The developer Daniel Grollo is back in the development game, trying to get a tower erected on the prime Chapel Street, South Yarra site he recently acquired.

Plans have been filed by&nbsp;GFM Investment Group, whose sole director is Daniel Grollo, of the collapsed building giant Grocon. It&#39;s a joint venture with the Melbourne High School, which is located next door to the site.

They are seeking to demolish a two-level warehouse building&nbsp;and create a&nbsp;22-level tower at 671 Chapel Street, which will comprise&nbsp;a mix of apartments, retail, office and community space on the prime 2,069 sqm site.

<a href="/new-apartments/671-chapel-street-south-yarra">To track the project and be alerted when it hits sale, enquire here.</a>

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The site was previously subject to an earlier planning permit that sought approval for a 32-level mixed-use development.

Amended plans took saw 10 levels taken off, and the addition of a maternal and child health centre among other changes. But that was knocked by by VCAT in 2019, namely due to an overbearing presence on Melbourne High School due to the height, breadth, and materiality, including the proximity of the proposal to the boundary with MHS.

<a href="/new-apartments/671-chapel-street-south-yarra">To track the project and be alerted when it hits sale, enquire here.</a>

<a href="/new-apartments/671-chapel-street-south-yarra"><img alt="" height="378" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/671_chapel_redesign2_0.png" width="580" /></a> 
The former plans by Architecton. Image credit: Architecton

The plans, filed by the fashion entrepreneur Harry Goles&nbsp;who was behind the collapse and subsequent rebirth of the fashion label Ojay, were given the green light by Stonnington Council in 2020, before VCAT again intervened.

But Grollo is now spearheading the project having acquired the vast 2,069 sqm site for just shy of $40 million, and plans a Bates Smart-designed tower with&nbsp;160 apartments,&nbsp;a mix of 30 one-bedroom units, 91 two-bedders, 37 three-bedroom apartments, and just two penthouses. There will be a maximum of nine apartments per floor.

There will be three podium levels. Level two&nbsp;will home 1,264 sqm of office space, while the ground will have 272 sqm of retail space. There&#39;s a further 352 sqm reserved for education or community space, which is being developed in collaboration with MHS.

Level one will be where the resident amenity is located. That&nbsp;will include an indoor pool, gym, and&nbsp;communal and private lounge and dining spaces.

<a href="/new-apartments/671-chapel-street-south-yarra">To track the project and be alerted when it hits sale, enquire here.</a>

<a href="/new-apartments/671-chapel-street-south-yarra"><img alt="" height="442" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-23_at_4.42.08_pm.png" width="886" /></a> 
The proposed tower second from the left. Image credit: Bates Smart

Contour Town Planning suggested the proposal would provide a new housing opportunity within a higher order activity centre, and at an intensity that contributes to placemaking, rengeration and formation of communities in highly accessible and advantaged locations.

&quot;The proposed building will assist in creating an urban environment in this part of South Yarra that is safe, healthy, functional and enjoyable, and it will contribute to creating a sense of place.

They noted that a key issue for Stonnington is the need to provide for the projected population growth of the City by catering especially for smaller households.

&quot;The proposal specifically addresses the need to provide accomodation and housing choice for these dominant demand groups including young people and smaller households.&quot;

<a href="/new-apartments/671-chapel-street-south-yarra">To track the project and be alerted when it hits sale, enquire here.</a>

<a href="/new-apartments/671-chapel-street-south-yarra"><img alt="" height="472" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-23_at_4.38.53_pm.png" width="892" /></a>

Jack Merlo has handled the landscaping which will create a connection between&nbsp;Chapel Street and the&nbsp;MHS main campus.

The project will be just&nbsp;a few doors down from Gamuda Land&#39;s completed 661 Chapel Street tower, and the Royal Como, another mixed use tower at 663 Chapel Street.

Immediately north of the site is a four-level brick building which forms part of the MHS Campus, while immediately south is the new Centre for Higher Education Studies facility, a four-level education building.

Grollo&#39;s Grocon, which has developed the likes of Eureka Tower, Rialto Towers and 101 Collins Street in the Victorian capital, collapsed in 2020,&nbsp;reportedly owing creditors over $100 million.

Grollo is now spearheading the project having acquired the vast 2,069 sqm site, and plans a Bates Smart-designed tower with 160 apartments


Joel Robinson

Exclusive: Daniel Grollo seeks $75 million Chapel St, South Yarra mixed-use tower

This time has come for apartments to reign over houses.

It feels like for the last decade, houses have been the ones growing exponentially (that&#39;s because they have) - while apartments, while still seeing solid growth, have been playing second fiddle.

The latest data however out of property data house CoreLogic shows apartment values rose faster than houses in more than half of a pool of suburbs across the country in the past three months, as stretched affordability and lower borrowing capacity forced buyers to opt for high-density homes.

Rising rents are also expected to lure more investors to the unit market and help fuel further price gains this year.

Of the 899 suburbs analysed, units outperformed houses across 489 markets in the last three months.

Compared to a 12 month analysis, only 180 of the same 899 suburbs saw apartments outperform houses.&nbsp;

&quot;This suggests it is a more recent phenomenon where unit values would out-perform houses,&quot; CoreLogic advised.

&quot;It is also in line with the nature of downturns historically, where houses tend to have more volatility, and deeper declines than what we may see in the unit segment.&quot;

Across the capital cities, growth rates have generally been stronger in unit markets further from the CBD.

Sydney&#39;s Newtown was one of 20 Greater Sydney suburbs which saw the unit market outstrip houses. Among others were Darlinghurst, Darlington and Zetland near the CBD, and Caringbah South and Woolooware in the Sutherland Shire area.

In Woolooware, unit values&nbsp;are two and a half times cheaper than houses. Units rose&nbsp;4.9 per cent over the last three months to a median $1.036 million, while the 2.5 per cent house price declines took the median house price to $2.7&nbsp;million.

Sydney-wide, the median house price is now 70 per cent more expensive than units.&nbsp;

Melbourne&#39;s Kensington saw the biggest difference in the house and unit market, with units rising 7.2 per cent and houses remaining flat.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28968 project_image_fid=195528]

Port Melbourne and Balaclava also saw big swings in favour of the unit market.

Melbourne&#39;s&nbsp;houses are 59 per cent more expensive than units -&nbsp;a drop from 61 per cent earlier this year, while the ACT showed a slight drop with&nbsp;house prices 73 per cent higher compared to units -&nbsp;down one per cent from last year.&nbsp;

Looking ahead, the increased overseas migration, and the relative affordability of units compared to houses, as well as the recent upswing in new investor financing seen in February and March, will likely help insulate the apartment sector.

<h2>The biggest differences in Sydney markets</h2>

<h2><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/syd.png"><img alt="" height="614" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/syd.png" width="1558" /></a></h2>

<h2>The biggest differences in Melbourne&nbsp;markets</h2>

<a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-25_at_11.10.17_am.png"><img alt="" height="616" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-25_at_11.10.17_am.png" width="1556" /></a>

<h2>The biggest differences in Brisbane markets</h2>

<h2><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-25_at_11.12.36_am.png"><img alt="" height="616" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-25_at_11.12.36_am.png" width="1556" /></a></h2>

&nbsp;

Of the 899 suburbs analysed, units outperformed houses across 489 markets in the last three months

The suburbs where apartments are outperforming houses

Grand Reve, Castle Hill&#39;s most&nbsp;distinguishable apartment development, was some seven years in planning for the award-winning developer Kassis Homes and its founder, Sam Kassis.

His reputation locally precedes him. He&#39;s been the top home builder for over three decades in the Hills District area, with homes he&#39;s built over 20 years ago still reselling now for suburb records.

And now&nbsp;he wants to do it all over again in the apartment space. Grand Reve isn&#39;t Sam&#39;s first multi-res project, but the Castle Hill development&nbsp;will set a new benchmark even for what he&#39;s produced previously.

&quot;We want to create a landmark,&quot; Kassis says, working on the project with his business partner&nbsp;Romio Georges.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=197727]

The goal for Grand Reve, which translates to &quot;dream big&quot; in French, was to bring something completely different to the apartment market, something Kassis has&nbsp;been doing with the houses he&#39;s&nbsp;been creating for years.

One of the biggest points of difference Grand Reve offers is its luxury inclusions. All of the apartments at Grand Reve feature Wolf appliances, with the large two and three-bedroom options also including Sub-Zero refrigeration systems as standard inclusions

Kassis said they sat down with a number of suppliers and they showed them the packages that they offer higher density developments, but something didn&#39;t quite sit right.

&quot;It just didn&#39;t feel right,&quot; Kassis says, adding that the whole goal of Grand Reve was to be different.

&quot;We didn&#39;t want to do the same as what everyone else was doing.&quot;

So Kassis approached&nbsp;the high-end appliance retailer&nbsp;Wolf and Sub-Zero, who he has been using for 30 years in his luxury home building career. The premium appliance selection&nbsp;is usually reserved for more boutique projects in inner-city locations - apartments that carry a hefty price tag to match the calibre of appliance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=197728]

&quot;We&#39;re the only development north of the city and surrounds to be using Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances,&quot; Kassis noted, adding that the team at Wolf also said they never fit out developments of this scale, and that &quot;no one under the age of 45 has Wolf appliances.&quot;

The apartments are also fitted with Parisi tapware, brass feature fixtures, and stone kitchen bench tops.

&quot;It&#39;s a high-end finish in every apartment, for an affordable price point,&quot; Kassis adds.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=197723]

It&#39;s not just the interiors that are striking a chord with buyers.

The development was cleverly designed to allow for apartment amalgamations, which McGrath Projects Associate Director Adam Sparkes says has been popular among those buyers looking for more space.

He is in discussions with a local buyer to amalgamate a number of apartments to create a super-apartment, with&nbsp;over 300 sqm of internal space. That&nbsp;could sell for just under&nbsp;$4 million, which would set the&nbsp;apartment record for the whole of the Hills District, and add another record&nbsp;to Kassis&#39;&nbsp;long line of top prices.

There was an inadvertent helping hand from the local council along the way when it came to the size and scale of the apartments on offer at Grand Reve.

Before the&nbsp;onset of COVID, the local council put a condition in the approval process&nbsp;that around a quarter of the development had to be dedicated to larger two and three-bedroom apartments, which has been a blessing given the demand for bigger space in the home since the pandemic changed the way we live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=197732]

&quot;We have so much interest in the larger apartments, which offer sizes not seen in comparable developments in the area,&quot; Sparkes says.

&quot;The way the development has been designed, there&#39;s flexibility for amalgamations throughout the building, not just the penthouse level,&quot; Sparkes added.

&quot;Ultimately it will be budget that dictates whether buyers can amalgamate toward the higher levels of the building or further down. The fact we can offer that amalgamation option throughout the building, all the way to the ground level, is a major plus for all buyers.&quot;

Even without the amalgamation potential, the development offers 37 different floorplan configurations to suit as many buyer needs as possible.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=197736]

Sparkes says the locals who are visiting the onsite display are well aware of what Sam has produced in the surrounding areas in the housing space.&nbsp;

&quot;There&#39;s been a number of people who have either bought a Kassis-built home before, or are a friend of a friend,&nbsp;and have already seen&nbsp;what the Kassis team&nbsp;has&nbsp;produced previously and know they will deliver something special again.&quot;&nbsp;

Everything Kassis is putting together at Grand Reve gives&nbsp;buyers confidence they&#39;re buying in to something which is timeless, both in its design and its build quality.

Grand Reve offers something completely unique for the burgeoning Hills District suburb.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=94147]

The goal for Grand Reve, which translates to "dream big" in French, was to bring something completely different to the apartment market, something Kassis has been doing with the houses he's been creating for years

Kassis Homes "dream big" plans for Castle Hill: Five minutes with Sam Kassis 

Those seeking either a sea change or a lifestyle change have been popular with the new Brighton apartment project, Awaken, currently being created by the luxury developer Skelton Group.

Projects by Buxton Director,&nbsp;Heath Thompson, who is handling the sales, said the majority of buyers so far have come from outside the local area.

&ldquo;A lot of buyers are looking for a sea-change or a lifestyle-change, coming from outer suburbs and away from the bay to a lifestyle where they can walk down to the beach or the local caf&eacute; or train station,&rdquo; he said, adding that one of the most recent buyers has come from Mansfield, in the foothills of the Victorian Alps.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30087 project_image_fid=143715]

Thompson says Awaken, which is due for completion in spring this year,&nbsp;offers a more realistic entry to&nbsp;Brighton compared to other developments on the market.

&quot;A lot of Brighton has been saturated with big beautiful apartments, which come with a big price point, over $2.5 million plus,&quot; Thompson says.

&quot;Not everyone is selling a $5 million home and downsizing,&quot; Thompson adds, suggesting Awaken caters for a wider type of buyer.

The three-bedroom apartments in Awaken start from $1,395,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30087 project_image_fid=177708]

The&nbsp;luxury offering, now over 60 per cent sold,&nbsp;comprises just 13 three-bedroom apartments. It is located in a quiet&nbsp;area of Brighton at 30-32 Rooding Street, a laneway-style street just a short walk to the popular Bay Street&nbsp;and Martin Street activity centres.

Nearby is Brighton Beach and the famous Bay Trail, refined pubs, lively cafes, and boutique shopping experiences line the streets, offering the ideal blend of city amenities and beach-side lifestyle.

In collaboration with acclaimed Melbourne architect Travis Walton, Awaken takes a contemporary and restrained approach to bayside luxury living, with interiors taking on generous proportions and a palette of natural stone, aged metal and natural oak timber flooring.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30087 project_image_fid=177706]

Michael Skelton, Founder and Managing Director at Skelton, said they wanted to replicate the success of their nearby Brighton East project, Avenue.

&quot;We brought the same exceptional, proven Bayside team to Awaken and the results speak for themselves&quot;,&nbsp;Skelton said.

Awaken has been landscaped by the well known landscape firm ACRE, who have combined&nbsp;natives, evergreen and flowering plants to deliver visual impact and create seasonal change that blends seamlessly with the suburb&rsquo;s landscape.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=30087]

Projects by Buxton Director, Heath Thompson, who is handling the sales, said the majority of buyers so far have come from outside the local area


Sea changers and lifestyle changers popular at Awaken, Brighton apartments

The local Gold Coast developer QNY Group, in a joint venture with the Melbourne-based Glenvill, has submitted plans for a residential development in the heart of Broadbeach.

QNY Group, led by Anthony Quinn, has teamed up with Glenvill, who are behind the development, design and build of the newly created Melbourne suburb, Yarrabend - set to be the world’s most liveable suburb by 2025.

They'll be creating a luxury owner-occupier tower, in line with Quinn's other joint venture Gold Coast project, La Mer at Main Beach.

He and Glenvill have had Contreras Earl Architects draw up plans for a 24-level tower with just 21 apartments, 19 whole floors and two two-level penthouses.

Quinn secured the 511 sqm site at 21 Broadbeach Boulevard, on the corner of Armrick Avenue, for $10.1 million late last year.

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Quinn says the boutique development will be an architectural statement.

“This site is like no other on the Gold Coast and we wanted the design to reflect its uniqueness,” Quinn said.

“We’ve worked closely with the architects, along with Form Landscape Architects, to come up with a design that will coexist with the natural environment while delivering an iconic landmark that enhances the aesthetic of this leafy Broadbeach Boulevard corner.

“I have partnered with Glenvill Developments because they are residential specialists that bring a truly 360 degree understanding of the development and property industry.”

<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="540" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-18_at_2.17.21_pm.png" width="879" />

Glenvill Developments, spearheaded by CEO Len Warson, has spent the last five decades on the forefront of Australian residential design delivering high end luxury residences across the country.

Warson says he was familiar with the site before Mr Quinn presented the opportunity.

“After holidaying on the Gold Coast recently, I told my wife if I was developing in Broadbeach, I would develop this site. It’s the best site in Broadbeach. And here we are – it’s synchronicity,” Warson said.

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“It’s a corner beachfront site within the leafy Broadbeach Park quarter, situated at the end of a no-through road, where Armick Avenue joins the beachside Boulevard.

The site is effectively blocked off, providing a quiet green nook within walking distance to the centre of Broadbeach without the congestion, with direct access to the beach.”

In their design statement submitted to the Gold Coast City Council, Contreras Earl Architecture said the building was inspired by the surrounding vegetation and parks.

“The location presented an opportunity to create a residential landmark that coexists with the natural environment, nestled within the leafy Broadbeach Park quarter and drawing from the unique context, a quiet green nook in the heart of bustling Broadbeach.

“The tower uses its vertical structure to articulate the elegant design which emulates a tree trunk that is seamlessly connected to each floor slab which at the same time expresses an elegant organic petal shape in plan, inspired by the undulating detailed profile of Norfolk pine branches from the adjacent Broadbeach Park.

Residential amenity will exist on both the ground floor and rooftop space, with health and wellbeing at the forefront of the building’s design.

<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="529" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-18_at_2.17.49_pm.png" width="874" />

The ground floor wellness area will include features such as a sauna and gym, while the rooftop space will home a glass-edge pool, a dining and events room, along with a number of terraced seating areas set amongst landscaped gardens.

“This lavish amenity will bring a special character to the unique landmark building,” Contreras Earl added.

The expansive one-per floor apartments provide an appealing alternative to single-dwelling homes, where residents will be able to experience the abundance of natural sunlight and views of East Broadbeach and the Pacific Ocean.

“The iconic building will create a sense of arrival to the prospering suburb of Broadbeach on approach from Armrick Avenue from the north as well as a beautiful visual addition to the leafy Broadbeach Boulevard corner.”

“This new landmark will be an attractive architectural asset for the urban fabric of the coastal city.”

“An important concept of the building is to create a lifestyle experience for residents and to create a personal and intimate experience.”

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=111843]

They'll be creating a luxury owner-occupier tower, in line with Quinn's other joint venture Gold Coast project, La Mer at Main Beach.



Exclusive: QNY Group and Glenvill team up for Broadbeach apartment tower

After initially focussing on Sydney&rsquo;s fast growing south west corridor, Iris Capital, founded and led by entrepreneur Sam Arnaout, has now extended its reach over the past decade to become a developer of&nbsp;integrated residential and mixed-use developments in a number of booming suburbs across the country.

The company now holds a $5 billion enterprise value, having significantly expanded its footprint over the past year through a number of land and hotel acquisitions.

We recently caught up with Iris Capital CEO, Sam Arnaout to discuss why the group chose Broadbeach as their first Gold Coast project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=184933]

&ldquo;It was the first and only location that I would consider undertaking such a spectacular residential/resort with coastal luxury as its core design focus,&rdquo; Arnaout said.

&ldquo;Only Broadbeach and this current Neicon Plaza redevelopment site offered us the opportunity where everything is at our buyers fingertips.&nbsp;This has allowed&nbsp;Iris&nbsp;to design this mixed use coastal luxury development in a landmark location, where our two premium towers will preside over a world class recreational podium and premium ground floor retail and dining.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Choosing Broadbeach as the address for our V&amp;A project in the lively heart of its dining and retail precinct has allowed us to put our brand on our first luxury foray into Queensland.&quot;

Colliers&rsquo; Director Residential, David Higgins, who is handling the market of V&amp;A, says Broadbeach is comparable to Sydney&#39;s Double Bay.

&ldquo;Being from Sydney, I often think that Broadbeach is our Double Bay with the dining, high end retail, laneway cafes, beautiful Kurrawa parkland, the beach, and the amenity that is uniquely Broadbeach all within a five-minutes walk,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=180734]

Recognised as the heart of the Gold Coast, Broadbeach offers a host of nearby amenity, further adding to the likability of the sought-after suburb.

&ldquo;The walkability of the location to over 30 restaurants, GC Convention Centre, Pacific Fair, The Star Casino, the Beach and Kurrawa SLSC makes it the most lifestyle rich village locations to undertake a premium development,&rdquo;&nbsp; Higgins said.

Main Beach, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach are distinctly different real estate suburbs and attract very different buyer demographics says Higgins.

&ldquo;Main Beach has a small, limited choice of dining and caf&eacute; options, where the lifestyle is focused around the renowned Tedder Avenue, which attracts an older buyer type to the very quiet village location.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Surfers Paradise features a more prominent nightclub and late-night venue scene, with destinations attracting singles, tourists groups and the young-at-heart.&rdquo;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=178909]

&ldquo;Broadbeach has a much wider appeal both domestically and internationally, where you are spoilt with the supreme choice of dining, entertainment, bars, shopping all at the residents fingertips.&rdquo;

Revered as &ldquo;the most desired location&rdquo; for developers looking to hit the family owner-occupier market, Higgins says Broadbeach marks itself as the place that can do it all.

&ldquo;This area attracts a more mature, family-buyer market, sometimes even multi-generational buyers, who want the village location, where they can park there car below their apartments and walk to everything when either residing or choosing to live in Broadbeach.&rdquo;

Taking its name from Broadbeach streets, Victoria and Albert, the project will comprise 398 apartments over two towers of 40 and 56 storeys, with a subtropical recreational podium, featuring two levels of premium offices and commercial facilities, and a fresh food and dining retail on the street level.

Designed by DBI Architects, residents will live among world‐class amenities, with both towers offering an elevated recreational podium with a 25-metre lap pool, a gym, a yoga deck and resident&rsquo;s lounge as well as kid&rsquo;s area, a Zen garden, an outdoor dining and barbecue space, all surrounded by lush green landscaping.

Once complete,&nbsp;V&amp;A Broadbeach will create the first high end residential, retail and culinary precinct in central Broadbeach since the Oracle towers more than a decade ago.

&ldquo;The family orientated downsizer buyers are the main demographic who are looking for larger apartments in Broadbeach and who share a history with a long love of the area,&rdquo; said Higgins.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=184934]

&ldquo;This comes from spending many childhood family memories holidaying or enjoying Broadie apartments, with strong childhood memories of the village of Broadie.&nbsp; Having a memberships and wanting to be close to the Kurruwa SLSC and the family park is also important to owner occupiers.&rdquo;

&ldquo;For the investors, they are always looking for the two or three-bedroom apartment with a beautiful view in the heart of Broadbeach, where they can look forward to the strong proven returns from a very established holiday and conference rental market.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Many southern downsizers are seeking the village location where walkability, amenity, luxury and convenience is at the top of the purchasing requirements,&rdquo; Higgins added

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=107928]

Why Iris Capital chose Broadbeach for their first Gold Coast apartment project

Melbourne&#39;s Carlton is set to score a new collection of&nbsp;apartments on the sought-after fringe of the green Carlton Gardens.

The $80 million plans for a 13-level apartment tower and seven townhomes have been lodged by a company associated with Chinese businessman Wang Hau, the chairman of the Nanjing-based conglomerate Jeshing Group.

He paid $20.68 million for the site a 1-23 Rathdowne, on the corner&nbsp;of Rathdowne and Victoria Street, in 2013 from the&nbsp;Anti Cancer Council of Victoria. Currently on the 3,106 sqm block is the old 1970s Cancer Council building and a red brick warehouse.

Previously a much bigger site homed the Coffee Palace building, which was built in 1888. It was demolished after a fire in the late 1960s.

<a href="/new-apartments/1-23-rathdowne-street-carlton">To be notified on the next stage of the development, enquire here.</a>

<a href="/new-apartments/1-23-rathdowne-street-carlton"><img alt="" height="726" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-17_at_9.28.31_am.png" width="902" /></a> 
A c1888 drawing of the original Coffee Palace building. Source: Albert Charles Cooke.

There will be 77 apartments, designed&nbsp;to take in extensive views over the gardens with extensive vision glazing in all living rooms and bedrooms. The majority will be two-bedroom apartments, 42 of them. There will be only a single one-bed apartment, 27 three-bedders, six four-bedroom apartments, and a massive 557 sqm penthouse.

Just seven townhouses will be located on the ground level, a mix of one, two and three-bedrooms.

Residents will have access to private amenity on level one, which will include a pool, gym, yoga, sauna and steam room, and further amenity of two open space terrace areas with seating, a meeting room, and a library.

<a href="/new-apartments/1-23-rathdowne-street-carlton">To be notified on the next stage of the development, enquire here.</a>

<a href="/new-apartments/1-23-rathdowne-street-carlton"><img alt="" height="285" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-17_at_9.42.25_am.png" width="556" /></a>

There will be three office suites totalling around 615 sqm, and a 221 sqm ground floor cafe.

In readiness for Zero Carbon operation the development will be entirely serviced using electricity.

Bates Smart has designed the building to be separated into three distinct volumes that are arranged around a central landscaped forecourt. The two smaller volumes present as podium forms to the street,&nbsp;while the third volume comprising the upper levels &nbsp;is designed &nbsp;as a recessive and neutral element in contrast to the podiums below.

<a href="/new-apartments/1-23-rathdowne-street-carlton">To be notified on the next stage of the development, enquire here.</a>

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&quot;The proposal is envisaged as a collection of stacked objects, with three&nbsp;distinct hierarchies, low, mid and upper,&quot; Bates Smart noted in their design statement submission.

&quot;These three&nbsp;distinct zones are further broken down through scale, form, setbacks and materiality, which respond to each orientation of the site.

&quot;Careful articulation of the facade, breaks these objects down even further and wrap around and inset balconies and recesses provide additional depth to the facade and a play of light and shade.

&quot;A primary fa&ccedil;ade grid is overlaid on the stacked objects and creates an ordered framework, framing balconies, windows and edges. The colour, materiality and texture of the fa&ccedil;ade grid is varied in response to the orientation.&quot;

Bates Smart worked in collaboration with the landscape architecture firm Barber, who in their statement said they&nbsp;landscape response to 1 Rathdowne Street is a unified program in close collaboration with Bates Smart Architects responding to the local context; the surrounding, existing victorian townhouse architecture, their private landscapes and the central urban milieu.

&quot;The landscape responds equally to the performance of landscape in buildings and specifically a tailored response to the proposed architecture and site development,&quot; they noted.

<a href="/new-apartments/1-23-rathdowne-street-carlton">To be notified on the next stage of the development, enquire here.</a>

<a href="/new-apartments/1-23-rathdowne-street-carlton"><img alt="" height="716" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-17_at_9.33.24_am.png" width="1094" /></a>

There is no heritage issues following the heritage impact statement report, however it did note the importance&nbsp;&nbsp;of face brick, bluestone and rendered masonry construction materials within the precinct.

&quot;The proposed material schedule for the building directly references this combination of materials, however reinterprets them in a contemporary manner that ensures they will remain legible as new development,&quot; the report read.

The submission to the City of Melbourne Council noted the 99 walkability score from the development, with everything accessible by foot, as well as solid public transport infrastructure.

First look: New apartments to hit Carlton Gardens

To make the move from one property market to another is a huge step for any developer.

It often brings an element of uncertainty and unpredictability.

But the approach and due diligence by Siera Group&#39;s&nbsp;Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson will be&nbsp;one that will breed&nbsp;optimism over&nbsp;pessimism in to the market, compared to other developers who have been&nbsp;jumping head first into one of Australia&#39;s most in demand pockets for the last two years and are now facing challenges.

The&nbsp;Brisbane-based boutique developer&nbsp;have not only taken on a new project type, but a completely new location, by venturing down to the Gold Coast to tackle the booming apartment sector.

Thompson, who has a highly regarded CV as a board member at the UDIA, as well being&nbsp;a prominent&nbsp;developer around Brisbane&#39;s inner-ring for many years, spent six to 12 months splitting his time between Brisbane and&nbsp;the Gold Coast, understanding everything about the local market, what people were buying, and what was being developed.

The result is Tapestry, a 22-level arts-inspired apartment tower, designed to be in keeping with Chevron Island&rsquo;s growing standing at the cultural arts hub of the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108641 project_image_fid=193359]

&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.

&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;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108641 project_image_fid=192961]

Thompson said what makes makes&nbsp;Chevron Island&nbsp;so great, and not just the community piece, is the locality and how easy it is to access everything on the Gold Coast from&nbsp;Chevron Island.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re only a short, flat walk into Surfers Paradise, where you&rsquo;ve got the beautiful golden beaches as well as an immense amount of shopping and retail precinct.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re seeing a great deal of gentrification though Surfers Paradise, as well as&nbsp;Chevron Island, as we&rsquo;re seeing this increased densification of these areas.&quot;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108641 project_image_fid=192966]

Tapestry has been&nbsp;designed by the local architecture firm BDA, whose brief was to merge art with architecture.

The result is a striking building of 113 apartments, featuring a&nbsp;mixture of vertical blade walls and horizontal slab edges which respond to available views and natural light.

The local aspect in the creation of Tapestry was one of the key focuses&nbsp;for Thompson.

Aligning with&nbsp;the Gold Coast City Council&#39;s efforts to make Surfers Paradise an arts and cultural hub, Siera also engaged local artist Tania Blanchard to create a piece of artwork that will hang in the lobby when completed.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=108641]

"What drew us to this site for Tapestry was really Chevron Island itself and the fantastic community that is literally on the doorstep of Surfers Paradise, in the heart of the Gold Coast," Thompson said

Why Siera Group chose Chevron Island for Tapestry

The leading Western Sydney apartment developer, ALAND, has seen a sharp pick up in investor sales in the last quarter.

At their Parramatta tower, Paramount on Parkes, ALAND&nbsp;saw a 54 per cent uplift in purchases by investors over the last quarter, with&nbsp;ALAND's Chief Executive&nbsp;George Tadrosse saying that&nbsp;demand for quality affordable apartments in Sydney is outstripping supply, which is good news for savvy investors and homebuyers seeking solid future growth.

"There will be very little stock coming onto the unit market over the next 24 months and that is largely due to increased government red tape and increased demand from several buyer types," Tadrosse said, suggesting that those who wait might find themselves out of options.

“Demand for units is high as rising interest rates encourage domestic buyers to shift their focus to the apartment market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=9187 project_image_fid=164849]

"But now that international borders have opened up, apartment purchasers will also have to face competition from foreign residents who may be looking to rent or buy in Sydney,” Tadrosse said, adding that the two-fold demand was especially good news for investors.

Located at 14-20 Parkes Street Harris Street, Paramount on Parkes offers a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments across a 39-level building, along with a resort-inspired pool with a 300 sqm terrace and barbecue area, lush landscaping, and residents’-only children’s play areas.

Construction is well underway on the project and completion is slated for late 2023.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=9187 project_image_fid=181002]

The supply shortage is only set to be exacerbated by the recent announcement to raise the home loan deposit scheme threshold to $900,000 this coming July allowing more first home buyers and first-time investors to enter the market while they can.

While this month’s interest rate rise has given both owner-occupiers and investors pause for thought, Sydney’s unit market remains strong and is shaping up as a popular space for homebuyers, investors and renters alike

“For owner-occupiers, a rate rise can feel more onerous but for investors, it is far less concerning as the interest component of an investor loan is largely tax deductible. We may see a lift in asking rents as interest rates increase, as landlords look to offset any additional expense,” said Tadrosse.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=9187 project_image_fid=164851]

“The good news for owner-occupiers is that lending policies have accounted for an inevitable rate rise to help future proof the serviceability of loans,” he added.

New data from CoreLogic supports the strength of the apartment market, indicating rents are now outpacing those of houses. In its latest Quarterly Rental Review, CoreLogic showed national unit rents have bucked the trend seen since May 2019 and actually rose at a faster pace than national house rents over the first three months of 2022, recording a quarterly growth of 3 per cent while houses only increased by 2.4 per cent.

Similar to the national results, unit rents in the combined capitals also outperformed house rents over the first quarter, increasing 3.1 per cent compared to 2.2 per cent. According to the CoreLogic report, the median Sydney unit rent by the end of March was $546 a week, an 8.3 per cent change over 12 months.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=9187 project_image_fid=164857]

Compared to the previous quarter, gross rental yields for units also rose across Sydney, up 2.3 per cent during the quarter to 3.1 per cent.

Bianca Anton, General Manager of ALAND, said switched on investors are realising the true value of bricks and mortar as a long-term strategy and see units as the more affordable path to that financial freedom.

“Buyers are becoming more educated about the pending gap in their wealth creation so are looking for ways to ride the apartment price wave as far as possible. And with only a limited amount of new apartments available in Sydney right now, it really is a race of ‘first in, best dressed’ especially for those seeking to secure quality property,” she said.

Developer ALAND reveals investor sales soar as demand drives up rental yield

ALAND see apartment investors pour back into to Sydney's west

The Brisbane-based Di Carlo Property Group has ventured back in to the Gold Coast market.

The family run company, who in recent years have been developing boutique projects in Brisbane's inner ring, have lodged plans for their first tower in Broadbeach, dubbed Lusso Sky Homes.

Lusso Sky Homes (Lusso is Italian for luxury) - is a collection of just 17 full-floor apartments at 11 Anne Avenue.

Designed by&nbsp;Hayes Anderson Lynch Architects, the four-bedroom apartments span over 200 sqm internally, with a further 40 plus sqm of balcony space.

<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="932" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-13_at_8.34.52_am.png" width="1074" />

The kitchen (complete with butler's pantry), meets the&nbsp;living and dining space, which opens to the balcony&nbsp;oriented to front Anne Avenue and capture south east ocean views. The master suite, complete with walk in wardrobe and ensuite, is also cleverly located at the front of the apartment to capture the views.

In addition to the master, there are a further two bedrooms and a multi-purpose room, which has been designed o act as either a second living area, a home office, or a fourth bedroom.

Crowning Lusso will be the resident amenity rooftop terrace, featuring&nbsp;a&nbsp;pool, gym, sauna and barbecue facilities.

Alfie Di Carlo, one of the family directors at the company, says the design offering should hit the mark for the luxury buyer.

<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="414" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-11_at_5.35.47_pm.png" width="631" />

"We produce boutique, owner-occupier developments in Brisbane so we definitely wanted to stay in our lane and produce something that would service that type of buyer on the Gold Coast," Di Carlo told Urban.

"Its a really nice pocket of the Gold Coast and it's always been on the agenda," Di Carlo added.

"This site ticked all the boxes given its centrally located between the beach, the Broadbeach entertainment and dining precinct, the Star Casino and Pacific Fair Shopping Centre."

Di Carlo expects a healthy enquiry mix from local downsizers cashing in on their houses but not wanting to compromise on space, and interstate and Brisbane holiday makers who are looking for a high-end holiday home or weekender.

The development acts as another diversification for the Di Carlo Group, who have recently started developing&nbsp;in&nbsp;the retail and commercial space.

The team have over 40 years experience building and managing in excess of $500 million&nbsp;of property development and construction projects across South East Queensland.

The family run company, who in recent years have been developing boutique projects in Brisbane's inner ring, have lodged plans for their first tower in Broadbeach, dubbed Lusso Sky Homes

Di Carlo Property Group set for Broadbeach owner-occupier apartment tower

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

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

Joel Robinson

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