Factory apartments fuse life with style

Richmond is the land of little houses and many streets are filled with tiny 19th-century cottages that once accommodated factory workers and their families.

Today, however, those factories and warehouses are being turned into this century’s favoured dwellings, apartments, which often provide larger, lighter and more resident-friendly accommodation than the area’s historic houses.

Jaques is a staged developmentof five buildings fronting four streets – all on land once occupied by a heavy engineering works founded by Edward Jaques in 1885.

On land bounded by Highett, Coppin, Palmer and Griffiths streets, Jaques is a project of the Riverside Group. The second stage, which is now for sale, is designed by Fender Katsalidis with interiors by Hecker Guthrie. This stage has 229 apartments across the 10-level ”5 Tonne” building and the six-level ”Iron Works” building.

There are 99 one-bedroom apartments – 76 with a study – and 113 two-bedroom apartments, 61 of which have two bathrooms. Ten three-bedroom apartments and seven studios complete the second stage.

Fender Katsalidis’s design has built within and above some of the original factory walls, and many apartments will look into a large central garden.

Interiors use concrete, timber and glass to hark back to the industrial days, and some walls feature timber panelling. Facades are double glazed. Kitchens have Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and pendant lights. Interiors are neutral with wide, pale-timber floorboards in living areas and carpet in bedrooms.

Buyers have a wide range of sizes and prices from which to choose. One-bedroom apartments are from 50 square metres to 65 square metres and begin at $380,000, with prices rising depending whether there is a study or car park or both.

Two-bedroom apartments range in size from 60 square metres to 85 square metres and begin at $535,000. The three-bedroom apartments, from 108 square metres to 226 square metres, begin at $990,000. Studio apartments are from 48 square metres and $460,000.

The development will have a communal rooftop area on the top of the 5 Tonne building, and there will be a gym, garden area and lounge.

The first stage has sold out and early interest in the second stage is from owner-occupier and younger investors, the developer says. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2016. A display suite is open on the corner of Palmer and Griffiths streets and Melbourne Real Estate, 9829 2900, is marketing the development.