Matter House Plans Turn Food Waste into Power in Cremorne

Plans for an innovative Melbourne office building that converts food waste into energy have been placed on public exhibition, signalling a shift towards regenerative commercial development in the city’s inner east.

Designed by Hassell Studio in collaboration with Finding Infinity, the proposed Matter House at Stephenson Street in Cremorne aims to operate as a net energy producer.

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The 13-storey tower forms part of the A New Normal initiative, a program launched during Melbourne Design Week 2021 that explores how buildings can shift from energy consumers to contributors. Positioned within this framework, Matter House extends beyond conventional sustainability benchmarks through an integrated system that combines architecture, infrastructure and urban logistics.

Central to the proposal is an upgraded onsite anaerobic digester designed to convert organic waste into usable energy at a scale that exceeds the building’s own requirements. Food waste will be collected from nearby businesses within a three kilometre radius by EcoCaddy using electric-assist rickshaws, before being processed on site. Surplus energy generated through this system is intended to be fed back into the grid, reinforcing the project’s role as an energy-positive development.

The building’s environmental performance is further supported by a high-performance façade, advanced HVAC systems and a rooftop solar greenhouse designed to capture and redistribute energy. Together, these elements position the project as a prototype for circular resource use within dense urban environments.

Originally approved as a 10-storey development in 2022, the scheme has been revised to align with the Cremorne Urban Design Framework. The updated proposal delivers 11,790 square metres of gross floor area, including 6,735 square metres of net leasable office space. Ground floor and rooftop hospitality tenancies, alongside a dedicated wellness and recreation offering, aim to create a layered and active building profile.

The internal planning is structured across three distinct zones. A publicly accessible ground plane anchors the building within the neighbourhood, while flexible office spaces form the operational core. Above, a communal rooftop garden known as the Pleasure Gardens provides shared green space and amenity, reinforcing a connection between workplace and wellbeing.

Developed by Matter House Group, a collaboration between Cobuild, Taboo and Rock Media, the project responds to growing demand for commercial spaces that align with strong environmental, social and governance commitments. If realised, Matter House will stand as a visible expression of Cremorne’s evolving identity, combining local industry, innovation and sustainable design into a single, forward-looking model.

Images via The Urban Developer

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