The Lothian Apartment’s architectural expression successfully synthesises historical reference, practical living, and aesthetic delight. Designed by Kennedy Nolan, it is a place that honours North Melbourne’s memory while providing residents with spaces that are functional, elegant, and memorable – a contemporary tribute that is as livable as it is poetic.
Drawing inspiration from the nineteenth and early twentieth century warehouses and manufacturing buildings that define the local streetscape, the architects foreground red brick as both material and narrative device, using its texture and detailing to anchor the project in historical context while shaping a distinctly contemporary identity.
At the core of Lothian is a focus on domesticity. Kennedy Nolan’s design prioritises the everyday rituals of habitation, crafting spaces that balance openness and privacy in a dense urban setting. The site’s unique north-south orientation informs the placement of apartments, with principal façades facing east and west. Deeply shaded western elevations and considered eastern privacy treatments create a thoughtful dialogue between interior and exterior, while southern dwellings, envisioned as artist studios, benefit from generous diffuse light and whimsical arches that hint at romanticism.
The northern apartment is elevated into the tree canopy above Arden Street, offering a leafy retreat enhanced by eccentric oriel windows and interiors characterised by charm and sophistication. Across the project, spatial generosity is a recurring theme—living areas are raised to afford distant views and respite from street-level activity, while ground floor bedrooms and studies are carefully set back to maintain privacy.
Project & images: https://www.kennedynolan.com.au/work/lothian-apartments
Article & video by: Lily Wong
