Balfe Park Lane adds to KTA's growing housing portfolio
Boutique developer Antipodean Land Developments is pushing ahead with its Balfe Park Lane project in Brunswick East. First covered on Urban.com.au in late June, Balfe Park Lane comprises an ensemble of four interconnected apartment buildings designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), located between Nicholson Street and Balfe Park.
KTA has designed Balfe Park Lane to provide a unique offering which promotes design excellence, high quality resident amenity and sustainable living. Capitalising on its 60m park frontage and three acres of adjacent public open space, the Balfe Park Lane provides the Aussie Dream of a big backyard but with an inner-city twist. Balfe Park Lane features nine townhouses and a mix of two, three and four bedroom apartments with dual aspects and allowing for natural cross-flow ventilation and an abundance of natural light.
Antipodean's aspirations for the site were to deliver a socially and environmentally sustainable development which enhanced and benefited the local community. This aligned closely with KTA's own aspirations and together they fulfilled this goal via the inclusion of a public laneway linking Nicholson Street to Balfe Park.
According to the architects, the development highlights how multi-residential design should consider the requirements of residents as well as the surrounding neighbourhood to create buildings with lasting appeal. Drawing on the industrial fabric of the surrounding context, Balfe Park Lane’s facade and materiality deliver a contemporary response to Brunswick East’s architectural vernacular of brickwork and concrete.The interiors are characterised by whitewash timber-lined ceilings which provide thermal and acoustic benefits and creating a sense of warmth.
A collection of retail tenancies that respond to Brunswick East's eclectic mix of retail and hospitality offerings, will be located on the ground level providing active frontages to the public realm. A communal courtyard and rooftop garden complement the adjacent recreational park space on offer at Balfe Park.
Sustainability was also pivotal to the design of Balfe Park Lane with the inclusion of solar PVs, rainwater harvesting, rooftop composting, vegetable gardens, electric vehicle charging stations and ample bicycle amenities. Design features such as operable shades and windows, and ceiling fans provide passive sustainable design methods for thermal comfort.
Antipodean hopes that the thoughtful design will make an enduring local impact, contributing meaningfully to the already strong sense of community in the area.
What they say...
The design of Balfe Park Lane as an ensemble of buildings of varying shape and orientation rather than a large, single building means that there is a stronger sense of neighbourhood and an individual address within a broader social context
Four individual structures also means we have more opportunities to give each dwelling the benefit of windows that welcome in light, ventilation and views. In a market that often values lavish fixtures and fittings, we believe real luxury lies in creating a beautiful framework – providing ‘good bones’ - that will endure and give lasting pleasure to occupants.
- Kerstin Thompson, Founding Principal @ KTA
It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy a lifestyle that combines the best of inner-city living with all the benefits of a large garden at your front door.
Brunswick East is calling out for a new and innovative approach to multi-residential living that cleverly integrates our need for greenery within an inner-city locale. The amenities on offer at this development are unparalleled in the neighbourhood.
- Dominic Ziino, Managing Agent, Castran
