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The General, a pioneering residential building in Northcote designed by emerging Melbourne architecture practice C.Kairouz Architects has been recently completed.

Located on the corner of High Street and Bent Street, the development's moniker is derived from the nickname of Kairouz’s late father.

Built at the former site of the family’s butcher business, the project has been designed to honour his journey as a migrant to successful Australian business owner, while also employing strong sustainability measures on the way to a 7.5 start NatHERS energy rating.

The development is also the first ever residential building in Australia to use Onyx Solar photovoltaic glazing - as both a balustrade and power source - providing high quality and sustainable architecture. Working closely with engineers, the firm looked to ensure the energy produced by the glass offset the cost of light, power and mechanical equipment in common areas.

Design highlights include a curved glass facade and oak floors, while other sustainable features include:

<ul>
<li>A 25,000 litre rainwater tank used to flush toilets</li>
	<li>137 bicycle parks</li>
	<li>Multiple green spaces including a rooftop terrace</li>
</ul>
Urban.com.au asked Managing Director of C.Kairouz Architects, Chahid Kairouz about the sustainable design measures within the project and how they went about becoming the first Australian design firm to use photovoltaic glass.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/the_general_highst_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Onyx Solar photovoltaic glass has been used for the balustrades. Image: Peter Clarke"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_general_highst_1.jpg?itok=g9objmq8" title="Onyx Solar photovoltaic glass has been used for the balustrades. Image: Peter Clarke" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Onyx Solar photovoltaic glass has been used for the balustrades. Image: Peter Clarke</figcaption></figure>Urban.com.au: What was the catalyst for incorporating the Onyx photovoltaic glass on The General? And at what stage of the design process did the decision to include this in the design occur?

Chahid Kairouz: The General was inspired by the desire to honour my late father’s legacy and pioneer a new technology with a sustainability focus. Onyx Solar photovoltaic glass was adopted due to its appeal of being both a building fabric and a power generating element.

We worked with many consultants to review different technologies and really pushed to champion this product in Australia and start the take-up of this technology and notion of innovative ways to clad the building.  

U: Sometimes design features such as solar harnessing capabilities are poorly integrated into the design. How important was this in providing a quality design response for The General?

CK: We worked closely with ETS, Energy Efficient Choices and Inhabit in order to develop the product specifically for The General. This was a project in itself, coordinating with steel fabricators, structural engineers, fire engineers and the facade engineer to produce detailed shop drawings. 

Special engineering of the product was needed to ensure that it would be strong enough to withstand the practical use of acting as a balustrade, as well as yield the potential to generate solar power. Additionally, the Onyx Solar product is very aesthetically beautiful, so works perfectly as a sleek, black building fabric on the northern facade.

The Onyx Solar glass, coupled with other sustainable initiatives meant that we sought a minimum 7.5 natHERS rating.

U: The idea of legacy is often spoken about in terms of new apartment developments and what they contribute to their immediate context. The site was formerly home to your family's butcher business, how much did the idea of legacy influence the design and the development of the site both in terms of environmental and social sustainability?

 CK: The butcher business my father started with his five brothers still runs today, and is one of the most recognised and demanded product brands in the small stock industry (Cedar Meats). The whole business is run on the values of environmental and social sustainability, from our commitment to animal welfare to employing over 400 staff, many of them ethnic migrants, just like my father.

As a result, the business was the winner of the National Ethnic Business of the Year in 2015. 

It was extremely important to reflect my father’s values in the design of The General; not only for sentimental value but to stand the test of time in its design and its use of cutting-edge sustainable technology on the facade; a combination makes the building and the apartments be relevant for longer. Similarly, the original design for The General started at 114 apartments but was reduced to 87 to make way for greater mixed-use spaces so the building could be more multidisciplinary.

U: Being the first Australian project to incorporate photovoltaic glass did you have to research projects abroad and what did you learn?

CK: Pioneering the product on a facade in Australia for the first time came with inherent challenges and naturally, there was a big degree of experimentation involved. 

Technically speaking, it displays a solar factor of 10%, making it an ideal candidate to achieve control over the interior temperature. The product has been proven to yield low-emissivity properties, provide a UV and IR filter, promote natural light, and generate power.

Statistically translated, this allows The General to generate 2,075 kWh per year and prevents the release of 1.95 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Pioneering the product encourages future development and refinement to make it more commercial and increase the public awareness and philosophy for it to be adopted in the future.

