Melbourne developer Beulah has won approval for Brunswick Established, its 23 ‘eco-conscious’ townhouse development in the inner-city suburb of Brunswick.
Touted as the area’s most significant townhome project in more than five years, the Six Degrees Architects-designed two-storey project emulates the style of traditional London Mews, and retains the industrial heritage facade of the existing building.
The townhouses on the 3705sq m site at 17-23 Hodgson Street have been designed to create homes with “lighter carbon footprints”, a private laneway, landscaped courtyards and rooftop terraces.
Beulah is targeting downsizers and families with a mix of two, three and four-bedroom townhouses.
Beulah executive director Adelene Teh said Six Degrees had been tasked with creating a project that celebrated the diverse urban culture of Brunswick, which played a key role in the permit-approval process.
“The site is rich in heritage character, quiet in locale yet nestled near Melbourne’s most eclectic and vibrant suburbs,” Teh said.
“Six Degrees played a significant part in the permit process as they innately understand the local area and have proposed thoughtful design outcomes that sensitively fuse old with new.
“Together, with some of the most respected advisors in the heritage space, we have created a new community with durable and sustainable homes for future residents and improved the safety and quality of the area, ultimately elevating this urban pocket.
“While it took longer than anticipated to receive the permit, we are elated that our project can now press ahead and help cater to the demand for the area.”
The project will include recycled bricks and salvaged timber, solar panels, EV charging and rainwater harvesting.
Six Degrees director Peter Malatt said the architecture practice had applied its local knowledge and passion for Brunswick’s unique character and history to the design of Brunswick Established.
“Having completed the Heller Street park and townhouses, which one of our directors lives in, as well as the Spanish Cellars apartments in adjacent streets, gives us an opportunity to leverage this local knowledge and play off the rich history of the site,” Malatt said.
Beulah revealed plans for the site in November 2022, after scooping up the site for an undisclosed sum.
While the Melbourne developer is well-known for its ambitious Sth Bnk towers project in the heart of the city, it also has a number of celebrated low density projects including Fawkner House, which won The Urban Developer Development of the Year—Small-Scale Residential in 2022.
The ecological approach for Brunswick Established follows in the footsteps of Beulah’s The Wilds, which was due to become the first carbon-neutral detached housing development in inner Melbourne, the developer said.
