Nightingale Marrickville is a pioneering collaboration between Fresh Hope Communities and Nightingale Housing, marking their first purpose-built affordable build-to-rent housing project. The development features 54 Teilhaus homes and two ground-floor commercial tenancies, offering homes at 80% of the market rate. Despite their small footprint, the homes maintain functionality through clever joinery and shared community spaces. Level one features communal kitchens, dining areas, and outdoor terraces that encourage social interaction, while shared laundries and drying areas enhance practicality.

A shared garden terrace, complete with a community vegetable garden, offers residents a green retreat and space for urban gardening. The commercial spaces are designed to activate the community, including a gallery space for local artists and a restaurant focused on community engagement through cooking classes and events.

Sustainability is a core element of the project, with materials like Paperock and rubber flooring made from raw cocoa husks used throughout. The building is also equipped with 36 rooftop solar panels generating 21kWp of electricity, contributing to the building’s self-sufficiency. Located just 150 meters from Marrickville train station, the development encourages cycling with ample bike storage, supporting sustainable urban living and reducing reliance on cars.

Photography by Tom Roe