Nightingale Village comprises 203 homes across six buildings, located just five kilometres from the Melbourne CBD in the heart of Brunswick. Six leading architecture firms came together through Nightingale Housing to create the residential precinct, setting a new standard for sustainable, community-centred design.

Each architecture firm brought a distinct aesthetic to their building, while integrating the six designs to maximise usable space for residents, reduce construction costs, and achieve environmentally sustainable outcomes through material reduction. All buildings share an embedded internet network requiring just one server cupboard. A single substation links the embedded electricity network for the precinct; residents access bulk-purchased 100% GreenPower supplemented by a rooftop 128kW photovoltaic array. Two rainwater tanks collect 40,000L water, used for landscape irrigation and commercial tenancy toilets. An additional pipe provides recycled water to residential toilets - an innovation that would not have been affordable in a single-building development.

A simple, unified urban design response sees generous private living spaces complemented by welcoming common areas that encourage interaction between neighbours. Private carparks, individual laundries and second bathrooms are omitted, which increases living space and lowers construction and maintenance costs. Living areas are oriented towards the park and streets. Bedrooms with operable windows face into light courts, allowing cross ventilation, and providing acoustic havens on a site impacted by train and road traffic noise.

Each building includes a shared rooftop where residents cross paths in the shared laundries, tend to productive gardens, and enjoy landscaped seating and entertaining areas. Incidental interactions occur on the breezy stairs and walkways, which offer appealing alternatives to taking the elevator.

Located on a site well-serviced by public transport and bike routes, Nightingale Village encourages the use of green transport. There are 20 car spaces, including 14 for share cars. On Duckett Street, vehicle access is partially replaced by landscaping and public seating. Eight commercial tenancies and a pedestrian mews between the southern buildings further activate ground level.

Each building has a certified average NatHERS rating between 7.8 - 9.0 stars, well above the national baseline. There is no natural gas supply. Repurposed and locally-supplied materials are used wherever possible, along with energy efficient fixtures and fittings for power and water, plus carbon neutral tapware and bricks.

27 homes were allocated to community housing providers ahead of public sales, and affordable housing residents now live alongside owner-occupiers across the precinct.

Nightingale Housing also successfully lobbied the local council to develop a public park adjacent to the Village. The resulting Bulleke-bek Park is a popular addition to local green spaces.