Australia’s housing crisis has sparked debate over the future of aging public housing, with plans to demolish 44 Melbourne high-rise towers by 2051. While promising more units, this approach risks environmental, social, and economic drawbacks.
This paper advocates innovative refurbishment, drawing on international examples like Paris’ Tour Bois-le-Prêtre and Rotterdam’s Splayed Apartment Blocks. Refurbishment aligns with circular economy principles, conserving embodied energy, cutting emissions, and preserving communities. It offers planners a cost-effective, incremental solution that supports sustainable, equitable growth.
By contextualizing global strategies for Australia, this paper proposes a scalable alternative to transform public housing responsibly and sustainably.
