Riverview House is located on the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth Streets, a major transport node in the heart of Melbourne CBD where trams, trains and pedestrians intersect. The site has the potential to become a multi-layered vertical city that is a ‘City within a City’.

1. BALDASSO CORTESE
RIverview House
Work/Play/Live
www.bcarch.net
Follow us on Twitter @BaldassoCortese

2. Like the human body, buildings and cities are in a
constant state of flux evolving and adapting to changing
environments in order to be sustainable. These changes
have many implications and impacts on the lives of those
who use the buildings or the city. The current thinking is to
invigorate our cities by bringing people back into them and
making them 24/7 places to ‘Work, Play, and Live’.
Riverview House is located on the corner of Flinders and
Elizabeth Streets, a major transport node in the heart
of Melbourne CBD where trams, trains and pedestrians
intersect. The site has the potential to become a multi-
layered vertical city that is a ‘City within a City’.
Part One – ‘Work’ was to remediate concrete cancer
from the existing tower facade and rebrand the building
subdividing the floor plates from a single tenancy to
multiple tenancies.
Part Two – ‘Play’ sees the transformation of the podium
and canopy to engage the immediate urban context and
bring the retail and hospitality components to the site.
Part Three – ‘Live’ sees the realisation of a second tower
on top of the existing podium. The challenge here was
to design a building that is harmoniously sited to not
interrupt daylight and view access to the existing tower
whilst maximising the floor area. The main facade to the
tower faces west and a series of layers add texture and
interest to the building and control the sun. The greening
and activation of the roof with a terrace provides an
opportunity for social and environmental engagement.
Case Study
Riverview House
Work/Play/Live

3. Single tenancy
Multiple tenancy
Regeneration 1
Work
The existing tower was remediated of
concrete cancer and rebranded as a multi-
tenanted workplace environment.
The existing tower was remediated
of concrete cancer and rebranded
as a multitenanted workplace
environment.
Single tenancy
Multiple tenancy

4. Regeneration 2
Play
The aim is for the podium to
be transformed into an active
retail centre that engages
with the city.
Opening up the corner provides
higher visibility and pedestrian
traffic to upper level retail and
food outlets.
The aim is for the podium to be
transformed into an active retail
centre that engages with the
city.
Opening up the corner provides
higher visibility and pedestrian
traffic to upper level retail and
food outlets.

5. Secondary
sunshading
Operable louvres
Primary sunshading
Horizontal and
vertical blades
Glazing
Low-e transparent glass
and spandrel glass
Repetitive building
structure
Columns, beams
and slabs
Façade
Regeneration 3
Live
The second tower provides residential
accommodation and deals with its western
orientation by providing shading, texture
and articulation to the façade.
The second tower provides
residential accommodation and
deals with its western orientation
by providing shading, texture and
articulation to the façade.
Façade
Repetitive building
structure
Columns, beams
and slabs
Glazing
Low-e transparent glass
and spandrel glass
Secondary
sunshading
Operable louvres
Primary sunshading
Horizontal and
vertical blades

6. Regeneration 3
Live

7. A city within a city
Work/Play/Live
1
3
4
5
6
1 Rooftop terrace
2 Light court
3 Residential apartments
4 Health & fitness
5 Food & entertainment
6 Retail
7 Commercial offices
8 Penthouse apartments
2 7
8
1 Rooftop terrace
2 Light court
3 Residential apartments
4 Health & fitness
5 Food & entertainment
6 Retail
7 Commercial offices
8 Penthouse apartments

8. BALDASSO CORTESE
www.bcarch.net
Follow us on Twitter @BaldassoCortese