With the success of the sustainable apartment development project, The Commons, a 24 unit development in Florence Street Brunswick that won the country’s top architectural award for multi-residential housing in 2014, there were always going to be more sustainable projects offered to the public, but would they continue to sell off the plan, like The Commons did?
Well the short answer is a resounding Yes, with the recent release of the sold-out greenery-draped, eight level, nine star energy-rated Commons in Hobart; 18 of the Hobart apartments sold on launch night with the remaining 12 properties selling over the next two months.
So What Is Making These Ecofriendly Sustainable Developments So Desirable?
CEO of the company behind both developments, David Martin says the demand is coming from buyers who believe in sustainability and “who want a safe place to live in a like-minded neighbourhood”. People are turning to smaller scale developments to live in community and build a community / tribe of people with whom they share common interests.
The Commons Hobart includes 30 apartments, two commercial ground floor spaces, a public garden on the corner and a communal roof terrace with a food garden and barbecues. Each apartment will achieve a nine-star energy rating, enjoying North light for several hours each day, utilising healthy and durable raw materials and a private balcony with integrated planter boxes. The generously sized communal rooftop has a studio space for community events, a laundry with clothes drying area, extensive green roof and food garden beds.
To identify the right mix of private and community space for the Commons developments, the company surveyed potential buyers to find what they were looking for in modern sustainable housing developments. Buyers are now asking a lot more questions of the architects and developers about what they are building, the materials they are using, the sustainability of the project and how the design can lead to more of a community existence for those that choose to call the development home.
We expect to see these types of projects and business models to expand almost exponentially across Australia, as more sustainable models in new partnerships develop to meet this increasing demand from savvy buyers and empty nesters looking to downsize their life into a more sustainable and community based lifestyle.
