Located approximately 6km from Melbourne’s CBD ‘The Commons’ apartments are under development. Situated at 7 Florence St in Brunswick, this Melbourne apartment development is due for completion in 2013 and will set a new standard for sustainable urban residential development in Australia.

Featuring a 8 star energy rating, solar power and hot water along with a rooftop garden and natural ventilation The Commons apartments will be home to 24 apartments, 3 artist studios and a cafe.

Natural ventilation is encouraged through the open plan design and the rooftop garden provides a natural green haven for residents. The Commons has been designed by Melbourne architect Jeremy McLeod, from Breathe Architecture, who has incorporated recycled timber and replaced the usual chrome and aluminium features with mild steel, brass and copper. The 8 star energy rating places The Commons amongst the top rated energy efficient residential buildings in Australia but good looks have not been sacrificed in designing this Melbourne apartment block.

One key factor that differentiates The Commons from other Melbourne apartment buildings is the rooftop garden. Residents can enjoy the rooftop communal space, interact with other residents while you tend some vegetables and become part of the community that inhabits the building. The rooftop garden is intended to provide residents with a sense of belonging and encourage communication between the inhabitants of the apartments. Communal laundry areas will also lead to more interaction between residents and the restaurant will be open for use by residents after hours as their own kitchen.

The apartment site was previously a warehouse squat for Melbourne artists. The Commons has been developed by a private investment firm called Small Giants, who put their money into social enterprises that included the Melbourne based publication Dumbo Feather.

Transport is a big part of living a green lifestyle and The Commons will provide every resident with a yearly public transport pass they can use to catch a train or tram, which is in close proximately to the apartment building. The Commons is located on the bike path for an easy ride into Melbourne CBD. Residents will find riding their bike a suitable form of transport with ample bike racks provided and bike storage has been a consideration for each apartment. There are no car parks available to residents but a share car is provided for use should you need to use a vehicle.

The green building initiatives that will be used by The Commons apartments will not only reduce the carbon footprint of residents, it will also save them money in fuel and electricity costs. Double glazed windows and thick insulation will help to lower heating costs.

Interested buyers are encouraged to join The Commons community and become a part of the sustainable living practices. With the demand for green apartments and homes in Australia increasing these apartments are not predicted to remain on the market for long. The price for a 1 bedroom apartment at The Commons will start from around $375 000.