Newburgh Light House, a Lantern within the Urban Fabric

Rising delicately above a constrained 150m² plot beside a historic train station, the residential tower Newburgh Light House in Auburn Village redefines the potential of infill housing.  Designed by Melbourne-based practice Splinter Society, the ten-level structure accommodates transforms an almost unbuildable lot—without street access and bordering VicTrack land—into a sustainable and elegant urban solution.

Newburgh Light House, a Lantern within the Urban Fabric

At its core, the project proposes a “mini tower” typology, with one residence per level. Its most distinctive element, a translucent façade of glass blocks and reflective surfaces, transforms the building into an urban lantern. These not only meet strict fire and daylighting requirements but also generate an ephemeral, ever-changing interior atmosphere. By night, the building softly glows—becoming a lantern within the urban fabric and a beacon to the adjacent train platforms.

The architectural language extends inward through textured materials and filtered light, heightening spatial depth in a compact footprint. The interiors are animated by the movement of natural light and the interplay of materials like timber, natural stone, ceramic tiles, and translucent glass wall—balancing privacy with permeability. A penthouse crowns the structure, and one residence spans two levels, offering unique typological variety within the project’s modular logic.

Prefabrication to enhance Architectural Expression

To address construction limitations on the tight site, Splinter Society adopted a prefabricated strategy.  Glass block panels and operable recessed glazing wrap the north and south façades, ensuring maximum daylight access and views. Intricate metal detailing enriches the tactile experience of the building, both from inside and from the adjacent train platforms.

The base of the building is formed in resilient in situ concrete engineered to withstand even a potential train derailment. It anchors the tower and supports a street-level café, incorporating integrated seating. The ground level, paved with bluestone cobbles, extends the public laneway through the site in a complementary pixelated pattern, emphasising permeability despite the limited footprint.

Architectural Ingenuity for Urban Livability

Programmatically, the building targets the “leafy suburb downsizer” market seeking inner-city convenience with suburban calm. Full-floor apartments, lift access, private car spaces, and generous layouts reflect this ambition. All units are designed to maximise cross-ventilation and daylight, even in a potential future where neighbouring plots are built.

A feat of architectural ingenuity and collaboration, Newburgh Light House exemplifies how performance, beauty, and livability can be distilled within the tightest of urban constraints, glowing literally and figuratively as a beacon for future vertical housing solutions.

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