Following the success of its first two projects, Beulah moved its attention closer to the CBD with the development of Habitus – a boutique collection of contemporary five-storey terrace homes. Residences of this size and this quality are rare for such a highly coveted location as South Melbourne, marking Habitus from the beginning as another exceptional Beulah project.
Designed to appeal to owner-occupiers seeking an urban lifestyle close to the city, DKO Architecture introduced a new concept in townhome design to the area with this project, by envisioning a series of residences with a spacious yet vertical approach set over five levels.
These residences drew inspiration from Dutch architectural heritage to create the ideal inner-urban yet family-centred home, while also reflecting the local context. South Melbourne’s industrial part is seen in the use of sawtooth roof lines, box frames and portals.
Across the light-filled spaces within, the interior design was finely considered to comprise all the components for modern living: tall ceilings, generous kitchens and bathrooms and intelligent storage.
This approach led to the creation of flexible living spaces which can be easily adapted to suit the needs of individual families over time, including working from home. The ground floor, for example, can be used as a home office, cinema, gym or play space. In addition to these innovative touches, the design once again demonstrated Beulah’s insistence of high-quality finishes throughout, balancing contemporary elegance with references to the area’s industrial past.
Once again, a philosophy of value over volume led to the number of residences originally on the permit reduced – from 30 to 25 – which allowed for more garden space between the terrace homes. This project also saw Beulah introduce extensive sustainability features, including rainwater harvesting, solar panels and energy-efficient glazing.
It is extremely rare to find terrace homes so close to the city with the level of quality, innovation and space which this development provides.
