New Homes: Enclave fits market niche for Gungahlin downsizers

The Enclave, Moncrieff
$448,888

A strong architectural vision will guide the development of a string of stunning townhouses in Moncrieff.

The Enclave will be home to 16 three and four-bedroom residences upon completion. Each offers plenty of space, easy-care courtyards and stylish designs, and they are expected to appeal to a broad market.

Developer Living Design Projects director Paul Dermatis says the company engaged architects Turco and Associates with an open brief because he was impressed with their previous work.

“We asked Turco and Associates to design the dwellings because of the particular flair and expertise they have in designing modern exteriors and well-thought-out functional interiors.”

Mr Dermatis says the architecture firm typically designs for homes that sell for two to three times more than the Enclave’s townhouses.

Turco and Associates architect Michael Giese says the developer’s brief was refreshing.

“They were seeking to create a product that provided a sense of individuality, not only through interesting facade responses, but through a plan that was functional, clean and could accommodate the needs of many,” Mr Giese says.

“Working collaboratively with Living Design Projects, an importance was placed on getting the spatial requirements of the plan right, then an appropriate facade would follow.

“The resultant articulation of the facade elements and architectural volumes are a contemporary response to the plans developed. Large elements of glazing open up allowing the plans to flow seamlessly into generous private and communal spaces.”

Mr Giese says developments such as the Enclave are more about the communities they create than just the architecture itself.

“It’s through this understanding of community we were able to explore a variety of terrace types and plans that not only responded to the natural attributes of the site, but also provided a clear engagement with the immediate and communal spaces within the landscape,” Mr Giese says.

Each home features a generous floor plan with indoor living ranging from 128 to 164 square metres. Huge courtyards are available with some of the designs, taking the total living space up to 233 square metres.

The villas include flexible living and entertaining spaces with secondary living rooms on the upper level. Each kitchen is complete with Ariston appliances, gas cooking and a butler’s pantry that is spacious. All four-bedroom homes feature a master suite and powder room on the ground floor.

There are two stylish colour schemes to choose from and optional extras include timber flooring, outdoor built-in kitchens and covered pergolas to the courtyards.

From its peaceful northern location, Moncrieff is an idyllic suburb embraced by nature and bounded by Horse Park Drive, Ngunnawal and Amaroo. Upon completion, Moncrieff will be home to about 2200 dwellings.

The Enclave is situated just 4.5 kilometres from the Gungahlin Town Centre and offers easy access to arterial roads including Horse Park Drive, Flemington Road and the Barton Highway. There are just six three-bedroom homes remaining. Completion is expected at the end of 2016.

The Enclave – 1 Gussey Street, Moncrieff. Price: $448,888. EER: 6. Phone BORIS agent Boris Teodorowych on 0402 907 182.

Empty-nesters keen to stay in the area

Wendy and Allan Waters will be moving into the Enclave after selling their family home in Nicholls.

They built in Nicholls 18 years ago and as some of Gungahlin’s original residents, the Waters represent the first wave of downsizers in the northern district.

“We both still work full-time but we’d come to a very hard decision that we were living in a rather large home now our children have moved out,” Wendy says.

The busy couple found they were spending too much time attending to the large garden. The alternative of a “lock-up and leave” lifestyle appealed to them.

“We do really enjoy our weekends away and after travelling to Hawaii last year, we realised a smaller home would allow us to travel more,” Wendy says.

The Waters looked at all the options – apartments, townhouses and smaller freestanding homes – but it was the Enclave’s design that made their decision easy.

“We researched the designers and builders and some of the other work that they’d done and we were really impressed,” Wendy says.

“With a courtyard, we’ve still got the ability to have an outdoor living area and a smaller garden, so we haven’t completely lost that space.”

The couple love Gungahlin and were keen to stay in the area. It provides an ideal halfway point between Wendy’s work in Yass and Allan’s work in Kambah.

Agent Boris Teodorowych says he’s starting to see more Gungahlin residents looking to downsize in the region.

“The Enclave has met the market niche,” he says.