Nab a slice of eco-paradise in this inner-city Adelaide apartment

Living in the city doesn’t always conjure up the idea of community. But for buyers keen to embrace sustainability and shared space, a unique property has popped onto the market in Adelaide.

Priced at just $420,000 to $430,000, the two-bedroom community title apartment at 1/103 Sturt Street is part of Christie Walk.

Named for environmental activist Scott Christie, the infill development was built with sustainable construction materials. It has 27 dwellings in total, including three townhouses made from aerated concrete blocks, four standalone straw-bale cottages and two apartment blocks.

Located in a block with a communal laundry and large community room, the apartment itself has an open-plan layout with 3.5-metre ceilings. It has been designed to maximise natural light and cross-ventilation, with double-glazed windows and insulated walls for temperature control.

Christie Walk is also kitted out with 55 solar panels and a rooftop and communal garden. With construction beginning in 1999 and completed in 2006, the project was a World Habitat Awards Finalist in 2005.

Agent Sylvie Clarke from Smart Home Vision said the property’s ecological credentials were a strong selling point, with the development designed to work with Adelaide’s climate, rather than create an artificial environment.

“All dwellings are of the highest ecological standard, with both active and passive solar heating,” she said.

“The building designs take advantage of high thermal mass and extensive insulation. Underground tanks capture storm water which is used for irrigation and toilet flushing, and non-toxic materials were used for construction.”

While the property had only been advertised for a few days, Ms Clarke said she was already seeing a strong response which was part of a burgeoning buyer interest in more environmentally-friendly homes.

“We have seen an increased demand from buyers for sustainable living in the past three years,” she said, adding that the only stumbling blocks at present were the availability of such properties and affordability.

“There is also an increased understanding from buyers that living in a development or a home that reduces use of power, water and has less of a carbon footprint, is a more ethical choice,” Ms Clarke added.

And aside from helping the environment, the Sturt Street home also offers a chance to get to know your neighbours.

“It is not a gated community. Everyone knows each other and looks out for each other, while still valuing their own privacy,” she said.

Records show the property last changed hands in 2007, when it sold for $275,000.