Ormond Road East Geelong Social Housing

Ormond Road East Geelong Social Housing

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Urban Residential

Client
Homes Victoria

Collaborators
NH Architecture
Bird de la Coeur Architects
Wrap Engineering

Disciplines
Landscape Architecture
Town Planning

Location
East Geelong, VIC

Date
Ongoing

Imagery
NH Architecture

This transformative project delivers 54 well-designed social housing dwellings in East Geelong, with easy access to schools, medical services, employment, transport and other amenities.

Working in collaboration with Homes Victoria, NH Architecture and Bird de la Coeur Architects, Tract’s Planning and Landscape Architecture teams have supported this contemporary, community-focused Ormond Road East Geelong Social Housing development from concept to delivery through the Victorian Government’s Big Housing Build program. In need of renewal, the previous 18 dwellings on the site were no longer fit for purpose. The project provides 54 modern dwellings – an uplift of 36 homes – delivering a significant improvement in housing supply, quality and density.

Tract facilitated planning approval through the Clause 52.20 pathway, including consultation with the City of Greater Geelong and key stakeholders.

The new three-storey buildings provide a diverse mix of 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments within a landscaped garden setting, ensuring excellent amenity and outlooks for residents. Careful management of levels, access and functional communal areas provide a range of spaces for residents.

Ormond road east geelong - ensby street - nh architecture
Ormond road east geelong - building b entry - nh architecture

A considered interface is developed between buildings, private open spaces, communal zones and the adjoining public realm, enabling connection to individual ground floor units and building entries.

Tract’s landscape design plays a pivotal role in fostering connection to the wider precinct, safety and sustainability, providing accessible and connected outdoor spaces with clear view lines, shared spaces for communal activities – a barbecue area and garden beds for resident use – to encourage and support social interaction and wellbeing.

Sustainability initiatives such as planted catchment swales, passive tree irrigation, and a dense buffer zone to the Ormond Road frontage, planted with biodiverse indigenous species, contribute to a targeted 5-Star Green Star rating. Retention of key existing trees and enhancement of canopy tree cover across the site provide setting for the built form, shade and ecological value.

The design team collaborated closely to ensure material selections are robust, durable, and reflective of the local character, creating a place of pride and belonging for residents.