BUILDING MORE THAN HOUSES: THE Ys STORY

In Melbourne's rapidly evolving property landscape, Ys Housing has emerged as a model of responsible development. With an unwavering commitment to good design, quality construction, and sustainability, the studio exemplifies an approach that aligns with enduring cultural values: community, inclusivity, and forward thinking. As Victoria grapples with its housing crisis, Ys is quietly delivering homes designed to sustain future populations in ways that are pragmatic, efficient, and visually compelling.

"We're not just building houses; we're building a community," Co-Founder Milly Gamlin explains. It sounds simple, but this philosophy shapes every decision, from material selections to how buildings sit within the streetscape. In a market where affordability often feels like a distant dream, Ys Housing demonstrates that good design can be accessible. As Milly puts it: "It's about making homes that are achievable for people on a normal salary."

They're delivering what she calls "a really nice scale of home at the right price"—spaces that feel generous and considered without the premium price tag. It's a balancing act many developers claim is impossible, yet Ys Housing is making it work.

Quality matters profoundly to the team, which considers architecture through the lens of resilience and relevance. Their approach goes beyond minimum standards to embrace sustainable, renewable choices built to endure: Zincalume cladding, north-facing orientations, repeatable compositions, passive solar design, and practical decisions that make homes more comfortable and cheaper to run.

Before purchasing any site, the team tests it against a proposed design to ensure alignment with the studio's core principles. "If we can orient to the North, that's a huge factor in a site's feasibility," Milly says. This fundamental planning—a return to basics sometimes overlooked in the development process—distinguishes their work from generic offerings.

Ys Housing's portfolio comprises medium-density townhouse developments that exude clean visual execution and a material language reminiscent of Glenn Murcutt, Robin Boyd, and more recently, Kerstin Thompson—stalwarts of Australian architecture who have shaped our cultural vernacular. These projects enhance neighbourhoods rather than dominate them. Meticulous yet straightforward, they carry a distinctly architectural lineage without imposing on their surroundings.

"We don't want to develop; we want to enhance neighbourhoods," Milly emphasises. This means respecting the existing streetscape, maintaining appropriate scale, and contributing positively to an area's character—injecting vitality while preserving what makes these places special.

The approach aligns perfectly with Melbourne's need for thoughtful urban growth. Rather than towers that overwhelm, Ys Housing champions projects that bring renewal without overtaking the community. "Small, neighbourhood-scale projects can have a big impact," Milly notes, and their work proves it.

Milly's ambitions extend beyond any single development. She sees Ys Housing's approach as part of the solution to Melbourne's housing crisis. "We want to get as many good projects out there as possible because we think that we just need a lot more houses," she says.

But "more houses" doesn't mean any houses. It means homes built with genuine consideration for design quality, environmental impact, and community benefit—spaces where people can connect and thrive, where materials last for generations, and where affordability doesn't mean compromise.

As Melbourne continues to grow, we need more developers thinking this way: building not for today's bottom line but for the city's long-term future. Ys Housing is showing it's possible to do well by doing good, one thoughtfully designed home at a time.

You can find out more about Ys Housing on their website or Instagram. Story by Tiffany Jade. Photography by Rory Gardiner.