The display suite is one of the most important parts in an off t​he plan buyers journey.

While technology has evolved and renders are looking more and more realistic, there&#39;s nothing like being able to touch and feel the apartment you&#39;re going to buy. Display suites act&nbsp;as a bridge between buying&nbsp;o​ff the plan and buying an established property.

They&#39;re also an essential point of difference for property developers, often proving the difference between whether buyers purchase in your project, or in a neighbouring suburb at a similar project.

There&#39;s a rivalry in the Gold Coast, with SPG going head to head with Gu​rner on their display suites. Hardly a display suite, they&#39;re more a display experience.

SPG had their commissioned builder, Hutch​insons, create the $4 million, 750 sqm building, making it the largest sales gallery of any new development in the southern hemisphere. It takes up 2,000 sqm of the Fer​ny Ave site which SPG are set to create nearly 800 apartments across three towers.

Gu​rner just opened theirs across the road for their equally large La Pelago, which will have over 900 apartments across four towers.

Display suites tend to be reserved for the larger, multi-res projects. Small boutique developments, maybe less than 40 or so apartments, often don&#39;t have the budget for a fully fledged display suite.

The Sydney developer Coronation Property have long known the importance of the display suite, with their last five display suites featuring full scale apartments in the future development.

<img alt="" height="2250" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/coronation_masonmain_260422_219168.jpg" width="3000" /> 
The display suite at Mason &amp; Main. Image supplied

Coronation Property&#39;s Head of Sales and Marketing Cameron Porter says display suites have come a long way over the last decade.

&quot;While previously&nbsp;display&nbsp;suites were ordinarily quite sterile with little more than demountable floor plans and finishes boards, we&rsquo;ve seen the&nbsp;display&nbsp;suite journey for off-th​e-plan apartments over the last five to 10&nbsp;years come a very long way,&quot; Porter says.

&quot;Nowadays, any premium&nbsp;display&nbsp;suite journey includes a fully immersive and engaging experience for purchasers that touches on all the senses &ndash; sight, sound, touch smell and taste.&quot;

Porter says they&nbsp;want people to walk in and start envisaging the new building, picturing exactly how it could become a place they could call home.

Despite the changes and evolution of the display suite experience as technology advances, Porter notes that&nbsp;display&nbsp;suites have, and always will&nbsp;be, about creating trust between the developer, the prospective purchasers, and the community in which the development is being built.

Coronation took that belief into its under construction Merrylands project, Mason &amp; Main, the mini-community designed by Woods Bagot with its own&nbsp;vibrant market-style laneways with retail and dining precinct underneath nearly 800 apartments.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=31751 project_image_fid=161007]

Since opening the display suite in 2020, the space has evolved.&nbsp;Coronation have created&nbsp;a caf&eacute; for the community and purchasers to get a sense of what&rsquo;s to come, as well as two&nbsp;built-to-scale apartments in differing schemes to show buyers exactly what they&rsquo;ll get,&nbsp;a very rare offering. They also&nbsp;included varying building and design features that showcase the intricate architectural detailing of the Mason &amp; Main development. It allows buyers to literally picture themselves in what will be produced.

&quot;Beyond just a&nbsp;display&nbsp;suite, we wanted to create a space that was an experience. We wanted to create a connection,&quot; Porter says.

<img alt="" height="1106" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-28_at_9.08.56_am.png" width="842" />

The community-led display&nbsp;suite at Mason &amp; Main. Image supplied

Coronation has always placed a strong emphasis on creating a display suite that to help buyers feel &nbsp;confident in purchasing off t​he plan.

The display suites in their two&nbsp;latest developments, Mason &amp; Main and Ashbury Terraces, include life-size apartments and features, with various colour schemes and finishes available. Their significant investment in the display suite experience was also prevalent across their previous developments, 8 Phillip St in Parramatta, Charlie Parker in Harr​is Park and the acclaimed Paper Mill Precinct in Liverpool.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112253 project_image_fid=193250]

&quot;Buying a home can be daunting, especially when you can&rsquo;t physically see the property,&quot; Porter adds.

&quot;It&rsquo;s our responsibility to make the process as seamless and stress-free as possible. As part of this process, it&rsquo;s important for buyers to see and feel the different aspects of their future home.

<img alt="" height="992" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-28_at_9.15.31_am.png" width="836" />

The display suite at Ashbury Terraces. Image supplied

&quot;As one of the biggest investments most people make in a lifetime, we believe a premium&nbsp;display&nbsp;suite experience is integral to facilitating trust and assurance that what you&rsquo;re buying of​f-the-plan will be delivered come handover.

Porter suggests that beyond showcasing their built product, they also&nbsp;believe the&nbsp;display&nbsp;experience is essential for prospective purchasers and developers to understand each other.

&quot;By taking prospective purchasers on tours of our&nbsp;displays, we have the space to better understand what their individuals needs and aspirations are, to ensure they feel comfortable with what they&rsquo;re purchasing, to learn more about the developer and design team, and help them to better understand the process of buying off the pl​an.&quot;

Coronation Property's Head of Sales and Marketing Cameron Porter says display suites have come a long way over the last decade

Joel Robinson

The importance of the display suite for an off the plan apartment buyer

In a time of building insolvency, increasing material costs, and supply chain issues, off-the​-plan purchasers are demanding greater quality assurance from developers and builders.

While there&rsquo;s no overnight fix for rising construction fees, Sydney-based developer Coronation Property believes investing in new processes and people will provide customers the quality assurance they crave while giving developers and builders a competitive edge in a changing industry climate.

It takes a number of moving parts, and more importantly, moving specialist teams, to create exceptional mixed-use developments with collaboration and communication between in-house teams and external consulting agencies including architects, placemaking specialists, engineers, and subcontractors integral to the success of a project.

Further investing in their fully integrated business model, Coronation Property recently announced the formation of a new in-house design team to bridge the gap between their development teams, construction arm and external agencies.

Anticipating the needs of a changing industry, Coronation Property&rsquo;s new in-house design team, Studio Circle &amp;&nbsp;Co will be integral to the ongoing protection of their customers. The team will ensure the original design intent of projects is carried through from early design concept to construction completion and customer handover.

The quality assurance initiative will see new processes put in place to support compliance with the Design and Building Practitioners Act, with a specific focus on Class 2 mixed-use multi-residential developments.

