Located in Melbourne’s inner-west suburb of Footscray, this Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) project is a multi-residential development designed to provide safe, functional, and architecturally considered homes for people with disabilities. The building combines robust materiality with a refined design language to deliver both durability and dignity.
The design responds to the industrial and cultural character of Footscray by using a warm red brick as the primary façade material, paired with exposed concrete elements that provide structure, contrast, and clarity. The red brick anchors the building within its historical context, referencing the area’s heritage while also creating a sense of permanence and stability. Concrete detailing offers a contemporary edge, reinforcing the building’s clean lines and geometric forms.
Internally, the project has been purpose-built to meet the highest SDA design standards, with a focus on accessibility, comfort, and independence. Each apartment features wide circulation zones, step-free transitions, and provisions for assistive technologies. Spaces are light-filled and open, with generous glazing that promotes cross-ventilation and visual connection to the surrounding neighbourhood.
The layout integrates private living areas with shared communal spaces to encourage social engagement while respecting the need for privacy and autonomy. Every aspect of the building has been considered with long-term usability in mind, from durable finishes to adaptable room configurations.
Situated in a walkable and well-connected part of Footscray, the project ensures residents have easy access to essential services, public transport, and community amenities. The development demonstrates that disability housing can be both highly functional and architecturally expressive — a thoughtful response to both urban context and human need.
This SDA building stands as a model for inclusive, context-driven residential design — practical in function, enduring in materiality, and uplifting in experience.
Stage: Construction Documentation
Location: Footscary
