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Since beginning his work during the early 1960's, Danish architect and founding partner of Gehl Architects, Jahn Gehl has long been regarded as a person that appreciates the human element within the public realm of our cities. Gehl, along with his wife, often documented these human behaviours and interactions in order to gain a real world understanding of human interaction.  This appreciation has lead to Gehl penning many books and receiving world-wide recognition for his work which highlights the longstanding notion of building cities using strict, linear urban principles which were particularly utilised during the modernist movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Gehl goes further to assert this notion is in fact not conducive with the way people, and more importantly, communities work successfully.  

Following on from Gehl's 2010 book Cities for People, a documentary titled The Human Scale was filmed and released in November 2012.  According to the film's synopsis, the documentary questions our assumptions of modernity and explores what happens when we put people in the centre of our equations. Along with statistics, Gehl also measured human activity in many different ways such as asking questions like, "How many people passed this street in a 24 hour period?", "What percentage of these are pedestrians?" and "Is this street performing well for all its users?".  These are valid questions that aid in gaining an understanding of how, when and why people use a space and the connectivity with the spirit of place.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/ny2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image taken from thehumanscale.dk"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/ny2.jpg?itok=iBRFC0He" title="Image taken from thehumanscale.dk" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

The Human Scale is summarised quite succinctly by musician David Byrne on the documentary's <a href="http://thehumanscale.dk/">website</a>; "The doc is wonderful... The film is largely about the very encouraging (for me) reaction to our present situation. To think about encouraging happy accidents. To create common spaces. To find less disruptive ways of getting around. To bring us back together".

Humans throughout the course of our history have consistently congregated in groups and worked together to achieve goals, however as a consequence of the relatively new paradigm of modernisation, people are increasingly living a more solitary existence which in turn can have side effects. The Human Scale delves into the reasons why this is the case, and how the western notion of building cities around cars which primarily used a simplistic and academic formula where, for example, roads for cars go here, houses and shops for people go there and parks go over here was normal practice.  One over-riding theme that resonates after watching The Human Scale are the similarities of the challenges that each city is and will face growing into the future, and how city planners have realised that building cities for cars has not been a successful urban model. 

Jan Gehl postulated that "city planning has been going on for a number of years with a rather incomplete toolbox". It is estimated at 80% of the world's population driven by the chance of a better life will be living in urban areas by 2050, therefore completing the city building toolbox and building cities for people should be an absolute priority.  With the use of Gehl's baseline urban data information, city planners now have a starting point and the tools to set realistic and sustainable planning goals. Based on the evidence we have now, where we are seeing ever increasing urbanisation leading to ever increasing stress on essential services and human well-being, there is a strong case now that we need to make a change in our urban growth approach.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image256_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Gehl Architects Melbourne report taken from their website"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image256_0.jpg?itok=E0ZJrfwl" title="Gehl Architects Melbourne report taken from their website" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

So how is this relevant to us?

Melbourne has been famously transformed with the help of Gehl Architects in association with the City of Melbourne from a dying city in the 1980's where economic growth was non existent and people stayed well clear of the central business district after 6pm, to a city that today is widely regarded as one of the world's most liveable. This transformation was certainly no accident and the strategy revolved around accommodating the needs of the people. Those that grew up in Melbourne in the 1980s and 1990s, myself included, can attest to how much better Melbourne is these days compared to 25 years ago.  In saying this, Melbourne is by no means a poster child for good urban design. This city faces some major infrastructure challenges heading into the future such as the construction of the <a href="/news/melbourne-metro-saviour-of-the-outer-burbs">Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel</a>, a potential <a href="/news/half-of-the-melbourne-airport-rail-link-is-currently-under-construction">Airport Link</a> and <a href="/developments">accommodating our growing population</a> in areas abundant with amenity and services whilst minimising construction of <a href="/news/federal-budget-2013-the-urban-versus-suburban-battlelines-are-drawn">more roads and limiting suburban sprawl</a>.

It can be reasonably asserted that if we continue on current trends with heavy focus given to building our cities with cars as the centerpiece for growth, then society will eventually suffer a slow paralysis over a long period of time as our population expands. The future of our urban environment is not something we should be afraid of, in fact we should be excited at the possibilities and opportunities that lie before us. These opportunities lie in optimising our land use in the form of medium to high density living and multi mode transportation offerings where appropriate, as they are the most sustainable means by which to grow and efficiently connect our cities into the future.  There is no doubt that we are at a cross roads in Melbourne's urban development and the options are there right in front of us. The only question that exists now is, do we take the blue pill of the people or the red pill of the automobile? 

 

http://thehumanscale.dk/

http://www.acmi.net.au/lp_human_scale.aspx
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flame

The Human Scale

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On a monthly basis a Apartments.com.au will publish our Top 5 picks of buildings Under Construction, Proposed.  To start us off, we are publishing our Top 5 projects which are currently under construction in our city for June, and counting down from number 5, here they are!

