Waves of perforated brass will cloak the terraces of Brasshouse in Hawthorn East, reflecting the light and setting the tone and visual language for the building.

Designed by Rothelowman, it will be a lustrous building inside and out.

The exterior individuality, by senior designer Joshua Amsellem, has been reflected on the inside by the practice's interior design associate Alicia Lynch.

Lynch has taken masterful advantage of the flexibility of brass in fittings, trim and accents throughout the 50 apartments. "Brass can be modern or traditional," she says. "It can be shiny or left to age."

The apartments, to be built by K7 Developers, will have elements of timeless luxury - with hints of industrial robustness. "The location is on the cusp of a very high-end, luxurious housing area and an area that is transitional," she says.

"We wanted the building to be like that as well. "

Floors will be either a softly shaded whitewashed American oak or a dark version of the same wood, reflecting the light or dark interior choices available. In counterpoint to this luxurious wood will be 2.7-metre ceilings of concrete with track lighting.

All apartments that look out to the brass screens will have ceiling-height doors and glazing to the terraces where lustrous curves coming down from above frame the view. Brasshouse's kitchens and bathrooms will have a fresh, timeless and original look - the most striking feature of each of these rooms is the brass frames to the cabinetry.

Kitchen cabinetry will have a vinyl-wrap finish with a trim around the doors. "Everyone is doing flat-panel doors," Lynch says. "This is a different look."

The laundry, fridge and pantry are concealed behind similar doors and all have brass handles.

The materials will be repeated in the bathroom where subway tiles are used from floor to ceiling.

The choice of colours will be expressed in dark or light floor tiles, the handbasin surround and shower framing. Fittings will be brass. It is the details as well as the decor that add cachet.

For example, a sensor under the bathroom cabinet will come on automatically with a soft light, eliminating the need to switch on the overhead light."You will feel as if you are in a luxury hotel," Lynch says.

The bespoke aspect of the apartments can be taken one step further. A series of furniture pieces designed for Brasshouse by Lynch is available to buyers. A desk, television table and a piece that could function as a kitchen island bench or a buffet also feature the brass trim and marble ceramic.

All Brasshouse apartments have a car park and prices start at $375,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. Th e display suite is open on the site at 771 Toorak Road, Hawthorn East, from Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 4pm. Completion expected towards the end of 2017.