Slimline Krause Emperor bricks were an integral part of the materiality chosen by the architect for the Mont Albert Townhouses to add warmth and create a beautiful presence from the street.
Combining quality, style and functionality, these spacious four-bedroom, three-bathroom residences set a new benchmark for luxury family living in this inner eastern suburb of Melbourne.
Designed by Peter Wright and Associates, with materials and finishes by Dana Meadows Architect, Mont Albert Townhouses sit side by side on a moderately sized block, every metre of space thoughtfully and impeccably accounted for in the layout. Combined with superb craftsmanship by Cellstruct Building Group, it’s no surprise that the two townhouses easily found buyers.
From the street front, the exterior palette creates a warm welcome for visitors and passers-by. Slimline Krause Emperor bricks line the ground floor, while a sky-on rendered finish creates the look of a concrete panel on the second storey, with a striking powdercoated steel arbour at the entry, finished with cedar timber accents on front and garage doors.
The choice of Krause bricks was an obvious and deliberate one to set this home apart from the standard townhouse with a rendered finish. A major feature of the external palette, the bricks ground the lower floor, wrapping the residences in warm and inviting tones from front to back, dotted with expansive windows and sliding doors at the rear to create a light and bright interior.
“The Krause bricks most definitely contributed to that warmth, and the developer was keen to use the slimline Krause Emperor bricks to create that point of difference. We had used Krause bricks before in Port Melbourne and loved the fact that they were Australian made, so we showed our client the bricks and he loved them straightaway,” says Dana.
Emily Ainley, operations and marketing manager at Cellstruct Building Group, who was also heavily involved in material choices, loved the bricks.
“The Krause bricks are a great feature of the front façade. They have such a beautiful presence from the street, particularly the front between the two townhouses, and the way it went all the way up to the first floor. We’re so happy with how it looks that we’ve used it as an example for other projects… from an aesthetic perspective there is no other Australian brick that competes with it.”
High praise indeed.
Inside, the luxury narrative continues, perhaps accelerating to New York lux status. Think oak floors, bespoke joinery, and an abundance of Elba marble throughout the kitchen and bathrooms. A stunning entrance hall with three-metre-high ceilings peels off to a quiet sitting room overlooking a side garden. At the rear, a spacious open plan living and dining room with glass sliding doors opens onto a paved alfresco area, compete with built-in BBQ and fridge, the expansive glass doors inviting the outdoors inside.
The owners are spoilt for choice for bedrooms: there’s a master bedroom with ensuite and walk-in robe downstairs, matched upstairs by an alternate main bedroom with sky-lit ensuite and walk-in robe. On the second floor these are joined by two additional bedrooms, a spacious study and a third shared bathroom.
Mont Albert Townhouses are immaculate in design, material selection and craftsmanship. Dana Meadows Architect and Cellstruct Building Group are to be congratulated for delivering two such luxurious, yet highly functional family homes that will serve their owners incredibly well for the foreseeable future.
Photographer: Grant Kennedy, We Shoot Buildings
