The Rochester, Johnston St Fitzroy
Interiors: Breathe Architecture

The Rochester is a residential development comprising 24 apartments and two ground-floor retail tenancies. Located on Johnston Street Fitzroy, a precinct defined by its working-class roots, bohemian lifestyle, gentrification, and cultural diversity being home to Melbourne’s diminutive Spanish and Portuguese quarter, The Rochester presents a confident contemporary architecture to the neighbourhood that both references and converses with its local context.

Sitting comfortably in the mixed grain of Johnston Street, the white masonry podium references the scale of the landmark buildings along the street while complimenting the adjacent single-story residences through a considered composition of finer grain rhythms and human proportions. The podium is composed of custom breezeblocks, render, and delicate metal balustrades with a controlled connection to street level, grounding the building in its context. The earthly materials that balance scale, form, texture, privacy, and sun control and afford the development of a sense of belonging; an innate presence that is of the earth. The upper level is visually light with integrated screening to control solar gain.

We were interested that the architecture of the neighbourhood does not reflect the Spanish and Portuguese cultural significance of the area. As such, we studied ways in which the proposed design can celebrate the precinct's Latin heritage. Finding a link and inspiration in the tiled facades of Fitzroy’s pubs and shops, and the azulejo-clad façade architecture of the Iberian Peninsula, the humble glazed ceramic tile is the genesis of the gridded form and patterns repeated over the design at varying scales. This provides a lovely correlation between the two worlds which makes this part of Johnston street so unique.

The proposed design seeks to use modern construction materials to provide a contemporary interpretation of the humble tile.
The concept of the tile is used to inform the form of the building by providing an articulated and patterned façade. At a micro level, the detailed concrete breeze blocks offer unique screens and balustrades with a level of detail reminiscent of the traditional tile. The upper form is clad in a metal screen which when viewed closely features a perforation that ghosts the pattern of a tiled façade. At a macro level, the grid tile pattern is replicated highlighting areas of solid wall that are offset with adjacent areas of open space which will provide residences with light-filled terraces.

Sustainability Summary

With a commitment to achieving zero-net carbon emissions for the building’s operations, this all-electric, fossil-fuel-free development has no connection to a mains gas supply. All energy needs are met from renewable sources through a combination of grid-supplied electricity via an embedded network and an on-site solar PV system. The ‘all-electric strategy’ also includes efficient electrical building services and appliances, and electric vehicle charging.

The Rochester achieves a 7.0-star NaTHERS energy rating through a strong focus on the performance of the thermal envelope assisted by extensive use of shading screens. The central lightwells with gardens at the entry-level and open-air circulation throughout connect residents to the elements, optimise natural daylight levels and natural ventilation.

The integration of a range of ESD measures that together deliver strong ESD outcomes including being intentionally designed to minimise energy use, improve the indoor environment, conserve water, and focus on long-lasting materials with high reusability.

Photography: Derek Swalwell