Inside The New Melbourne Apartment Building That Feels Like A Village
Architecture
A view of the amazing rooftop gardens at East Brunswick Village.
Each building in the complex has its own dedicated space.
Urban planning policy adviser James McLean moved into his one-bedroom apartment in 2023.
‘I wanted enough room for a decent-sized dining table to host dinner parties, and also a comfy cosy couch to lounge and nap on,’ James says of his must-haves. Sofa from Lounge Lovers. Akari light by Noguchi.
An avid gardener, James has created a thriving balcony brimming with big shady ferns, bamboo, and little pots of herbs, flowers and succulents.
The dining room.
James says the benefit of buying off-the-plan gave him time to really think about how he wanted to style his first home.
The bedroom.
Many of the artworks were gifted to him by family and friends.
There’s even an outdoor barbecue and herb and vegetable gardens for the residents on the rooftop.
Cosmos add pops of colour to the urban landscape.
Inside Michele Giblett and David Kahans’ three-bedroom apartment.
The couple live in the complex with their son and dog, Daisy!
Natural finishes provide a perfect blank canvas for the family’s colourful collection of furniture and art.
The spacious kitchen has been customised with an extended island bench.
The study nook features a dedicated reading chair for David.
Private communal spaces span over 2300 square metres and are accessible to every resident.
The ground floor features a thriving retail precinct.
FOMO Cinemas, cafes, restaurants, and a wellness centre with a pilates studio and doctor’s clinic are all located within EBV.
And it’s all just six kilometres from the CBD!
Life is almost ‘too easy’ for the residents who live inside East Brunswick Village (EBV).
Located just off Nicholson Street, the development has got its own thriving retail precinct, featuring a supermarket, bakery, butcher, cinema, brewery, and even a pilates studio — just to name a few!
As the name suggests, EBV was designed to feel like a complete village with its own private rooftop gardens, nestled right amongst Melbourne’s inner city.
This was something that appealed to first-home buyer James McLean. The urban planning policy adviser had been living in the area for almost a decade in ‘cold, damp and crumbling inner-north share houses’ when he decided to buy his apartment off-the-plan in 2022.
‘Maybe it’s the urban planner idealist in me, but I love the convenience of having all my daily needs met on my doorstep. Living here is probably too easy,’ James says jokingly.
‘Some weekends I barely leave the EBV precinct as everything one could need is within a 30 second walk. My doctor is even on site!’
In addition to the building’s average 7.5-NatHERS energy rating, the apartment’s ‘oversized floorplan’ was another major drawcard.
At 74 square metres, his one-bedroom home has enough room for a comfy couch, a decent-sized dining table for hosting dinner parties, an office space, lots of sunlight, and a large balcony brimming with plants stretching the full length of the apartment — something that’s become James’ pride and joy since moving in.
‘I love having my morning coffee outside (or an afternoon aperitivo) while pottering, pruning, and admiring all the plants I have grown and managed to keep alive and thriving!’
He says there’s also a wonderful friendly relationship amongst the neighbours, fostered by dedicated social club events like monthly makers markets, outdoor cinema screenings. There’s even a Garden Club.
Meanwhile, for residents Michele Giblett and David Kahans, buying their light-filled, three-bedroom apartment at EBV ended up being the perfect way to mark their next chapter.
‘To be honest we weren’t really interested in downsizing, but once we were sent floor plans and visited the display suite we thought maybe something like this was for us,’ Michele says.
Drawn in by the lifestyle and opportunity to return to the inner city where they had lived before having kids, the couple listed their Eltham family home of 17 years for sale and made the leap — with their twin 20-something children and dog Daisy in tow.
While their daughter has since moved out, their son Oscar still lives with them, but the apartment truly has something for everyone.
‘We had renovated two homes previously so loved the fact that there were not too many decisions to make except for a couple of finishes,’ Michele adds.
They did however decide to make a few customisations, including extending the kitchen bench and soundproofing Oscar’s bedroom so he can work on his DJing and music production without disturbing David reading in the study. And on a warm, sunny day, the whole family gets together on the balcony.
They’re now a single-car household, instead mostly using e-bikes, walking or public transport to get around.
But the friendships they’ve made with residents in their building is perhaps the best part: ‘we have attended events with, met up with some on an overseas trip, shared dinners and baked goods.
‘There is a real sense of community at EBV. This is what we hoped for, but weren’t sure what the reality would be like.’
Michele notes the move has transformed their lives, in the very best way!
Apartments inside the East Brunswick Village’s new building Fasteners Way are now selling. Find out more and register your interest here.