'Carefully considered' design response wins Pentridge Village design competition

The winner of a design competition, which tasked architects with reimagining a portion of the historic Pentridge Village precinct in Melbourne's Coburg, has been announced.

The winning concept, a preliminary masterplan by DKO Architecture, envisions the 19,000 square metre site - home to the 1851 Pentridge Prison - as a $1.2 billion mixed-use precinct. The design features an activated public realm, community spaces, retail tenancies and multi-residential buildings.

The portion nominated for redevelopment is bordered by Pentridge Boulevard, Urquhart Street, Warden's Walk and Stockdale Avenue. The state significant site contains several heritage assets that would be preserved as part of the project, such as Ned Kelly's grave site, the original F Division building made from bluestone and a historic mural by First Nations artist Ronald Bull.

Design director at DKO Jesse Linardi said the project site is rich in heritage, strong in presence and unique in character. "Key principles underpinning our exploratory design response considered the heritage, program and liveability of the precinct, with activated, open spaces that are demographically and contextually driven and provides a diverse tapestry of urban experiences for residents, the community and visitors alike," he said.

The precinct is currently occupied by multiple properties that are subject to different planning regulations. The Pentridge Village Masterplan 2008 allows for mixed-use development, including retail, community spaces and multi-residential buildings, with permits in place for approximately 650 apartments.

Adjoining the site on the northern part of the overall precinct is an established retail and residential hub including hotel, cinema, shopping mall, restaurants, cafes, apartments and townhouses.

"We see this site as a significant opportunity to provide additional housing in a well-serviced location within 7.5km of the CBD," Maitland said.

If approved, the project is anticipated to span a period of more than five years, from initial consultation to completion. It will require extensive consultation with Merri-bek City Council, state government planning authorities, Heritage Victoria and the surrounding community.