"The interiors created to reflect the modern yet eclectic vibe of the suburb" - The design details behind Due North, Preston apartments

Due North is the latest development by the respected Melbourne developer Caydon Property, located in the hive of Melbourne's lively Preston precinct.

Inspired by the industrial past of Preston, the façade of the 12-level High Street building features raw brickwork, exposed concrete, custom metalwork and glass.

Caydon aren't like most developers, whose standard practice is to outsource the architecture and design to an independent firm.

Urban recently sat down with Giuditta De Santis, Caydon's director of architecture and design, to discuss the Melbourne development.

MK: Due North was managed and delivered by Caydon’s in-house team. Why do you think this adds value to the project?

GDS: Working in-house allows us to take full ownership of the project, and helps simplify decision making.

Our team is very experienced and resourceful, and working in-house helps us maintain control of the overall design and ensure material consistency.

MK: What was the design brief for the Architecture & Design Team?

GDS: We wanted to ensure that the interiors reflected the modern yet eclectic vibe of the suburb.

So when looking at finishes and fixtures, we created a contemporary palette of stone, marble, timber flooring and a choice of grey or charcoal colour palettes.

MK: What spoke to you about Due North in particular?

GDS: Due North has a fantastic location, right in the hive of High St. Preston is a very vibrant suburb and has a great amount of local amenities.

We wanted the size of the project to reflect the area, so it’s a more boutique-style development.  

MK: Due North boasts a number of communal amenities. What are some of the amenities and benefits that residents can expect to enjoy?

GDS: Many of Due North’s amenities are located on the rooftop, giving you stunning views of the city - which is quite unusual in this area. There’s also a rooftop pool, yoga lawn, outdoor gym, and private entertaining booths with BBQs.

I think this space will be hugely popular with residents, as it allows them to form new connections in a safe and peaceful environment.

Shared spaces create a feeling of community in the building, especially in times where many of us value our immediate community, including our neighbours.

Working from home has also cemented itself in our 9-5 culture, so there are a variety of coworking spaces in the lobby. Each space is equipped with everything you’d need to set up your laptop and work from home. 

MK: What design features have you included that the average homebuyer may not notice straight away?

GDS: We really wanted Due North to reflect the current needs of our homebuyers, which is why we have focused on creating ample storage, working from home spaces, and pet-friendly living.

For example, we ensure that there are additional areas for storage when we design a floorplan - such as linen cupboards and fully fitted robes.

In terms of working from home, many of our apartments have a flexi-space that you can turn into a home office, plus there’s a coworking area downstairs that is available for all residents to use.

When choosing materials and finishes, we look at what is easiest to clean and can withstand playtime with our furry friends, such as engineered timber flooring and reconstituted stone benchtops.

Plus, all of our apartments have balconies and shared outdoor spaces that both you and your pets can also enjoy.

MK: Were there any challenges during the development or design process that you had to overcome?

GDS: Melbourne’s lockdown would be the key challenge we have had to overcome. It’s quite hard to collaborate with our suppliers online, plus sourcing materials and samples of finishes was very difficult during this time.

However, in the end, the team really pulled together, and we were able to overcome these issues.