Roberts Street Townhouses, Essendon, Melbourne

Roberts Street Townhouses Essendon, Melbourne property photos, Victoria architecture photos

Roberts Street Townhouses in Essendon, Victoria

28 April 2026

Builder and Interiors: APC Build & APC Studio

Location: Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Photos: Elise Scott

Roberts Street Townhouses, Australia

Roberts Street rethinks the suburban townhouse as a generous, design-led home rather than a volume-built product. Conceived for two closely connected families, the project challenges the typical prioritisation of yield and efficiency by focusing instead on spatial quality, light and long-term liveability.

It demonstrates that higher-density housing can achieve the generosity and refinement of a standalone dwelling.

Each residence is organised across three levels, balancing openness and privacy. Ground floor living areas extend directly to landscaped gardens, pools and alfresco spaces, creating a strong indoor–outdoor relationship. Upper levels accommodate bedrooms with ensuites and a shared retreat, while a basement level supports recreation and utility functions. Circulation is treated as usable space, with generous proportions and a clear sense of flow throughout.

A key innovation is the use of light and vertical connection. A sculptural spiral stair sits beneath a circular skylight, drawing daylight deep into the plan and creating a central point of orientation. Additional skylights and carefully placed openings ensure all spaces, including circulation areas, receive natural light.

The project responds to a mixed suburban context by offering a more resolved and considered alternative to speculative development. Environmental performance is embedded through passive design principles, including orientation, shading, high-performance glazing, insulation and an all-electric system supported by solar energy.

Materially restrained yet warm, the homes use natural stone, timber and curved forms to soften minimal spaces. The result is a pair of adaptable, light-filled homes that support contemporary family life while setting a higher benchmark for townhouse design.