VISION 41 — BLACK BEAUTY
BLACK
BEAUTY
PROJECT
Buckley Street Apartments,
Essendon, Melbourne
ARCHITECT
John Demos Architects
PRINCIPAL GLAZING
Virdian Thermotech ™ Double Glazed Units,
EnergyTech ™ Clear
TEXT, IMAGES & FILM
Peter & Jenny Hyatt
Inner-city and outer-suburban
apartment towers are sprouting across
Australia like spring growth. Density
is the new planning mantra and
vision of most urban planners and
governments to utilize vital space
for population growth.
Rather than replicate the more introverted tilt-slab build,
Melbourne architect Demos advocated an open
expression and design generosity. Well removed from the
bleak and the bland, his six-level apartment ‘block’ is a
model of design compression and occupant release.
The result is a showcase of geometric glazing that frees
occupants and building users from a lifts-only policy.
Here ‘fire-stairs’ comprising Viridian Thermotech double-
glazing invites and defines occupant circulation.