Martina and Vince at Breese Street by Milieu, Brunswick

Photography by Derek Swalwell

Please tell us about yourself, your background and how you first found out about Milieu?

We met in Florence, Martina’s hometown, in 2010. Vincent is a musician from Melbourne and was travelling around Italy looking for a cello, while Martina was a practising architect in the Tuscan capital. After living together in an apartment in Diladdarno (an area in the centre of Florence), we moved to Brunswick in 2011 and have been here ever since.

Was buying off the plan something you ever imagined doing?

Buying off the plan was never something we imagined doing until we came across projects like the ones by Milieu, Nightingale Housing or Assemble Projects. We appreciated the quality of their previous projects, the environmental consideration and their approach to community living.

How did you find the process of buying off the plan through our sales team?

Buying off the plan through Milieu was relatively simple, even though it was our first time. We requested a few changes to the apartment such as the removal of one of the bathrooms to open up the layout and create a study area, which we designed together once we moved in. Milieu’s sales team was helpful and always clear and open with us, guiding us through the process. Milieu (Patrick and Sally) have been extremely accommodating with all of our requests, answering all our silly questions.

"We wanted to be in a building where the residents care about each other and their neighbours."

What were your main considerations when finding your new home?

It was important for us to move into a building that could support a sustainable way of living, enhance the relationship with the neighbourhood and have close proximity to services. Having previously appreciated life in well-designed apartments within high-density areas while we were in Europe, proximity to public transport, a lively neighbourhood and organised open spaces were paramount in deciding where to live. Brunswick offers all the above, together with many types of venues for all genres of music (Tempo Rubato, Jazz Lab, Bar Oussouo and more are all within walking distance), little independent art galleries, artists’ and artisans’ studios, political forums, urban gardens in the neighbouring parks.

There is also an abundance of amazing places to eat different cuisines every night of the week.

We wanted to be in a building where the residents care about each other and their neighbours.

What do you like most about your apartment design?

Our apartment is intimate yet its liveable layout still allows us to entertain easily and indulge in our hobbies and interests—we appreciate the quality of the finishes and how we have been able to personalise and express our apartment style and create small pockets for music, reading, bicycles etc.

We enjoy the view of the internal atrium and fern garden from our apartment, and the morning light it affords into the bedrooms.

The design of the balcony allows us to engage with streetlife which reminds us of Europe, whilst we still enjoy the quiet and calmness towards the bedrooms from the atrium.

Other elements we enjoy include the thermal comfort throughout all the seasons thanks to cross ventilation, ceiling fans and hydronic heating, generous storage throughout and wall space for art.

"There is a wonderful generosity across generations throughout the building."

Was moving into Breese Street a lifestyle change, what have you enjoyed, and what has surprised you?

Moving into Breese Street has been life changing. We've enjoyed always coming home to a beautiful apartment and have made many new friends in the building and the neighbourhood, we see them regularly at each other's homes, out and about or at impromptu rooftop gatherings when the weather is nice.

We are surprised at how quickly we have been able to form a new community that has improved the lives of one another. We have organised working groups for gardening, waste, etc, which has enhanced the building’s sustainable nature.

There is a wonderful generosity across generations throughout the building with food exchanges, dog walking, babysitting and general help. We have been surprised at the ability to find peace and quiet when needed, but also how easy it is to step out into bustling life.

More Milieu Residents

This website uses cookies. Please see our Privacy Policy to learn more about how we use cookies.

Active collaboration is central to how we work. A special thanks to everyone who has contributed their talent, enthusiasm and energy.

Close

Milieu

Michael McCormack
Ross Troon
Shannon Peach
Patrick Cooney
Sally Gordon
Shakira Everett
Ian Glass
Stuart Whiteroad
Willy Hoogeveen
Bianka Covic
James Mirtschin
Jessie Legge
Katie McCormack
Stefanie Breschi

Studio Hi Ho

Patrick Scanlan
Wes Waddell
Cameron Norris

Acre

Brett Robinson
Chillie Vary
Rachel Gan

Angelucci 20th Century

Dean Angelucci

Arc3

Arnie van Haandel
James Mursell
Justin Traitsis

Architects Without Frontiers

Esther Charlesworth

Besen

Daniel Besen
Duncan Murray
Simeon Goldenberg
Jay Doherty

Breathe Architecture

Jeremy McLeod
Lola Digby-Diercks
Mark Ng
Bettina Robinson
Simon McDowell
Sarah Mealy
Ali Galbraith

Broached Commissions

Lou Weis
Lana Jones

Buxton Group

Richard Buxton
Samantha Buxton
Nolan Stevens

CCP

Adam Harding
Irina Asriian
Jack Willet
Hugh Hirst-Johnson

Cobild

Rotem Rotenberg
Cobi Rotemberg
Mark Worrall
Jack Herd
Cullen O'Brien

Congress

Katie McCormack
Stefanie Breschi
Belinda Linton
Daniel Mills

Core Collective

Ryan Starting
Dr Ceridwen Owen
Emily Ouston
Kathrine Vand
Georgina Russell

DesignOffice

Mark Simpson
Damien Mulvihill
Eliza Downes
Laura Patterson
Lisa Chan
Louisa Macleod
Phoebe Baker-Gabb
Stephanie Goldwater
Talia Stoch
Tom Reid
Will Kelly
Sarah Arnott
Nicky Lobo
Annabelle Strover

