Outline Projects launch 131 Smith Street, Fitzroy apartments
Even before its recent launch to the market, the new Fitzroy apartment development by the local Melbourne developer Outline Projects was a hit with the architecture community.
"We had a number of early enquiries on the apartments from architects and designers given the following Freedman White has," Outline Projects Sales and Marketing Director Tom Aylward told Urban.
Aylward said when the site was acquired at 131 Smith Street, they said to themselves "who is the best architect for the area and who interprets the Fitzroy lifestyle drivers the best?"
The design-driven developer has a solid reputation for producing striking projects in Fitzroy following their seven townhouses nearby at 44-46 Greeves Street, which were recently nominated for an award in the multiple housing category in the Australian Institute of Architects Architecture Awards for Victoria.
They knew Freedman White would fit their brief: to not create just another cookie-cutter development, and design something that is more a tune to the story of the area.
"We were conscious of the enduring outcome of this site, sitting between two beautiful heritage buildings, so we felt a key outcome was to add to that streetscape and create something that would sit equally among it," Aylward added.
The first street level facade is in keeping with the surroundings. There's a more contemporary build set back from the street, which will home the majority of the two and three-bedroom apartments.
There will be ground floor commercial on Smith Street, while residents will be afforded entry to the building both from Smith Street and one from Little Smith Street. Aylward expects the latter to be used the most frequently by owner-occupiers.
"They can enter and exit off the quieter Little Smith St and be a 150m walk to Gertrude Street," Aylward said.
There's extensive views on offer, and the sought-after western aspect, with views over Gore Street and Napier, which will never-to-be-built-out, given the heritage overlay, and therefore height control, of the area.
The focus for Outline was on the owner-occupier.
The one-bedroom apartments start from a generous 64 sqm of internal living space, and have their own study area. Aylward expects to net a lot of first home buyers and investors interested in the one-bedroom stock, with owner-occupiers, rightsizers, and downsizers looking at the two and three-bedroom apartments.
There's already been enquiry come from Collingwood and Fitzroy.
"It's hard to get anyone out of Fitzroy once they've lived in the area," Aylward says, due to its doorstep convenience, buzz of Smith Street bars, cafes and restaurants, and its extensive tram network to the city.