Creating a coastal sanctuary: A conversation with Jesse Judd, Director of ARM Architecture on complementing Melbourne’s bayside landscape.

Tell us about ARM Architecture?

ARM has a wide and impactful range of projects, with multi residential being one of my personal focuses. In our 33 years of operation, we’ve worked on some significant projects. The Shrine, Hamer Hall and The Sydney Opera House to name a few.

ARM is known for immersing themselves in the culture, history and environment of their projects. What is your personal approach to architecture and design?

Buildings like Hampton Quarter have two roles to play. First and foremost, they’re people’s homes. They need to be comfortable, welcoming and a pleasure to live in.

We also need to consider they’re buildings of scale and must contribute to the community they exist within. When designing Hampton Quarter, we thought deeply about its environmental context and long-term contribution to the neighborhood.

How has the approach to residential architecture changed since the pandemic?

We’ve become much more familiar with our homes over the past three years. They’re not just places to sleep, but a place to work and socialise. This demands more from common amenities, such as pools and rooftops.

Can you give us a snapshot of the design brief from Pace x EPC Pacific?

Hampton has a proud residential history, complementary to the beautiful natural context of the bay. Pace and EPC Pacific asked us to take this into consideration when formulating our design response.

This led to four distinct buildings, each inspired by the surrounding landscape. One draws from the bluff of sandstone, in both colour and form. Another draws on the residential architecture of Hampton, with their unique character and scale. Others draw on the natural landscape inherited from the streetscape. Each building is united by their views of the bay and beyond.

We wanted to design a building with a clearly identified character. We want residents to proudly say, “this is my home”.

How does the building cater to buyer demand?

The apartments are underpinned by diverse amenity and a grand sense of scale. The retail promenade will act as an entryway to Hampton Quarter and a destination, where both residents and Hampton locals can meet for a coffee or slowly sip on a glass of Pinot.

We’ve purposefully designed each area to be a highly functioning environment. Access to natural lighting cascades through the apartments, made possible by generous balconies that open to integrated indoor-outdoor living spaces. This reinforces Hampton Quarter’s connectivity to its bayside context.

Was there consideration given to fostering resident wellness within Hampton Quarter?

Wellbeing means different things to different people. Whether it be fresh air, space for yoga or shared dining facilities, the diverse amenities at Hampton Quarter cater to these individual needs and desires. We’ve included all facets of rest, relaxation and play within the building.