U: Do you expect more developers and architects to follow suit and will you be looking at incorporating photovoltaic glass in future projects?

CK: Yes - we feel that industry recognition and support of our initiative is important in spreading the message.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/the_general_foyer_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The General's foyer. Image: Peter Clarke"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_general_foyer_2.jpg?itok=EoybN271" title="The General's foyer. Image: Peter Clarke" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The General's foyer. Image: Peter Clarke</figcaption></figure>Lead Image: Peter Clarke
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Laurence Dragomir

Chahid Kairouz provides insight on The General's Australian-first photovoltaic glass 

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ISPT Property and Brookfield's joint venture development at 405 Bourke Street officially commenced construction yesterday, and Urban.com.au was onsite to witness this significant milestone.

Taking place on level six of the existing car park that forms part of the first phase of the site's development dubbed The Foundry, 405 Bourke Street's launch event offered attendees a glimpse into the heart of the construction site with footing works in full swing.

Also in attendance were representatives from the development partners which included Brookfield's Managing Partner Sophie Fallman, Brookfield's Head of Development (Australia) Carl Schibrowski,  ISPT CEO Daryl Browning plus Matthew Kandelaars,The Property Council of Australia's Acting Victorian Executive Director.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/20180828_102444.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="L-R: Matthew Kandelaars (PCA), Daryl Browning (ISPT), Sophie Fallman &amp; Carl Schibrowski (Brookfield)"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="428" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20180828_102444.jpg?itok=VKNRSu6c" title="L-R: Matthew Kandelaars (PCA), Daryl Browning (ISPT), Sophie Fallman &amp; Carl Schibrowski (Brookfield)" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>L-R: Matthew Kandelaars (PCA), Daryl Browning (ISPT), Sophie Fallman &amp; Carl Schibrowski (Brookfield)</figcaption></figure>Designed by Woods Bagot, 405 Bourke Street will eventually stand as a 39-storey building which encompasses 31 levels of A-Grade office accommodation. A side core configuration has allowed for 66,491 square metres of net leasable area, supported by three levels of retail and 177 car parking spaces.

ISPT Property acquired a 50% stake in the development - which will also feature a north-south retail laneway linking Bourke Street and Little Collins Street - in December 2017.

The development partners have already secured NAB as the anchor tenant, who committed to a minimum of 43,000 square metres of space, with an option to occupy the balance of floor space. NAB's flexibility option has yet to be acted upon.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/405_b_site_panorama1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="On site at 405 Bourke Street. "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="312" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/405_b_site_panorama1.png?itok=QxbpMINM" title="On site at 405 Bourke Street. " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>On site at 405 Bourke Street.</figcaption></figure>While official construction on the "transformative commercial project" was celebrated yesterday, ground works have been in motion over recent months. A major construction marker will occur this Thursday with a raft slab pour planned; 800 cubic metres of concrete - the equivalent of 200 concrete trucks - will form the major foundation point for the tower.

Typical office floors will be supported by steel-framed structure over the alternative concrete column and floor format. Another challenge looms in the form of the cantilevering floor plates 48 metres above ground, jutting over the adjacent 399 Bourke Street. 

405 Bourke Street is scheduled for completion in March 2021.

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Construction officially commences on 405 Bourke Street

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<a href="/news/not-your-run-of-the-mill-apartment-the-millswyn">First covered on Urban.com.au back in 2016,</a> <a href="/developers/pask-group">Pask Group</a>'s <a href="/buildings/the-millswyn-21-millswyn-street-south-yarra">The Millswyn in South Yarra</a> is now more or less complete.

Located at 23 Millswyn Street the three-storey development features just 10 apartments designed by <a href="/architects/rob-mills-architecture-interiors">Rob Mills Architects</a>, complemented by landscape design by Paul Bangay.

Pask Group and its design team sought to retain much of the original façade and form of the Victorian Italianate mansion that stood on the site to ensure it sat comfortably in the streetscape amongst its heritage-listed neighbours

Apartments.com.au spoke to Pask Group's Managing Director Dean Pask about collaborating with Rob Mills Architects and Paul Bangay, as well as some of the challenges associated with developing in historically sensitive areas.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/pask_millswyn_rsmg_0025.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Millswyn draws on Classical principles to sit comfortably within the streetscape. Image: Shannon McGrath"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/pask_millswyn_rsmg_0025.jpg?itok=JhpzubuE" title="The Millswyn draws on Classical principles to sit comfortably within the streetscape. Image: Shannon McGrath" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Millswyn draws on Classical principles to sit comfortably within the streetscape. Image: Shannon McGrath</figcaption></figure>Apartments.com.au: The project retains much of the original facade of the Victorian Italianate Mansion which helps the building sit comfortably within the historic streetscape. How important was ensuring the building didn't appear foreign in the streetscape? 

