Overview

Public RealmUrban Residential

Client
Frasers Property Australia

Collaborators
DKO
Hayball
NH Architecture
RotheLowman

Disciplines
Town Planning

Location
Burwood East, VIC

Date
2019

Imagery
David McGuiness

Awards
2022 UDIA Award of Excellence – Design Excellence (VIC)
2022 UDIA Award of Excellence – Medium Density Development (VIC)
2021 Innovation & Excellence Award – Victorian State Development of the Year
2021 AIA Awards – Allan & Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture
2020 Good Design Awards – Architecture Design Urban Design and Public Space
2020 Urban Developer Awards – Excellence in Sustainability
2020 Urban Developer Awards – Retail Development of the Year

Burwood brickworks
Burwood Brickworks is the first retail centre in the world to achieve full Living Building Challenge Certification; working towards the rigorous performance standard soon became a project highlight for Tract’s planning team.
Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks

The disused brownfield site, previously a brickworks used to manufacture building products, now features one of the world’s most innovative shopping centres.

Tract, in collaboration with Frasers Property Australia and a large multidisciplinary team, prepared a development plan and obtained planning approval for Burwood Brickworks that exceeded the sustainability goals.

Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks

Council saw the 20.5-hectare site in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs as significant to the improvement and development of the area. The site was rezoned to facilitate a mix of purposes, including residential, retail and open space areas.

Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks

Planning permission needed to incorporate Living Building Challenge parameters for the project, such as net zero energy, waste and water use.

Seeking compliance with the Living Building Challenge criteria was complex from a statutory perspective, as the planning scheme does not consider this type of sustainability tool.

Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks

However, the project team and council worked together to establish a collaborative approvals process, which led to a successful outcome. As a result, the centre was able to open in December 2019.

Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks

Tract also worked with the developer to obtain planning approval for high and medium-density dwellings such as apartment buildings, townhouses, terraces and detached and semi-detached houses.

The project team worked with leading architects including DKO, Hayball and RotheLowman to create a high-quality and innovative design response.

Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks
Burwood brickworks

The outcome is a thriving community of over 2000 residents who benefit from open spaces throughout the site and high-quality amenities within walking distance, reducing reliance on cars.

Burwood Brickworks is a model for future developments and demonstrates how sustainable planning and innovative design can improve liveability in suburban areas.

Burwood brickworks