Duplex and dual occupancy builders Melbourne
Side by side and dual occupancy developments that get real value out of a site without either residence feeling like the compromise.
- Dual occupancy
- Townhouses
- Investor and owner occupier
Dual occupancy
Dual occupancy and side by side duplexes
A well planned duplex gives you two properties that both feel like a home rather than half of one. Orientation, private outdoor space for each dwelling, and acoustic separation between them are what decide that, and they get resolved long before anyone pours a slab.
We have delivered duplexes from inner city Ascot Vale, where rare rear laneway access allowed secure garaging and private outdoor zones for both homes, through to beachside Rosebud and the Mornington Peninsula.
- Side by side and front to back configurations
- Acoustic and fire separation done properly between dwellings
- Separate services, meters and driveway crossovers
- Private outdoor space for each residence
- Secure garaging, including laneway access where the site allows
Developers
Small developments and townhouses
For a two to four dwelling site, the build cost is only part of the equation. Programme certainty and the quality of the finished product decide what the dwellings sell or rent for, and a stalled site costs more than a slightly higher contract ever would.
We build to a fixed price and a milestone programme, and we keep the site presentable throughout, which matters when you are selling off the plan or walking buyers through before completion.
- Two to four dwelling developments
- Townhouse rows and battle axe blocks
- Fixed price contracts and milestone programmes
- Finishes specified for the market you are selling into
- Staged handover where dwellings complete at different times
Coastal and bayside
Coastal duplexes on the Peninsula
A beachside duplex has to work in February and in July. Our Rosebud build was designed for exactly that, light filled and breezy through summer, with warm textures and clever planning that make it a comfortable winter retreat rather than an empty holiday house.
Our Mornington duplex on Karella Crescent sits in one of the Peninsula's most sought after pockets, with elevated bay views, expansive balconies and premium detailing throughout.
- Coastal exposure detailing and corrosion resistant fixings
- Balconies, decks and outdoor living built for the climate
- Cross ventilation and orientation for year round comfort
- Elevated sites and bay view planning
- Holiday letting and permanent residence specifications
Why choose us
Why develop with Santa'lana
Both halves built properly
Neither dwelling gets treated as the lesser one. Same trades, same finishes, same attention on each side of the wall.
Programme you can plan around
Milestone dates you can hold a sales campaign or a finance drawdown against, and early warning when something shifts.
Registered for commercial too
Registered as both a domestic and a commercial builder, so a mixed or larger development is not outside what we can contract for.
Sites others walk away from
Laneway access, battle axe blocks and narrow frontages are normal work for us across the inner suburbs.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does a duplex take to build?
Typically 12 to 16 months on site for two dwellings, depending on size, site access and finishes. Both dwellings usually run together rather than one after the other, which is faster than two separate builds and is one of the real advantages of a dual occupancy.
Do I need a planning permit for a dual occupancy?
Almost always, yes. A second dwelling on a single lot needs town planning approval from your council, and overlays or heritage controls can add conditions. We manage the approvals path and tell you honestly what the site is likely to support before you spend money on documentation.
Can the two dwellings be sold separately?
Yes, once the titles are subdivided. Subdivision runs alongside construction rather than after it, and your surveyor and conveyancer handle the titles while we handle the build. We make sure the services, crossovers and separations are set up so the subdivision is not held up at the end.
Will the two homes share walls and services?
A side by side duplex shares a party wall, built with the fire and acoustic separation the code requires, and each dwelling gets its own services, meters and hot water. Done properly you do not hear your neighbour, which is the difference between a duplex that holds value and one that does not.
Do you work with developers as well as owner occupiers?
Both. Owner occupiers usually want more involvement in finishes and we are happy to work that way. Developers generally want programme certainty and a specification that suits the market, which is a different conversation but the same build quality.
Other services
What else we build
Let’s talk
Get a price on your duplex and multi-dwelling project.
Come to us with finished plans, or just a site and an idea. Either way you get an honest read on what it takes to build it.
- 0421 258 240
- stefan@santalana.com.au
- 12 Nelson Place, South Melbourne VIC
Request a consultation
One business day response, every time.