Conveniently located in Auburn Village, Newburgh Light House presents a highly sustainable housing solution, accommodating up to 21 people over 10 levels on an almost un-buildable 150 m2 site beside a historic train station. With no street access and a north facade directly abutting VicTrack land, complicated fire, building methodology, acoustics, equitable light, and stability requirements dominated much of the design process. The response was a mini tower typology with a full level for each residence, using glass block as a key material to satisfy both fire and light requirements.
Conceptually, translucent facades combined with reflective finishes form a lantern to the public realm while creating an ephemeral quality within the residences. To address construction constraints, the design adopts modularity and a clean expression typical of dense urban contexts. Prefabricated north and south facade elements combine glass block panels and recessed operable glazing to maximize connection to light and views. Full translucency with a minimal core future-proofs daylight access, while intricate prefabricated metal detailing enriches both interior experience and the adjacent station edge.
