9 Wilson Ave Brunswick by MA+Co and Neometro

A new mixed-use development at 9 Wilson Avenue in Brunswick, Melbourne, aims to turn a Sydney Road backstreet dominated by cars into a pedestrian-focused locale.

Designed by Richmond-based architecture studio MA+Co and delivered by design-led development group Neometro, the project marks the latest chapter in the urban renewal of Jewell Station Village. The site was formerly a collection of warehouses, dirt car parks and car-dominated infrastructure, contrasting the pedestrian energy of the station and the suburb’s busy high street, Sydney Road. The new build introduces housing, workplaces and hospitality.

*9 Wilson Ave (centre, in red) is located next to Jewell Station (back right).*

Neometro director Lochlan Sinclair says the project also helps turn Wilson Ave into an urban boulevard that links Sydney Road to Jewell Station.

“What drew us to this location was both its incredible access to amenity and its untapped potential,” he says. “At a macro level, you’ve got transport, parks and shopping right on your doorstep. At a micro level, Wilson Ave was unusually wide, which meant it could evolve into a generous, tree-lined street that prioritises people over cars.”

*The project’s blush red colouring references Brunswick’s brick-making history and the Jewell Station infrastructure.*

9 Wilson Ave

9 Wilson Ave is defined by its distinctive blush red concrete façade, a contemporary reference to Brunswick’s brick-making history and the Jewell Station infrastructure. MA+Co principal Karen Alcock says the design is robust, joyful and connected to its neighbourhood.

“By using colour, texture and repetition, we’ve created a building that operates at multiple scales, from the street and urban village to the shared internal spaces and private homes,” Alcock says. “It’s architecture that’s designed to age well, enrich everyday moments and feel good to live in over time.”

*Photo taken at a recent Jewell Station Village street party, hosted by residents Kim and Tom, who also operate We Are Humble and Drip Coffee. Photo: Michael Pham.*

Sinclair says Neometro’s goal was to weave housing, workspaces, hospitality and public movement into a cohesive urban fabric, “where people can live, work and socialise in one place”.

9 Wilson Ave prioritises an active and welcoming ground plane, with a mix of food and beverage, retail and workspaces. These include Drip Coffee and architecture office We Are Humble, which join Beautiful Jim Key café in the village’s growing hospitality scene and help to animate Wilson Ave throughout the day. The building’s open-air entry offers glimpses into a lush central courtyard landscaped by Mud Office, creating a generous, green experience for residents and passers-by.

*The project features a central courtyard landscaped by Mud Office.*

The building houses 71 apartments, deliberately broken down into smaller clusters to encourage familiarity and connection. Open-air walkways, bridges and staircases create informal meeting points, while a central courtyard and rooftop garden aim to provide shared spaces for residents to gather, garden and relax.

Internally, the series of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and lofts have been designed with an emphasis on natural light, thermal efficiency and spatial flexibility. The building also includes 12 specialist disability accommodation (SDA) apartments, integrated throughout the development.

*Apartments are designed with an emphasis on natural light, thermal efficiency and spatial flexibility.*

Jewell Station village

9 Wilson Ave is Neometro’s fifth development in the precinct alongside Jewell Station (27 Wilson Avenue), 17 Union Street, 1 Wilson Avenue and the group’s upcoming 146 Union Street townhouses.

“Each building we’ve delivered has its own personality,” Sinclair says.