Northcote

Construction firm Brady Group will kick off construction this month on MAB's sustainable Merri Northcote project.

Located on the banks of Merri Creek, the homes are surrounded by Australian bushland and neighbouring low-rise cottages, offering residents a serene setting while being within walking distance of the lively Westgarth area.

Designed to embody future-proofed living, each residence within Merri aims to achieve a 5 Star Green Star standard, with the apartments anticipated to boast an average NatHERS rating of 7 stars.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113174 project_image_fid=211309]

Residents of Merri can also look forward to a host of eco-friendly features that contribute to reducing their environmental impact.

The incorporation of rooftop solar panels, double glazing, passive solar design, LED lighting, and electric heat pump hot water systems underscores the developer's dedication to creating energy-efficient homes. These sustainable elements not only benefit the environment but also provide residents with long-term cost savings.

Collaborating with esteemed landscape architects TCL, each building within the development will be adorned with a dedicated rooftop garden.

Residents can revel in the beauty of their surroundings, with creek fronting buildings offering sweeping views of the adjacent waterway, tree tops, and the captivating cityscape beyond.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113174 project_image_fid=211314]

Merri residences are designed to maximise space, harness natural light, and adapt to individual needs. The flexible living spaces offer ample storage and can be furnished in various configurations, providing homeowners with the freedom to personalise their dwellings to their liking.

Accessibility is also a priority, as all buildings can be conveniently accessed from Walker Street without the need for climbing stairs. Furthermore, residents can rest easy knowing that their safety is assured through the implementation of video intercoms, keyless entry systems, and CCTV surveillance.

Each of the four interior schemes available at Merri exudes a distinct aesthetic, with the use of exposed concrete throughout ensuring a tactile quality that adds a touch of sophistication to each dwelling.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113174]

Designed to embody future-proofed living, each residence within Merri aims to achieve a 5 Star Green Star standard, with the apartments anticipated to boast an average NatHERS rating of 7 stars

alisonwarters@gmail.com

MAB appoints Brady Group to construct Merri Northcote

First home buyers will get an exclusive crack at three of the latest apartment projects by the Melbourne apartment developer, MAB Corporation.

A Victorian-first, MAB are offering what is essentially a pre-release of apartments just for those getting on the ladder for the first time, with an eight-week window before the apartments are available to everyone.

The three inner northern ring apartments,&nbsp;Academy North Melbourne, Merri Northcote and Preston Crossing, will see first home buyers get a chance to purchase with a three percent deposit, or less than $11,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=109972 project_image_fid=185444]

For deposits greater than three per cent, purchasers will be entitled to a rebate that reduces the balance paid at settlement &ndash; an initiative designed to encourage saving while the homes are delivered.

Over 100 new apartments across the three projects will be available to first home buyers before launching to the broader public in 2022.

MAB General Manager Residential, David Allt-Graham said the initiative is&nbsp;a great opportunity for first home buyers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=109972 project_image_fid=185457]

&ldquo;MAB understands the challenges first home buyers face entering the inner-city property market and we believe that this initiative will help people in our city purchase their first home in tightly held inner-city locations,&quot; Allt-Graham said.

&ldquo;What&rsquo;s more, all three projects are being developed as sustainable, future-proofed homes with a minimum 7 Star NatHERS rating along with our commitment to deliver a 5 Star Green Star As-Built certification.

&quot;With a focus on sustainability, and operating fully electric, we&rsquo;re ensuring these future residents will have homes that are less expensive to operate and are better for the environment as we move towards a carbon-free future.

About MAB&rsquo;s Participating Projects 

Academy, North Melbourne 

The third collaboration between MAB and architect McBride Charles Ryan (MCR), Academy comprises 17 townhouses and 150 apartments and showcases an innovative, avant-garde design underpinned by flexible, welcoming homes that elevate the wellbeing of residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110214 project_image_fid=185969]

Merri, Northcote

Designed by Six Degrees to complement the natural beauty of Merri Creek, Merri Northcote will be home to 151 apartments upon its completion.

The new homes at the development aim to feel familiar and are immersed in their lush surroundings &ndash; encouraging a connection to nature through planned biophilic integrations and easy access to walking tracks.

