Building new ground
Local is a build-to-rent platform founded in 2021 to offer renters a genuine alternative to the conventional market, with additional amenities and a long-term approach to community.
A defining part of Local’s model is its commitment to impact housing. Every Local project includes housing for key workers such as nurses and hospitality staff, people living with disability, and women over 55 at risk of homelessness, with full access to the same amenities as the rest of the building. Local also set ambitious sustainability targets from the outset, aiming for net zero operational emissions and a 7.5 Star NatHERS rating.
Local Kensington, in Melbourne’s inner north-west, was Local’s first build-to-rent project, comprising around 500 apartments. Diadem was engaged from strategy through quality control, with a brief to help establish a sense of place and home through the signage and wayfinding. For Diadem, the project marked an entry into the build-to-rent sector and aligned closely with the studio’s interest in housing that delivers genuine social impact.
