A team from Monash University has won the People's Choice Award at a major Australian design competition thanks to its unique beehive-inspired proposal for a site in East Malvern, Melbourne.
The awards for the 2023 Fleetwood Challenge Cup were announced at the prefabAUS conference on 22 August 2023.
The Hexad Studio team from Monash University drew inspiration from the natural world and bees for the three-dimensional, hexagonal modules that are at the heart of their design. The design was developed with input from Sumitomo Forestry Australia, who are developing the chosen site location at Waverley Road in East Malvern.
The Hexa-Cell Residence aims to showcase innovative, cost-effective and sustainable architecture. Comprising one, two and three-bedroom apartments, Hexa-Cell also hosts shared facilities on the ground floor, fostering community among residents and local inhabitants alike.
Notably, the modules are incredibly adaptable; and residents can customise their living spaces, adding or removing modules as required.
Team lead, Olivia Basilec, said the award is a significant achievement for the team.
