team Brett Nixon, Ben Ellul; Builder Sabaya Constructions.

Salisbury Townhouses is located in Blackburn, Victoria, on the land of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin nation.