Tip: open the project database link and forum link in a new window to view the renders for each project.

 

5. Tip Top, East Brunswick

Why do we like it? Lygon Street in East Brunswick has been identified by Apartments.com.au as an urban development <a href="/news/hotspots-lygon-street-east-brunswick">hotspot</a>.  The Tip Top project, currently under construction on the former Tip Top bakery factory site will add a significant amount of new residents to Lygon Street.  With very high frequency tram routes into and out of the city and multiple cross-town bus routes, Tip Top will have some of the best public transport access outside the inner city.  A strong restaurant and cafe scene, bars such as <a href="http://www.eydies.com.au/" target="_blank">Eydies</a>, <a href="http://www.atticusfinch.com.au/" target="_blank">Atticus Finch</a> and <a href="http://www.thealehouseproject.com.au/" target="_blank">The Alehouse Project</a> (Northsiders don't have to travel to the Southside for good beer anymore!) - Tip Top is going to have access to all of it, most of which within a 100m walk.

<div>
<a href="/buildings/tip-top-brunswick-170-edward-street-brunswick-east">Project database</a> and <a href="/news">Forum thread</a>
</div>

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/number%205_%20tip%20top.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Tip Top apartments on the way up."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/number%205_%20tip%20top.jpg?itok=TUCPIGPx" title="Tip Top apartments on the way up." typeof="Image"></a>

 

4. Swanston Square, Carlton

Why do we like it? Swanston Square is being built on arguably one of the most important redevelopment sites in Melbourne. Located at the former CUB brewery site on the corner of Swanston Street &amp; Victoria Parade peering directly down Swanston Street to the Shrine of Remembrance, the developers and architects were entrusted to create an iconic building. Once complete, Swanston Square will boast a distinctive facade depicting the face of the aboriginal elder from the Wurundjeri tribe, William Barak.  The stretch of Swanston Street between La Trobe and Victoria Streets is no stranger to bold architectural statements and Swanston Square will enrich the precinct even more.

<a href="/buildings/swanston-square-551-swanston-street-carlton">Project database</a> and <a href="/news">Forum thread</a>

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Number%204_swanston%20sq.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Early construction progress at Swanston Square "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Number%204_swanston%20sq.jpg?itok=QedtoI0G" title="Early construction progress at Swanston Square " typeof="Image"></a>

 

3. Prima Pearl, Southbank

Why do we like it? Besides the fact it will stand 254 metres once completed and that it is the tallest tower under construction in Australia at present, Prima Pearl apartments are being constructed in an area of Southbank which will soon boast even more 200m+ towers.  Even at an early stage of construction, the quality of the glass and the form of this building will ensure that it will really stand out amongst the crowd in years to come.   

<a href="/buildings/prima-tower-31-queensbridge-street-southbank">Project database</a> and <a href="/news">Forum thread</a>

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Number%203_prima.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Prima Pearl under construction."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Number%203_prima.jpg?itok=NH4g6bWg" title="Prima Pearl under construction." typeof="Image"></a>

 

2. The Commons, Brunswick

Why do we like it? In terms of sustainable living in Melbourne or anywhere in the world for that matter, this building certainly pushes the boundaries, and we <a href="http://urbanmelbourne.info/development/2013/04/01/is-this-melbournes-best-new-residential-development#content">love</a> it! The Commons sits in a current hot bed of <a href="http://urbanmelbourne.info/development/2013/05/14/anstey-in-development">development</a> and is being developed by Small Giants who have incorporated the expertise of Breathe Architects to produce a building with an incredible 8 star energy rating! Great effort! 

<a href="/new-apartments/brunswick-vic-3056">Project database</a> and <a href="/news">Forum thread</a>

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/number%202_the%20commons.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Commons and a new horizon."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/number%202_the%20commons.jpg?itok=odrYJ6eW" title="The Commons and a new horizon." typeof="Image"></a>

 

1. The Quays, Docklands

Why do we like it?  Well.... what's not to like about The Quays. The developer, MAB Corporation and architects McBride Charles Ryan started with a tricky site to work with, but they have managed to deliver an astonishing pair of towers and podium that complement the site effortlessly for today and into the future. The flowing podium &amp; tower form builds on the Conder's curves and provides a nice contrast with the existing block-centric towers of the original NewQuay towers to the West.  We will never get sick of MCR's use of purple! Our Number 1.

