Just moments from the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus, this co-living project rethinks what student accommodation can be. Rather than a corridor of rooms, the building wraps around a generous internal garden - a green, communal heart that brings light, shade and life deep into the site.

The courtyard is conceived as a cool, leafy oasis. Tall palms form the canopy, underplanted with ferns, subtropical foliage and layered greens that thrive in dappled shade. Planting also climbs, spills and drapes from the building itself, softening the architecture and allowing nature to play an active role in shaping daily life. Wherever possible, the palette draws on native and endemic species, robust and suited to Newcastle’s climate while still offering texture, scent and seasonality.

It offers somewhere to study outdoors, read beneath a tree, gather for dinner, or simply sit in nature. In a setting where many students live away from home for the first time, the landscape becomes a place of connection, routine and belonging.

With sustainability front of mind, the project prioritises local materials and low-impact construction. Recycled concrete recovered on site was repurposed into stepping stones, the mix of pebbles and glass creating a subtle terrazzo-like texture underfoot. Groundcovers and planting weave between the steppers, allowing water to filter through and ensuring the courtyard remains soft and breathable, not dominated by hard surface.

Fifty-three self-contained rooms provide privacy and autonomy, while shared open spaces, breezeways and the courtyard garden foster casual encounters and community. In a market where efficiency often outweighs experience, Gothic Street offers something more thoughtful: a building that breathes, a garden that grows with its residents, and a place where daily life is enriched by greenery, light and shared space.