Description

As part of Geelong Design Week 2024, Open House Melbourne presents Making Home: Belmont.

Making Home presents a series of talks and tours that helps public audiences better understand social and affordable housing.

The Belmont project was developed by Housing Choices in partnership with Homes Victoria under the Victorian Government’s Big Housing Build. The project was delivered through a community housing model that supports residents and builds links with the community.

What's On

Tour the new Belmont residential development and learn about the architect-designed, environmentally sustainable affordable homes. Hear from architects Victoria Reeves and Michael Macleod from Kennedy Nolan and Michael Mikulic, Development Manager from community housing provider Housing Choices Australia, as they shine a light on the design and delivery of this community housing project and how it meets changing contemporary needs.

In Collaboration With:

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  Michael Mikulic, Development Manager, Housing Choices Australia

  Housing Choices Australia is an independent, national, not-for-profit housing provider that delivers high quality, accessible and affordable housing for people on lower incomes and people with disability. While our primary origins were in Victoria, we are now one of Australia’s largest housing providers, with a diverse housing property portfolio and residents reaching across five Australian states.
  Michael brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of the residential property sector, ranging from not-for-profit social housing, disability housing, private speculative development and working with customers on their dream homes and renovations.

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  Victoria Reeves, Director of Architecture, Kennedy Nolan

  Victoria is an architect passionate about projects of all scales that deliver on their social and environmental responsibilities.
  As a Director of Architecture at Kennedy Nolan, Victoria contributes to the strategic and cultural direction of the practice whilst maintaining connection to the reality of project delivery in the construction industry.
  Victoria values the relationships of colleagues and collaborations, recognising these are essential to the success of complex and pioneering projects. She is currently leading the Saxon Street Arts & Community project for Merri-bek City Council due for completion late 2024. As co-director of Kennedy Nolan's first Nightingale project, Victoria gained an insight into the precarities of development.
  Recognising there are limitations of scale and accessibility of architecture in Australia, Victoria is optimistic about the immense opportunity for projects as prototypes which enable broader cultural impact.
  Victoria contributes to the broader architectural profession via mentoring, lectures, design studios and as an AIA juror and committee member.

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  Michael Macleod, Director of Architecture, Kennedy Nolan

  Michael is an accomplished design architect who is involved in the preparation and overview of concept designs and presentation drawings through to detailed design and project delivery. Michael is highly skilled at strategic planning and analysis, and visual communication. He has worked with Kennedy Nolan since 2009, in addition to several years’ experience in European architectural practices and other notable Melbourne architecture firms.
  His experience covers a wide array of projects and typologies, from single houses and inner-city apartment buildings, including the current Kennedy Nolan Nightingale Housing project, to educational and commercial projects. Alongside work on early learning, primary and secondary school projects, he also has continued involvement in teaching, having led design studios over the past years at the University of Melbourne.
  In recognition of his invaluable contribution to the design culture of Kennedy Nolan, Michael was appointed Director of Architecture in 2017.
  He has an ongoing interest in the social responsibilities of architects to the world in which they operate and has been involved in volunteer or pro-bono work with organisations such as Architects for Aid, Architecture for Humanity, IFRC and Fitzroy Learning Network. In 2018 he was elected to the Victorian Chapter Council of the Australian Institute of Architects.