<a href="/buildings/the-quays-231-harbour-esplanade-docklands">Project database</a> and <a href="/news">Forum thread</a>

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/number%201_the%20quays.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Quays, almost completed."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/number%201_the%20quays.jpg?itok=bWHcA6Hd" title="The Quays, almost completed." typeof="Image"></a>

 

What do you think of our Top 5? Did we get it right, or are we horribly wrong? Tell us what your Top 5 residential projects under construction are at the moment by using our <a href="/developments">Project Database</a> as a reference.
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Urban.com.au's Top 5 Picks: Under Construction June 2013

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UrbanMelbourne.info will always be on the look out for, and champion policies or initiatives by business' and government's alike that promote sustainability and efficient energy use. The City of Melbourne has been proactive in encouraging a host of initiatives with the aim of making Melbourne a more sustainable place to live and work.
One Council initiative of particular interest is the 1200 Buildings program which aims to encourage and support building owners and managers in order to improve energy and water efficiency whilst also reducing waste to landfill from commercial buildings within the municipality of Melbourne. The 1200 buildings initiative is part of an overriding strategy to make the City of Melbourne a carbon neutral municipality by the year 2020.  
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/banner_1200.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="1200 buildings banner"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/banner_1200.jpg?itok=HKaSViJ-" title="1200 buildings banner" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
Under the program, Council wants to environmentally retrofit two thirds of the city's commercial buildings by offering incentives to the aforementioned stakeholders with the expectation of improving energy efficiency by 38% and in turn eliminating 383,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year. According to the City of Melbourne's 1200 Buildings Fact Sheet, retrofitting buildings can benefit owners by future proofing their assets against energy price increases, in turn making their buildings more appealing to prospective tenants whilst also retaining tenants over the long term. Retrofitted buildings are in demand as they:
<ul>
<li>
		command higher rental returns.</li>
	<li>
		result in lower tenancy churn and vacancy rates.</li>
	<li>
		use less energy and water.</li>
	<li>
		enhance corporate image.</li>
</ul>
This program is not exclusive to purely commercial buildings, as a case study involving Alto Hotel on Bourke taken from the <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/1200buildings/Pages/Home.aspx" target="_blank">1200 buildings website</a> shows below.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image255g.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image255g.jpg?itok=WOfo5AyT" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
As the above shows, the campaign has been running for some years, yet at this stage, 26 signatories owning a combined 46 buildings have committed to the 1200 Buildings program, including the likes of Crown Casino, RMIT University and GPT. However for the program to have deliver its full impact, further promotion or 'drum beating' for lack of a better term is required in order to meet the 2020 target. I can't help but think the City of Melbourne should relaunch a media campaign, release further press releases, conduct mainstream media interviews to labour the 1200 Buildings concept. After all we do live in a world where it's equally important for companies to be seen to be doing the right thing as opposed to simply doing the right thing. Implied pressure can often yield results.
Overall though this is a great, proactive initiative set up by the City of Melbourne to tackle greenhouse gas emissions directly, where property owners become directly involved without simply purchasing carbon neutral credits. By doing this, it improves the city's sustainable living standards whilst also setting a tangible benchmark for other cities to follow, whether they be local or overseas. Ideally now Council should take on a leadership role and encourage expanding the 1200 Buildings program into other Melbourne municipalities in some shape or form. This is by no means an easy process and it will take time to implement, but a program worth pursuing regardless.
Visit the <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/1200buildings/Pages/Home.aspx" target="_blank">1200 Buildings website</a>, or associated <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.sustainablemelbournefund.com.au/euf/1200" target="_blank">Sustainable Melbourne Fund wepage</a>.
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1200 buildings and counting....

