Frasers Property Australia has announced plans to regenerate Burwood Brickworks in Melbourne’s east into what it’s calling “the most sustainable shopping centre in the world”. The developer has enlisted eco-pioneer, florist and designer Joost Bakker – best known for his sustainability-focused projects Silo, Brothl and Greenhouse – as a creative consultant to help turn the site’s 2000-square-metre rooftop into an urban farm and restaurant space. Frasers is currently seeking expressions of interest for the rooftop’s new tenants. Bakker would love to see new, passionate businesses “come out of the woodwork” to take on the tenancy.

“You’re going to feel like you’re right in the middle of [a garden],” says Bakker, who became involved with the project when the developer held a design competition asking Melbourne-based architects to pitch their vision. “They had an unusual approach, saying they want to meet the Living Building Challenge requirements,” Bakker says, referring to a rigorous green-building certification program. “I realised these guys are the real deal.” A spokesperson from Frasers told Broadsheet that construction on Burwood Brickworks is underway, but could not confirm a date for its completion. Its developers aim to make it the first retail development in the world to achieve the Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification. LBC-certified buildings have zero carbon footprint; zero waste; produce more electricity and water than they use; grow agriculture on 20 per cent of the site; and are built using non-toxic and recycled materials.