Major Milestone: The Canopy Reaches Completion Stage
Major Milestone: The Canopy Reaches Completion Stage
Construction Update
The Canopy has reached completion, bringing a distinctive new residential address to 272 Normanby Road in South Melbourne.
For Crema, this project has been about more than delivering another apartment building. The Canopy brings together architecture, landscape, amenity and, notably, sustainability in a way that responds directly to its setting, from the area’s industrial past to the changing character of the Montague precinct.
The result is a development that feels closely connected to its surroundings. It sits between South Melbourne and the bay, within an urban renewal area that continues to attract new residents, businesses, hospitality, public spaces and transport links.
Location
272 Normanby Road,
South Melbourne
VIC
A Building with Greenery at Its Core
From the start, The Canopy’s design was guided by biophilic principles, with landscape playing a central role in how the building looks, feels and functions.
Rather than confining greenery to one level, the project extends planting through the building. Native landscaping begins at ground level and continues through the central spine to the podium, balcony garden bowls and rooftop deck.
This creates a different kind of residential experience. One where nature is visible from the street, present in shared spaces and woven into the everyday lives of residents.
It also gives the building a real relationship with the area around it. The façade references the site’s former life as a Dunlop tyre factory, using brick, metal and glass to acknowledge that industrial history, while the landscape softens it and gives it a clear sense of place.
A Private Oasis Above the City
The project is grounded in biophilic design: connection to nature and encouraging wellbeing. Natural light, cross-flow ventilation, green views, and a calm colour palette all work together to create spaces that feel genuinely rewarding to live in.
The Canopy includes 1, 2 and 3 bedroom residences, along with a collection of amenities designed to extend the experience of home beyond the apartment.
From the communal podium and garden rooftop, to the dining areas, barbecues, fire pits and spa – each is a place to gather, unwind or find a quiet moment above the city. For connection, comfort, retreat, and recharge.
Together, these details help give The Canopy its character. It is not just a building with added amenities, but a residential community where shared spaces have been thoughtfully integrated into the way people live.
Bringing the Vision to Life
The Canopy reflects what can be achieved when a strong vision is matched with an award-winning project team.
From the beginning, this was a project with many layers: a 20-storey built form, a storied façade inspired by the site’s former Dunlop factory, a green spine rising through the building, and a material palette that brings together brick, glass and metal with extensive landscape integration.
For Crema, the role was to bring these elements together with care and precision, balancing architectural intent with the practical detail of construction. From the staggered roofline and industrial façade expression to the landscaped podium and rooftop deck, each part of the project required close coordination across structure, services, interiors, landscape and public-facing spaces.
The result is a building that feels both robust and softened. Its industrial references give The Canopy a strong connection to place, while the greenery, native planting and rooftop amenity help create a more liveable, human experience.
A big thank you to Gamuda Land, Hayball, OCULUS, HIP V. HYPE and MURRI : YUL, as well as our consultants WSP and Webber, our subcontractors, suppliers and trades who helped bring the project to life. This dream team has delivered something truly special.
Looking Ahead
With construction now complete, The Canopy is ready to become part of daily life in one of Melbourne’s fastest-evolving inner-city precincts.
More than adding density, it shows how residential communities can be shaped with greater care for people, place and long-term sustainability.
For Crema, we’re proud to deliver a low-carbon community that reflects a more thoughtful way forward, and we’re excited to keep building projects that support healthier, more liveable cities.
