Viv’s Place collects two national advocacy awards

ARM’s Viv’s Place project claimed two top honours at the Australian Apartment Advocacy’s first national Apartment Awards for Excellence, held Friday 25 October in Brisbane. The project won in both the Diversity in Housing and Pioneering categories, amid an evening that saw 23 winners recognised across 15 categories for their achievements in multi-residential development.

Viv’s Place, designed by ARM Architecture for Launch Housing, provides a secure, permanent refuge for women and children fleeing family violence and homelessness in Melbourne. Named after Launch Housing’s first social worker, Vivian McCutcheon, the seven-storey build-to-rent project offers 60 apartments designed for maximum flexibility. Half of these units are dual-key, allowing adaptable living arrangements for diverse resident needs.

The concept draws inspiration from New York’s longstanding Sugar Hill project by Broadway Housing Communities, which has successfully provided supportive housing for families for three decades. Like Sugar Hill, Viv’s Place integrates on-site services tailored to residents, creating a self-sustaining community and sanctuary for over 60 women and 130 children.

In awarding Viv’s Place, the judges highlighted its pioneering approach to social housing in Australia, particularly its innovative dual-key design for flexible occupancy. The project’s dual awards recognise its role as a model for future developments aimed at meeting the needs of vulnerable populations and enhancing community support within urban settings.