DKO

Jesse Linardi
Michael Drescher
Koos deKeijzer
Mauro Miglino
Sam McCubbin
Luke Szklarz
Frank Pan
Martin Burzlaff
Dennis Chew
Thivantha Vishwanath
Rene Garcia
Mischa Woodhouse
Chee Tan
Bobby Bartley
Richard Todd
Simone Tyson
Sally Gordon
Keen Tham
Laura Saunders
Hannah Jonasson
Kara Mason

Edition Office

Kim Bridgland
Aaron Roberts
Kate Finning
Laura Tindall
Jono Brener

Etched

Evan Dimitropoulos

Fieldwork

Andrew Wright
David McDonald
Hannah Jonasson
Joachim Holland
Johnny Long
Julie Verstraete
Julien Chazal
Michael Hicks
Piers Morgan
Richard Woodward
Rita Liao
Rebecca Lewis
Vlad Doudakliev
Alessio Fini
Emilia Fabris
Richard Woodward
Shin Kil
Jasmine Placentino
Lachlan Harris
Zach Yiu
Briony Massie
Jack Davies
Kayleb WIlson-Crosbie
Kieran Knott
Lisa Garner
Mitchell Lind
Stephanie McNamara
Wyndham Cameron
Andrew Richardson
Michael Banh

Flack Studio

David Flack
Mark Robinson

Foolscap Studio

Adele Winteridge
Katherine Wheib
Franky Walker
Sam Macyintire
Kirby Humphries

Freadman White

Michael White
Ilana Freadman

Future Future

Katie McCormack
Stefanie Breschi

Hassell

Mark Loughnan
Robert Backhouse
Jeremy Schluter
Stephen Tan
Di Ritter
Hui Xian Yee
Hong Lee

Hub Furniture

Jacqueline Foti-Lowe

INC

Brenton Eastwood
Jessica O'Donnell
Tom Cullinan
Andrew Reeves

Ironside

Luke Skurrie
Jonathan Waddell
Michael Matrah

Jardan

Nick Garnham

Kapitol

Andrew Deveson
David Caputo
Chris Trimble
Luke Byrne
Tom Littlehales
Luke Wade
Tim Trimble
Elliot Cattell

Lagotto

Katie McCormack
Stefanie Breschi

Loose Leaf

Wona Bae
Charlie Lawler

Maddocks Lawyers

Nick Holuigue
Michael Taylor Sands
Jessica Reid
Ian Beatie

MadeRupert

Lauren Basser
Sarah Forgie

MALA

Campbell Morris

Manresa Constructions

Antony Morris
Michael Neil
Dean Linardos
Sam Chau

MaxCap

Brae Sokolski
Simon Hulett
Bill McWilliams
John Fitzpatrick

Michael Precel

Michael Precel

Milieu Built

Brenton Eastwood
Jessica O'Donnell

Milieu Hospitality

Katie McCormack
David Yuncken
Stefanie Breschi

Mills Oakley

James Price
Anthony Brearley

Mirvac

Sarsha Durham
Tina Wang
Gabrielle Worrall

Neil Architecture

Cameron Neil
Stuart Holmes

NHO

Neil Hugh Kenna
Lillian Lim
Lawrence Boal
James Pendleton
Caitlin Quinlan
Cardia Speziale
Max Putman

Neometro

Jeff Provan
James Tutton
Lochlan Sinclair
Ari Wijaya
Alex Roome
Kirily Barnett

Olaver Architecture

Emlyn Olaver

Openwork

Benjamin Kronenberg
Dylan Gilmore
Elizabeth Herbert
Marijke Davey
Mark Jacques

Penfold Property

Dave Penfold
Katie Penfold

PGF

Adrian Blake
Chris Chrighton
Debbie Chong

Price Waterhouse Coopers

Fletcher Dixon
Simon Le Maistre

Photography

Agniezka Chabros
Anson Smart
Anthony Richardson
Brooke Holm
Dan Hocking
David Wadelton
Derek Swalwell
Gavin Green
Jana Langhorst
Kate Ballis
Louis Porter
Morgan Hickinbotham
Rory Gardiner
S Scottie Cameron
Sharyn Cairns
Tom Blachford
Tom Ross
Veeral
Pier Carthew
Lauren Bamford
Ben Moynihan

Relative Projects

Dhiren Das
Alexis Kalagas

Styling

Marsha Golemac

SLAB Architecture

Seada Linardi
Jesse Linardi
Keen Tham

Studio Bright

Mel Bright
Jaxon Webb
Sofia Turtle

Stockland

Anthony Scafidi
Jack Hibbins
Carey Hoare
Wendy James
Eugenie Buchan
Jason Wood

Tait

Gordon Tait

Therefore

Alex Lake
Anouska Milstein
Raphael Graham

Tokyo Bike

Yuki Sugahara

Tom and Captain

Tom Lillecrapp
Captain

The Plant Exchange

Michael Chester
Jane Rose Loyd

TRG Accountants

John Twomey
Que Jones
Bronwyn Britton

Woods Bagot

Matthew Pieterse
Laura Haywood
Phil Tran
Lisa Jennings
Peter Miglis

Video

Coco and Maximilian

Thank you for your enquiry, we'll be in touch shortly.

Sorry, an error occured. Please get in touch or try again later.

Please wait...