Preston Crossing, Preston

Spearheaded by renowned architects Hayball, Archier and Breathe Architecture, Preston Crossing will home a&nbsp;mix of apartments and townhouses totalling 147 dwellings, which will champion progressive design and a connected community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=109972 project_image_fid=185447]

Over 100 new apartments across the three projects will be available to first home buyers before launching to the broader public in 2022

Joel Robinson

MAB Corporation to reserve first release of three Melbourne apartment developments for first home buyers

Renowned developer Beulah has recently announced that their boutique collection of 15 homes will soon become the first carbon-neutral detached housing development in inner Melbourne.

Architecturally designed by Edition Office Design, the Northcote development has been curated to prioritise health, wellbeing and sustainability.&nbsp;

In order to achieve this, the team employed environmentally sustainable design principles. All 15 homes are fossil fuel-free and 100% electric, with integrated solar panels and induction cooktops.

Passive solar design has been utilised for thermal comfort and to minimise energy use, with double glazed windows and doors, cross ventilation, slab insulation and external operable blinds to the west and south west.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/land-for-sale/the-wilds-merri-creek-estate-2a-cunningham-street-northcote" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="3000" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_wilds_exterior_2_0.jpg" width="2250" /></a>

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/land-for-sale/the-wilds-merri-creek-estate-2a-cunningham-street-northcote" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="2222" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_wilds_exterior_0.jpg" width="3168" /></a>

The development also includes a 5,000-litre rainwater tank for residents to use for gardening and water sensitive landscape design. Environmentally conscious travel is also supported with ample bicycle parking, and electric car charging provisions are available as an upgrade option.&nbsp;

Beulah Executive Director Adelene Teh explains that the neighbourhood&#39;s surroundings played a pivotal role in influencing the design of The Wilds.&nbsp;

&quot;The Wilds is incredibly rare in that it is not only carbon neutral, but it consists of expansive detached houses, all located with direct frontage to the Merri Creek. 
Residents will have the privacy of their own garden, yet will reap the benefits of belonging to a boutique community. As a company, we wanted to explore a carbon-neutral offering and we felt it aligned strongly with the sustainably-minded suburb of Northcote, where we could integrate the project into the landscape and respect the surroundings as much as possible to reduce its carbon footprint.&quot;

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/land-for-sale/the-wilds-merri-creek-estate-2a-cunningham-street-northcote" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="2594" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_wilds_exterior1_0.jpg" width="1463" /></a>

On offer is a range of 3, 4 and 5 bedroom configurations, with generous floorplans designed for flexible use. There is also an additional living space in each home that buyers can customise to suit their needs &ndash; to create a home office, exercise space or a creative studio.&nbsp;

Prior to The Wilds, Beulah delivered Paragon, which features the largest vertical installation of solar panels in Australia.&nbsp;

Read next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/vic/beulah-unveil-off-the-plan-northcote-housing-development-the-wilds" target="_blank">Beulah unveil off the plan Northcote housing development The Wilds</a>

Olivia Round

Beulah's The Wilds residences are set to become inner Melbourne's first carbon-neutral detached housing development

The Melbourne developer Beulah have unveiled The Wilds, a boutique collection of houses on Northcote&#39;s Merri Creek.

The 15 detached houses have been designed by architecture studio Edition Office, the same team who were behind the multi-award winning Hawthorn House.

The positioning of the townhomes to front Merri Creek was a conscious effort, backed by research fro the Beulah team.

They looked at a study by the Swedish lecturer and professor Terry Hartig. Hartig&nbsp;looked&nbsp;at nature&#39;s influence on the mental restorative benefits for individuals, namely the benefits of water landscapes in restorative mental benefits.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=101145 project_image_fid=162759]

Those who were exposed to views and murals of waterscapes, as opposed to other nature scenes, had significantly improved attention spans, the survey found.

That saw Beulah align the frontages of the three and four bedroom houses towards Merri Creek, with the kitchens oriented to allow residents to take in the scenic views while cooking.

Beulah&#39;s co-founder and executive director Adelene Teh&nbsp;said as the paradigm shifts towards an increase in home buyers seeking a tree change, The Wilds caters to this growing demand by offering large-scale residences immersed in nature, with the conveniences of inner-city life.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=101145 project_image_fid=162761]

&ldquo;In the current Melbourne market, there are no developments of a similar nature to The Wilds, both due to its extremely unique location on the creek&#39;s edge, its rare urban house and land offering, and its design elements of connecting occupants with nature at every turn.