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For some people, one of life's little pleasures is looking at a city skyline all lit up at night and considering the possibilities that lie within its X, Y and Z axes. And for those lucky enough to hold a view of Melbourne's ornate and ever-changing evening skyline in all its glory on a regular basis, appreciate its magnificence for the nightly show comes at a cost to both to our pockets and to the environment.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/blogs.anl_.giv_.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Solar farms. Image © blogs.anl.gov"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/blogs.anl_.giv_.jpg?itok=R5dPIM41" title="Solar farms. Image © blogs.anl.gov" typeof="Image"></a>
It's common knowledge that for over a 100 years, Australia has relied on energy generated by the burning of non-renewable fossil fuels built originally by governments and now operated privately. This outdated approach to energy production is unsustainable and is potentially counterproductive as we move into the future. Unsurprisingly, it is only a relatively recent trend where governments and business leaders have made a concerted effort to create policy and facilitate investment into more sustainable energy generation and energy saving measures.  
According to a 2011 detailed report conducted by the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics titled Australian energy projections to 2034-35, Australia's total primary energy consumption is forecast to increase by 29% from 2009 to 2034-35. Of this energy, non-renewable sources consisting of coal and natural gas will remain the most dominant with renewable sources forecast to increase from 5% to 9% over the same period.  To date, wind energy is seen as a proven and mature technology so it comes as no surprise that it's expected to account for approximately 14% of all energy production in 25 years time with strong growth to be seen in other renewable sources such as geothermal, solar, hydro and bioenergy. By 2034-35, the energy generation balance between non-renewable and renewable sources will be 76% to 24%.
To help drive Australia's push towards a cleaner future, the Renewable Energy Target (RET) was set up in 2010 which requires the production of 45,000 gigawatt hours of energy to be produced through renewable sources by 2020. Part of this initiative is to provide incentive for large-scale businesses, and small-scale businesses and households, to voluntarily adopt renewable energy sources by earning Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) through solar credits. Looking beyond the scope of this report and above all else, I believe this initiative is the key for Australia's energy security beyond 2034-35.
Another angle that warrants consideration is the cost of retail market electricity to the household moving forward, and if recent pricing forecasts by the Australian Energy Market Commission are anything to go by, there is little doubt the need for our households to generate their own energy is here already.  In the Electricity Price Trends Final Report published on 22 May 2013 by the AEMC, national electricity prices in nominal terms increased by 14% between 2011/12 to 2012/13, prices are forecast to increase by three per cent between 2012/13 to 2014/15. No matter which way you look at it, prices have been on the way up and will continue to go up.
By no means can Australia, and Victoria as a brown coal state afford to completely cut out non-renewable sources, but the balance between non-renewables and renewables moving forward needs to change. We must think of our built structures (be it commercial or residential towers or detached suburban homes) as mini power plants, with the capability to generate enough power to sustain itself. The notion of generating the majority power either by non-renewable or renewable sources in a far flung location is not going to fully solve our medium to long term energy supply needs. Solar panels and water capture for highrise buildings has become common place, yet as technology improves policy should be implemented to necessitate and enhance these measures.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/6DVK_H.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="CIS Tower Manchester. Image courtesy manchesterconfidential.co.uk"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/6DVK_H.jpg?itok=ELB0zN4N" title="CIS Tower Manchester. Image courtesy manchesterconfidential.co.uk" typeof="Image"></a>
Clearly I speak whilst living in a perfect world, yet the technological and economic realities suggest set up costs associated with creating an energy independent structure (read skyscraper) may not viable. Then again, what's the issue with a retrofit? Manchester's <a href="http://www.solaripedia.com/13/117/cis_tower_solar_skyscraper_retrofit_%28manchester,_uk%29" target="_blank">CIS Tower</a> (above) with its solar panel facade is possibly the ultimate example. By taking the initiative and implementing policy the necessitates the creation of power at the point of use, in the long term we would take control of our energy security...bring the power back to the people.
 
Sources and further reading
Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics, Australian energy projections to 2034-35, December 2011.
Australian Energy Market Commission website - http://www.aemc.gov.au/
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Power to the People

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Australian cities are growing at an impressive rate and Melbourne is leading the pack with regard to total population growth according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data (Published: 31 July 2012). This growth, as a consequence, places pressures on essential services that allow us to go about our day to day lives.

One of these essential services is waste management and as a consequence of population growth, more waste is produced and it needs to be managed appropriately. Unfortunately we don't have a bottomless pit where the waste we produce magically disappears, so we have to come up with ways to deal with it in a environmentally conscious and sustainable manner or else there is the potential we could end up living in our own mess in more ways than one.

In 2005, the Victorian Government along with EPA Victoria created the Sustainability Fund which is a perpetual fund that receives money collected from Victorian landfill levies. According to the The Priority Statement of the Victorian Sustainability Fund (Published: February 2012), the objectives of the fund are outlined as follows:

<ul>
<li>To support Victorians to reduce waste and dispose less waste to landfill;</li>
	<li>To support innovators in the waste management and recycling industry and local government who are willing to invest early in better technologies, facilities and services;</li>
	<li>To remove logistical and systemic obstacles to recovering commercial value from otherwise abandoned material; and/or,</li>
	<li>To assist in funding community initiatives to improve our environment, respond to climate change, use our resources efficiently and to support sustainability to advance the social and economic development.</li>
</ul>
In funding allocated in 2011-2012, the majority of the sustainability fund contributed to programs which focused on rehabilitation and management of land and waterways throughout Victoria, with the remainder looking into resource recovery. However, Ryan Smith, the Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change, placed more urgency on driving investment in resource and recovery to ease the squeeze on landfill capacities through the release of two funding rounds.

In the media release dated 31 July 2012, Minister Smith said "These two funding rounds are part of a broader suite of initiatives under the Coalition Government's Conserve, Invest and Save strategy to reinvest the landfill levy in better infrastructure where it is most needed. The funds will target key issues in the waste management sector, specifically diverting commercial and industrial waste and organic waste to landfill". Minister Smith also went on to champion the fund's ability to create an additional green economy through diverting waste to landfill.

