Hip V Hype Launches ‘Lovechild’ Brunswick Apartment Project

Sustainability-led developer Hip V Hype has set ambitious performance targets for its latest project off the back of its lauded Ferrars &amp; York development at South Melbourne. It is the first collaboration between Hip V Hype and ParkLife creator Austin Maynard Architects and seeks to transform a site at 427 Albert Street, Brunswick, into a 61-apartment development to be called ParkLife 2. And like many great narrative arcs, Hip V Hype founder Liam Wallis says the sequel will be better than the original. The shared vision of the venture is to build on the successful delivery and lessons from past projects to “outperform previous benchmarks in sustainability and design”. The eight-storey apartment block would be nestled in Brunswick’s green spine with views across Clifton and Gilpin parks, and city views to the south. The proposed design comprises one, two and three-bedroom configurations that would also enable amalgamation. It is the developer’s biggest project to date. Wallis, his partner, Katya, and their young family have been living in Ferrars &amp; York, and Wallis says that experience has been formative in designing the next project. “We don’t see it as a massive leap forward, we see it as the next step. We’re really focused on taking those learnings into a building of scale,” Wallis says. “Absolutely everything great about the Ferrars &amp; York project, we’re pouring into this ParkLife 2.” ▲ The developer will be looking to capture the success of Austin Maynard ’ s Parklife project [left] and the multi-award-winning Ferrars &amp; York [right]. The configuration will allow for apartments to be amalgamated enabling flexibility for families. ParkLife 2 is targeting a minimum average NatHERS rating of at least 8.5 stars out of 10, with the building enabled for all-electric, fossil fuel-free operations. An 8.5-star apartment uses 40 per cent less heating and cooling energy than a minimum compliance 7-star apartment, something Wallis and his family can attest to. “To date, my partner, Katya, and I have lived in three projects enabled by Hip V Hype,” Wallis says. “We live and breathe our projects and actively capture learnings to refine our process in a search for iterative improvement. “Our aim is to deliver the very highest quality homes that foster community and connection whilst treading lightly on our environment.” The building will also become the developer’s new headquarters with a collective space at ground level for their projects and sustainability teams, while Wallis says some of his team are looking at living there on completion. “And that’s great because it gives them lived experience of what we do,” he says. “We will also be replicating our H V Hotel experience in the new project, similar to what we have done at Ferrars &amp; York. “In its first year more than 350 people got to experience good design. For us it’s about educating people on what better looks like and it’s not just consumers, it’s also industry.” ▲ Hip V Hype captured data around the performance of its Ferrars &amp; York building to provide key learnings to take forward. Images: Tess Kelly Wallis says they hope to receive planning approval next year after pursuing the new State Facilitated Development pathway. “It’s certainly taken a while to get the next project going in these challenging market conditions … but we’re really excited about the back half of 2025,” he says. “It’s all about confidence, and with some interest rate relief and bit more confidence things will pick up in Melbourne.” The developer has teamed up with Austin Maynard Architects to leverage their shared values around design. “For us, design is so much more than architecture, it’s absolutely about the built form, the way people exist in it, how the building works,” Wallis says. Founder of Austin Maynard Architects Andrew Maynard says he drew inspiration from the surrounds of Brunswick. “This is the most unique site in Brunswick. It is a misshapen oddity, an island in the green spine of Brunswick parkland, secluded in greenery,” Maynard says. “It gently embraces Clifton Park and looks out across Gilpin Park to the city. It has an abundance of character and is the anchor to the precinct. “It deserves a landmark project that celebrates its singularity, quirks and the natural environment that surrounds it.” ParkLife 2 is expected to be launched in the middle of next year with move-in forecast for mid-2027. You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. Click here to learn more.

Hip V Hype Launches ‘Lovechild’ Brunswick Apartment Project

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