Nightingale’s recently finished project in Melbourne’s north highlights all the things they’re renowned for: quality, practicality and a genuine response to the needs of people, the environment and the future. Working with celebrated architects, Kennedy Nolan, and in partnership with Laminex, Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi in Coburg marks an exciting new chapter for the charitable entity.
Meaning ‘All of us’ in Woi Wurrung, Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi is the title given to the building after consultation with the Wurundjeri Elders. The new apartment complex features 48 homes with subtly varied layouts and design touches, catering to the wide variety of residents that will call Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi home. Featuring all the elements that make Nightingale who they are, the building is fossil-fuel free with an embedded electricity network running 100% GreenPower, using high efficiency AC heating and cooling, certified carbon neutral appliances and rainwater collection for landscape irrigation, plus a shared rooftop with veggie garden, communal laundry and BBQ area. Perhaps, most importantly, Nightingale homes are only sold to residents and community housing providers, not investors.
All of this makes for modern, environment-friendly housing with excellent credentials; but a hallmark of Nightingale’s success has been in their involvement and collaborations with some of Australia’s best architects. For Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi, Kennedy Nolan’s idiosyncratic style has been employed to carve out an identity for the address and its residents.
“The brief that Nightingale always seems to start with, is, to achieve the most with the least, nothing extraneous, but sustainable, cost-effective, [and] just enough love that they feel like someone’s special home,” says Victoria Reeves, Director, Kennedy Nolan.
Laminex plays a key role in realising this vision, featured extensively across the homes and communal areas. In bold, strong colours, Kennedy Nolan have been able to achieve their design goals, while appealing to the needs of the client; simple, sustainable and durable products with high design impact.
“We’ve used different Laminex products all through the building,” says Rachel Nolan, founding partner and principal of Kennedy Nolan.
“When you’re coming in the apartments, you’re greeted with a beautiful Laminex Moroccan Clay bench, coupled with timber detailing - and that comes through the apartments into the kitchen. In the bedrooms we’ve used [Laminex] Daintree on the cupboards with little touchpoints in real timber. We’ve also used it in conjunction with other materials we love, so it’s like ‘how can this colour be a friend to other materials?’”
Leaning into its name and colour palette, Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi connects to the Australian landscape via brick and clay tones, through olive green and saturated hues, but it’s how Umarkoo Wayi connects to its residents with interiors full of warmth and care. Kennedy Nolan eschewed white for muted colours and fun, graphic treatments – see the overhead cupboards in the kitchen - and textural array; cork, terrazzo, clay, brass and timber, that wouldn’t feel out of place in the firm’s amazing back catalogue. Of course, it wouldn’t be Kennedy Nolan without some circular cutouts and motifs to provide interesting apertures, shadow play and sensory changes.
“We will always use a local product where we can, says Reeves of Laminex. “Projects such as these need to use materials that can be easily supplied and supplied for a budget and at scale.”
“We use Laminex, not just because we find it beautiful - the matte, block colour of it - but because it’s a tough product,” reiterates Nolan “and we've used it for a long time through a whole variety of building types; schools, retail, housing, it’s there to stay.”
Umarkoo Wayi has been designed with both its community, and the community at large, in mind, offering remarkable design, quality living and sustainability at its core. And while the superfluous is eliminated and the process is streamlined, a certain high-end quality remains. Kennedy Nolan’s ability to focus on the essential while retaining its design ethos means nothing is lost in the wash. Whether a secret beachside getaway or an apartment in Coburg, their signature is equally weighted; good design makes us all better. Good design is for ‘all of us’.
Learn more about Nightingale Housing here and explore Kennedy Nolan's industry-leading work on their website.
Credits:
Architect: Kennedy Nolan
Developer: Nightingale Housing
Builder: Cobild
Photography: Kate Longley
Video: SIRAP
Banner Image: Laminex Moroccan Clay kitchen cabinetry inside Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi.
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