Dean Pask: Although we did not want the apartments to ‘mimic’ the Mansion, it was important that the apartments respected and were sympathetic to the heritage values and design aesthetic of the home and sat comfortably with what can be quite an eclectic streetscape.

The classical lines and isernia limestone facade, juxtaposed with floor to ceiling glass, assist with infusing the apartments with a classical contemporary feel to complement the grandeur of the Mansion.

U: How difficult is it to develop in these historically sensitive areas and what are some of the challenges? 

DP: The challenges are numerous, including taking precautions to ensure that heritage buildings are preserved, during what can often be a lengthy approval process, as well as managing and balancing the preservation of these heritage values with clients’ expectations that the home will still meet today’s standards and conveniences.

The cost of achieving this outcome is also often difficult to quantify.

Having said that, we often gravitate to projects with a heritage element and although the journey can be difficult, we take satisfaction in preserving a piece of local history, for a new generation to appreciate, and trying to achieve an appropriate balance between heritage and contemporary design.

U: Now that the Millswyn is complete, do you feel that you achieved what you set out to do? And is there a particular aspect which surprised you or you think is the highlight of the project?

DP: We are all very satisfied with Millswyn’s place in what, in my view, is one of the most desirable pockets of <a href="/new-apartments/south-yarra-vic-3141">South Yarra</a>.

We set out to create 11 individual homes, rather than apartments, and when you walk through each home and appreciate the space, natural light, finishes and privacy created by the gardens, I think we managed to achieve this.

The configuration of the site, formerly being a hotel with a very generous street frontage, enabled us to achieve a sense of scale and presence that is usually only found in buildings of a much higher density.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/pask_millswyn_rsmg_9439.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="High ceilings and full height glazing ensure each apartment is filled with natural light. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/pask_millswyn_rsmg_9439.jpg?itok=PLztDXEc" title="High ceilings and full height glazing ensure each apartment is filled with natural light. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>High ceilings and full height glazing ensure each apartment is filled with natural light. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure>U: How did you find the process of collaborating with Rob Mills Architects and Paul Bangay?

DP: Both Rob and Paul have collaborated on many projects, which is reflected in the seamless transition from indoor to generous outdoor spaces and making each apartment feel like a ‘home’.

With their experience and personal attention to detail in designing luxury homes, they were the appropriate choice to achieve the desired outcome.

Together we were also able to work with some clients, early in the design process, to achieve a level of customisation.

U: When do you expect the first residents to begin moving in? 

DP: The first residents will be moving in within the next month.

U: What's next on the horizon for Pask? 

DP: We have a <a href="/developers/pask-group">wide range of projects at various stages in Melbourne</a>, ranging from residential communities, townhomes and retail.

Our next project, in this vicinity, will be a boutique commercial office building in <a href="/new-apartments/east-melbourne-vic-3002">East Melbourne</a>, which interestingly also has a heritage element.

Based on the success of Millswyn we are also searching for an appropriate location for our next luxury apartment project, although sites in these locations are not easy to find.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/pask_millswyn_rsmg_9351_v2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The interiors employ a neutral palette. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/pask_millswyn_rsmg_9351_v2.jpg?itok=5gW3QVfv" title="The interiors employ a neutral palette. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The interiors employ a neutral palette. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure><h2>Project team</h2>

<ul>
<li>
Developer: Pask Group</li>
	<li>
Architect: Rob Mills Architects</li>
	<li>
Landscape architect: Paul Bangay</li>
	<li>
Builder: <a href="/builders/vcon-builders">VCON</a>
</li>
	<li>
Sales agent: Marshall White</li>
</ul>
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Dean Pask discusses The Millswyn

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In this week's podcast I catch up with Stonnington Mayor Cr Steve Stefanopoulos to discuss the changes afoot along this retail high street and surrounds, which follows on from Apartments.com.au's piece on <a href="/news/the-changing-face-of-chapel-street-south-yarra">'The Changing Face of Chapel Street'</a>.