One detrimental aspect of the increased landfill levies has been the increasing occurrence of illegal dumping of waste on the roadside. Besides the fact that this practice is in most cases unsightly, unhealthy and very hard to police, the benefits of the increased levies have proven very beneficial in leading us to a more sustainable future.

The sustainability fund in its earlier stages has proven to be a proactive approach in tackling Victoria's mentality around dumping waste at the landfill without the feeling of consequence. Society is becoming more and more conscious of the lifecycle of the products that they purchase and discard.

Similarly, developers are seeing the benefits of reusing materials in their development projects particularly at <a href="/new-apartments/brunswick-vic-3056">The Commons</a> which is currently under construction in Florence Street in Brunswick, where much of the materials from the previous structure have been reused in the new residential development. These sorts of material reuse initiatives are great to see, however the applicability and sustainable impact of such initiatives would surely be restricted depending on the size and scale of the development.

A skyscraper made from 100% recycled materials you say? I guess only time will tell...

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/sustainabilitymatter.net_.au_.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Excavators dealing with commercial waste. Image © www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/sustainabilitymatter.net_.au_.jpg?itok=yReyPRzl" title="Excavators dealing with commercial waste. Image © www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au" typeof="Image"></a>

<figcaption>Excavators dealing with commercial waste. Image © www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au</figcaption></figure>
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Rethinking waste

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Earlier this year I travelled to the United States for work purposes, a great experience even though I swapped my shorts for snow and icy footpaths. Through my travels I managed to visit the Museum of Science and Industry (www.msichicago.org) in Chicago. In and amongst some impressive displays I stumbled across the Fast Forward - Inventing the Future exhibition which displayed some of the "usual suspects" when it came to western humanity's view of the future like bendy phones and robots that can make you breakfast. 
The one display that particularly resonated with me described the benefits of using vertical farming through inner city areas to help tackle the world's food production problems. <a href="http://www.mailman.columbia.edu/our-faculty/profile?uni=ddd1" target="_blank">Dr. Dickson Despommier</a> has been a vocal advocate of this method of farming and given his background as an ecologist, microbiologist and Professor of Public Health and Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University - I'd say his opinion carries substantial oomph.
The issues involved are complex and significant. Through Despommier's website <a href="http://www.verticalfarm.com" target="_blank">www.verticalfarm.com</a>, it's estimated that by 2050 nearly 80% of the world's population will be living in urban areas.
Consequently to feed the additional 3 billion people, current practices would require an additional agricultural land equivelant to 20% the size of Brazil. Assuming current trends continue there may well be a shortfall in required resources yet through the use of vertical farming a partial, yet highly sustainable solution is in the offing.
Advantages with vertical farming include:
<ul>
<li>
		Year round crop production; 1 indoor acre is equivalent to 4-6 outdoor acres, depending on the crop. For example, 1 indoor acre of strawberries is equivalent to 30 outdoor acres;</li>
	<li>
		Crop issues relating to weather and pests become redundant;</li>
	<li>
		All food grown in vertical farms are organic;</li>
	<li>
		Vertical farming eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water;</li>
	<li>
		Vertical farming eliminates the use of agricultural land for growing crops;</li>
	<li>
		Greatly reduced incidence of many infectious diseases associated with the agricultural interface;</li>
	<li>
		Vertical farming converts black and grey water into potable water by collectiong the water of evapotranspiration;</li>
	<li>
		Vertical farming adds energy back to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants and animals;</li>
	<li>
		Dramatic reduction in fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping);</li>
	<li>
		Conversion of abandoned urban properties into food production centres;</li>
	<li>
		Creation of sustainable environments for urban centres;</li>
	<li>
		Creation of new economic and employment opportunities;</li>
</ul>
So how could this be applied to Melbourne? Resident renderer Laurence Dragomir of Blockhead has used the former Savoy Tavern site on the corner of Bourke and Spencer Streets as our test site to demonstate how a mixed-use vertical farm and residential tower in Melbourne may look like (if we had lots of money and could defy gravity...).  
The concept shown below proposes a tower comprising a 15 storey high public market hall at the corner of Bourke and Spencer Streets, north facing terraced community gardens and a communal urban farm. An atrium runs the height of the building.
While whimsical in its nature, the scheme demonstrates the sustainable direction that buildings should pursue. There is no doubt that in the future governments must consider the use of vertical farming and other efficient practices as a legitimate way of sustaining the planet's growing population.
If greater Melbourne continues to gobble up potential farming land for detached houses and increased urban sprawl, then we will reach a point where the financial and environmental cost of sustaining our population could spiral.
On a smaller scale, a number of restaurants around Melbourne are growing a lot of their own plant based produce in house which is great, but we need to think about facilitating this in a far larger scale.
We pride ourselves as a great food city, let's pride ourselves on being a great sustainable food city. Utilising vertical farm technology would go a long way in achieving that goal.
 
Sources and Further reading 
http://www.verticalfarm.com/
http://www.economist.com/node/17647627
http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/fastforward/
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The future of vertical farms in Melbourne

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Following on from our recent article about the redevelopment of a former industrial site in Fitzroy North to create the <a href="/news/a-rare-city-acre-in-fitzroy-north" target="_blank">Roi apartments </a>, I'd like to now focus on another urban renewal project destined to create much interest due to the heritage concerns of the Yorkshire Brewery redevelopment.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Melbourne-Daily-Photo-Blog-Collingwood-Graffiti-Yorkshire-Brewery-Collingwood_20120224_04_5_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Yorkshire brewery tower roof © www.mel365.com"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Melbourne-Daily-Photo-Blog-Collingwood-Graffiti-Yorkshire-Brewery-Collingwood_20120224_04_5_6.jpg?itok=e8zYA9cw" title="Yorkshire brewery tower roof © www.mel365.com" typeof="Image"></a>

The Yorkshire Brewery designed by architect James Wood and built in 1880 was the tallest building in Australia for 10 years until the construction of the 10 storey Finks building. The most prominent feature of the site is the multi storey polychrome brick tower built in a Romanesque style which consists of a large mansard roof described as being in the French Second Empire style.  

The site has been used for other uses besides a brewery, in 1909 the Carlton and United breweries purchased the brewery and used it as a standby plant then later a cooperage. By the time the 1950's came around, Carlton and United breweries ceased their production of wooden barrels and opted for steel instead which ultimately closed the cooperage at the site.

Since 1997, there have been a number of different developers looking to redevelop the site, with one such developer removing the heritage listed stables without a permit which lead to a fine from the Yarra City Council of $110,000. Naughty naughty.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Render1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Yorkshire brewert mixed-use development © www.grenade.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Render1.jpg?itok=QQGHMZUe" title="The Yorkshire brewert mixed-use development © www.grenade.com.au" typeof="Image"></a>

According to Yarra City Council records, the current proposed redevelopment of the former Yorkshire brewery site has been designed by Hayball architects which according the original application submitted by SMA projects in late 2011 encompassed the restoration, adaptation and integration of the neglected heritage buildings into a mixed use development with a predominantly residential component.

Newly constructed residential buildings were proposed to range from 3 storeys to 17 storeys in height, a two level basement carpark using a car stacker system and a neighbourhood square. However following community objections the Council refused the application and asked SMA projects to resubmit their proposal.

A new amended application was lodged with council in mid 2012 based on addressing the concerns outlined by objectors, then in October 2012 the Council rejected the proposal citing the development's scale and height did not fit in with the local surrounds and the matter was taken to VCAT. Currently, VCAT have set Council's decision aside and ordered them to approve the current proposal.  

Refer to the <a href="http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/Planning--Building/Major-developments/Former-Yorkshire-Brewery-site-1-21-Robert-St-Collingwood/" target="_blank">Yarra City Council's site</a> for more information.

Putting historical and planning wrangling aside and with the aid of limited information at this stage about the proposal, it appears the developer and architects have made a concerted effort to marry the old and the new. With the soon to be restored graffiti-laden brick tower as the centrepiece of the redevelopment, it was important for Hayball not to overpower the tower's presence with the new additions. 

The internal sun-filled communal courtyard will also draw attention to the tower as it stands tall and proud in centre of the courtyard.  The developers and architects must be congratulated for taking on a somewhat daunting task of restoring such an unloved site where other developers have failed, in the past, to kick start the process.  

Thankfully for us, the reuse and rejuvenation of a once grand historical complex will surely enhance Melbourne's already rich urban fabric rather than rotting away in the memories of a once glorious past. 

 

Sources and further reading

http://www.walkingmelbourne.com/building617_yorkshire-brewery.html

http://www.collingwoodhs.org.au/index.php?p=2_4

http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/Planning--Building/Major-developments/Former-Yorkshire-Brewery-site-1-21-Robert-St-Collingwood/
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Former Yorkshire Brewery site destined for renewal

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For the past seven years I have been an environmental consultant working on a variety of sites for multiple clients. What if I said that almost every potential development site within a 15 kilometre radius of the Melbourne CBD is contaminated. Would you be alarmed? Would you even believe me?
If you said yes to both of those questions then you would for the most be correct.
Our main role as environmental consultants is to assess and identify any potential sources of contamination in the soil or groundwater which are a result of historical uses at the site, then assess whether there are any impacts and to what extent. Finally, depending upon intended future use, we will ensure that any risks posed by site contamination to sensitive receptors (i.e. humans and the environment) have been mitigated prior to reuse.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image1345464210.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Environmental drilling © www.southwesterndrilling.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/image1345464210.jpg?itok=Gr1NjktG" title="Environmental drilling © www.southwesterndrilling.com.au" typeof="Image"></a>
To clarify, site contamination comes in many different forms and may pose a risk depending on the setting in which it lies. The Oxford dictionary defines contamination "as making something impure by the exposure or addition of a polluting substance", so with reference to soil and groundwater it's a substance that alters the medium from its natural state.
One example can be found during Melbourne's urban development as it expanded further outwards from the CBD during the 19th and 20th centuries. Many areas were developed for different purposes including residential and industrial uses. In some cases imported material was used on sites to provide stable foundations for a structure or as backfill material. This material was not assessed before use which now could pose a risk to the aforementioned sensitive receptors. Contemporary regulatory bodies have set specific guidelines for the transport, use and storage of imported material to minimise any potential risk and that the material is similar to its final destination.
Another common source of site contamination comes in the form of petroleum hydrocarbons at former service station sites. Across Melbourne, there are many former service stations sites that  have been or are currently being converted into multi-storey residential apartments. The most obvious concern revolves around remnant volatile compounds in the soil and groundwater that may pose as either a vapour risk to future site users or migrate offsite depending on the groundwater flow direction.  A number of factors make each site different and it's up to environmental consultants to assess the impacts and whether there are any risks. In the majority of cases these volatile contaminants are remediated in one form or another and the site suitability is determined by measuring concentrations against specific criteria.  
Furthermore, when a site is changed from a low sensitivity use (i.e. commercial/industrial) to a high sensitivity use (i.e. residential), an environmental audit is triggered and a planning permit cannot be issued without an audit being completed. As part of this process, an environmental auditor is engaged to ensure the assessment conducted by consultants is in line with guidelines and the site will be fit for purpose following environmental works.  
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image3_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Underground storage tank removal. Image © Australian Enviro Services"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image3_11.jpg?itok=cQRtnGIb" title="Underground storage tank removal. Image © Australian Enviro Services" typeof="Image"></a>
The transformation of former industrial sites to more sensitive residential uses comes at a cost to the developers, most of which cannot be fully quantified until intrusive work is conducted and reports have been finalised. Over the past few years, site assessment criteria has been updated in the form of the draft National Environment Protection Measure 2011 guidelines which will act as a useful tool for consultants to assess sites using a multi-tiered risk based approach - far more flexible than previous NEPM guidelines.  What this means to developers is that the process and costs associated with getting a development site with a planning permit could be far less daunting and better for the bottom line yet at the same time still provide the necessary environmental protections, which can only be good for the sustainable urban growth of Melbourne.
In a future piece, I'll compare the different versions of the NEPM guidelines and highlight the advantages going forward.
 
The purpose of this article is meant as an overview of the process of assessing sites for contamination and is general in its nature. 
 
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Contamination, comes standard

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Using plant life to make an otherwise bland, sterile feature visually appealing is becoming more common in Melbourne. One of those bland and sterile features that we are seeing more of as a result of property development are construction site hoardings which typically comprise of plain wooden panels and a few safety warning signs. 
 
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/collins%20sq%20green%20wall_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Collins Square green hoardings in late 2012"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/collins%20sq%20green%20wall_0.jpg?itok=JM_9wGhT" title="Collins Square green hoardings in late 2012" typeof="Image"></a>
In late 2012, the hoardings erected around the Collins Square office development in Docklands (above) incorporated a green and visually attractive element in the form of a vertical plant wall.
 
Currently Melbourne City Council charge developers and builders for erecting hoardings (amongst other things) in the form of permit fees and with the amount of hoardings popping up across Melbourne at the moment, collectively that equals quite a bit of revenue for the council and an extra cost for developers.  Here's some food for thought, what if council implements a new policy to encourage developers to incorporate greenery into their hoardings, where possible, and in return the developers recieve a small discount on permit fees from the council?
 
Furthermore, the plants grown within the hoardings could be replanted as part of the completed development. This type of proactive policy would present numerous social and urban benefits by introducing greenery into an active construction zone and create a sense of place for passers by and on-site workers alike. But it does not just have to be plants, murals or famous (and infamous) Australian art works could also be plastered on the hoardings to deliver  visual impact and urban serenity.<o p=""></o>
 <a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image1_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image taken from Klein Dytham website"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image1_9.jpg?itok=fen7XR3o" title="Image taken from Klein Dytham website" typeof="Image"></a>
Multi-disciplinary design firm Klein-Dytham implemented a 274 metre long 'Green Green Screen' in Tokyo's Omotesando while construction was carried out behind over a period of three years. This is a perfect example of construction hoarding green walls that could be installed on many site throughout City of Melbourne. Additional greenery in the midst of development zones is a welcome sight (whether they are temporary or permenant greenery installations) and relevant bodies should be looking at different ways to apply these green initiatives where possible. I think this is a simple and relatively cheap way for both developers and councils to be proactive and to introduce such initiatives.<o p=""></o>
 
