8 Lang Street BEAUMARIS

Comments on 8 Lang Street BEAUMARIS

Intro to Art Deco
8 Lang is an interesting offering on many fronts, let’s start with the main one – it’s a home that very few will like/love enough to buy, but those that do will potentially fight harder than many would for others of similar price or similar position or similar accommodation but are not the exact combination of 8 Lang.
 
The advertising says its art deco inspired and that’s fair it is and like almost every art deco piece a century later, a small percentage of the general population, the evangelists of the era’s architecture if you like, will go into raptures whilst the balance of humans don’t feel or can’t see the reason for the fuss surrounding Art Deco.
 
Victorian and Edwardian homes due to their length of time and plentifulness across Inner Melbourne’s housing landscape are more universally popular. This is not to say Art Deco is poor or unaccepted – it is simply rare – and like examples of say 21^st architecture and buildings of the 2020’s not fully intertwined as part of the norm and therefore its distinct features, such as its curves, are polarising – you either love them or you don’t …….. and I do……along with 60’s classics this architecture in its purest form sits comfortably with my eyes and other senses – so I have a bias for you to be aware of in your considerations.
 
What does the above mean to you re 8 Lang?
 
Financial v Emotional
It means be clear, like it a lot, love it - emotionally we support you but limited support in numbers from others AND financially if you can buy well against non “art deco believers” and sell at a time into the future into a honeypot of “Art Decoian lovers” then that will give you a better $ result than reliance on market forces alone – of course easier said than done.
 
To the home’s PPP’s – the foundations of good buying/selling once you have clarity.
 
Position: Overall Beaumaris has one key repeating issue geographically – it is away from train services – you have choice, but it requires a car to get to either the Frankston or Sandringham lines. That’s the downside for some, but for older families with car or sans children, that is a plus for Beaumaris lies in a Port Phillip Bay “billabong” away from the hustle and bustle of direct traffic, traveling from outer suburbs to the CBD and apart from a few hot summer days and nights it is not a beach destination for anywhere near as many as say Mordy (Mordialloc) or Black Rock or Brighton or the Peninsulas AND yet it has as much to offer. Beaumaris is a “sleepy” suburb – a quieter one, for me one with more of a culture and class and its distinctive architectures (including 8 Lang) confirms that.
 
To the address itself – Is Lang Beaumaris’s best street? Probably along with Coral and Point. Why? General water views, proximity to beach and other home price sales at higher levels than the median. And 8 Lang specifically has those water views and good ones and ones unlikely to be blocked in a hurry - due to council zoning height limit protections and local owner activism to maintain those protections.
 
When you look at what Brighton and Portsea has to offer and compare to this part of Beauy – at a 1/3 of the price with similar amenity then for me Lang has a lot to offer.
 
Property: (land and building) Our rating highlights its deficiencies of smaller, sloping, irregular block AND to buy this with the view of bulldozing – ie as land only would make no sense, due to new setbacks, window frostings and viewing restrictions that would be required. As well the slope makes the garage entry less than ideal and rear indoor outdoor connection for parties/toddlers also less than ideal. HOWEVER, it is the slope and location that gives this land its greatest asset (apart from its home) and you can see that in all glory from the top floor – its water views and not just any water views – these are views to ponder over your morning Tai Chi or Tea. Views to mesmerise as ominous weather rolls in from the south and views to sit back on a balmy evening, sipping a mojito, snuggling into each other pleased with and grateful for your life.
 
And the building – it’s a masterpiece on every level, on all its levels and when I say that I am on the level. Whilst I think that, 5 other “experts” may not.  It’s a connecting family home – it’s a warm feeling place of shelter and serenity. Yes, some will see gaudy…… others (few), but including me will see Gaudi not gaudy. Do you – because its important you do and don’t accept my word. This architecture in my mind is its own – it is brilliant – it makes a statement to take notice of and it asks you every time……. How do you feel? 
 
Façade: not is strong suit in any opinion, including mine. I think average rather than great or poor is the right balance. So, past the façade and to the entrance -  narrow? – yes physically but not emotionally – the front rooms glass and garden connection is great thought.
 
The staircase and parquetry floors and handrails and …… these are the lungs and spine of the home and have been respected in the latest and very sympathetic reno – alter them at your peril…. well that is what I think. Speaking of the renovation….. feels high quality and a pest and building should confirm that…… ok so you may want to update the kitchen……or remove the spa….. you may not.
 
One final note – furniture and garden. Like the view….. the furniture you choose and the garden you maintain are critical to the emotional evocation of this home on its visitors and occupants - so as you wouldn’t put some planks around a Namatjira or throw coriander into a French dessert please be clear in every detail on what you add and subtract from the bones of this beauty.
 
Price. Your end result will depend on 3 things – the market (its negative right now so a plus), the skills of the combatants in their partisan negotiations and luck (is there another zealot of 8 Lang lurking in the shadows). The quote is $3m to $3.3m – but it could have just as easily been $3.7m to $4m and would have felt the same to me. 
 
If you love this home and don’t want to change it and have a penchant for some risk and criticism or lack of vindication, then don’t miss this little gem AND enjoy….. they don’t come often of this quality and at this price – my opinion, hopefully yours, but not everybody will share that, for sure.