Cr Stefanopoulos outlines the $1 billion worth of public and private investment underway and soon to begin within the Chapel Street Precinct, and the importance of Council working closely with the development industry to achieve good outcomes for the community.

Council projects include the recently completed Greville Street streetscape improvement (with further works to come), substantial upgrade of Prahran Town hall and Library, the <a href="/news/construction-commences-on-one-of-2018s-most-significant-projects">10,000 sqm Cato Square project</a>, and the <a href="/news/princes-gardens-upgrade-adds-to-prahrans-public-realm-project-pipeline">upgrade of Princes Gardens</a> amongst others.

Cr Stefanopoulos also highlights projects such as the <a href="/new-apartments/500-chapel-street-south-yarra">Jam Factory redevelopment</a> which will feature commercial office space supported by retail offerings, and the <a href="/new-apartments/402-416-chapel-street-south-yarra">Aloft Hotel</a> as really adding to the Precinct's diversity.

A summary of projects within the City of Stonnington is illustrated in Apartments.com.au's development map below;

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Weekly Podcast: Episode 31 - City of Stonnington Mayor Cr Steve Stefanopoulos

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In today's podcast I sit down with Hayball Director Bianca Hung to chat about the design of CRT+YRD which is one of seven ensemble of buildings that form Nightingale Village in Brunswick.

Urban.com.au <a href="/news/nightingale-village-episode-ii-crt-yrd">briefly covered the project</a>, which as the name suggests is based around a communal courtyard that forms the heart of the building, as part of our ongoing Nightingale Village series. 

Bianca discusses the process for Hayball becoming involved in the project, along with site selection and the genesis of the central courtyard as a key design aspiration early on in the design process.

Designing for a broad cross-section of society with no specific demographic, in addition to ensuring the design of the apartments are suitable for people of various degrees of mobility is also discussed.

Bianca emphasises the importance of designing a good base which residents can tailor to suit their particular circumstances, with flexibility and adaptability key design measures.

<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/495286851&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=true&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true&amp;visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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Weekly Podcast: Episode 30 - Hayball's Bianca Hung talks Nightingale Village

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In order to respond to the ever-growing challenges facing our cities and building resilience within them, Australian developers and architects are increasingly turning to innovative solutions. 

State and Local policies are now being drafted with a focus on introducing urban planning and design objectives which assist in addressing issues around climate change, increased density in our cities and an unstable energy supply.

The ability to control a building’s micro-climate is becoming increasingly critical with strategies such as maximising ventilation, managing solar access and minimising overshadowing now reflected in the Building Code of Australia as well as both State and Local government policy.

TILT Managing Director Tim Phillips shares with Apartments.com.au four ways developers and architects can use design to respond to policy pressures, by mitigating overshadowing, working cleverly within height restrictions, and creating architectural features that set projects apart.

TILT is a leading Industrial Design studio that investigates innovative design solutions, working closely with developers and architects to employ the latest technologies, innovative manufacturing and project maintenance in their projects.

The design team is responsible for the revolutionary heliostat technology of One Central Park in Sydney, named the World’s Best Tall Building in 2014. TILT has also collaborated with top developers including Frasers Property, and architects BVN, Techne and more recently, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer on the Sydney Opera House.    

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/centralpark_013.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="TILT is is responsible for the heliostat technology of One Central Park. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="862" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/centralpark_013.jpg?itok=4foo3wZt" title="TILT is is responsible for the heliostat technology of One Central Park. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>TILT is is responsible for the heliostat technology of One Central Park. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure><h2>Improving Solar Access</h2>

Overshadowing concerns are becoming an increasing issue for city councils and developers.

Implementing a heliostat system can address these concerns. Using this technology to mitigate overshadowing can result in increased tower heights, increased yield and smoother approvals processes.

Heliostats are also very effective in providing solar supplementation where access to sun throughout the day is considered valuable, such as retail precincts, beer gardens, cafes and public space.

For example, if you’re limited to developing beyond 10-storeys due to council objections (based on a lack of solar access), heliostats may be the answer. Heliostat systems have the ability to alleviate overshadowing by providing extra sunlight to public spaces, increasing your building’s height and floor space potential.

Additional light provided to public spaces is acknowledged as a positive by councils, particularly during the planning stage.

The benefits of heliostats are site specific, but developers around Australia are exploring the potentials with significant Return on Investment (ROI) opportunities already evident.

<h2>Opportunities to increase building height</h2>

Building tall is only becoming more relevant, particularly in our progressively dense urban centres.

Maximising building heights whilst increasing ventilation and solar access can be achieved by introducing skylights on a development.

Our team has recently designed automated skylights and hatches that open up opportunities for roof terraces to become seamless extensions of the home, and for new (often spectacular) vistas to be unveiled and heights maximised.

The skylights respond to Australia’s temperate climate and provide easy access to comfortable outdoor living throughout the year. They also create an opportunity for tiered developments that don’t impact on neighbours’ views.

The skylights enable developers to differentiate their properties, add value to rooftop terraces, and secure their ROI, beyond the constraints of traditional construction methods.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/forsythst_064.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Glebe residence's 3.5m Skylight. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/forsythst_064.jpg?itok=Q62W9-Pm" title="Glebe residence's 3.5m Skylight. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Glebe residence's 3.5m Skylight. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure><h2>Spaces with multiple functions</h2>

With industry trends steering towards a rise in sector blur, it’s important for developers to consider design features that provide versatility for event spaces.

Operable elements can convert one space’s functionality and enable a venue to serve multiple functions. In the instance of retractable roofs, a venue can optimise capacity in all weather conditions. The roof can adjust to seasonal variations ensuring the venue experience is comfortable and enticing for users. 

With operable facades, a venue can manage environmental effects such as solar glare with infinite adjustability. The opportunity to manage glare without compromising on scenic views ensures a venue is maximising the investment in the location without compromising the comfort of patrons.

<h2>Using design to draw attention to your project</h2>

Design differentiation can be considered commercially valuable particularly from an architectural perspective. The opportunity to include remarkable architectural features, beyond what is traditionally available, is valuable when developing a new commercial venue or residential property for sale.

 


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TILT's Tim Phillips talks design innovation with Urban.com.au

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The third entry in Apartments.com.au's <a href="/news/nightingales-magnificent-seven-on-show-for-the-first-time">Nightingale Village</a> series is the Clare Cousins Architects-designed number at 12 Duckett Street. 

Located adjacent to the Upfield cycling corridor between Nightingale WOW and <a href="/new-apartments/brunswick-vic-3056">Kennedy Nolan's Nightingale</a>, the development will deliver a mix of 25 apartments across seven floors.  Each apartment will be provided with generous private storage capacity, both internally and externally. 

Nightingale CCA embraces the community-focused ethos of the Nightingale model via the provision of shared laundry facilities, open air drying area and communal productive garden.

A 4.5m setback from the northern boundary has allowed for the creation of 'The Mews' and a shared garden, while also improving solar access to buildings and connections to the bike path along the rail corridor.

In terms of its environmental credentials, Nightingale CCA is targeting a minimum 7.5 Star NatHERS rating achieved through the inclusion of solar and rain water collection, 56 secure bike parks, and resident access to Nightingale Village's Car Share facility. A commercial tenancy is located at the ground floor while up top a  206 sqm landscaped garden roof terrace will crown the building.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/nightingale_cca.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Clare Cousins Architect's Nightingale Image: Clare Cousins Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nightingale_cca.jpg?itok=rn5GMOH-" title="Clare Cousins Architect's Nightingale Image: Clare Cousins Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Clare Cousins Architect's Nightingale Image: Clare Cousins Architects</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
Located at the north western end of Duckett Street, abutting a tough interface with the Upfield bike path and train line, Nightingale CCA (NG CCA) will form part of the new Nightingale Village. Conceived as a collection of residential buildings, each authored by different Melbourne architects, Nightingale Village is an opportunity to change the way housing is built on a wider scale.

Nightingale CCA incorporates the social, environmental and financial sustainability principles of the Nightingale model. These projects look to facilitate connected communities both within the building and the wider community.

Whilst most multi-residential developments would aim to maximise site coverage and therefore yield, NG CCA has reduced its site coverage in order to contribute space to the boarder community. NG CCA is set back from the northern boundary to establish a publicly accessible mews and from the west to enable the public bike path to be widened onto our site.

This equates to 21% of our site area offered for public use.

- Clare Cousins Architects' Design Statement
</blockquote>

12 Duckett Street has been conceived as two forms separated by a light court located in the centre of the development, increasing amenity to apartments in the form of natural ventilation and light. 

Within this void an open stair wrapped encompassed in fine mesh has been introduced providing not only vertical circulation and connection between the two blocks but also opportunity to grow climbers along its full extents.

Similar to Nightingale WOW, Clare Cousins Architects have set back the ground floor along the western boundary to allow a widened bike path and green buffer. A 1.8m deep entry colonnade increases the visual depth of the western setback and activates the interface through passive surveillance to the bike path.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/nightingale_cca3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The building comprises two forms linked by an external stair. Image: Clare Cousins Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nightingale_cca3.jpg?itok=zhWfE8F1" title="The building comprises two forms linked by an external stair. Image: Clare Cousins Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The building comprises two forms linked by an external stair. Image: Clare Cousins Architects</figcaption></figure>Additional light wells have been introduced along the western facades to further reduce the visual mass, while also providing light to bathrooms and bedrooms. This gesture also future proofs the project from any potential development on the adjacent VicTrack owned rail and bike corridors.

The streetwall is expressed via two horizontal datums across the building which are staggered to reflect their respective solar orientations - four-storeys to the north and three-storeys to the south for solar access to the street.

These are established through setbacks to the upper levels, with the adoption of of concrete and masonry providing a robust and tactile response to the industrial character of area.

The lightweight upper forms comprises a layered steel composition framing open balustrades within an open steel structure that ties the façade roof elements together. This creates a dissolving, transparent form which also allows for vegetation to grow up the facade over time, providing a screening element.

As an overall strategy, materials have been selected for their domestic and tactile qualities, drawing on the neighbourhood character and industrial past of the site.

Next up in the Nightingale Village series will be Kennedy Nolan's Nightingale building at 9 Duckett Street.
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Nightingale Village - Episode III - Nightingale CCA

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The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Australia is inviting the next generation of industry professionals, including architects, developers and urban planners to propose novel ideas for the north-west corner of Melbourne's CBD.

The ULI is recognised internationally within the realms of urban design, development and built environment. It promotes youth leadership, urban innovation and collaboration in the property industry via its Urban Innovation Initiative program, with support from its Principal Sponsor, Mirvac.

The 2018 ULI Australia Urban Innovation Ideas Competition provides a platform to investigate innovative solutions to issues affecting our cities – matching leading young professionals with mentoring from industry leaders and sector specialists.

The theme for 2018 is ‘Nurturing the inner city’s diversity and liveability’ and entrants are encouraged to consider the area’s context, and identify opportunities and challenges that will ultimately assist in informing their responses.

The site bound by La Trobe, William, Bourke and Spencer Streets will be the focus of this year's competition which is seeking ideas to revitalise this emerging precinct into a more vibrant, safe and liveable 24-hour neighbourhood.

It was selected due to its diverse mix of land uses, proximity to public transport, increased residential activity and a lack of definition and neighbourhood identity.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/uli_image_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The characteristics of the chosen competition area. Image: Urban Land Institute Australia"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="355" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/uli_image_2.jpg?itok=fnXtQqFs" title="The characteristics of the chosen competition area. Image: Urban Land Institute Australia" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The characteristics of the chosen competition area. Image: Urban Land Institute Australia</figcaption></figure>According to the ULI, despite the significant transformation the city has undergone in recent years, the Competition site suffers from a lack of identity, limited on-street activity outside of business hours, little open public space and community amenity.

The ULI is hosting the ULI City Forum this evening (22 August) to launch the 2018 Competition. The event involves a panel discussion around the challenges and changes since the City of Melbourne’s Future Melbourne 2020 plan was developed over 10 years ago.

Panellists include:

<ul>
<li>Ian Briggs,Plus Architecture;</li>
	<li>Sarah Macklin from Urbis; </li>
	<li>Professor Donald Bates, the University of Melbourne; and</li>
	<li>Bec McHenry,The Space Agency.</li>
</ul>
Participants can enter individually or as a team of up to four, with the winners receiving a trip to the 2019 ULI Asia Pacific Summit on 4-6 June in Shanghai where they will present their idea at ULI’s Regional conference.

2018 marks the first year the Competition has focused on Melbourne, with support from the 2018 project sponsor NH Architecture and project partners Urbis, Plus Architecture and the University of Melbourne.

Registrations for the first stage of the 2018 ULI Australia Urban Innovation Ideas Competition open on 24 August and close 10 September. For more info and to register click<a href="http://www.urbaninnovations.com.au/"> here</a>. 
 

<h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
ULI’s Urban Innovation Initiative provides a platform for young people and their ideas and brings together collaborative leadership, innovation and creativity to address topical issues in urban development.

In the Competition we are looking for ideas that are both practical and creative, adopting innovative approaches that will generate significant value across multiple channels. It’s important that entrants represent a new approach or way of thinking and synthesise urban practice from a number of different areas.

- David McCracken, ULI Executive Director 
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
Whilst Melbourne’s CBD has been guided by a suite of targeted and innovative approaches – from the postcode 3000 policy, the renewal of its laneways, and the design of its streetscapes – the city’s north-west corner continues to face a number of prevailing issues that are impacting the vitality and appeal of this area

As such, this year we are seeking proposals that if realised would transform the north-west corner of Melbourne’s CBD into a locality that is diverse, liveable, vibrant, activated and resilient.

- Sue Say, Director at Urbis and Chair of the ULI District Council
</blockquote>
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Urban Land Institute invites ideas for north-west corner of Melbourne CBD

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While the Southbank by Beulah competition has been run and won, with the pairing of <a href="/news/southbank-by-beulah-the-winning-design-for-australias-tallest-tower-revealed">COX Architecture and UN Studio claiming the spoils</a> via their <a href="/news/southbank-by-beulah-un-studio-cox-architecture-the-green-spine">'Green Spine' submission</a>, the hard work of realising the vision for the 118 City Road site has only really just begun.

With that in mind Urban.com.au asked UN Studio Founder and Principal, Ben van Berkel, to provide some valuable insight into the office's collaboration with COX Architecture in conceiving The Green Spine as well as the design merits of the scheme.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/un_studio_green_spine_body.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Green Spine in-situ on the Southbank skyline. Image: UN Studio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="580" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/un_studio_green_spine_body.jpg?itok=hWf3xcVU" title="The Green Spine in-situ on the Southbank skyline. Image: UN Studio" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Green Spine in-situ on the Southbank skyline. Image: UN Studio</figcaption></figure>Urban.com.au: How early in the design process was the idea of the Green Spine conceived? And how much did the design evolve from the mid-term review?

Ben van Berkel: We decided to develop the two tower proposal after the mid-term review. It was essential to create a scheme that fulfilled the requirements for both programmatic diversity and a high level of pedestrian connectivity, especially in relationship to Southbank Boulevard. But we also wanted to create something novel for the skyline of Melbourne.

So we experimented for a while with dualities of facade expression that would support the different functionalities of the building. The studies that we did for this gradually turned into a unified strategy that supported the landing of the tower onto the City Road, as well as the composition of the two towers that twist toward the Botanical Gardens and the CBD.

We then solidified the facade language into a series of stepped ‘drawers’ that housed the greenery, amenity spaces and sustainable features of the towers and added public terraces in the podium. After these stages, it wasn’t long before we began referring to the design as the Green Spine - an architectural element that incorporates a multitude of functions in one fluid gesture.

U: The design team took a different approach to some of the other entrants in opting for a dual tower scheme which allows for greater solar permeability to City Road and would also allow for the possibility for a staged construction programme. How much do you think this was factored into why your scheme was chosen as the winning design?

BvB: As soon as we began studying the two volumes emerging from a podium, we could see that there were many advantages from the standpoint of urban integration, daylight penetration and creating an elevated ground area on top of the podium.

The singular volume scheme always appeared very heavy and somewhat out of place in relation to the neighbouring towers. For this reason, we felt the split tower scheme also offered a better overall balance in the city skyline and created a strong identity for both the towers and the podium.

Whilst you always strive to highlight all the different aspects of your reasoning during the competition process, you can only hope (and perhaps trust) that the clarity, consistency, strength and advantages of your proposal will resonate both with the client and the jury, and lead toward your design being selected.

U: And why do you believe Green Spine was chosen over some of the other schemes?

BvB: After the publication of all the competition schemes, we were somewhat surprised to see that we were the only ones to have proposed a two tower scheme. But in a way, this also set us apart from the other competitors.

As for why I think Green Spine was selected, I would have to say this must have been based on the strengths of the scheme and how it responded to the client’s and the city’s requirements.

The Green Spine design gives a lot back to the city. It incorporates 1.5 times the plot area of public amenities, including an extension of the Southbank Boulevard into and on top of the building - in the form of a marketplace and terraces, as well as a set of gardens and observatories on top of the two towers.

