Piccolo House, South Melbourne

This landmark project, set in an ever evolving South Melbourne precinct within close proximity to the iconic South Melbourne Market, incorporates luxury residential apartments and commercial spaces.

Created by Piccolo Developments and designed by Wood Marsh Architecture, Piccolo House is a benchmark mixed use development that effortlessly encompasses retail, commercial and multi-residential.

The unique island site allows the architecture to be expressed on all sides. Fronting Dorcas Street, the original Victorian terraces have been meticulously restored and reinstated incorporating office and retail, which in turn create street activation and connection to the neighbouring Clarendon Street retail precinct.

Behind the facade sits an off-form concrete framework containing coloured reflective double glazed elements that, along with other material selections for the podium, reinterpret the autumnal tones of surrounding brickwork. The subtly angled cut-outs into the concrete framework are akin to the carving of a block of stone.

Architectural and interior experiences are merged. The building entry via John Street is through the custom designed by Innovative Aluminium iaSlim pivot door, which is complemented by mirrored glass and blackened steel. The lobby’s interior mimics the colourful exterior with autumnal tones of mirrored glass. Four levels of well crafted one and two bedroom apartments with floor to ceiling windows sit above offering clear views of Melbourne’s skyline.

On the upper level, the Piccolo penthouse office reinforces the materiality of the building using a thermally broken and fully motorised window system by Innovative Vision Statements allowing the stunning silver travertine to flow seamlessly from inside to out. This motorised system is the first of its kind to be installed in Australia. With the qualities of a high calibre residential project, the resulting palette is intentionally dark, timber, black and bronzed metal.

Through an on-going commitment to ESD principles, and responding to pressing needs of environmentally responsible building construction, the bar was set for Piccolo to achieve an average of 6.5 stars across the board.

Innovative Vision Statements is proud of its partnership with Piccolo Developments and Wood Marsh Architecture, providing custom solutions to this progressive development which was recently awarded a 2020 Australian Institute of Architecture Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing.

Systems used:

• Double glazing to increase the shading coefficient reducing air-conditioning reliance, whilst floor to ceiling Low E coloured glass maximises natural light and increase spatial quality.

• Motorised thermally broken sliding door system.

• iaSlim pivot entry doors with toughened double glazing and electronic locking.