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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

Just a few months after acquiring a prime Broadbeach site on the corner of First Avenue and Surf Parade, family-run developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a> has filed fresh plans for a new apartment development.

Raptis is seeking to deliver a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-19-first-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4217">29-storey tower with 73 apartments</a> on the 818 sqm site. It will be the developer's seventh project in the suburb, as they are approaching completion of The Sterling on George Avenue.

There will be a pool, barbecue and outdoor dining area, residents lounge and dining, sauna and steam room, gym, and a Yoga and Pilates studio.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b554da3f-7344-49aa-b1c9-44cf459af0d7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%2010.41.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zzjWu1iO1wnuYv4EV4fyOyf5nSXjGYut" />

Raptis Joint Managing Director, Evan Raptis, says they remain&nbsp;committed to developing quality infill sites across the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

"This project continues our long track record of delivery in Broadbeach, and we look forward to bringing another premium development to this thriving precinct."

The announcement follows strong delivery momentum for Raptis, with The Sterling Broadbeach nearing completion and construction well underway on the final stage of the Waterpoint community adjacent to Harbour Town. The developer's continued investment in the Gold Coast reflects confidence in the region's apartment market fundamentals, underpinned by sustained Southeast Queensland population growth.&nbsp;

The outlook for the region is further bolstered by infrastructure investment tied to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, which is expected to drive continued economic and population growth across the SEQ corridor.&nbsp;

Subject to a favourable response from Gold Coast City Council, construction on the new First Avenue tower is targeted to commence before the end of 2026.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/it-s-all-in-the-family-four-decades-later-raptis-continues-to-shape-the-gold-coast-skyline">It’s all in the family: Four decades later, Raptis continues to shape the Gold Coast skyline</a>

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/raptis-secures-prime-surf-parade-site-for-next-broadbeach-apartment-development">Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development</a> 
&nbsp;

Gold Coast developer brings seventh Broadbeach project to market, targeting construction commencement before year end

Joel Robinson

First look: Raptis lodges plans for new 29-storey Broadbeach tower 

Brisbane development veteran Kevin Seymour's Seymour Group is set to deepen its presence on one of Brisbane's most tightly held riverfront addresses, lodging revised plans for a luxury apartment development on Oxlade, just a few doors down from The Oxlade, which it completed in 2024.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/70-72-oxlade-drive-new-farm-qld-4005">new project at 70-72 Oxlade Drive</a>, directly north of The Oxlade, will have 27 apartments across a seven-storey building&nbsp;overlooking the Brisbane River and Merthyr Park. It's a revision from a 2021-approved design.

Designed by bureau^proberts, the project has evolved from the previously approved 26-apartment scheme, introducing an additional penthouse level while maintaining a low-density, boutique character. The development will comprise 26 three-bedroom apartments and a single four-bedroom penthouse, supported by two basement levels with 86 car spaces and 34 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response is centred around two distinct building forms separated by a landscaped open-air atrium.&nbsp;"This dual composition captures and embraces Brisbane’s subtropical environment whilst breaking down built form and scale," the submission to the Brisbane City Council noted.

<img alt="First look: Seymour Group returns to Oxlade Drive with revised riverfront apartment plans in New Farm" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c12d84d0-bc11-4067-b46f-5bd2d786a34d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/new%20farm%20landscape.png?VersionId=YEPc2k5CAdh6aAPlu4uVpgZadh4MEfRd" />

A defining feature of the design is a deep landscaped void running through the centre of the building, creating what bureau^proberts describes as a "natural ravine" that enhances airflow, daylight penetration and resident amenity. The design report notes that the separation of the two building volumes is intended to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and outlook while strengthening connections to the surrounding riverfront setting.

Curved balcony edges, integrated planting and extensive landscaping throughout the façade reinforce the subtropical design approach. The building's façade is softened by elevated gardens and planter beds, creating a green edge that complements the established landscape character of Oxlade Drive and neighbouring Merthyr Park.

New Farm has become one of Brisbane's most sought-after suburbs for developers delivering premium downsizer-focused apartments.

GRAYA has been particularly active in the precinct, completing both Chalk and York in recent years, while construction of Moray House, being delivered for Spyre, is now nearing completion. Architect-turned-developer Joe Adsett recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/arcilla-new-farm-by-joe-adsett-28-maxwell-street-new-farm-qld-4005">Arcilla on Maxwell Street</a>, an exclusive collection of just nine apartments.

First look: Seymour Group returns to New Farm's Oxlade Drive with riverfront apartment plans

A new residential tower will be the first piece of a broader mixed-use precinct set to reshape a prominent Newcastle West site, with local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> bringing its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/cambridge-quarter-newcastle-west-12-denison-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Cambridge Quarter</a> vision to market.

The first release, Tempo, will introduce 87 apartments across a 24-storey tower, marking Stage 1 of the residential component of a larger urban regeneration project planned for the western end of Newcastle's city centre, encompassing the former Cambridge Hotel site.

Positioned on Denison Street, Tempo has been designed as the inaugural building within Cambridge Quarter, a precinct that will ultimately combine apartments, retail activation and revitalised public spaces including the revamping of the Cambridge Hotel.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368856]

The tower will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including layouts with multipurpose rooms, catering to a broad cross-section of owner-occupiers. Apartment sizes range from around 60 sqm to 192 sqm, with a number of residences oriented to capture views across Newcastle Harbour, the city skyline and coastline.