&ldquo;Residents will feel as though they are immersed in nature, yet the hustle and bustle of city life is only 3-kilometres away, easily accessible by train or via the Capital City Trail bike path.

Teh said they felt it was important to create a product that caters to this shift in lifestyle demands, for those who seek&nbsp;a tree change but want to be close to the city.

The houses are priced from $1.9 million.

The positioning of the townhomes to front Merri Creek was a conscious effort, backed by research fro the Beulah team

Beulah unveil off the plan Northcote housing development The Wilds

The Ruber Group has listed a nine storey apartment development site in the heart of Northcote.

The 1436 sqm corner site is at 387-393 High Street.

https://www.realcommercial.com.au/for-sale/property-387-393-high-street-northcote-vic-3070-503812834

It is on the corner of Separation Street, opposite Northcote Central and Plaza shopping centres.

It comes with a permit for 77 apartments across nine levels plus two retail spaces.

The design was by Hayball.

The project comes with an $7.5 million to $8 million price guide with offers due May 27.

Colliers' agents Jozef Dickinson, Hamish Burgess and Joe Kairouz have the listing of the Commercial 1 zoned site which is currently a large showroom leased to Sportsmart.

It is the only 'ready to go' development site of scale along the High Street strip.

The site was bought for $5 million in 2014.

The nearby Northcote Central and the Plaza are undergoing redevelopment.

 CRS agent Lou Montalti is auctioning a nearby smaller 560 sq m development site at 463-467 High Street on May 27.

It is permit approved for a six level residential development with basement car parking, two ground floor shops and 17 apartments 

Colliers advise there were no other 'ready to go' development sites of scale along the High Street strip

jchancellor

Ruber Group lists nine storey Northcote apartment development site

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Darebin Council, comprising Melbourne’s inner-northern region, has released the city’s first good design guides, devised to help lift the standard of design by developers working in Darebin.

The council endorsed the guides in early September as the first local government to do so outside of the City of Melbourne.

City designer Munir Vahanvati led the development of the documents which clarify the Council’s expected outcomes for design in planning application, and assist planners in pre-application meetings and assessments.

“Planning schemes by necessity are broad and there are various ways to meet the requirements. Our Good Design Guides clarify how Council expects applicants to meet those requirements in Darebin,” he said.

The guides form part of the Council’s design excellence program, aimed to lift the standard of design in multiple ways and help create quality neighbourhoods.

“We know ensuring high quality design will create more resilient and liveable neighbourhoods. It’s not just about aesthetics, it’s about how things work and how the developments interact with their environment”, Vahanvati said.

Darebin is expected to see population growth of 40 per cent over the next 20 years and ensuring good design outcomes for the community is important, said Council CEO Sue Wilkinson.

We want our Darebin of the future to deliver on the ideals so important to us and our community. Our city needs to be sustainable, accessible and liveable, while supporting our diverse population,” she said.

Future guides are planned to set the standards for landscape, streetscape and environmentally sustainable design.

<h2>New developments in the City of Darebin </h2>

1. <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-townhouses/northcote-place-198-beavers-road-northcote?last_source_news_article_id=84808&amp;ref=news_related_project">Northcote Place, Northcote</a> 
Two-bedroom townhouses from $895,000 
Address: 198 Beavers Road, Northcote VIC 3070

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/beavers.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/beavers.jpg?itok=PXvwJwsK" width="580"></a>

Northcote Place is located in the City of Darebin in a green location beside Merri Creek. Offering two-, three- and four-bedroom townhomes, the development is a “habitat for community-focused living”, the marketing reads.

Designed by ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects and Akas Landscape Architecture, the project offers native greenery, front porches and landscaped pedestrian streets to draw residents out of their homes. The homes also include a communal garden area with alfresco entertaining space.

2. <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-townhouses/merripark3070-7-2c-sumner-avenue-northcote?last_source_news_article_id=84808&amp;ref=news_related_project">MERRIPARK3070, Northcote</a> 
Two-bedroom townhouses from $995,000 
Address: 7/2C Summer Avenue, Northcote VIC 3070

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/merripark3070-7-2c-sumner-avenue-northcote-07eb6edd5b5d506eb872daa2fb67d6e0.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="315" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/merripark3070-7-2c-sumner-avenue-northcote-07eb6edd5b5d506eb872daa2fb67d6e0.jpg?itok=ITnX-MLf" width="580"></a>

Designed by Cera Stribley, MERRIPARK3070 comprises eight two-, three- and four-bedroom townhomes across three floors. Situated within the heritage-protected Sumner Estate, the development is in close proximity to Merri Creek and cycling trails.

