Living in an apartment complex can be a great option for many people. At East Brunswick Village, for example, the proximity to amenities such as restaurants, shops, and public transportation makes life a lot more convenient. Additionally, many apartment complexes offer a sense of community that can be difficult to find in other housing models.
Despite the benefits, however, there are some challenges that come with living in an apartment which can make people feel isolated. For example, some apartment complexes lack opportunities for organic socialisation, and the transitory nature of tenants makes it difficult to build lasting relationships with neighbours.
We consider EBV a village to call home, and there are a few reasons why our modern urban community finds it easier to enjoy socialisation than most other apartment living situations. Learn more and read our ten tips to establish a community and connect when living in an apartment.
Tip 1: Attend Community Events
Community events can be a great way to build relationships with your neighbours. Whether it’s a movie night, BBQ, or wine tasting, you can connect with others in a relaxed and informal setting.
EBV organises all of the above and more to foster a sense of community and allow residents to meet their neighbours and make new friends. Some other regular events enabling you to connect at EBV include weekly trivia nights, our Maker’s Market and rooftop yoga. In addition, we have new events happening all the time, so there is something for everyone!
Tip #2: Join Online Groups
Sometimes it can be energy and time-draining to head out after a long day at work. This is why EBV has a very handy online community platform where residents can share information, organise events, and connect with their neighbours while relaxing at home. As a bonus, this can all be accessed via the EBV app!
Get to know the people in our village, share recipes, chat about happenings in the suburb and borrow some digital sugar! The online community is a great way to stay connected with your neighbours, even when you feel like a night on the couch. You can do all of this via the EBV App where people can chat, stay updated with happenings in the buildings and, of course, share memes.
Tip #3: Enjoy Common Areas
Common areas provide shared spaces for residents to gather, relax, and socialise. While they can be a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban living, they also create an awesome opportunity to get together with your neighbours!
At EBV, we encourage neighbourly catch-ups in our many common spaces, such as the rooftop garden, which happens to have stunning views of Melbourne’s skyline! This high-rise space also includes EBV’s gardens and green spaces, which our landscapers have filled with a range of native plant selections. Spending time in a spot like this increases your chances of running into your neighbours to get to know them better.
The EBV common areas are also used for gatherings during holidays like Easter, during which time there are Easter egg hunts and Easter themed craft activities for the kids, along with Christmas and NYE parties, Halloween gatherings, and many more.
Tip #4: Host a Gathering
Hosting a small gathering in your apartment lets you show off your hosting prowess while getting to know your neighbours. Turn this into a regular event, and you’ll soon build a sense of community from the comfort of your living space. Whether it’s a game night or a dinner party, inviting a few people over provides an opportunity to connect with others in a relaxed and informal setting.
As the host, you can encourage residents to connect, share experiences, and get to know each other on a more personal level, and the best part is this can be a lot of fun! Unwind and enjoy yourself and invite people to bring a friend to expand your social circle even further. This is a great way to make new connections and build relationships with people you might not have met otherwise.
Tip #5: Attend the Makers’ Market
East Brunswick Village hosts a regular makers’ market, providing an opportunity to connect with local artists and meet other residents interested in sustainable living while finding some new things for their apartments.
The monthly Makers Market features local artists, makers, crafters and designers showcasing their unique creations. There is a different lineup each month, so you’ll get to know people in the creative scene (excellent for networking if you are also an artist), plus you might find something special to take home with you!
Tip #6: Organise a Welcome Committee
A warm welcome can go a long way in making new residents feel at home in your apartment building. Consider creating a welcome committee of current tenants who can greet new neighbours, answer questions, and provide information about the EBV lifestyle and surrounding area. This will help bring people into your existing community as you watch it grow, plus you’ll meet new neighbours straight away.
Tip #7: Organise a Volunteer Day in the Community Garden
Encouraging tenants to give back to the community can be done by organising a volunteer day with a local charity or non-profit organisation. Doing something positive for the wider community extends your personal community even further!
EBV offers a regular Volunteer Day that is very popular, like our Merri Creek clean-up day, which brings people together and ensures our local community looks its best!
Tip #8: Start a Book Club
Reading is a great way to connect with others, and a book club brings tenants together around a shared interest. Choose a book to read each month and host a discussion in a common area or at your apartment party if you’d like to host.
Book clubs are popular everywhere as they provide exposure to new books and authors you may not have otherwise chosen to read. While doing this, the activity encourages discussion and critical thinking via a safe social outlet for residents who share a love of reading. Plus, what better way to find the motivation to read and finish a book? Once again, we recommend encouraging tenants to invite friends to make it even more social (and ensure new invitees are comfortable).
Speaking of clubs, EBV already has a cooking club, coffee club, veggie club, bee club, and sustainability club, with an upcoming film club (once the cinema opens). So no matter your interests, it’s easy to find like-minded people nearby!
Tip #9: Co-work in Communal Spaces
Whether you work from home or study, EBV’s soon-to-be-built co-working office space gives you an opportunity to be more social in your work day as well. Co-working spaces have also been proven to provide a collaborative and social environment that can boost productivity and creativity.
Working alongside like-minded individuals can inspire new ideas and help you to get more out of your workday while having a bit of fun. You never know; this could also be a great networking opportunity that leads to business connections!
Tip #10: Get out and Explore Brunswick with your Neighbours
We love Brunswick, and there is no shortage of things to see and do, so why not invite your neighbours along to get to know them better? Post on the community portal that you are organising a day trip and head out to learn more about your neighbourhood.
We recommend some of the following activities for a very fun day:
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- Grab some drinks in the sun in the massive beer garden at The Brunswick Green on Sydney Road
- Enjoy the best falafel you’ve ever had in your life at Very Good Falafel (also on Sydney Road)
- Take a walk down Lygon Street with some ice cream from Zero Gradi gelateria and dessert bar
- Find a new read at Brunswick’s best independent bookstore, Brunswick Bound
- Pop into Blak Dot Gallery to see some contemporary First Nations art
- Recharge your energy with a coffee from Small Axe Kitchen, located in the heart of Brunswick on Victoria Street
- Find some treasures via one of the many, many secondhand stores in the area
- Finish the day with a delicious Italian meal at Chef Alfredo La Spina’s Bar Idda, Brunswick East’s finest home-style Sicilian menu
If you can squeeze all of that in, you have a great day of fun-filled activities and delicious eats, all within proximity to home thanks to EBV’s desirable location. Creating some great stories with your neighbours should be easy after this day trip!
Build your community at EBV today
At EBV, you’ll experience a sense of community and belonging that’s hard to find elsewhere. Our modern urban community offers a unique living experience for like-minded individuals seeking to thrive in a sustainable and vibrant environment. EBV is a village that residents can call their own as they engage in shared interests.
Located only six kilometres from Melbourne’s city centre, EBV provides easy access to public transportation options so you and your neighbours can get out and explore this wonderful patch of the world we call home. It’s easy to be social at EBV!