Nightingale Ballarat marks a watershed moment for a regional city facing the challenges of urban sprawl and climate change. A celebration of Ballarat’s rich history in form and 100% fossil fuel-free, Nightingale Ballarat includes one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, and shared rooftop garden and laundry designed with an overarching priority towards social, economic and environmental sustainability.
The project includes simple urban design gestures to activate the street. We took the power lines underground, carved out a generous, semi-public courtyard, planted a significant tree to throw shade over the footpath and built-in seats to improve the pedestrian experience.
A stunning arched facade, created from locally sourced recycled red brick forms part of the active street frontage that gives back to the broader community created by the downstairs cafe, deep root planting, and lush open courtyard. The building exeeds 8 star NatHERS rating and each home is cross-ventilated with access to open-air walkways and operable windows. Importantly, 20% of apartments are allocated to Housing Choices Australia to provide safe, secure, housing to those most in need.
