MANSART ON BALMAIN

8 LOW MAINTENANCE TOWNHOUSES

Mansart on Balmain is named after the famous French Architect who was responsible for the creation of the mansard style roofs that exist on all the top floors of this lovely small boutique development, consisting of eight two bedroom double storey town houses, with a single level of under ground parking for 9 vehicles that extends from the front facing Balmain Road to about half way down the 1100sq m site.

Designed by Morris Bray Architects, they made the most of what was a rather narrow and deep rectangular site. A further constraint of this site was the 8 neighbours backing onto it in various directions, making privacy for all a challenge. Everyone’s privacy was maintained, and the use of the Mansart style roof ceiling on the top floor gives this building a flair and individuality that separates it from similar developments in the area.

Designed to be very low maintenance townhouses, they provide the occupants with all the facilities and functionality of a small home without the maintenance headaches. This of course suited the developers who were keen to appeal to young professionals and first homebuyers that would be attracted to the townhouses. The light rail way stop of Lilyfield is less than 1km away, and being on the Lilyfield end of Leichhardt, Balmain, Rozelle and Leichhardt Aquatic Centre are a stones throw away, not to mention the shops and restaurants of Norton Street Leichhardt.

The best surviving examples of Mansart’s work are the chateau of Maisons and, in Paris, the alterations of the Hotel Carnavalet, now a museum.