The homes offer clever storage, floor-to-ceiling windows, courtyard balconies and split-level interiors. Two-bedroom homes are listed from $995,000, and three-bedroom homes from $1.225 million.
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The City of Darebin launch the Darebin Good Design Guide to improve the quality of development and create sustainable and liveable neighbourhoods

max.kwok_55688

City of Darebin sets new standard for developments

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A development site at 43-47 Simpson Street, Northcote, has sold after an Expressions of Interest campaign.
The 783 square metre site was listed by real estate agents Gray Johnson.
The property was sold for over $3.3 Million, according to Gray Johnson director Matt Hoath.
It was purchased by an established apartment developer who has specialised in the eastern and southern suburbs.
There are street frontages of 22.57 metres to Simpson Street and 34.65 metres to Robert Street.
The current permit from the City of Darebin allows a development of eighteen apartments, and three retail positions with space for a café (STPA) on the street frontage.
It is roughly seven kilometres from the CBD.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Northcote development site sold for $3.3 million

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The General, a pioneering residential building in Northcote designed by emerging Melbourne architecture practice C.Kairouz Architects has been recently completed.

Located on the corner of High Street and Bent Street, the development's moniker is derived from the nickname of Kairouz’s late father.

Built at the former site of the family’s butcher business, the project has been designed to honour his journey as a migrant to successful Australian business owner, while also employing strong sustainability measures on the way to a 7.5 start NatHERS energy rating.

The development is also the first ever residential building in Australia to use Onyx Solar photovoltaic glazing - as both a balustrade and power source - providing high quality and sustainable architecture. Working closely with engineers, the firm looked to ensure the energy produced by the glass offset the cost of light, power and mechanical equipment in common areas.

Design highlights include a curved glass facade and oak floors, while other sustainable features include:

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<li>A 25,000 litre rainwater tank used to flush toilets</li>
	<li>137 bicycle parks</li>
	<li>Multiple green spaces including a rooftop terrace</li>
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Urban.com.au asked Managing Director of C.Kairouz Architects, Chahid Kairouz about the sustainable design measures within the project and how they went about becoming the first Australian design firm to use photovoltaic glass.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/the_general_highst_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Onyx Solar photovoltaic glass has been used for the balustrades. Image: Peter Clarke"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_general_highst_1.jpg?itok=g9objmq8" title="Onyx Solar photovoltaic glass has been used for the balustrades. Image: Peter Clarke" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Onyx Solar photovoltaic glass has been used for the balustrades. Image: Peter Clarke</figcaption></figure>Urban.com.au: What was the catalyst for incorporating the Onyx photovoltaic glass on The General? And at what stage of the design process did the decision to include this in the design occur?

Chahid Kairouz: The General was inspired by the desire to honour my late father’s legacy and pioneer a new technology with a sustainability focus. Onyx Solar photovoltaic glass was adopted due to its appeal of being both a building fabric and a power generating element.

We worked with many consultants to review different technologies and really pushed to champion this product in Australia and start the take-up of this technology and notion of innovative ways to clad the building.  

U: Sometimes design features such as solar harnessing capabilities are poorly integrated into the design. How important was this in providing a quality design response for The General?

CK: We worked closely with ETS, Energy Efficient Choices and Inhabit in order to develop the product specifically for The General. This was a project in itself, coordinating with steel fabricators, structural engineers, fire engineers and the facade engineer to produce detailed shop drawings. 

Special engineering of the product was needed to ensure that it would be strong enough to withstand the practical use of acting as a balustrade, as well as yield the potential to generate solar power. Additionally, the Onyx Solar product is very aesthetically beautiful, so works perfectly as a sleek, black building fabric on the northern facade.

The Onyx Solar glass, coupled with other sustainable initiatives meant that we sought a minimum 7.5 natHERS rating.

U: The idea of legacy is often spoken about in terms of new apartment developments and what they contribute to their immediate context. The site was formerly home to your family's butcher business, how much did the idea of legacy influence the design and the development of the site both in terms of environmental and social sustainability?