While many larger publicly listed developers such as LendLease and Mir​vac have been doing this for some time, very few privately owned developers who dominate Sydney&rsquo;s residential market have their own construction arm and in-house design teams.

Studio Circle &amp;&nbsp;Co is led by experienced architect Mona Chao, the former co-head of architecture at apartment giant Meri​ton.

&quot;As a business, we are constantly evaluating opportunities that will better serve our customers and communities,&quot;&nbsp;says Chao.

&quot;Having an in-house design team ensures meticulous quality control throughout every phase of the build and allows the business to remain agile in the management and execution of industry regulatory framework,&quot;&nbsp;she adds.

Chao says the team is an important cog in the whole process of the development, not just in ensuring design intent is carried through the build.

Chao&#39;s team is engaged at the earliest point in the development before the site is even acquired.

They help scope out what is possible with the site, and what the site lends itself to in terms of density of buildings, number of apartments, and ultimately how well the design can fit into the current landscape of the area.

Studio Circle &amp; Co has been supporting the business&rsquo;s growth plans following the announcement of new site acquisitions in Chatswood and Erski​neville, boosting the company&rsquo;s development pipeline to more than $7 billion.

&quot;We collaborate with our acquisition team to test feasibility before a site is acquired which provides the business with confidence to proceed with purchase as a baseline, compliant architectural model has been developed and verified in-house,&quot;&nbsp;Chao says.

Studio Circle &amp;&nbsp;Co will collaborate with Coronation Property&rsquo;s award-winning architectural partners to push design boundaries early in the planning process.

&ldquo;It takes a certain type of person to work with, and for work for Coronation and we&rsquo;re proud of our longstanding relationships. We really demand the best from our chosen collaborators to ensure we are constantly evolving to better serve our customers and communities&rdquo;

Anticipating the needs of a changing industry, Coronation Property’s new in-house design team, Studio Circle & Co will be integral to the ongoing protection of their customers

How in-house design teams can benefit off-the-plan buyers amidst industry uncertainty

The development duo&nbsp;behind Bondi's redevelopment of the Bondi Pacific are back again for a new project around the corner.

Rebel Property Group’s&nbsp;Allen Linz and Capit.el Group’s&nbsp;Eduard Litver have submitted plans for a&nbsp;$12.5m project across an amalgamated site at&nbsp;34-38 Hall Street, Bondi's popular shopping strip.

The four-level building will have ground floor retail, apartments above, and two-levels of basement parking.

The proposed site forms an important part of the block along Hall St from Jacques to Consett Avenue, with the block bookended by the heritage Post Office to the east.

<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1308" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-11_at_9.05.52_pm.png" width="2296" /> 
Render of the proposed shoptop apartment development set for Hall Street in Bondi. Credit: EMBECE

The proposed site forms an important part of the block along Hall St from Jacques to Consett Avenue, with the block bookended by the heritage Post Office to the east.

Embece Studio was enlisted to design the plans for the Hall St project, taking inspiration from the neighbourhood’s surrounding landscape and greenery.

Mladen Prnjatovic,&nbsp;Ben Green and Chi Melhem teamed up to establish Embece, with the Chippendale-based trio designing everything from bespoke private homes to city-scaled projects and precincts.

“We are proposing to draw this landscape into the architecture of our building, extending it around the corner and into Hall Street, bringing new biodiversity and life into the street,” Embece noted in their design application.

<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1118" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-12_at_6.07.21_pm.png" width="1516" /> 
Render of the proposed green-focussed development along Hall Street. Credit: EMBECE

“Our design is a direct response to the character of the place. It maximizes the vibrant neighbourhood character of Bondi and makes great places for people to live.”

A palette of white off form concrete and ceramic tiles make up the built form, which has been designed to extend the corner into Hall St from Consett, established through curved geometry and a series of landscaped pockets.

Ground Ink handled the landscape architecture, with&nbsp;significant planting to the rear gardens planned and landscaping integrated into the architecture as well as the roof terrace.

"The landscape character of Consett Avenue turns the corner into Hall street, transforming the experience of the street as well as the apartments within the building," Ground Ink noted.

The Hall Street precinct is currently undergoing significant change and development, with a string of projects recently completed in the area, including the duo’s Pacific, Bondi project, as well as TOGA’s, Bondi Boheme, and the Silvester Fuller designed, The Drift.

Linz recently lodged plans for a sprawling 6,400 sqm Woolloomooloo site, with the $161 million project set to bring 229 apartments across 10-levels, with an extensive rooftop garden landscaped by Ground Ink.

The four-level building will have ground floor retail, apartments above, and two-levels of basement parking

First look: Allen Linz and Eduard Litver team up for new Hall Street, Bondi apartments

The former North Shore Gas Co. Office building is set to be conserved and readapted in Crows Nest.

The Double Bay-based developer&nbsp;PDS has filled plans for a $55 million project which will comprise a 14-level mixed-use building, with a two-storey commercial podium.

<a href="/new-apartments/290-pacific-highway-crows-nest"><img alt="" height="1080" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-11_at_8.33.10_pm.png" width="822" /></a> 
Render of the proposed Pacific Highway mixed-use development in Crows Nest. Credit: Fuse Architecture

There will be 61 three and four-bedroom apartments planned on the&nbsp;290 Pacific Highway site, just up the road from PDS&#39;s The Wentworth.

The recently amalgamated lot has a primary frontage to the Pacific Highway with a rear address to Sinclair Street.

It is currently occupied by the local heritage listed Former North Shore Gas Co Office building and an existing two storey commercial building, with the latter secluded to be demolished in the process.

LFA Pacific prepared the urban design report for PDS, who engaged Fuse Architects to design the plans.

<a href="/new-apartments/290-pacific-highway-crows-nest"><img alt="" height="1102" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-11_at_8.33.16_pm.png" width="820" /></a>

Render of the proposed Pacific Highway mixed-use development in Crows Nest. Credit: Fuse Architecture

&ldquo;The development proposal seeks to retain, conserve and adaptively re-use the Former Gas Company building as part of a new mixed-use building with a ground floor commercial podium and residential uses above,&rdquo; LFA said in their urban design report.

The site is situated in an urban block bound by Shirley Street to the north, Bruce Street to the south, the Pacific Highway to the east and Sinclair Street to the west.

The block forms part of the Five Ways intersection, where Pacific Highway, Shirley Road, Willoughby Road and Falcon Street converge, creating a local landmark that defines the southern gateway to the St Leonards, Crows Nest Precinct.

The site at 290 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest in the North Sydney Local Government Area is 1.5km north of North Sydney CBD, 850m south of St Leonards strategic centre and immediately south of Crows Nest Village

<a href="/new-apartments/290-pacific-highway-crows-nest"><img alt="" height="1318" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-11_at_8.34.04_pm.png" width="1960" /></a> 
Render of the proposed Pacific Highway mixed-use development in Crows Nest. Credit: Fuse Architecture

The site is approximately one kilometre from major public open space such as Brennan Park and Newlands Park, St Leonards Park, and St Thomas Rest. Smaller pocket parks such as the Hume Street Park, Ernest Place Park, and Sophia Street Park are located east of Pacific Highway, while Morton Lane Road Reserve off Sinclair Street is a landscaped walkway.

The design involves the reinstatement of key materials such as exterior masonry, terracotta tiles, pressed metal, stainless steel, and glass panelling.

<a href="/new-apartments/290-pacific-highway-crows-nest"><img alt="" height="1204" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-11_at_8.33.26_pm.png" width="970" /></a> 
Render of the proposed Pacific Highway mixed-use development in Crows Nest. Credit: Fuse Architecture

Glass is used for the remainder of the facade with a textured glass awning and pressed metal soffit to match the existing heritage pressed metal soffit pattern.

The existing facade is provided with powder coated metal profiles to match the existing awning and fluted glass as a key design motif for the front elevation where a curtain wall is proposed to the remainder of Pacific Highway frontage.

Incorporating a muted palette and lightweight materials, the upper residential levels highlight the heritage item, while inverted, fluted glass is used as a contemporary adaptation of the scalloped heritage facade.

There will be 61 three and four-bedroom apartments planned on the 290 Pacific Highway site, just up the road from PDS's The Wentworth


$55 million Crows Nest apartments to target the owner-occupier

The push for residential towers on the fringe of Sydney&#39;s most central park continues.

Chinese-Australian billionaire Hui Wing Mao is the latest to file plans overlooking Hyde Park in the middle of the Sydney CBD.

&nbsp;Mao&nbsp;is aiming to demolish the two office towers at 175 Liverpool Street, which he bought for&nbsp;$390 million in 2014, and create two residential towers, which will home 289 apartments across both 118 metre buildings.

<a href="/new-apartments/169-183-liverpool-street-sydney"><img alt="" height="1130" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-07_at_8.59.00_pm.png" width="1656" /></a> 
The Liverpool Street towers from Hyde Park. Image credit: Bates Smart

Mao, who heads the Shanghai-based Shimao Group, always had plans to redevelop the commercial space into apartments, with the proposal also set to include the renewal of the existing pocket park to the south of the site.

The two 36-storey mixed-use towers will be separated with a through site link and a newly developed public open space, in addition to over 11,000 sqm of retail and commercial space, which will be located in the lower six levels of the tower and in the basement.

Following the second-round deliberations, the Jury selected by unanimous vote the&nbsp;<a aria-label="Bates Smart - opens in new tab" data-uw-rm-brl="false" data-uw-rm-ext-link="" data-uw-styling-context="true" href="/architects/bates-smart" target="_blank" uw-rm-external-link-id="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/bates-smart$batessmart">Bates Smart</a>&nbsp;scheme as the winner.&nbsp;

The Jury praised the scheme for its more solid fa&ccedil;ade response, with the widened masonry frame providing additional depth in the fa&ccedil;ade, reducing the tendency for the project to appear as a dark, glazed box and improving its passive solar control.

The&nbsp;<a aria-label="Bates Smart - opens in new tab" data-uw-rm-brl="false" data-uw-rm-ext-link="" data-uw-styling-context="true" href="/architects/bates-smart" target="_blank" uw-rm-external-link-id="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/bates-smart$batessmart">Bates Smart</a>&nbsp;scheme sought to create a respectful and responsive building, designed to be a &quot;quiet and calm&rdquo; backdrop to the Anzac Memorial.

<a href="/new-apartments/169-183-liverpool-street-sydney"><img alt="" height="1116" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-07_at_8.59.22_pm.png" width="1706" /></a> 
How the towers will look from Hyde Park.&nbsp;Image credit: Bates Smart

&ldquo;Our aim is to build respectfully and quietly in the context of the War Memorial; neither replicating its materiality &amp; detail, nor negating them, but rather being a responsible supporting element in the of composition with the Memorial, and a complimentary backdrop,&rdquo; Bates Smart noted in their design application.

The scheme was also praised for its response to the ground plane, providing a successful through site link and Urban Room that responded to the wind issues on the site, and provided a useable space.

The Urban Room will incorporate an interpretative public artwork by Yhonnie Scarce, located off Liverpool Street, providing a connected, formal entry to the residential towers, as well as sheltered outdoor dining spaces and connection to the renewed pocket park.

&ldquo;Scaled to respond to the War Memorial it honours the historic sequence of spaces on the Memorial axis by extending it across our site to Surry Hills.&rdquo;

<a href="/new-apartments/169-183-liverpool-street-sydney"><img alt="" height="1112" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-07_at_8.59.28_pm.png" width="1696" /></a> 
The proposed ground level retail space. Image credit: Bates Smart

Bates Smart said their primary intention was to respect the axial symmetry of the War Memorial and Hyde Park, which led them to design a pair of identifcal towers framing the Memorial Axis.

&quot;To respect the primacy of the Memorial we designed a &lsquo;quiet&rsquo; building free from visual distractions and unnecessary formal manipulation, that would not distract from the visual prominence of the memorial,&quot; the statement read.

&quot;Finally, we have created a civic architecture that respects the formality of Memorial and the Hyde Park axis; and indeed Hyde Park itself, as one of Sydney&rsquo;s greatest urban rooms.

&quot;Recalling the War Memorial&rsquo;s stately materiality and paired back simplicity, we developed a recessive palette of honed and polished precast concrete and brickwork, with bronze metallic detailing. Using the elemental simplicity of a column &amp; lintel frame as a unifying language, the finishes adjust to the contrasting urban conditions.

&quot;The frames vertical proportions reference the Memorial&rsquo;s scale and proportions and the towers terminate on the skyline in an open air loggia, balancing the compositions symmetry in a civic celebration of Hyde Park&rsquo;s axis.&quot;

<a href="/new-apartments/169-183-liverpool-street-sydney"><img alt="" height="972" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-07_at_9.53.26_pm.png" width="1508" /></a> 
Where the two office towers currently stand. Image credit: Bates Smart

There&#39;s been a boom over the last 12 months around the leafy Hyde Park, with the supply of prime&nbsp;new CBD&nbsp;apartments not keeping up with the demand.

Currently selling&nbsp;is 111 Castlereagh Street, which sits just off Hyde Park, and Castle Residences, down the road at the other end of the park.

In the last year there&#39;s been plans submitted by Deicorp for their redevelopment of the Polding Centre, and Central Element has plans for a $100 million, 53-apartment tower to replace the 16-level Hyde Park Inn Hotel.

Last year the alternative asset manager&nbsp;<a aria-label="Fife Capital - opens in new tab" data-uw-rm-brl="false" data-uw-rm-ext-link="" data-uw-styling-context="true" href="/developers/fife-capital" target="_blank" uw-rm-external-link-id="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/fife-capital$fifecapital">Fife Capital</a>, led by Allan Fife, submitted plans for a 17-level tower to&nbsp;sit alongside a heritage-conscious redevelopment of the George Bosch Chambers and St James Hotel&nbsp;building that has stood since the 1920s.

The development of two lots,&nbsp;114-120 Castlereagh Street and 139 Elizabeth Street, will see just 26 apartments built, only starting from level 10, with the rest of the building being commercial.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=113346]

The two 36-storey mixed-use towers will be separated with a through site link and a newly developed public open space, in addition to nearly 11,000 sqm of retail and commercial space, which will be located in the lower six levels of the tower and in the basement.

Sydney CBD's residential push continues with new Hyde Park dual-tower development plans

South east Queensland developer Chapter Two have expanded their land development pipeline in Brisbane, securing a 2.6 hectare site in Taigum, in Brisbane&#39;s north.

Chapter Two, founded in 2020 by Oliver Bagheri and&nbsp;Jon&nbsp;Quayle, are seeking to strengthen their presence in&nbsp;Brisbane&rsquo;s north side to meet much-needed demand for new housing.

They are believed to have paid just over $5 million for the land subdivision at 321 Roghan Road, which will accomodate&nbsp;around 30 new homes as well as dedicated public parkland backing on to Cabbage Tree Creek.

Bagheri said the site represented one of the last significant in-fill development opportunities in the area.

&ldquo;Taigum is a very localised and tightly held suburb that has seen a spike in popularity in recent years with families drawn to its new amenity, relative affordability compared to surrounding suburbs and superb connectivity to major retail, health and employment nodes,&rdquo; Bagheri said.

&ldquo;At present there are only 8 established homes for sale in Taigum, representing around 0.3% of the suburb&rsquo;s total&nbsp;residential properties, with most several decades old.&nbsp; There is simply not enough supply for the ever-growing list of purchasers that want to call Taigum home.&quot;

It&#39;s been a busy few months for Chapter Two, who have secured several parcels nearby in Bridgeman Downs and McDowall, bringing their total land pipeline to 140 lots across the Brisbane and Moreton Bay council areas.

The development group are just as bullish in the vertical space as they are on the land, with a number of apartment&nbsp;and townhouse developments across Brisbane and the Gold Coast under construction and in planning, headlined by the $135 million Holm apartment project in Coolangatta&rsquo;s Rainbow Bay.

&ldquo;Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast are now fully fledged mature markets and not the little brother city or sleepy coast villages they once were,&rdquo; Bagheri added.

&ldquo;The key population growth, infrastructure spending and job creation fundamentals supporting South-East Queensland show no sign of slowing, particularly with the Olympics still a decade away.&nbsp; Compound that with a distinct value proposition compared to Sydney and Melbourne, a still relatively low cost of borrowing and of course our desirable lifestyle and climate makes South-East Queensland and in particular the greater Brisbane region an attractive place to be for many years to come.&quot;

Chapter Two expand Brisbane pipeline with Taigum land purchase

The growth&nbsp;of North Sydney continues with plans lodged by development giant Cbus&nbsp;to create a new residential tower.

The tower will rise 28 levels&nbsp;from a prime 3,950 sqm across&nbsp;173-179 Walker Street and 11-17 Hampden Street, in an area known as the East Walker Street Precinct, up the road from the Aura by Aqualand development.

The new Walker Street project&nbsp;will home 189 apartments, a mix of studios through to four-bed apartments, as well as a handful of Walker Street Terraces.

Cbus Property&rsquo;s Chief Executive Officer Adrian Pozzo&nbsp;said the intention is to develop high-end owner-occupier residences in this fabulous location, with views across the eastern side of Sydney Harbour and northern Sydney.

&ldquo;In recognising the prime location of the site within close proximity of the vibrant and burgeoning North Sydney CBD, we seized the opportunity to create this partnership to deliver this outstanding residential development opportunity,&rdquo; Pozzo said.

Local architecture and design firm fjmtstudio has designed the latest plans for the tower. Plans had previously been submitted by SJB on behalf of Avenor, who sold the site to CBUS in a joint venture&nbsp;for around $150 million last year. Avenor planned for&nbsp;266 apartments when they had the site.

<a href="/new-apartments/east-walker-street-north-sydney-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060"><img alt="" height="1140" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-07_at_7.11.57_am.png" width="2060" /></a>

Fjmtstudio Design Director, Richard Francis-Jones, said delivering improved outcomes for the local community was a key objective for the proposed development.

&ldquo;We have worked carefully within the approved planning controls to design a building that optimises view sharing and sunlight access for our immediate neighbours,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;It is a unique and innovative design, generated directly from these key community issues. It has been very helpful consulting with the local community to understand their concerns and explain our design.&quot;

In their Design Concept submission to the local council, fjmt said they have developed an architectural response that draws from the character of a freshwater gully stream eroding its way through this place of ceremony, leaving behind a series of sandstone fissures and verdant landscapes.

&quot;The tower and podium forms of Hampden Street suggest horizontally stratified and eroded undercrofts typical of the sandstone escarpments of the Harbour and the subtropical gullies of the North Shore.

&quot;With the brick terraces of Walker Street offering sympathetic scale, structure and contemporary reference to the typologies of our post-colonial past.

<a href="/new-apartments/east-walker-street-north-sydney-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060"><img alt="" height="512" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-07_at_7.12.09_am.png" width="874" /></a>

&quot;The public domain and landscape design draw upon these references and details to establish a landscape of uncommon character and exceptional quality both for the residents and neighbours of the precinct.&quot;

Fjmt note the site is&nbsp;ideally located and structured for redevelopment as high density residential development as the wider North Sydney LGA is seeing a development boom in commercial and residential projects looking to leverage the state and local government investments in multiple public transport hubs for TfNSW Buses, Metro and Train networks.

&quot;The object site is but one within the LGA undergoing significant evolution in character and use and supported by the North Sydney Council strategic planning objectives.&quot;

<a href="/new-apartments/east-walker-street-north-sydney-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060"><img alt="" height="1068" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-07_at_7.59.18_am.png" width="1582" /></a>

The existing Walker Street frontage contains five&nbsp;residential buildings with two residential buildings located on the Hampden Street all of which are products from the early 1950&rsquo;s.

The natural designs flow through to the resident only main plaza, which will home 1200 sqm of landscaped space featuring extensive seating, a walking track, dry creek, sandstone terracing and retreat areas.

&quot;The site is envisioned as an urban oasis recreating the lush landscape that exists on site while celebrating&nbsp;the level changes and water as the feature the landscape sanctuary only for residents.&quot;

<a href="/new-apartments/east-walker-street-north-sydney-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060"><img alt="" height="1118" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-07_at_7.11.53_am.png" width="2034" /></a>

Fjmt have made a conscious effort to make the building green, targeting a GreenStar rating for the Walker St project. It will be ran off electricity, with solar power supplementing demand.&nbsp;It will promote an active lifestyle, with a car share scheme.

The majority of the building, over 70 per cent, will be two and three-bedroom apartments.&nbsp;

Residents will&nbsp;have access to a wine library and adjoining wine storage space on the lower ground level, as well as bookable meeting space. The lobby is on the ground floor, where there&#39;s also a reading lounge space, a work from home business centre, and the building&#39;s concierge.

Traditional resident amenity is located on the fourth level. There will be a lap pool, gym, sauna, spa, a bookable dining room and function space, sun decks, and a barbecue area.

North Sydney is undergoing a construction boom in both residential and commercial development, which will all be aided by 19 key projects in the area delivered by government and private investment, representing an addition of more than 17,000 sqm of new parks and plazas.

Between Berry Street and the Pacific Highway, the closure of Miller Street gives room for a 7,450sqm public plaza outside the Victoria Cross metro station.

The new Walker Street project will home 189 apartments, a mix of studios through to four-bed apartments, as well as a handful of Walker Street Terraces

First look: Cbus lodge plans for striking Walker Street apartment tower in North Sydney

Gold Coast apartment seekers are set for a new chance to buy into the sought-after Broadbeach area, with Amaya, a new 33-level tower just 300 metres from the beach, set to launch.

The Canberra-based national residential property developer Amalgamated Property Group were given the green light by the Gold Coast Council this week to push on with the DBI designed development at 30 First Avenue.

There will be a range of two and three bedrooms on offer, with floor to ceiling windows and large balconies.

Amaya marks a return to the Gold Coast, and Broadbeach market for APG, who has previously created the Old Burleigh Road tower Verve.

Graham Potts, Principal and Founding Director Amalgamated Property Group, said the new Broadbeach development signals the group's continued growth across Australia.&nbsp;

<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1368" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-07_at_6.09.02_am.png" width="2468" /> 
Where Amaya sits at 30 First Avenue. Image supplied

“We’re excited to be re-entering the Queensland market with this modern blend of luxury and lifestyle&nbsp;in the heart of Broadbeach," Potts says.

"Celebrating the quintessential Gold&nbsp; Coast lifestyle, Amaya showcases our desire to create homes that meet a genuine&nbsp;need in the market.

“We’re extremely selective with our site locations and are committed to supporting developments that add value to a city’s urban infrastructure which is exactly what Amaya does for the Broadbeach region.

DBI designed the Amaya with a distinctive exterior, which will feature&nbsp;individual designs for its&nbsp;east and west façades that facilitate maximum outlook opportunities and internal efficiencies. By night, the north and south faces will depict an elongated glass lantern.

Amaya will boast state-of-the-art resident-only facilities including a gym, sauna, steam room, pool, BBQ and patio, with a connection to nature established through extensive green, outdoor spaces with resort-style zones.

<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="632" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-07_at_6.09.13_am.png" width="2674" /> 
The south east view from level 33 of Amaya. Image supplied

“Our aim is to establish precincts and communities with an emphasis on liveability and longevity by designing homes that allow owners to live well and with ease, minimising the need to venture elsewhere while also enabling them to balance this with enjoyment of their local surroundings.

APG are working with their longtime partner Base Developments, who they have completed&nbsp;Ivy, Oaks and most recently this year, Kiara in Canberra's Narrabundah.

Construction on Amaya is set to commence in October 2022 with demolition now underway, with intended completion in 2024.

Amalgamated Property Group has&nbsp;been developing residential and commercial property across Australia since 2002, with a commitment to sustainability and community engagement at the forefront of their development ethos.

Most of their work has been in ACT over the last 20 years. Amalgamated has been responsible for premium developments such as Manhattan on the Park, Ivy, the Oaks 3-stage precinct and Civic Quarter.&nbsp;APG were also responsible for developing the first luxury homes within the prestigious Parliamentary Triangle with The Griffin project.

Amaya marks a return to the Gold Coast, and Broadbeach market for APG, who has previously created the Old Burleigh Road tower Verve

Amalgamated Property Group secure approval for Broadbeach apartment tower Amaya

The beachfront boom in Bilinga is continuing with yet more apartment development plans filed to the local council.

And success has been had on the tightly held beachfront, which has been starved of brand new stock in the last few years compared to its coastal neighbours.

Mosaic secured a quick sell-out of Bianca by Mosaic at 1 Surf Street, just off the beach, and Cielo Group have secured nearly all of their Bloom apartments on the strip at 55 Golden Four Drive.

The latest plans filed are by a local developer, who bought 301 Golden Four Drive, a 1,246 sqm site on the corner of Pacific Parade, for $4.5 million&nbsp;back in 2017.

<img alt="" height="978" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-05_at_7.50.31_am.png" width="972" />

Gatehouse Architects put together the designs for the project, which they noted in their design statement reflects the elegance and architectural vernacular of&nbsp;the Gold Coast coastline.

&quot;The design draws in its natural surroundings and blurs the threshold between interior and exterior spaces,&quot; Gatehouse&#39;s design statement read.

&quot;The vision is to create an address where the building and its occupants embrace the natural local environment synonymous with living in a modern Queensland beach house.&quot;

<img alt="" height="984" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-05_at_7.50.39_am.png" width="1002" />

There will be just 17 apartments across the 10-level building, including two two-level beach houses which each have their own private pool. The resident pool is located on the ground level.

A full floor penthouse crowns the building and will have four bedrooms, a kitchen with a butler&#39;s pantry and wine cellar, a home office, a gym, two outdoor areas, one with a barbecue kitchen, and a private rooftop pool.

The town planning report by Enhance Urban Planning noted&nbsp;that the area along Golden Four Drive is subject to an evolving character of mid and high-rise buildings with numerous recent approvals and current applications under assessment.

<img alt="" height="838" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-05_at_7.51.04_am.png" width="1646" />

Gatehouse says the&nbsp;architecture for the building has been inspired by the natural forms found in the surrounding environments.

&quot;The building&#39;s&nbsp;form reflects the soft curves formed by waves hitting the coastline and the ripples formed by wind blown sand.

<img alt="" height="802" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-05_at_7.50.43_am.png" width="1660" />

&quot;The screens for the building have been designed to focus occupants outlook to the ocean while maintaining privacy from neighbouring developments. The rhythm of the screening for the facade is inspired from the calming and repetitive nature of the sound of waves.

&quot;The buildings materiality has been drawn from the natural palette found locally. The use of timber finishes, natural stones and soft tones and textures reinforces coastal living architecture in its context.&quot;

There&#39;s six developments either on the desk of the local council or recently approved on Golden Four Drive.&nbsp;

Success has been had on the tightly held beachfront recently, which has been starved of brand new stock in the last few years compared to its coastal neighbours.



First look: Bilinga beachfront development continues on Golden Four Drive

Tapestry, the new arts-inspired apartment tower on Chevron Island, has been given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council.

The project, on the sought-after eastern side of Chevron Island near the bridge that takes residents over to Surfers Paradise, was signed off by the local council earlier in the year, but due to high demand in the early stages of marketing, Siera Group filed a minor change application to add another five levels to create a 22-level building.

Siera Group Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said ensuring that a development&nbsp;approval is in place when purchasing off the pl​an is very important for all parties.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108641 project_image_fid=192968]

&quot;For purchasers it provides security around what is going to be delivered and the likely timeline for the delivery, and for&nbsp;a developer, it ensures that construction costs can be accurately estimated and all planning requirements are accounted for in the project feasibility to ensure the viability of a project,&quot; Thompson says.

&quot;It&#39;s also important for&nbsp;the community and the council&nbsp;that an approval is in place prior to sales to show respect for the process and ensure their is clear communication around the compliance&nbsp;of a development as this can assist in alleviating unnecessary stress and pressure for planners and community members.&quot;

Thompson says nowadays, with some well publicised problems with some developments, it&#39;s as important as ever for buyers to feel confident with a development approval in place.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108641 project_image_fid=192962]

&quot;Purchasers are becoming more diligent and aware of the process with buying off t​he plan,&quot; Thompson suggests.

&quot;They understand the benefits of buying o​ff the plan but also are aware of potential pit falls and across what they should do to mitigate this.&quot;

Tapestry is the first Gold Coast apartment project for Siera Group, who have had a long history of developing high-end townhouses in Brisbane&#39;s inner ring before making the move to the Gold Coast.

The brief for local architecture firm BDA was to merge art with architecture.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108641 project_image_fid=193359]

Thompson spent a good 12 months researching the Gold Coast apartment market before making the move from the Queensland capital, with a goal to cater for locals and to produce something created by locals.

&quot;What drew us to this site for Tapestry was really&nbsp;Chevron Island&nbsp;itself and the fantastic community that is literally on the doorstep of Surfers Paradise, in the heart of the Gold Coast,&quot; Thompson said.

&ldquo;Chevron Island&nbsp;is a tight knit community with a high street full of cafes, restaurants and boutiques, as well as nearby links to HOTA, the home of the arts precinct, which is just across the Green Bridge and just a short walk from Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108641 project_image_fid=192964]

&ldquo;After all the research and understanding&nbsp;Chevron Island&nbsp;as a whole, it really felt like it was the perfect place to deliver a project like Tapestry, where we&rsquo;ve created this phenomenal amount of amenity and beautiful residences that locals will be able to move into and downsize.&rdquo;

As well as a local architecture firm, Siera Group had local artist Tania Blanchard create art work which is hanging in the onsite display suite. They will hang in the lobby of the 113-apartment tower when completed.

The rooftop amenity will rival the best on the Gold Coast. It will feature a private dining space which can be closed off to the rest of the rooftop, an infinity pool with views across Surfers Paradise, a gym, and outdoor lounge areas.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=108641]

Siera Group Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said ensuring that a development approval is in place when purchasing off the pl​an is very important for all parties

Siera Group secure full sign off for Tapestry, Chevron Island apartments

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/far-east-consortium">Far East Consortium</a>’s 640 Bourke Street stands as a testament to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">Melbourne</a>’s ability to bridge its storied past with a bold vision for the future.&nbsp;

Rising above the heritage-listed Eliza Tinsley building, the development reflects a broader shift toward adaptive reuse in the city, where historical assets are retained and reinterpreted as part of new residential development.

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a> incorporates the Eliza Tinsley building as its foundation, housing a grand gallery and lobby space that serve as both a functional and symbolic centrepiece. The heritage façade informs the tower’s design, creating a connection between Melbourne’s past and its contemporary skyline.

"It's a significant asset and wants to be celebrated and experienced by all residents every single time they go in and out of the building," Rothelowman Principal Stuart Marsland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365684]

Above this historic base, the 68-storey tower will deliver just over 600 residences, a notable reduction from earlier schemes, reflecting a deliberate move toward larger-format apartments and a stronger owner-occupier focus.

Unlike traditional CBD developments that prioritised investor stock, 640 Bourke Street has been repositioned to respond to changing buyer expectations.

"The discussion was all around making 640 Bourke Street the best residence to live in, to be much more focused on the people in the building rather than people looking at the building," Marsland explained.&nbsp;

This shift is evident in the development’s interiors, which emphasise practical luxury with spacious layouts, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping views of Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay.&nbsp;

“What it's meant for 640 Bourke is we've actually reduced the number of apartments. We've increased the overall size of the apartments. We don't have any studios in here, and what that does for a project is it elevates it," Lauren Sheldon, Far East Consortium’s Director of Sales and Marketing, said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365687]

Rothelowman Associate Jun Chang added, "We were given the opportunity to be more generous. The apartments became bigger and squarer than any other apartments which had been designed in the CBD before that."&nbsp;

Amenities spanning more than 3,000 sqm across multiple levels further reinforce this focus on resident experience. These include a pool, gym, co-working areas, and a range of hospitality-inspired spaces such as a whisky lounge, library, and private dining rooms, many drawing reference from traditional bathhouses and Melbourne’s laneway culture.

"We wanted to make both the pool and the gym area to be absolutely destinational, and when you traverse across to these spaces, there is a gentle familiarity to the beautiful notions of the hammams and the Roman baths, a gentle nod to history," Chang noted.

At street level, the project contributes to the ongoing transformation of the western CBD, with upgrades to Langs Lane and the introduction of retail, hospitality, and gallery spaces designed to activate the precinct and strengthen its connection to the surrounding city fabric.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365689]

The location places residents within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, and the Docklands waterfront, positioning the development within a rapidly evolving inner-city neighbourhood.

"We believe it's the best site left in the city of Melbourne," Craig Williams, Executive Director at Far East Consortium, said.&nbsp;

640 Bourke Street is Far East Consortium’s 14th building in Melbourne’s western CBD.

"A very elegant designed building. It's going to be a Melbourne statement for many, many years to come."

One-bedroom apartments are priced from around $640,000, with 640 Bourke Street targeting completion in 2029.

Renders shown are Artist's Impressions correct as of May 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=509]

Heritage-led design anchors Far East Consortium’s 640 Bourke St, Melbourne

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD Group</a> has set a new residential price record in Queensland with the $30 million sale of the penthouse at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-burleigh-88-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">ONE Burleigh</a> development in Burleigh Heads.

The sale equates to around $37,500 per sqm.

The two-level, 800 sqm penthouse, featuring five bedrooms, five bathrooms, five car spaces, and a private infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was acquired by a Gold Coast-based entrepreneur, highlighting continued demand for ultra-premium beachfront product.

Selling agent Freddie Tehle of PRD Burleigh Heads said the result reflects tightening supply of high-quality, large-format apartments in Burleigh.

“There’s very limited opportunity to secure this level of scale and absolute beachfront position in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Burleigh Heads</a>,” Tehle said.

“Buyers are increasingly seeking apartments that genuinely replace a standalone home, and this penthouse delivers that with its size, privacy, and direct ocean frontage.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323057]

The sale comes as construction progresses on ONE Burleigh, a boutique development of 17 full-floor residences at 88 The Esplanade, scheduled for completion in early 2027.

Developed by MAYD Group and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mas-architecture-studio">MAS Architecture</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/sici-design">Sici Design</a>, the project has been positioned as a collection of house-sized beachfront apartments, each occupying an entire floor with around 381 sqm of internal and external living space.

When construction commenced, MAYD director Todd Mould pointed to the long-term resilience of premium coastal real estate as a key driver behind the project.

“Real estate, particularly at the premium end, remains one of the most resilient and proven long-term investment avenues,” Mould said.

“Our ambition is that anyone who buys a MAYD-built product can genuinely feel the care, craftsmanship and commitment we bring to every detail.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323055]

Each residence has been configured with four bedrooms, multiple living zones, a private office, and expansive ocean-facing terraces. Interiors draw on a restrained material palette, including travertine stone, timber joinery, and integrated premium appliances.

Interior designer Sici Design said the approach was to reflect the project’s coastal setting through both materiality and spatial planning.

“ONE Burleigh is our vision of luxury living, designed to bring the essence of Burleigh Heads' vibrant coastal beauty into an unparalleled residential experience.”

Residents will have access to a suite of wellness-focused amenities, including pools, sauna facilities, and dedicated relaxation spaces, reflecting a broader shift toward lifestyle-driven apartment design on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323052]

The project occupies a southern Esplanade site with uninterrupted beachfront frontage, an increasingly rare offering in Burleigh Heads, free from the Norfolk Pines that line much of the coastline and often limit direct ocean outlook.

Mould said the design intent was to balance that outlook with a sense of retreat.

“Living at ONE Burleigh is about how your day naturally unfolds, morning light across the ocean, coffee on the balcony, and being in Burleigh but elevated above the noise.”

The result further reinforces Burleigh Heads’ emergence as one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held and supply-constrained beachfront markets, where boutique, owner-occupier-focused developments are increasingly setting new price benchmarks.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146358]

MAYD Group sets Queensland record with $30 million penthouse sale at ONE Burleigh in Burleigh Heads

Apartment developers in the Gold Coast are finding new, creative ways to differentiate themselves from competing projects, as new supply starts to flow through up and down the Coast.

Developer BIG Projects brought in the renowned Sydney-based design studio YSG Studio to craft the interiors for The Frederick, BIG Projects' new Mermaid Beach project and YSG Studio's first move into the multi-residential development space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5346]

It was a strategic move for BIG Projects to bring in a Sydney eye to the development.

“Our role is to give our design partners the space and freedom to explore,” says Matt Barrett, Director of BIG Projects.

“We wanted YSG Studio to capture the essence of Nobby’s, to design a building that embraces life, light and connection, while creating a genuine sense of place.”

There are only 39 apartments in The Frederick, including a striking beach house, just 100 metres from the booming Nobby Beach precinct.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5347]

Yasmine Ghoniem, Director of YSG Studio, says their vision&nbsp;for The Frederick "reinvents coastal living."

“Nobby’s has such an iconic energy, it’s one of those rare pockets of the Gold Coast where the community, the beach, and the streets all feel connected,” Ghoniem says.

"Responding to the neighbouring coastline, soothing curves add a relaxing regional overlay, while unique detailing really sets it apart. It’s a place that feels lived in from the moment you step inside.”

A standout feature of The Frederick is its rooftop terrace, an uncommon inclusion for a boutique, low-rise building, where amenity is typically concentrated at ground level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5360]

Positioned to capture panoramic views from the hinterland to the ocean, the rooftop has been designed as a series of intimate zones. It includes a pool, sauna, sun decks, workspaces and dedicated entertaining areas.

“The rooftop was conceived as a collection of spaces where residents can unwind and connect, an extension of the Nobby’s lifestyle,” Barrett says.

Architecture for the project was led by Plus Studio, with landscape design by LDG Landscape Architecture.

SRQ Projects Director Nick Clydsdale, who is handling sales at The Frederick, says the majority of enquiry is coming from South East QLD and Victorian buyers who have been actively searching between Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach for some time.

"They’ve reviewed a number of projects, however this one has stood out for its unique detailing and compelling design,"&nbsp;Clydsdale says.

Site demolition is slated for this month, with construction commencing soon after. BIG Projects is targeting a late 2027 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=110588]

Sydney’s YSG Studio makes Gold Coast multi-residential debut with BIG Projects at The Frederick

Melbourne-based property developer ALTA Property has this week achieved planning approval for the adaptive re-use of a former commercial tower into a $200 million, 169-apartment project at 10 Queens Road, one of the last developable sites along the Albert Park Lake-fronting boulevard.&nbsp;

Set within one of Melbourne’s most sought-after precincts and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser and Partners</a>, the illustrious building will offer unparalleled views across Albert Park Lake, Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne CBD.&nbsp;

The mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom residences will be complemented by a ground-floor amenity featuring private dining, a lounge bar, gym and wellness spaces, co-working, outdoor communal gardens, and retail.&nbsp;

The 17-storey building is a masterclass in adaptive re-use, with the existing commercial building’s façade, shell and internal structure to be retained, before high-end residences are built from the ground up in a newly built Albert Park facing addition to the building.&nbsp;

Sitting atop the building will be two 320+sqm penthouses with private rooftop terraces, which are expected to be priced between $9 - $11 million.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa11211b-5581-43f9-940c-fc84d30a0e61" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/C_04.png?VersionId=Yhf5p_1EgGDu_zOIMFgvA8Ug8j3sTFQs" />

Architecturally, the building will feature a curved, geometric façade that celebrates and elevates the existing structure, with warm, muted tones which were selected to extend the materiality of the existing building rather than contrast it.&nbsp;

Interiors will bring together three metre high ceilings with waffle concrete in some spaces, natural timber, granite and Australian materials, culminating in crafted, generous and considered spaces that are defined by authenticity.&nbsp;

The adaptive re-use means that the Queens Road project will be a sustainability led, high-quality finished product, with a 62% saving in carbon emissions by re-using the existing structure rather than knocking it down and rebuilding.&nbsp;

ALTA Property was launched by Nigel Givoni in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience in multi level residential delivery.&nbsp;

Melbourne’s property market growth is currently led by apartments. According to RPM VIC Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report (April 2026), units are outpacing houses, especially in the middle ring suburbs where median prices hit $757,500 – a four-year high that represents 2.9 percent growth quarter-on-quarter.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="647e13d7-b4bc-433a-9bc9-fe3c3dd4f2ec" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/V_06.png?VersionId=ou4NUCWUgA3NAy.6CQJlEdKX50j3dOk6" />

For ALTA Property Founder Nigel Givoni, this performance speaks to the confidence he has in the Melbourne market.&nbsp;

“Queens Road represents a rare opportunity to continue to shape our presence in the Melbourne market.,"&nbsp;Givoni says.

"With a considered project team and a premier site along one of the city’s most sought-after boulevards, we look forward to contributing to the fabric of this established address.

“Other Australian markets are getting a lot of attention, but I believe the depth of value in Melbourne is being overlooked. The fundamentals are strong, population growth is steady and, based on our preliminary conversations with a leading builder, construction costs are beginning to normalise, creating further opportunity."

Givoni says the project is a&nbsp;highly considered example of adaptive re-use, delivering quality, high-end residences, premium hotel-inspired amenities and an architecturally striking façade, all achieved without the need to remove the existing structure.

"We are really looking forward to the market’s response,” he said.&nbsp;

ALTA Property to deliver $200 million Queens Road apartment tower

Construction is set to begin at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/orchard-mews-glen-iris-18-scott-grove-glen-iris-vic-3146">Orchard Mews</a> in Glen Iris, with&nbsp;PC Whitehall &amp; Sons&nbsp;now appointed as the townhome development moves into its next phase.

The development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/montcoeur">MontCoeur</a>,&nbsp;located at 18 Scott Grove, is now around 30 per cent sold, with completion targeted for late-2027.

Orchard Mews comprises a curated collection of three- and four-bedroom customisable townhomes, positioned within one of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/glen-iris-vic-3146">Glen Iris</a>’ more tightly held residential streets. The low-density project has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/jack-merlo">Jack Merlo</a>, bringing together a team known for high-end residential projects across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150128 project_image_fid=366285]

The development is defined by its focus on flexible living and long-term usability. Each residence includes multiple living zones and a customisable multipurpose room, allowing buyers to tailor spaces to suit changing needs, whether as a home office, additional bedroom, wellness area or entertainment space.

Architecturally, the townhomes emphasise natural light and spatial volume, with dual-aspect layouts and double-height living areas incorporated into the design. Interiors feature natural stone benchtops, premium appliances, and a neutral material palette intended to support everyday functionality rather than statement-driven finishes.

All residences are all-electric and include private lifts and secure double garages, reflecting a broader shift toward sustainability and future-focused housing in Melbourne’s established suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150128 project_image_fid=366277]

Outdoor connections are also central to the offering, with a mix of private courtyards and terraces extending internal living spaces and integrating with the landscaped surrounds.

The Scott Grove address places Orchard Mews within close proximity to some of Melbourne’s key lifestyle and education amenities, including Scotch College, Sacré Cœur, Cabrini Hospital and the retail hub of Chadstone. Public transport access is also nearby, with trams and Gardiner Station providing connectivity to the CBD and surrounding suburbs.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150128]

Joel Robinson

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