Sources and further reading<o p=""></o>
http://klein-dytham.com/other/green-green-screen/<o p=""></o>
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There's nothing wrong with a green wall

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As multi storey skyscrapers continue to change the Melbourne skyline from all angles, adding mass and depth to the glassy horizon, it is sometimes hard to imagine the land which Melbourne was built on all those years ago is predominantly comprised of reclaimed swamp land.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/NewQuay.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="NewQuay with the Quays development rising up"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/NewQuay.jpg?itok=2YEy7V9c" title="NewQuay with the Quays development rising up" typeof="Image"></a>

When it comes to building in areas such as <a href="/new-apartments/docklands-vic-3008">Docklands</a> and <a href="/new-apartments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a>, engineers and construction workers regularly experience the presence of soft swampy soil.

Originally this region of inner Melbourne was low lying wetlands until it was reclaimed and then developed for the construction of light industries around Southbank and the Melbourne ports including Victoria Harbour in the area which is now Docklands.  

The soil attributes that make it difficult to build include:

<ul>
<li>the presence of acid sulfate soil which is normally harmless when not exposed to oxygen (an aerobic environment), however should the acid sulfate soil be exposed to oxygen, a chemical reaction is initiated which produces sulfuric acid.
	<ul>
<li>This acid has the ability to compromise the integrity of concrete, potentially undermining structural integrity and rendering it not fit for purpose in a structure;</li>
	</ul>
</li>
	<li>a shallow water table of approximately 1.5 metres below ground level;</li>
	<li>a lack of a solid geological foundation such as relatively accessible bedrock;</li>
	<li>highly variable ground conditions in the form of Coode Island Silts.</li>
</ul>
Thankfully engineers are a cluey bunch and have developed ways to ensure large structures which are eventually built in these areas do actually stay erect as intended and not become a leaning tower of Melbourne!

The main method structural engineers are able to ensure these towering structures remain upright in the challenging aforementioned soil conditions is by using a vibropiling drilling technique that allows for deep foundations. The steel piles are driven into the ground in situ using a vibrating mechanism to displace the soft soils and the remaining void is filled with concrete to form the foundation. It is important this technique is used so the exposure of acid sulfate soils to oxygen is minimised.  Similarly these types of deep foundations are only feasible when large design loads are built in these types of soil conditions. 

Naturally, with all of the above said, it would not make sense to excavate this type of soil for the development of underground carparking. It would just be too expensive to firstly shore up the excavation walls and de-water the pit but also the ongoing maintenance costs to keep the underground structure intact would be not economical in many ways.

Therefore for the majority of the residential and commercial buildings in Docklands and Southbank, above ground carparks have been incorporated into the design as it is much cheaper and easier to construct and maintain. This has lead to the design of some interesting architectural eye candy in particular Tower 5 at Yarra's Edge and the recently completed <a href="/buildings/concavo-8-waterside-place-docklands">Concavo</a> at Victoria Harbour. 

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_8019_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Aboveground carpark design at Tower 5, Yarra's Edge"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_8019_0.jpg?itok=bg8uXCIH" title="Aboveground carpark design at Tower 5, Yarra's Edge" typeof="Image"></a>

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_5392.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The glassy carpark at Concavo, Victoria Harbour"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_5392.jpg?itok=Rw5ouzhe" title="The glassy carpark at Concavo, Victoria Harbour" typeof="Image"></a>

Another notable design in Southbank is the Eureka tower carpark which incorporated the Queen Bee art installation by local Melbourne artist Richard Stringer. The story goes Stringer developed the pieces, pictured below, as part of a studio series in 2003-2004 (coincidently when the construction of Eureka tower first broke ground).  

It is also said when Nonda Katsalidis viewed the studio exhibition, conversation ensued culminating in the unveiling of the art work in December 2007 on the tower's lower facade.

The Queen Bee sits at the top of a white box surrounded by a colony of worker bees. The symbolism of the art work refers to the gold mine workers during the gold rush and fits in with the design of the Eureka tower beautifully.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_1955.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Gold bee at Eureka tower"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_1955.jpg?itok=w_FZZFaw" title="Gold bee at Eureka tower" typeof="Image"></a>

Future property developments located in Southbank and Docklands will continue to incorporate these structural principles when building in these areas - if anything it is an economic necessity. As far as carpark designs are concerned, some future proposals are incorporating vertical green walls to liven up the carpark facades which will definitely go some way in enhancing the city's visual urban experience. 

Sources and Further Reading

http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne_details.php?id=15356

http://www.vibropile.com.au/

 
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Underground difficulties in Docklands and Southbank

One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

&nbsp;

FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

Chris Peska

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