GWH has emphasised liveability in the design, with open-plan layouts extending to generous balconies and terraces. Residents will have a choice of two interior palettes, while specifications include engineered stone benchtops, SMEG appliances, full-height bathroom tiling and secure building access. Premium upgrade packages will also be available

Multiple rooftop resident retreats will provide communal outdoor space overlooking the harbour and city, offering an elevated amenity layer above the activity of the precinct below.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368851]

The broader Cambridge Quarter vision extends beyond the residential tower itself. Ground-level retail activation and landscaped public areas are planned throughout the precinct, creating a walkable neighbourhood environment connected to the surrounding renewal of Newcastle West. The Cambridge Hotel is also earmarked for future redevelopment into a family-friendly hospitality venue integrated with the new precinct.

The project is strategically positioned within walking distance of Newcastle Interchange, providing access to light rail, regional rail services and direct connections to Sydney. Residents will also be close to Honeysuckle, Newcastle Harbour and the city's beaches and coastal walkways.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368852]

For GWH, Cambridge Quarter represents one of its most significant Newcastle developments to date. The locally based developer, which has operated in the Hunter region since 1995, describes the project as a new chapter in the ongoing transformation of Newcastle West.

GWH Executive Director Jonathan Craig said the project had been shaped by a focus on creating lasting community connections.

"We take pride in creating places that last. Spaces where people feel connected, comfortable and a genuine sense of belonging," Craig said.

"Cambridge Quarter is something we are truly proud of, a place shaped by local knowledge, built with care and designed to be part of Newcastle's next chapter."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135876]

GWH unveils first release at landmark Cambridge Quarter precinct in Newcastle West

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ss-projects">S&amp;S Projects</a>,&nbsp;Rainbow Bay's busiest developer,&nbsp;has officially lodged plans for the largest development in its booming local portfolio, seeking approval for a further 88 apartments on Boundary Street.

The proposal&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">209–213 Boundary Street, Coolangatta</a>,&nbsp;marks the next chapter in the developer's transformation of the southern Gold Coast beachside precinct. It will be its fifth in the area, having already delivered Flow, Awaken and Esprit, while construction continues on the 38-apartment Radia. The new project would rise 57 metres above a consolidated 1,518 sqm site, on the same street as Radia and Esprit.

&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, the proposed development comprises 88 two and three-bedroom apartments across a contemporary podium-and-tower form that integrates extensive landscaping from street level through to the rooftop.

The tower would be delivered above a basement and multi-level podium accommodating resident and visitor parking, with the residential component commencing from level three. The design incorporates cascading planting throughout the façade, landscaped podium edges, and deep planting zones along the Boundary Street frontage.

<img alt="First look: S&amp;S Projects lodges plans for 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="677e6615-b5c0-4b6c-b4f9-efb14fcde1a6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ss%20da%20pers.png?VersionId=YOnPKQm7IFXv0M5H326djEpxk80500Hi" />

A key feature of the development is its expansive rooftop wellness and recreation precinct. Plans reveal a resort-style pool deck, gymnasium, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, rooftop terraces, barbecue areas and landscaped relaxation spaces positioned to capture views across the southern Gold Coast coastline.

The rooftop wellness focus builds on the vision S&amp;S Projects first outlined when it acquired the site for $20.25 million last year.

"We are taking every advantage to create a truly unique rooftop wellness experience with a natural feel for residents, offering stone features throughout and an underlying theme that emulates a botanical garden," S&amp;S Projects founder and director Paul Gedoun said at the time.

The proposal seeks a 57-metre building height, representing a 50 per cent uplift on the site's mapped 38-metre height limit. Planning documents argue the additional height is consistent with recently approved and emerging towers in the immediate Boundary Street and Rainbow Bay precinct.

Urbis, acting as planning consultant, said the development would provide "88 dwellings, comprising a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, contributing to housing choice and supply within an established medium to high-rise coastal urban neighbourhood."

The scheme has undergone extensive pre-lodgement consultation with the City of Gold Coast, with the design refined following feedback relating to architectural expression, landscaping, traffic access and podium treatment.

<img alt="S&amp;S" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a2d70fd-62ac-4b83-97c6-b798fc1243dd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%209.16.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yHmghUwKM3IVGpBktQU1mE.0Lpf3WimG" />

The architectural team is led by Brisbane-based Cottee Parker, one of Australia's most active residential design studios, with landscape architecture by Dunn + Moran. The consultant team also includes ADG Engineers, Windtech and Acoustic Works.

S&amp;S Projects has become one of the most influential private developers operating on the southern Gold Coast. Since entering Rainbow Bay in 2022, the company has assembled a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in end value, establishing itself as a key player in the area's evolution into a premium apartment destination. Pezet Matheson will again handle the sales for S&amp;S.

Coolangatta is entering another wave of apartment development, following the delivery of several prominent residential projects in recent years.

John Kearney's Immerse Projects will launch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kaiya-kirra-beach-5-haig-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Kaiya on Haig Street</a>&nbsp;soon, meanwhile, Palm Beach-based Sherpa Property Group is preparing to bring its debut Coolangatta development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-viver-87-griffith-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Flourish Viveré</a>, to market later this year, subject to approvals.

First look: S&S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street

A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

Chris Peska

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