New all-electric 100% certified Green Power commercial opportunities are coming to Brunswick

Melbourne’s Nightingale Housing, known for its community-focussed, beautifully-designed and sustainable residential projects, is bringing that approach to a new commercial offering under the Nightingale Studios banner.

The launch of Nightingale Studios will see 24 commercial and retail spaces brought to market at Nightingale Wurru wurru bilk, part of the Nightingale precinct in Brunswick.

Colliers Tom Larwill, Matt Knox and Lucas Soccio have been engaged to handle the sale and lease of a variety of commercial and retail spaces across the project.

Nightingale Wurru wurru biik is a mixed-use development that, apart from a range of residential offerings, will comprise a total of 24 commercial spaces, located on the ground floor and level one ranging from 17sqm to 143.5sqm making them suitable to a range of uses and occupiers.

Tom Larwill, Manager of Colliers Retail Leasing, said, “With construction set to be complete in December 2023, the commercial spaces are currently provided as a cold shell fit out, with a simple and robust material palette, providing future occupiers the ability to put their mark on the space.”

“With a median age of 34 years and a population that is projected to grow by 43,000 people and 18,000 households by 2026, The City of Merri-bek is expected to experience significant change. At Nightingale Wurru wurru biik, a focus is to create a vibrant community of businesses that will improve the amenity and services provided in the area,” said Mr Larwill.

Located in popular Brunswick facing Albion Street, Nightingale Wurru wurru biik is divided into four connected communities: Wurru wurru, Laak, Yambook and Ngawan.

Nightingale Housing CEO Dan McKenna said each community had been given a Woi Wurrung name around the theme of the ‘sky’ or ‘wurru-wurru’, one of the six layers of Wurundjeri Country, based on consultation with Wurundjeri Elders.

“People see Nightingale as an organisation that cares deeply about acknowledging the Indigenous heritage of the places where we are creating new vibrant communities,” said McKenna.

“We’re excited that these and all the other values we bring to our projects are now being extended to the Nightingale Studios idea – so like-minded businesses can also be part of what we are trying to achieve.”

The thoughtful architecture and interior design have been created by Breathe Architecture, who has selected materials that acknowledge Brunswick’s diverse heritage and industrial past, with arches and frames, brick and concrete interchanged in different combinations to respond to the buildings’ immediate contexts.

Like all Nightingale projects, sustainability is at the core of Nightingale Wurru wurru biik, with the buildings being all-electric with solar arrays supplementing 100% Certified GreenPower. Another feature is the courtyard at the intersection of the four buildings that acknowledges the 65,000 years of precolonial history through a connection to the environment.

“Living greenery will play a key role across all buildings and levels, from ground to rooftop and at Nightingale Wurru wurru biik. Level one focuses on landscape and is about building a regenerative, biodiverse and lush habitat that brings together all four communities,” said McKenna.

“Breathe has thoughtfully incorporated a glazed and open-air landscaped courtyard on level one, providing shared amenity for the overlooking commercial spaces for the residential homes atop.”

Nightingale Wurru wurru biik also has end-of-trip facilities such as bike parking, public toilets and showers on both ground and level one. Multiple in-built seating arrangements exist for occupants to gather or take a break.

Nightingale Wurru wurru biik is conveniently located close to Anstey train station, Sydney Road tram services, and Albion Street bus services and has direct access to the Upfield bike path, just five kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD.