The forward-thinking architect Koichi Takada has been&nbsp;one of the hottest commodities&nbsp;on the residential design circuit for over a decade in Australia.

His firm, Koichi Takada Architects, whose approach is to&nbsp;create&nbsp;organically inspired places so the world can reconnect with a more natural, intuitive and conscious future, has been behind some of the most impressive buildings across Australia.

They&#39;ve designed&nbsp;the luxury Crown Group projects Skye in North Sydney, Waterfall by Crown in Waterloo and Infinity by Crown at Green Square, as well as the award-winning mixed use Crown development Arc in the Sydney CBD.

The team was also engaged by FORME, the Brisbane-based developer, to create Norfolk at Burleigh Heads, one of the Gold Coast&#39;s most expensive projects in the last few years. Recently completed, that netted an average sale price of around $4 million for its 15 apartments, including a record $9&nbsp;million penthouse sale. That sold 90 per cent of its apartments within two months of its launch.

The Sydney developer, Abadeen Group, founded and led by the long-time CBRE Residential Projects Chairman&nbsp;Justin Brown, have had Takada work on two of their upcoming developments, the most anticipated being Koyo,&nbsp;a boutique collection of 27 apartments in the heart of Crows Nest.

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Koyo, a Japanese terms which refers to the changing colours of the leaves in autumn, has been geared toward the owner-occupier, with its generously-sized living and outdoor areas.

Takada said he was inspired by the parks and the deciduous trees in the area.

&quot;We really&nbsp;wanted to bring that external element of nature into the internal space&quot;, Takada said.

There will be 18-three bedroom apartments, predominantly&nbsp;located at each corner of the development to have the larger outdoor spaces, as well as seven two-bedroom apartments and two-one bedroom apartments. They all have parking, and a number have an additional study or courtyard.

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There was a big focus to bring the outdoor in in the&nbsp;10 courtyard apartments, which will feature leafy outdoor areas. The apartments have been designed to take advantage of cross ventilation and to take in as much natural light as possible.

Abadeen are offering buyers to upgrade the apartments with a number of exclusive options, which can include adding a built-in bar, a timber-crafted study nook, or the addition of&nbsp;a fireplace in the living room.

Justin Brown, who founded Abadeen over two decades ago,&nbsp;expects the North Shore owner-occupier market to be the dominant buyer, tapping in to the booing downsizer market.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=179488]

&quot;The location of Koyo is almost the epicentre of so many different areas&quot;, Brown says.

&quot;It is equidistant to North Sydney, Cammeray and Neutral Bay.

&quot;There&#39;s a lot of growth&nbsp;happening in North Sydney from a commercial perspective and with the new Metro trains - we really believe it&rsquo;s going to be such a key location for people who wanted to be close to work.

&quot;Koyo is also&nbsp;surrounded by a number of schools, which will open the door for families with school aged children to be interested in the larger three bedroom apartments.&quot;

Completion is expected in early 2023, with the North Sydney Council recently giving the green light to the development.

Abadeen are also developing Koyo&#39;s sister project, Enso, located in Neutral Bay, with just the nine apartments in the boutique block. That&#39;s due for launch later this year.

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Koyo, a Japanese terms which refers to the changing colours of the leaves in autumn, has been geared toward the owner-occupier, with its generously-sized living and outdoor areas

Joel Robinson

Abadeen Group launch Koichi Takada-designed Koyo apartments at Crows Nest

The national property developer Cedar Woods are seeing all type of buyers snap up the townhomes&nbsp;in their Subiaco development Incontro.

They&#39;ve sold 90 per cent of the 41 townhomes&nbsp;on offer at the Salvado Road development in the sought-after suburb just outside of the Perth CBD.

Local downsizers within a five kilometre radius of Subiaco have been keen&nbsp;buyers, predominantly from those living in larger family homes, seeking a lower maintenance lifestyle in the same area.

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There&#39;s also been upsizers, who have been a mix of young professionals and young families. These buyers&nbsp;have been coming from a little bit further afield, looking for the lifestyle the suburb of Subiaco offers.

The location is one of the key attractions of Incontro. It&#39;s located just a few kilometres from the CBD and has the parklands of Subiaco Common and Henderson Park, as well as retail and entertainment options with Rokeby Road and Cambridge St cafe and shopping strips within walking distance.

The flexible space above the garage has been popular among buyers who will utilise the space for&nbsp;an extra bedroom, home gym,&nbsp;or a home office.

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The building demolition works have been completed on site, with building work to commence imminently. The townhomes are expected to be completed in mid-2022.

The development will also see apartments launched in late 2021.

Local downsizers within a five kilometre radius of Subiaco have been keen buyers

Why Cedar Woods is attracting all buyers for their townhomes in Subiaco

Cheltenham in Melbourne&#39;s south-east, a stone&#39;s throw from the Bayside district,&nbsp;is benefitting from an infrastructure pipeline which has investors and owner occupiers interested in the area.

The talk of the town is the proposed metro loop, which would&nbsp;start in Cheltenham and stop at all stations en route to the airport and connect the area as far as Box Hill in Melbourne&#39;s east.

Jo Arbid, director at Captains Property, says Cheltenham has long been a great place to live because of its family-orientated amenities like great parks, schools, shopping and some of the best golf courses in Melbourne.

However, it is now&nbsp;being considered as a great place to invest in due to major infrastructure the government is spending on in the area.

And the decision by the property developer NewCity to create a more boutique residential project than the area is accustom to has paid dividends throughout COVID, with owner-occupiers now seeking more space in apartments.

The majority of new developments in Cheltenham have between 30 and 40 apartments.

But 8 Garfield Street, near Southland and Southland Station, has just 17 apartments across three levels.&nbsp;Designed by Point Architects, 8 Garfield Street is made up of one,&nbsp;two and three-bedroom apartments, with some&nbsp;of the two bedrooms with study rooms over 90 sqm internally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7518 project_image_fid=42519]

&quot;We have been selling all the way through COVID,&nbsp;mostly due to the quiet location on a no through road, spacious apartments and two&nbsp;mins walk to Southland&rdquo;, Arbid says. There&nbsp;there are now only five apartments left in the development which is slated for completion in&nbsp;November.

Each apartment features a kitchen with stone benches and&nbsp;with Miele appliances. That meets the open plan living and dining area which opens either to&nbsp;a courtyard or alfresco terrace. Every apartment also has&nbsp;a storage cage and at least one car space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7518 project_image_fid=42520]

The development has catered for all needs, even down to a ramp up the stairs for families with prams, the active residents&nbsp;with bikes or scooters and the elderly with wheelchairs or walkers.

About the developer

NewCity, with decades of experience in&nbsp;Melbourne and China, has a very experienced local development team led by its development director&nbsp;Sam Failla.

In their local pipeline they have&nbsp;65 Clarke St, the $415 million mixed-use Southbank tower which will comprise over 350 apartments, a 5-star hotel and a co-working office space&nbsp;across its 67&nbsp;levels.

Jo Arbid, director at Captains Property, says Cheltenham has long been a great place to live, however it is now being considered as a great place to invest

How apartments at 8 Garfield Street check all the boxes in the evolving Cheltenham

The Melbourne developer Beulah have unveiled The Wilds, a boutique collection of houses on Northcote&#39;s Merri Creek.

The 15 detached houses have been designed by architecture studio Edition Office, the same team who were behind the multi-award winning Hawthorn House.

The positioning of the townhomes to front Merri Creek was a conscious effort, backed by research fro the Beulah team.

They looked at a study by the Swedish lecturer and professor Terry Hartig. Hartig&nbsp;looked&nbsp;at nature&#39;s influence on the mental restorative benefits for individuals, namely the benefits of water landscapes in restorative mental benefits.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=101145 project_image_fid=162759]

Those who were exposed to views and murals of waterscapes, as opposed to other nature scenes, had significantly improved attention spans, the survey found.

That saw Beulah align the frontages of the three and four bedroom houses towards Merri Creek, with the kitchens oriented to allow residents to take in the scenic views while cooking.

Beulah&#39;s co-founder and executive director Adelene Teh&nbsp;said as the paradigm shifts towards an increase in home buyers seeking a tree change, The Wilds caters to this growing demand by offering large-scale residences immersed in nature, with the conveniences of inner-city life.

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&ldquo;In the current Melbourne market, there are no developments of a similar nature to The Wilds, both due to its extremely unique location on the creek&#39;s edge, its rare urban house and land offering, and its design elements of connecting occupants with nature at every turn.

&ldquo;Residents will feel as though they are immersed in nature, yet the hustle and bustle of city life is only 3-kilometres away, easily accessible by train or via the Capital City Trail bike path.

Teh said they felt it was important to create a product that caters to this shift in lifestyle demands, for those who seek&nbsp;a tree change but want to be close to the city.

The houses are priced from $1.9 million.

The positioning of the townhomes to front Merri Creek was a conscious effort, backed by research fro the Beulah team

Beulah unveil off the plan Northcote housing development The Wilds

The Sunshine Coast developer Henzell Property Group has sold-out its collection of terraces in its first stage of The Cove, their $200 million masterplanned community at Pelican Waters

The boutique release of just 15 townhomes and penthouse terraces, dubbed the Terrace Collection, were bought&nbsp;by owner-occupiers, predominantly those who live&nbsp;locally.

The five penthouse terraces were snapped up within a week of their release.

They are part of The Cove&#39;s first stage, Corsica Residences, which comprises 51 residences all up. There&#39;s been 39 sales so far.

Sales have been so quick Henzell have brought forward construction, which could start this month.

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Marcus Muir, sales and marketing director at Henzell, said a number of the buyers were attracted by the premium lifestyle on offer for residents in&nbsp;The Cove.&nbsp;

&ldquo;There&rsquo;s been a strong local owner occupier trend, with 80% of buyers from Pelican Waters, and all of them have been drawn by the quality of the residences and the level of exclusive resident amenities that would be right at home in a world-class resort.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re experiencing exceptional demand across the entire Corsica Residences release which has set a remarkable early pace for our staged program to deliver The Cove&rsquo;s master plan over the next few years.&rdquo;

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The Cove will home a number of luxury, resort-inspired amenities including an outdoor lagoon style pool with a swim up bar, set within a tropical landscape and reserved for the exclusive use of residents.

The Cove is the final instalment in the Pelican Waters community which the Henzell family has been developing for more than 30 years.

The master-planned community will be delivered in four stages over the next four years and when completed it will comprise a total of 220 apartments and terrace homes, a grocer and waterfront restaurant.

The five penthouse terraces were snapped up within a week of their release.

Henzell Group secure $12 million Terrace Collection sell-out at The Cove Pelican Waters

The Melbourne developer Central Equity are offering a special event at their recently completed, award-winning apartment development, Melbourne Grand.

Their <a href="https://melbournegrand.com.au/event">Open House tours</a> will take prospective buyers through eight of their completed sky-high&nbsp;apartments in the Lonsdale Street tower which won the Apartment Complex of the Year (over $20m) at HIA Victoria&#39;s 2020 awards.

It will cover one, two and three bedroom apartments, giving buyers a chance to see what the living experience is like inside the tower&nbsp;designed by high-profile architects Guilford Bell + Graham Fisher and built by Multiplex.

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The event, only running from May 20 to May 30, will also tour the impressive resort-style facilities which cover the whole 10th level.

They include an an indoor pool, gym and yoga studio, residents&#39; lounge,&nbsp;banquet room and coffee bar, as well as&nbsp;a 17-seat luxury theatre.

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Central Equity have also invited a guest mortgage broker to answer any buyer questions.

Apartments start from just $489,000 for a one bed apartment.

The tour will conclude just a month before the Victorian Government pull the plug on the stamp duty concessions, which are set to expire June 30.

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Investors and owner-occupiers can save up to $26,000 on stamp duty if they secure an apartment before the deadline.

The apartments, which feature&nbsp;a 7.2 star average energy rating, span up to 120 sqm and feature high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows with motorised blinds.

<a href="https://melbournegrand.com.au/event">Enquire to book your spot</a>&nbsp;at Melbourne Grand&rsquo;s Open House event.

The event, only running from May 20 to May 30, will also tour the impressive resort-style facilities which cover the whole 10th level.

Central Equity to offer buyers Open House Tours of award-winning Melbourne Grand

The local Gold Coast developer Lacey Group has secured a near sell out of its luxury Palm Beach apartment development, The Monroe.

It was only six weeks ago Lacey Group secured approval from the Gold Coast City Council for the boutique development of just 33 on the&nbsp;Jefferson Lane dress circle.

Two weeks ago the apartments, ranging between $619,000 and $1.79 million, were launched to the market, with local owner-occupiers driving the purchasing.

Made up of a number of two and three bedroom apartments, a townhome and a penthouse, The Monroe also feature a rare&nbsp;expansive rooftop terrace offering 250sqm of recreation space and a pool.&nbsp;

Lacey Group director Adam Lacey says the latest project brings a new dimension to beachside living.

&quot;When designing The Monroe, we put a lot of thought into who our buyers would be and how they would experience living here&quot;, Lacey said.

<img alt="" height="975" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/1789_2.01_interior_2bed_living_dining_r005_b.jpg" width="1500" />

&quot;The project was designed to appeal to local owner occupier downsizers, young professionals and those looking for a lock and leave beachside home.

Early site works for The Monroe are expected to commence by mid this year to pave the way for construction to start. 
 
Jayde Pezet and Todd Matheson, of KM Sales and Marketing, who marketed The Monroe, said&nbsp;65 per cent of sales made were from databases or purchasers who have previously bought in Lacey Group projects.

&ldquo;The number of sales to previous Lacey Group buyers is testament to the quality of project delivered by Adam and the team, and is further evidence of the unprecedented demand for off-the-plan apartments in a market that is becoming increasingly competitive,&rdquo; Pezet said.

Pezet believes quick sell outs will become even more&nbsp;common due to the pressure cooker type situation in the Gold Coast property market.

<a href="/developments/gold-coast-qld?source_news_article_id=101062&amp;ref=news_body_link"><img alt="" height="797" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/gc_newest_tile_jpeg_5.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

&ldquo;There&rsquo;s virtually zero rental vacancy across the city, and this is leading more people to consider buying, however those who do are finding there are dozens of purchasers lining up to make offers on an established property.

&ldquo;In turn, this has prompted an uptick in interest for off-the-plan apartments, so buyers really need to be on a database to ensure they don&rsquo;t miss out.&quot;

The Monroe is the second Lacey Group project to be developed on Jefferson Lane, following the sellout success of the $32million The Jefferson, which was sold out prior to completion in July 2019.

Two weeks ago the apartments, ranging between $619,000 and $1.79 million, were launched to the market, with local owner-occupiers driving the purchasing



Lacey Group all-but sell out Palm Beach project The Monroe

It was announced over the weekend that the Victorian Government will seek to increase stamp duty and land tax from July 1.

Stamp duty will rise from 5.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent for those purchasing any property over $2 million and a land tax increase from 2.25 per cent to 2.55 per cent for properties valued over $3 million.

There will be a larger increase in land tax on properties valued between $1.8 million and $3 million. There will be a 19 per cent from the current 1.3 per cent, up&nbsp;to 1.55 per cent.

Urban.com.au CEO Mike Bird says the proposal will have the greatest effect on downsizers and younger families.

&quot;The policy feels inconsistent with the recent federal government budget focusing on encouraging older generations to down size from the family home into something more suitable (down sizers are now able to contribute to $300k from their home sale into their superannuation at a more favourable tax rate), freeing up that housing stock for younger growing families,&quot; Mr Bird said.

&quot;We want to see barriers removed to enable home owners to &quot;rightsize&quot; into something that makes sense for their living requirements and this policy isn&#39;t helping achieve that.&quot;

One of Melbourne&#39;s most recognised developer,&nbsp;Tim Gurner, says it is not the time to kill one part of the economy that is providing strength and jobs for Australia.

&quot;These&nbsp;draconian style tax regimes need much deeper and thorough conversation and thought!!&quot; Gurner says.

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Gurner says the introduction can only lead to a&nbsp;big jump in house prices, as everyone just adds the additional cost to prices and supply drops, which will in turn make&nbsp;it harder for families to enter the home market with stamp duty hike.

Gurner adds that it will also&nbsp;de-incentivise developers to be active which reduces supply and will increase cost of living and homes. He says that all of these factor&nbsp;will lead to huge job losses when they filter through.

Illan Samuel, head of&nbsp;Samuel Property who specialise in luxury projects, says the proposed stamp duty increase will only lead&nbsp;to the additional cost being passed onto buyers, again putting pressure on affordability of property in Victoria.

&quot;Developers work to commercial&nbsp;returns,&quot; Samuel says.

&quot;If the cost of doing business increases, this will be passed onto the consumer - like any other business.

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&quot;However, if the consumer will not absorb the cost - then no transaction will occur, and ultimately the economy suffers.&quot;

Samuel says, in his opinion, that this is the&nbsp;complete opposite of what the Labour government should be proposing.

&quot;A property lead recovery out of Covid-19 market conditions, which saw Melbourne hit the hardest with long and harsh lockdowns impacting on the ability to transact is vital.

&quot;Increasing stamp duty after initial market runs will only stimy activity and create negative association to property, particularly off the plan (high density) property which, unlike the house and land sector did not benefit from the Home Builder stimulus. I

&quot;I would expect fewer transactions, leading to less stamp duty collected by the government - whereas a reduction in stamp duty would have lead to more transactions, and likely more stamp duty collected in dollar terms. It is&nbsp;a short-sighted move.&quot;

Kris Daff, the managing director at Assemble, who are pioneering affordable housing across Melbourne, says 2021 is a time when Government should be generating tailwinds for the real estate and construction sectors, sectors who are significant employers and generators of economic recovery and growth.

&quot;The introduction of foreign buyer surcharges is an example of the unintended consequences of ill-considered policy, which has contributed to new apartment sales falling off a cliff and commercial builders in the state facing huge reductions in work in hand as a result.&quot;

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<h2>What the experts are saying</h2>

REIV president Leah Canlan

&quot;The&nbsp;tax hikes will make Victoria a less desirable place to invest, ultimately harming jobs and the economy. 
 
&ldquo;The government continues to burden Victorians with increases to property taxes. Property already accounts for more than 40 per cent of government revenue. There is not much more capacity any one sector to absorb further tax burden. 
 
&ldquo;If the Victorian Government is serious about jobs and housing it needs to invest in real estate, not attack it.&quot;

AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver

&quot;While I can understand the desire to reduce the deficit, stamp duty is a bad tax that distorts economic decision making and should really be phased out in favour of land tax as NSW is considering.

&quot;So relying even more on it runs counter to this and will further distort economic decision making in Victoria as well as make housing even less affordable.&quot;

Victorian Executive Director of the Property Council&nbsp;Danni Hunter

&quot;This is a sucker punch to the industry that is building Victoria&rsquo;s recovery. One in four Victorians work in property and the Victorian Government is raising taxes at a time when it should be creating jobs.

&ldquo;This is a tax hike on the home ownership dreams of Victorians. We are heading toward a housing affordability crisis and the Victorian Government has fast tracked our way there by slugging homebuyers and businesses in this short-sighted move.

&ldquo;The Government knows the price for these tax changes will be paid by every single Victorian.&quot;

Hotspotting founder Terry Ryder

&quot;The decision by the Victorian Government to hike land tax and stamp duty on investor owners continues the age-old problem of politicians using the housing industry as a cash cow - and thereby making housing affordability worse. 
 
&quot;The problem of affordability can be summarised like this: it&#39;s caused by politicians at all three levels of government milking the housing industry for revenue. Local government does it and the Federal Government does it, but by far the worst are state governments. Every time a state government needs some extra revenue, they slug developers and investors.

&quot;They believe there&#39;s little electoral damage in doing that, but ultimately it&#39;s the home-buyers who pay, including first-home buyers. Developers can&#39;t sell a house and land package for $400,000 if it costs $500,000 to create - and a huge proportion of the cost is taxes, fees and charges from the three levels of government, but especially state governments. 
 
&quot;Right now, Australia has a rental shortage crisis and politicians should be encouraging investors to buy properties and make them available for rental. Our politicians, however, continue to discourage investors - hence the ultra low vacancies and rising rentals in most locations across Australia. With this move by the State Government in Victoria, the situation just got worse.&quot;

One of Melbourne's most recognised developer, Tim Gurner, says it is not the time to kill one part of the economy that is providing strength and jobs for Australia.

VIC stamp duty changes: What the developers and experts are saying

South East Queensland is arguably experiencing its strongest market in two decades, but it&#39;s not all down to the impact of COVID-19.

Mosaic Property founder and managing director Brook Monahan&nbsp;says&nbsp;the pandemic just brought forward the anticipated boom.

&quot;We had been saying,&nbsp;well before COVID-19 hit, that we&nbsp;expected the market to boom around mid 2021&quot; Monahan said.

&quot;Rather than creating the boom, COVID just brought it forward six&nbsp;months or so.

&quot;COVID just exacerbated existing trends,&quot; Monahan noted, adding that the interstate migration trend had been running hard since early to mid-2018.

&quot;There was nothing new, apart from the fact COVID shone a spotlight on SEQ which had all of the components for a better lifestyle. It&#39;s affordability, solid infrastructure and pipeline and the fact it&#39;s a great place to live were key components of our market before COVID.&quot;

Monahan naturally highlighted the impacts of generous housing stimulus and fiscal support due to the pandemic keeping the property and job market afloat, but stopped short of suggesting those were the only reasons for the current boom times.

<img alt="" height="880" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/dawn_main.jpg" width="1200" /> 
Mosaic&#39;s Mermaid Beach development Dawn. Image supplied

He cited the availability of credit and ongoing low interest rates as other key drivers.

There&#39;s also the fact that, apart from those who work in either the retail or aviation fields, many&nbsp;have increased their savings rates with the lack of expenditure on the likes of overseas travel and are putting their money in to the property market. And that&#39;s brought about the best market SEQ has seen in 20 years.

&quot;It&#39;s been a long-time coming,&quot; Monahan says.

&quot;We haven&#39;t seen a genuine broad based boom in SEQ since late 2001, which lasted until around early 2004,&quot; Monahan said.

Monahan just missed the boat on the last boom,&nbsp;founding&nbsp;Mosaic in 2004. But there&#39;s no looking back for Monahan, who initially started off restoring and building Queenslanders in Brisbane&#39;s affluent suburbs some 17 years ago.

Post the GFC, the company moved in to producing higher density projects, albeit relatively low density compared to the rest of the Brisbane market.

The change in demand for the larger&nbsp;owner-occupier hasn&#39;t caught the team cold either. Their projects have always been geared toward owner-occupiers.

The&nbsp;owner-occupier demographic has the key driver of the booming&nbsp;Gold Coast market for the last 12 months or so, with Mosaic seeing some of the quickest sales ever seen in the coastal Queensland hotspot.

Mosaic sold-out their&nbsp;$128 million Bela by Mosaic on Peerless Avenue, so when the opportunity arose to create a project less than 100 metres, Mosaic took the opportunity and launched Dawn.

&quot;We had a heap of buyers who missed out on Bela who were immediately interested in Dawn&quot;, Monahan said. They saw the 30 level, 87 apartment tower, comprising just&nbsp;two and three bedroom apartments, sell out within two weeks of its launch.

<img alt="" height="761" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/dawn_mosaic_2.jpg" width="1200" />

Apart from a few buyers from Melbourne and Brisbane buying apartments as a second home, around 75 to 80 per cent were local owner-occupiers.

Mosaic are set to launch a couple more projects in 2021, having all-but sold out of their current portfolio on the market.

They still have a few apartments left in their Toowong project&nbsp;Kensington in Toowong, their&nbsp;eighth&nbsp;project the company have developed in Brisbane&#39;s inner west.

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Designed in partnership with&nbsp;Cottee Parker, Kensington by Mosaic will home 63 two and three bedroom apartments and one penthouse over nine levels.

There will be a communal rooftop entertainment area with an infinity-edge pool, sun deck, barbecue and dining areas.&nbsp;

Kensington by Mosaic is not farm from Mosaic&#39;s sold out The Patterson. The 62 apartments, predominantly secured local owner-occupiers, took just four weeks for 90 per cent of the $72 million building to sell last October.

Urban recently spoke with Mosaic Property Group founder Brook Monahan about the SEQ market

COVID didn't trigger the SEQ market boom, it just brought it forward: Five minutes with Mosaic Property boss Brook Monahan

Golden Age have recently completed Sky Garden, the residential complex in&nbsp;Glen Waverley set above The Glen shopping centre.

The well-regarded architecture firm Rothelowman designed the three towers in south-east Melbourne.

Urban recently spoke to Joe, a renter at Sky Garden, and found out what it&#39;s like living in the development.

JR: What first drew you to Sky Garden?

Joe: I found it by accident while I was looking for somewhere to live. When I went through the website and saw the facilities I made an appointment to see it. As soon as I walked into the room I am sitting in right now, I absolutely fell in love with it.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881 project_image_fid=162989]

I thought it was magnificent. I looked out onto the garden, BBQ facilities and was taken down to look at the 25m pool, gym and enjoyed its location above a shopping centre.

I have doctors, dentists, clinics, shops and restaurants right downstairs &mdash; this all really appealed to me. I absolutely love it.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881 project_image_fid=162982]

JR: How long had you been searching for a property?

Joe: I was looking for a month. 

JR: Were you always looking for an apartment?

Joe: No, I initially had a townhouse in mind because it has its own garage.

I have a nice Audi so security was a big thing. But when I found this and saw that it has a storage cage, it ticked all the boxes for me.

JR: Why did you choose Glen Waverley? 

Joe: I walk to work, which is 15 minutes away, when I can so that appealed to me.&nbsp;I&rsquo;ve been working in Glen Waverley for the last 38 years.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881 project_image_fid=148830]

I also looked at Burwood and Notting Hill, but this one ticked all boxes, as it&rsquo;s so convenient and close to work.

JR: Did you have a set of criteria that the apartment had to meet? 

Joe: Not really. This has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a good-sized living area and a lovely big balcony. The kitchen is a touch small, but ideal for me.

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Urban recently spoke to Joe, a renter at Sky Garden, and discussed what it's like living in the development


Resident insight: What it's like living in Glen Waverley's Sky Garden

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/smith-by-valli-collingwood-224-228-smith-street-collingwood-vic-3066">Smith Collingwood</a> is a new boutique apartment development bringing a refined, design-led approach to one of Melbourne’s most established inner-city neighbourhoods.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pandolfini-architects">Pandolfini Architects</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/lisa-buxton-interiors">Lisa Buxton</a>, Smith by Valli sits on iconic Smith Street and comprises just 22 residences tailored toward owner-occupiers seeking a more considered style of apartment living.

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The design of Smith focuses on a north-facing orientation across all residences, a relatively uncommon feature in dense inner-Melbourne settings. Each apartment has been planned to maximise natural light and outlook, alongside a material palette defined by warm tones, custom joinery, and a full suite of Gaggenau appliances.

The development comprises a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with pricing currently ranging from just under $1 million to around $4.85 million for the premium penthouse-level residences, reflecting growing demand for luxury owner-occupier product in Melbourne’s inner urban market.

Residents will also have access to a private rooftop garden designed as an elevated retreat above the city, &nbsp;featuring curated landscaping, veggie boxes, intimate seating areas and spaces for relaxed gatherings. Sustainability has also been integrated into the project through a 7-star energy rating and two secure bicycle facilities for every residence.

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Smith by Valli sits in the heart of one of Melbourne’s most established retail and hospitality strips, within walking distance of venues such as Falco Bakery, Carnation Canteen and Alimentari, alongside parks and everyday services. With a Walk Score of 99, the location reinforces the project’s positioning toward buyers prioritising walkability and access over car dependency.

With only a limited number of residences, Smith reflects growing demand for smaller, highly curated apartment developments that prioritise design quality, liveability, and connection to neighbourhood character.

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Smith by Valli delivers a refined collection of luxury residences to Melbourne’s inner north

<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.

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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;

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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;

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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.

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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.

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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;

Joel Robinson

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