Melbourne-based developer Orchard Piper has received development approval for its $520-million mixed-use precinct in Kew, paving the way for a major residential and retail transformation at Kew Junction.

Known as Kew Village, the Princess Street project will turn an underutilised open-air car park and supermarket site into a new neighbourhood comprising housing, retail, hospitality venues and public spaces.

Designed by Wardle, with landscaping by Oculus, the approved development will deliver 194 residences across four buildings of varying heights. The project will include one, two and three-bedroom apartments and townhouses, alongside a 1,344sqm fresh food grocer and a mix of retail and food-and-beverage spaces. A tenth of the residential units will be allocated as affordable housing for essential workers.

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Most buildings within the development will remain below 16 storeys, with an 18-storey tower strategically positioned to minimise overshadowing and protect surrounding amenity.

The scheme also introduces a series of landscaped public spaces, including a new pedestrian laneway extending Athenaeum Place and a proposed park to the south of the site.

“Our ambition with this project is twofold: to deliver a precinct that meaningfully enhances Kew Junction while responding to the need for new housing and retail; and to set a precedent for future development in the area,” says Orchard Piper Founder and Director Luke McKie.

“This approval allows us to realise a project that becomes a new focal point for Kew, a lively residential precinct set above a welcoming, walkable place for the community defined by green space, a new fine-produce offering and re-envisioned retail.”

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The architecture draws on Kew’s established built character, with the design team referencing Victorian, Edwardian and mid-century residential forms throughout the precinct to help reconnect with the area.

“The architecture has been shaped by a careful sampling of Kew’s existing buildings, drawing from the double-column proportions of the suburb’s Victorian and Edwardian homes, as well as the more solid masonry expression and measured proportions found in its mid-century houses,” explains Wardle Principal John Wardle.

“Rich, highly crafted materials, including brick and terracotta, will ground the precinct and reveal the hand, mind and skills of many makers.”

The approval was preceded by an extensive design review process involving the Office of the Victorian Government Architect, the Department of Transport and Planning, and the City of Boroondara.

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“Kew Village is a defining addition to our portfolio and reflects Orchard Piper’s dedication to design excellence. For nearly two decades, we have been collaborating with leading architects and designers to create thoughtful, enduring buildings,” notes McKie.

“This approval provides the momentum to move forward confidently with a precinct that will deliver much-needed housing in Kew and contribute meaningfully to the continued evolution of the junction.”

Kew Village is expected to launch to market in 2027, with construction to begin later that year.

All images supplied

Architecture News & Editorial Desk

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