A new angle on Footscray

Currently the scene of a developer frenzy, multicultural Footscray offers that real estate unicorn of affordable housing in new apartments only eight kilometres from the city.

While many of the new developments are high-rise, a project called The Hugo on Ballarat Road stands out from the pack with its distinctive design and boutique size of only 23 apartments.

The four-level Hugo project designed by John Demos Architects has a bold golden triangular facade design of woven metal mesh with solar panels. Interiors have a light palette with American oak flooring and Bosch kitchen appliances.

“Footscray is soaring. It’s so close to the city but resolutely original in character and spirit and it’s going through a massive transformation and is becoming a very desirable place to live,” says Fraz Tanvir, director of Faymus, the developer of the project.

“The Hugo is in a league of its own among the influx of large-scale, high-rise developments underway in Footscray as it’s a boutique project designed with the needs of owner-occupiers and young families in mind, something we felt was missing in the area,” he says.

The project boasthas a 300-square-metre communal garden for residents. Owners’ corporation fees will be reduced by the solar panels on the rooftop that will power the lifts, water pumps and communal lighting.

Tram route 82 to Moonee Ponds passes by the front door and West Footscray train station is 1.6 kilometres away.

At a glance

• The Hugo, 205-207 Ballarat Road, Footscray
• ​Architect: John Demos Architects
• ​Developer: Faymus
• ​Interior design: Kathy Demos
• Landscaping: Memla
• ​Number of apartments: 23 total. Five one-bedroom; 18 two-bedroom
• Internal sizes (square metres): One-bedroom apartments 48-57; two bedrooms 65.5
• ​External areas: 8-28 square metres
• ​Prices: One bedroom $345,000-$400,000; two bedrooms $435,000-$485,000
• Car parking: All apartments but two have carparks; all have storage cages
• ​Completion estimate: June 2017
• Selling agent: Castran Gilbert, phone Michael Ivany 0407 766 332

Future looks bright

When Lou Benson bought her first apartment in Footscray four years ago, she looked at 72 properties before finding the right one.

This time, she knew exactly what she was looking for and quickly snapped up a two-bedroom apartment off-the-plan at the Hugo development on Ballarat Road.

“I wanted something different – either an old building that had been renovated or something funky,” she says. “I wanted a good location, security, a small block rather than high-rise and I didn’t want a pool and a gym.”

Originally from Ballarat, Benson loves Footscray for being close to the city, its diverse restaurants and the train station, which is a hub for metro and regional trains.

She plans to start afresh with all new furniture to match her bright new abode.

“I’ve come from very dark heritage houses in Ballarat so to me this was just ‘wow’,” she says. “I just love the quality appliances and materials and it’s a very ‘Scandi’ look, very light.”

Benson was also impressed by the sustainability features with solar panels incorporated into the design. “That wasn’t a key thing but it was certainly a bonus.”