Urban Spaces at George Corner

A prototype apartment just opened at George Corner in Fitzroy offers interested buyers the chance to experience spaces, layout and finishes within the Neometro development before its August completion.

The $29 million six-level project on the corner of George and Argyle Streets has 40 apartments with two street level retail tenancies and secure basement parking and storage. George Corner’s four-level street façade is topped by two upper storeys set back within a subtly curved raked roofline clad in interlocking metal panels, a contemporary echo of iconic Parisian apartments.

The building has three street frontages with its major façade facing north to unimpeded views across Fitzroy rooftops. A central rear courtyard will provide light and space for west-facing apartments. Individual balcony awnings in three shades of red will allow occupants to control shade and privacy and give the building dynamic colour and movement, contrasting against the concrete façade’s soft white hue.

377 George Street Fitzroy

The one-bedroom 67-square-metre prototype apartment is $640,000, one of three ground level apartments. Like Fitzroy terrace houses these ground level apartments open onto the street and are buffered by a modern version of the front verandah which uses integrated landscaped screening for privacy and security. Neometro design director Jeff Provan says they will make ideal home offices with built-in desks along a length of the large living area and a kitchen in the passageway between living and bedroom. Several two-bedroom north facing upper level apartments are also amongst 10 available apartments.

Interior finishes pick up on the local industrial aesthetic with polished concrete floors in the first four levels and wide oak boards in the upper two; natural concrete, vertical panels and timber routing wall finishes and a sweep of brushed stainless steel in kitchen benchtops.

377 George Street Fitzroy

Provan says Neometro focuses on giving occupants the best amenity with abundant natural light, very useable floorplans and a high level of integration.

“What makes the difference in apartment living is integrated, built-in detail. You have to find a spot for everything so seamless design and storage is paramount. Every George Corner apartment includes a study nook with charging station and built-in bookshelves.”

All apartments have integrated heating and cooling, double glazing and private outdoor terraces.

Liveability

Every element of George Corner is designed to enhance liveability. Natural light and sense of space are optimised with full height windows between indoor and outdoor living, openings between rooms, internal screens giving visual connection but physical separation and double width in wall sliding doors in some bedrooms. Storage and functionality are paramount with double wardrobes, European laundries, charging stations and basement cycle racks and storage bays. Inbuilt sustainability includes double glazing for thermal control, solar panels for common area power and efficient central gas hot water with individual metering.

Kitchen

George Corner’s highly specified kitchens will suit avid home chefs and style aficionados alike with cleverly integrated functions and hidden appliances within smart black, white and stainless-steel compilations. Sinks are integrated into brushed stainless-steel benchtops with a black button mosaic splashback and Miele gas cooktop, underbench oven, concealed rangehood and integrated dishwasher. A chunky timber overhead shelf frames the space and a black Artimede Tolomeo task lamp angles to light the workspace. There’s separated recycling below bench, appliance and fridge cupboards, a pantry and an island bench in some layouts.

Bathroom

Neometro’s elegant simplicity carries through to George Corner’s full-height tiled bathrooms where familiar materials appear in innovative styling. Two sizes of white tiling run up walls in an intriguing bricked pattern from a large format charcoal tiled floor. The walk-in shower has a frameless screen with a linear grate the full length of the shower to minimise escaping spray. A stainless-steel shelf runs along the bottom of the wide, above vanity to ceiling mirror and a generous bathroom cabinet has a timber facing against the mirror.

Neometro’s Jeff Provan and James Tutton.

Text by Liz McLachlan courtesy of The Weekly Review