 CK: The butcher business my father started with his five brothers still runs today, and is one of the most recognised and demanded product brands in the small stock industry (Cedar Meats). The whole business is run on the values of environmental and social sustainability, from our commitment to animal welfare to employing over 400 staff, many of them ethnic migrants, just like my father.

As a result, the business was the winner of the National Ethnic Business of the Year in 2015. 

It was extremely important to reflect my father’s values in the design of The General; not only for sentimental value but to stand the test of time in its design and its use of cutting-edge sustainable technology on the facade; a combination makes the building and the apartments be relevant for longer. Similarly, the original design for The General started at 114 apartments but was reduced to 87 to make way for greater mixed-use spaces so the building could be more multidisciplinary.

U: Being the first Australian project to incorporate photovoltaic glass did you have to research projects abroad and what did you learn?

CK: Pioneering the product on a facade in Australia for the first time came with inherent challenges and naturally, there was a big degree of experimentation involved. 

Technically speaking, it displays a solar factor of 10%, making it an ideal candidate to achieve control over the interior temperature. The product has been proven to yield low-emissivity properties, provide a UV and IR filter, promote natural light, and generate power.

Statistically translated, this allows The General to generate 2,075 kWh per year and prevents the release of 1.95 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Pioneering the product encourages future development and refinement to make it more commercial and increase the public awareness and philosophy for it to be adopted in the future.

U: Do you expect more developers and architects to follow suit and will you be looking at incorporating photovoltaic glass in future projects?

CK: Yes - we feel that industry recognition and support of our initiative is important in spreading the message.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/the_general_foyer_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The General's foyer. Image: Peter Clarke"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_general_foyer_2.jpg?itok=EoybN271" title="The General's foyer. Image: Peter Clarke" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The General's foyer. Image: Peter Clarke</figcaption></figure>Lead Image: Peter Clarke
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Laurence Dragomir

Chahid Kairouz provides insight on The General's Australian-first photovoltaic glass 

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The General, a multi-residential project in Melbourne's Northcote, is taking sustainable architecture to a new level.
The Cedar Group development, designed by emerging Melbourne architecture practice C.Kairouz Architects, is the first residential building in Australia to use Onyx Solar photovoltaic glass on a facade, providing high-quality and sustainable architecture.
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Acting as both a balustrade and power source on the building’s north facing exterior, The General also boasts a 7.5 star NatHERS energy rating.
C.Kairouz Architects director Chahid Kairouz said the glass supplied by Environmental Technology Solutions allows the ingress of daylight, while also offering significant thermal protection.
Working closely with engineers, the firm looked to ensure the energy produced by the glass offset the cost of light, power and mechanical equipment in common areas.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/22/general2.jpg" alt="">
 
Located on the prominent corner of High Street and Bent Street, the development is affectionately labelled ​The General,​ the nickname of Kairouz’s late father. Built at the former site of the family’s butcher business, the project honours his journey as a migrant to successful Australian business owner. 
“On the building’s east facing exterior, a curved glass facade features a reference to my father, with a subtle image of a General on a horse across all panels. This patterned glass is also able to be illuminated into a beacon-like effect,” Kairouz said.
The curved exterior carries through to the foyer with the main entrance featuring rounded glass doors mirrored by a curved grey tiled sculpture-like divider.
The development comprises one, two and three bedroom apartments. There are gas fireplaces in 14 apartments.
With sustainability the main focus for C.Kairouz, green spaces enhance the building’s 7.5 star energy rating with a rooftop terrace, green wall in the entrance, and planter boxes on each apartment balcony also a feature.
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Elsewhere in the building’s basement, a 25,000 litre rainwater tank which collects water from the rooftops is used to flush 50 toilets. 
Encouraging green-centric transport the building contains 137 bicycle parks.
A mixed-use building, ​The General ​is also home to street-frontage restaurants, retail stores and offices.
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

The General in Northcote takes sustainability to new levels

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An Austin Maynard Architects designed home at Northcote has been listed for December auction.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-northcote-126852778" target="_blank">The 7 Walker Street four bedroom home</a> comes with $3.2 million to $3.4 million expectations.
It is set in the patch of the suburb known as Westgarth.
The Austin Maynard Architects work is set behind its Gothic Revival facade.
The December 2 auction is through Nelson Alexander agent Peter Stephens.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/19/f2100d54007b40ab8ffc6b78ef671a4f.jpg" alt="">
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