Melbourne-based architecture firm Kavellaris Urban Design (KUD) has received a gold accolade at the 2025 Better Future Awards for its 161 Eastern Road project in South Melbourne.
KUD first became involved in the project in 2015 through a competitive selection process, ultimately securing the commission over two other practices.
“While awards are not the driving force behind our work, the affirmation of our industry colleagues is always immensely gratifying,” Director Billy Kavellaris told Neos Kosmos.
“For architects, who often dedicate years from the first stroke of a pen to a building’s final completion, receiving such an award is a humbling and profound experience.”
He also said one of the defining aspects of the project was the close relationship with the developer, who was also the penthouse owner.
The project aims to move away from conventional commercial apartment designs.
“It’s fair to say that 161 marks a distinct departure from the conventional commercial apartment typology,” Kavellaris said.
“Occupants were empowered to personalise their environments, with flexible layouts and tactile finishes that invite variation.”
Features include dual-aspect apartment designs to maximise natural light and ventilation, and a façade with a subtle curvature echoed in the building’s interior spaces.
“Architecturally, the language of the façade is echoed within the interior spaces, establishing a continuous dialogue between exterior form and internal experience. This transforms the building from a static volume into an inhabitable narrative,” he added.
At the entry, two chrome ballerina sculptures created by the architect serve as visual anchors. Kavellaris said the artwork ties into a longer tradition of using sculpture at thresholds to represent identity and aspiration.
“These figures are not merely ornamental; they echo the enduring tradition of grand entry features—artworks that signal arrival, identity, and aspiration.”
On the challenges faced during the development, he cited market shifts, planning hurdles, and difficult access to the site—located between two towers and a laneway—as significant.
Looking ahead, KUD is working on a range of new initiatives, including a cultural project in Northcote for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. It will include an amphitheatre, early learning centre, hotel, restaurant, residences, and parkland.
Other upcoming works include a pavilion at the Hellenic Museum designed for events, and a master plan for Alphington Grammar School featuring a new academic wing.
