Cowper Residences
Vibrant mixed-use community to activate Footscray Market precinct
| Location: | Wurundjeri Country, 34 Cowper Street, Footscray VIC |
| Status: | Complete |
| Awards: | The Urban Developer Industry Excellence Awards 2023 – Development of the Year High-Density Residential (Finalist) Property Council of Australia National Innovation & Excellence Awards 2024 – Best Residential Development (Finalist) |
Cowper Residences occupies a central site in Footscray, straddling a major train station, market, shopping precinct and arts hub. We embraced local character and scale to enhance liveability, workability and walkability with a mix of residential precincts linked by landscaped gardens, lanes, commercial tenancies and communal space.
Cowper Residences comprises 16 townhouses, 400 apartments, 11 SOHOs and several commercial tenancies including a ground-floor café.
The project consists of six precincts which step up or down in density to respond to the the neighbouring context. Townhouses and SOHO's interface with surrounding residential for a finegrain streetscape, higher density apartment buildings addresses the railway line and the prominent corner of Cowper and Hopkins Streets, creating a focal point for the Footscray Market area.
The ground plane is activated by mixed-use tenancies and communal spaces including gardens and bike storage to enhance social connection. Local flora frames stunning city views from rooftop terraces. Established trees help merge the development with the streetscape.
Successful urban infill projects embrace and enhance existing neighbourhoods. In Footscray, land reuse and densification is already well underway. Cowper Residences shows how urban infill really can bring a range of advantages to existing suburbs when we pursue dual benefits for developers and the community.
F.R. CHEE
Director/OIEC
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