Momentum transformed a dowdy old 1970s office block through adaptive-reuse into a multi-residential building.
Momentum is a South Melbourne apartment complex that reuses the concrete structural skeleton of a former 1970s office block, significantly reducing both material waste and carbon emissions.
To celebrate its location near the Albert Park sporting precinct, we incorporated a dynamic animation sequence of a long jumper into the building’s design. The images are drawn from Animal Locomotion (1880s) by Eadweard Muybridge, a pioneer of stop-motion photography and motion-picture projection. Originally commissioned by the University of Pennsylvania, Muybridge’s work used photography to study human and animal movement. To ensure clarity, most of his subjects were photographed nude or nearly nude, allowing their motions to be distinctly visible.
On Momentum, the images are arranged in a maze-like configuration, transforming what would otherwise be a uniform stack of storeys into a visually dynamic façade. Covering two elevations of the corner site, the panels are made of aluminium with etched and stained images, creating a lithograph-like effect. Their light, reflective surface contrasts with the darker recessed balconies, adding depth and texture to the building’s exterior.
The imagery extends into the foyer, reinforcing its presence throughout the design. Frieze-like in composition, the sequence recalls elements of classical art and architecture, bridging past and present. The result is a building that is both tough and delicate, exclusive yet urban, and unmistakably dynamic.