Melbourne townhouse of the week: Brunswick East Collection

Hip, trendy and rich in history – the inner northern suburb of Brunswick is coveted by first and next home buyers alike for its unparalleled charm and livability. New development, Brunswick East Collection, encapsulates the perfect balance between new and old, with a retained historic brickwork facade juxtaposed with ultra-modern interior design schemes. We caught up with Peter Lombo, Director at Archsign to learn more about the design and inspiration behind the project. 

Urban.com.au: Where did you draw inspiration for Brunswick East Collection from?

Peter Lombo: The history and unique composition of the Yorkshire Textile Mill dictated the final design response. Originally constructed in 1926, the existing building is historically significant to its suburb as of one of the many textile manufacturers operating in Brunswick during the interwar period.

U: What were the top 5 features you decided had to be included in the development and why?

PL: Top five essential features were:

1. Retention and restoration of existing heritage facade - why: the facade with remnant 'Yorkshire Textile Mill' signage is a landmark feature to the intersection and is a piece of Lygon Street's bygone textile and manufacturing history.
2. Industrial-style Doors to Inverness Street - Why: new doors were designed to replace the existing which were no longer serviceable. They reinforce the industrial/ warehouse aesthetic and complement the facade.
3. Corrugated sheeting to Albion Street - why: a large wall of corrugated sheeting originally occupied nearly the entire length of Albion Street, this contrasted with the more polished brick facade to Inverness Street but acted as a reminder of how a lot of the textile industries in Brunswick grew from humble beginnings. Corrugated sheeting is both a reference to this past as well as reinforcing the industrial aesthetic of the development.
4. East-west shared driveway - why: this facilitated a complete break in the built form and allowed dwellings with a frontage to Albion Street to have rear north-facing balconies connected to generous, private living areas.
5. Feature curved roof apex - Why: the existing building had a distinctive roof form which was appreciated from Albion Street. It was important that this was retained to reference the existing building and create visual interest to the building.

U: What do you think buyers love most about the development?

PL: We anticipate buyers looking for a warehouse conversion that offers a townhouse of generous proportions located in a sought-after pocket in Brunswick East within walking distance to Lygon Street and some of Brunswick's best green open spaces along the Merri Creek corridor. Archsign have been involved in a large array of developments involving award-winning heritage building restorations/redevelopments in inner-city Melbourne. Buyers familiar with the Archsign brand will not be disappointed with the unique exterior and bespoke interiors.

U: If you had to choose your favourite aspect of the building, what would it be?

PL: Our favourite feature of this development would have to be the corner dwelling, and how comfortably it sits within the heritage facade, it makes for a very unique home. It’s a rare opportunity to own a very distinguishable piece of Melbourne's inter-war textile history.

U: What makes your project stand out from other properties on the market? 

PL: Townhouses with the industrial/ warehouse conversion style of this size and quality are very uncommon in this pocket of Brunswick East. Embracing heritage with the contemporary design creates awareness of history. It was a very rewarding experience to play a significant role in re-purposing a building which had been neglected and under-appreciated for so many years.