Assemble has launched its latest ‘rent-with-the-option to buy’ development in Brunswick. Designed by Fieldwork architects and landscape architecture by Rush Wright, the project features 171 apartments that will transform the existing factory site into the highly sought-after inner-north community.
Assemble Futures (formerly known as the Assemble Model) offers a more accessible pathway to owning a home, that bridges the gap between renting and buying. Once the applicant signs the lease agreement and contract of sale, they secure five years agreed rent with the option to buy their home at 4 Ballarat St at the end of the lease period.
Assemble’s Managing Director, Kris Daff, said the Assemble Futures housing concept is popular for Melbourne’s first home buyers, with moderate incomes starting from $60,000 and renters alike seeking secure, long-term housing.
“We are witnessing the strongest growth in property values in our history, rising at their fastest rate in almost two decades, and as a result, we have reached a crisis point in housing affordability. Our housing concept, Assemble Futures, takes the volatility out of the market and provides absolute price certainty for our clients over the term of the lease and the end purchase price,” Mr Daff said.
“This latest project provides those with a moderate annual income an opportunity to save for a home deposit, know they have the security of tenure and live in the heart of the Brunswick community in a quality designed apartment.”
The built form takes inspiration from the Brunswick streetscape, with Fieldwork’s design integrating raw materials such as corrugated iron, blue stone paving and concrete to create a timeless ribbed-textured ‘patina’ exterior.
Apartments will be thoughtfully designed that connect each home with a fully landscaped open-air walkway throughout the central building.
4 Ballarat St encourages neighbourly interactions, with a ground floor featuring a multi-purpose workshop and lending library to share household items with others. A rooftop communal room is also included, providing residents with a flexible, bookable studio space to host activities such as gatherings, yoga and community events. Additional convenience is provided with a parcel delivery and cool storage room.
Sustainability is at the forefront of 4 Ballarat St, with the building fully electric, run on 100 per cent renewable energy (natural gas free), with a minimum 7.5-star average NatHERS rating target.
An on-site bio-composter that employs a closed-loop system will manage organic waste and convert this to fertiliser for the gardens, with stormwater recycled and used for toilets and landscape watering.
Lastly, provision will be made for future electric vehicle charging facilities, whilst parking for more than 200 bikes is accommodated across the project.
Construction on 4 Ballarat St will commence from late 2021 and expected to be completed by early 2023. More information can be found here.