Public housing doesn’t need to be visually quiet to belong.
A photo of the rear entrance foyer by Nicole Reed
By Shaun Hossack, Founder, Juddy Roller
There's a habit in social housing of keeping the building as quiet as possible, so it blends in and doesn't draw attention. HousingFirst's Marlborough Street development in the City of Port Phillip went the other way, and we were glad to be part of it.
Port Phillip expects new buildings to add something to public life. HousingFirst and architects Baldasso Cortese took that seriously. The public art was part of the design, not something added to satisfy a requirement.
The site
The building runs along Dianella Lane, a service laneway built for cars and bins, not for people to stop in. We didn't try to disguise that. The artwork works with the lane.
Perspective is everything. This mural appears to change depending on the viewer’s location.
Two artworks, one artist
We curated and delivered two permanent works, both by Australian artist Drez: one along the laneway and one in the entrance foyer.
Drez used the lane's length, angles and rhythm. His bold colour and anamorphic shapes stretch along the walls and change as you walk. From one spot it looks abstract; a few steps on, the forms line up into structure. It rewards attention without demanding it. The mural also leads people toward the car park entrance and gives a lane that was easy to miss a clear point of arrival.
The external mural brightens the car park entrance and makes an easily forgotten laneway feel alive.
Visible, not sensational
The art isn't there to soften or hide the building. It gives social housing a cultural voice in the street and makes the point that it belongs in the city like any other building.
It also works day to day. Residents, neighbours and people cutting through pass it constantly. The lane now makes people slow down, look around and find their way, where before it was somewhere to hurry through.
The mural was designed to carefully lead the viewer into the car park, creating a warm welcome and a way-finding beacon.
Done carefully, public art in housing can:
change how people see social housing
improve the public realm around it
build a lasting identity for the place
Drez is known for artwork that draws the viewer into his colourful world.
Recognition
The project received a Commendation at the City of Port Phillip Design & Development Awards 2024, under the Jury's Award for Excellence in Cultural and Community Benefit. The jury pointed to how well the art was integrated into the building and what it adds for the community.
Project team
Client: HousingFirst
Architect: Baldasso Cortese
Public art curation and delivery: Juddy Roller
Artist: Drez
Working on housing, build-to-rent or mixed-use projects where the art needs to hold its own? See how we approach public art strategy or read our Indi Footscray build-to-rent case study.
