21–23 William St
Open Court is a space for new ideas, new connections and new ways of working. This is a living workspace, designed by WMK and Technē, and delivered for Balaclava by Ninety Four Feet.
"This was once the industrial heartland in Melbourne’s south, and today it still has a real entrepreneurial spirit."
"We asked, what can this building do to benefit its community? That’s really at the heart of good design, being able to contribute to the urban landscape."
The award-winning architectural practice WMK Architecture has created a building that’s designed to engage, activate and inspire from the ground floor community hub to the rooftop basketball court.
"There’s a thoughtfulness to this building. The key pillars of wellbeing, design, technology and sustainability – run though every element."
With sustainability at the core and collaborative spaces throughout, the architecture taps into the strong character of community for which Balaclava is known, and sets the scene for its own new community within.
Featuring exposed steel structures, warm timbers and plenty of light, the building is informed by classic New York warehouse styles, as well as proven principles of biophilic design to healthy workspaces and boosted productivity.
Balaclava
Balaclava is one of Melbourne’s most established neighbourhoods, connected to the city and the bay, yet with its own unmistakable energy and wealth of amenity.
↑ St Kilda Botanical Gardens
Ninety Four Feet is making this their new HQ, and will ensure the building makes a genuine contribution to the area they’re proud to call home.
The spirit of Balaclava – a modern, active and friendly village – has inspired Open Court. The thriving central strip of Carlisle Street is alive with cafés, restaurants and bars, as well as all the essentials from banks to supermarkets. For more active pursuits, there are plenty of gyms and fitness studios, not to mention parks, trails and the St Kilda foreshore all close by.
↑ Balaclava Train Station
↘ St Kilda Foreshore
↘ St Kilda Foreshore
↓ St Kilda Baths
A wealth of amenities right around the corner, plus only 7km from the CBD, and 200m to Balaclava train station.
Transport
Balaclava Station
Ripponlea Station
Tram Stop 38
Food & Drink
Ms. Carlisles
En Izakaya
Las Chicas
Ilona Staller
Tavlin
This Little Piggy Cafe
Glicks
Nogga Cafe
Batch Espresso
Westbury Espresso & Brunch
Wall Two 80
Monk Bodhi Dharma
The Local Taphouse
Baker in the Rye
Las Tapas
Fitness
Upstate Studios
Crossfit Balaclava
F45 Training
Zap Fitness
Fitmiss Health Club
Milestone Gymnasium
Daily Pilates
Updogyoga
Parks
William Street Reserve
St Kilda Botanical Gardens
Hewison Reserve
Supplies
Woolworths
Coles
Australia Post
Chemist Warehouse
Commonwealth Bank
Schools
Caulfield Grammar School
Beth Rivkah Ladies College
Christian Brothers College
Yeshivah College
Ripponlea Primary School
St Kilda Primary School
↓ Prahran Basketball Courts
A Healthy Workplace
Sustainability and innovation. Health and wellness. Diversity and community. Open Court offers a holistic and modern workplace.
End of Trip
To encourage cycling and lunchtime workouts, the end-of-trip facilities include showers, secure lockers, cosmetic appliances, towel services and bike parking.
Sustainability
WMK and Technē has embedded ESD principles throughout the architecture, achieving a 5 star GreenStar benchmark rating, as well as power savings for tenants through extensive solar panels.
Wellbeing
Workspaces have been designed first and foremost for wellbeing, considering natural lighting, air quality, ventilation,
greenery and flexible spaces to unwind, collaborate and focus.
Plant life
From the biophilic design of workspaces to the rooftop urban farm, which is shared by all tenants, the entire building is alive with plant life.
Transport
As well as its public-transport-friendly location, the building embraces other environmentally friendly options with electric vehicle charging stations and bike parking.
Giving Back
Open Court has the ability to give back to the community, through our philanthropic programme with our urban farm, and partnerships with local non-for-profits.
"We wanted to create a vertical community – a place to work together and play together."
↓ St Kilda Town Hall, Carlisle St
Team
Freinds and neighbours. The open court team has come together to create a common vision for a connected vertical community.
Ninety Four Feet
Developer
Ninety Four Feet believes in intelligent and efficient design, consulting with communities, and always remaining aware of the impact each property makes. This social responsibility to contribute positively forms the foundation of the business. Every development that is undertaken reflects the tenets of dynamism and reliability, unmistakable style and quality.
WMK Architecture
Architect
WMK is a dynamic, award-winning firm that has gained a reputation for delivering value and results through innovative design, responsive performance, and intelligent solutions. WMK's sustainable design expertise delivers innovative, commercially-viable solutions which are developed from a holistic perspective.
Technē
Interiors
A Technē project is robust, playful and hardworking. Technē Architecture + Interior Design’s work is informed by art, engineering, environment, sustainability, and economics to form cohesive spaces. The studio’s poetic ambitions are channelled through the directors’ practical sensibilities into authentic and honest outcomes, crafting architecture you can feel.