8 INNOVATIVE APARTMENTS FROM MELBOURNE BY ARM www.armarchitecture.com.au The Melbourne firm of Ashton Raggatt McDougall (ARM) are Australian Institute of Architect’s Gold Medalists and they have a reputation for innovative design. The directors have been very involved in the culture of architecture in Melbourne through teaching at universities, editing design and architecture magazines and by demonstrating through their work that they want to challenge the rules. They designed a high rise apartment block in Melbourne that manipulated the solid white balustrades to make an image of a person when viewed from a distance. The face is that of an aboriginal man named William Barack and this makes the building contribute back to the public realm in an innovative manner. The building received a Development Excellence award for Grocon and ARM in 2015 for its overall success. The Orbis apartment building also contributes to the public realm by grafting a golden art work onto the facade in a manner that works with the balconies. The sculptural overlay is similar to a large piece of public art that adds value to the surrounding streets. ARM’s Sydney Director, Mark Raggatt, explained at the Innovative Apartment Forum how the gold overlay was made in a factory and then lifted into position on the buildings facade. Mark also gave insights at the forum into Melbourne’s more robust design culture that makes approval bodies almost expect innovation. BARAK BUILDING, Melbourne, Australia MARK RAGGATT, Director of ARM THE FACE, Melbourne, Australia