First-Of-Its-Kind Heritage Townhomes in Brunswick to Implement Circular Living at Scale

In a positive stride towards a sustainable and environmentally responsible housing solution, leading Melbourne property developer Beulah’s latest project Brunswick Established will become the first heritage townhome community to implement circular living in Brunswick.

Designed by leaders in social and sustainable architecture, Six Degrees, Brunswick Established has been designed around the three main pillars of circularity: designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use and regenerating natural systems.

By taking a circular ecosystem approach, residents of Brunswick Established will reap the benefits socially, economically and environmentally, including lower energy costs and utility bills, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the ability to grow their own produce, to name a few.

Beulah Executive Director Adelene Teh said environmental sustainability and the principles of the circular economy are becoming increasingly important.

“At Beulah, we are continually thinking about the future and how lifestyles and ways of living will evolve. While sustainability is the end goal, circularity serves as a crucial step towards achieving it by undertaking practices such as reuse, repurposing, recycling, and remanufacturing.”

Brunswick Established comprises 23 two-storey townhomes, located behind a beautiful heritage facade at 17-23 Hodgson Street. Throughout the construction phase, the project will address the first two pillars of circularity by aiming to recycle and repurpose up to 80 per cent of the existing building on site, currently home to one of the earliest clothing factories in Brunswick from the 1920s. Bricks will be recycled and used for paving, while salvaged timber will be repurposed into pergolas. Additionally, all power consumed during construction will be via renewable sources. Collectively, this will not only significantly reduce construction waste but will actively reduce the project’s carbon footprint and reduce embodied carbon from using new materials. Additionally, residents will have access to multiple waste streams to partake in best practice waste-management.

The last pillar, regenerating natural systems, has been weaved into the final design of the townhomes, where residents can reap the benefits firsthand. Each home will be gas and fossil-fuel-free and will include a renewable energy system including solar panels and rainwater harvesting, as well as energy-efficient lighting systems and appliances, and EV Charging. Residents will also have access to an edible garden and composting facilities to assist in the continual growth of produce.

“While the built environment industry is more environmentally conscious, there are still opportunities for further innovation, and now more than ever, developers and architects are taking initiatives to ensure that the projects they embark on leave a better footprint upon completion than before,” says Adelene.

“Brunswick, as a suburb, values sustainability and is astutely eco-conscious, placing importance on durable and lasting design, which is intrinsically evident within the locale. In Brunswick Established, we aspire to explore how we can create the right infrastructure and framework to encourage future residents to live circularly and responsibly.

“It is particularly challenging to work with existing heritage buildings to transform them into sustainable homes that meet relevant standards. However, we believe in investing in thorough research and working closely with the best consultant team to create something unique with hopes of setting a benchmark for future townhome living,” she says.

Six Degrees Director Peter Malatt said Brunswick Established is a beautifully unique project and one that this suburb has not seen.

“We have drawn inspiration from the rich history of the site to integrate old and new, using our local knowledge of the area and commitment to social and sustainable design. Brunswick Established is an exemplar of heritage, community and environmental sustainability and we believe this project will contribute to the surrounding community for years to come,” he said.

In line with Beulah’s commitment to community engagement and education, Beulah will be hosting a free community event to raise awareness, specifically in the realms of design and sustainable living. The unique neighbourhood fair, set within an iconic heritage warehouse, will be held on March 16, in partnership with Six Degrees Architects, Thank You, Great Dane and Australian Design Review as well as leading eco-conscious brands including Greenspace, Cirque du Soil, Hey Doodle, Secateur Me Baby, DNJ Paper and many more. Through thoughtful conversations, interactive workshops, and pop-up stalls, the event will explore circular living and the future of sustainability.

To secure free tickets or to find out more, please visit brunswick-est.com.au/neighbourhood-fair.