The podium design is terraced toward the street and connects the retail and entertainment programmes across multiple levels, which continue all the way up to the new elevated public area that tops the podium. This way, the facades along City Road and Southbank Boulevard are fully activated. Green Spine is a unifying concept.

It is a straightforward, yet robust idea that brought together the entire development into a cohesive whole. It is all of these design solutions that we hope played a part in the jury’s decision.

U: What was the process like collaborating with COX Architecture and how did you end up pairing up with them?

BvB: COX has an impressive track record of work in Melbourne and we had, in fact, partnered with them previously for a project in Canberra. Based on that experience, we asked them if they would like to partner with us again for the Southbank project.

The process was defined as a partnership from the very beginning, with both sides having equal input with their respective expertise. At all times it was a true team effort and we trust this collaborative spirit was evident to the client and the jury also.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/04_sbb_southbank_boulevard_view.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Green Spine at street level. Image: UN Studio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="409" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/04_sbb_southbank_boulevard_view.jpg?itok=cMxraifT" title="The Green Spine at street level. Image: UN Studio" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Green Spine at street level. Image: UN Studio</figcaption></figure>U: What are your ambitions for the Green Spine and the impact it can have on Southbank, not just within the skyline but also at the street interface?

BvB: Our hope for Green Spine is that it becomes the epicenter of retail, entertainment, lifestyle and cultural events in Southbank, providing world-class and future-proof public and private amenities. Having an open and lively interface to the street draws the public character deep into the development, throughout the podium and up into the towers too.

Working with Futurecity, our cultural placemaking consultants, our ambition was to ensure from the early design phases that Green Spine has a strong connection to cultural and art institutions around the city, acting as a partner in providing a lively venue for exhibitions and events.

We imagine an active and programmed podium that engages the local community of artists and provides public terraces for the display of art, installations and performances. Beyond this, the mix of programmes and the way in which they are distributed around the building provides an unprecedented amount of retail space, leisure and entertainment facilities, relevant not only to the immediate Southbank neighbourhood, but also to Melbourne as a whole.

U:  UNStudio has also been involved in the 80 Collins Street project in Melbourne with Woods Bagot. Do you expect to have a greater presence in Melbourne moving forward?

BvB: We were somewhat overwhelmed by the degree of positive reception and support Green Spine has received from the local and international architectural community. We are also proud of the strong resonance the project has gathered with the general public in Melbourne.

Both projects are, so far, the result of the great partnerships we have with Cox and Woods Bagot, as well as our own sensibility and deep appreciation of Melbourne that only grows stronger with time. We would very much like to expand our presence further and will certainly continue to seek out the right opportunities to do so in the future.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JVjq5HSwrXU" width="560"></iframe>
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UN Studio's Ben van Berkel discusses the Green Spine

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Cedar Woods has commenced construction of its third commercial building at 107 Overton Road, Williams Landing which is fully leased to the Victorian State Government for 15 years.

At a sod turning ceremony held on Friday 17 August, Wyndham City Council Mayor Cr Peter Maynard joined Cedar Woods’ Chief Operating Officer Patrick Archer and JGS Property’s James Service (representing purchaser Hellenic Property Investments), to officially break ground on the project

Accommodating up to 320 employees, the four-storey building will add 3,126 sqm (NLA) of new A-Grade Commercial office space outside the traditional CBD and city-fringe locations.

Designed by Gray Puksand, 107 Overton Road will target a 4.5-Star NABERS rating and will also include 92 car parks. Hacer Group has been appointed to deliver the project with completion anticipated in late 2019.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/107_overton_cbre.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="107 Overton Road was forward sold to Hellenic Property Investments Pty Ltd. Image: CBRE"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="366" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/107_overton_cbre.jpg?itok=iXFUpS7N" title="107 Overton Road was forward sold to Hellenic Property Investments Pty Ltd. Image: CBRE" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>107 Overton Road was forward sold to Hellenic Property Investments Pty Ltd. Image: CBRE</figcaption></figure>The building has been forward sold to Hellenic Property Investments Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Hellenic Club of Canberra, in July 2018 for $25.93 million.

Williams Landing is a 225-hectare masterplanned community that will feature approximately 2,400 dwellings on completion, comprising a diverse mix of housing typologies including traditional lots, terraces, semi-detached townhouses and apartments, supported by parklands and sporting facilities and a town centre.

Williams Landing will also be home to the new Target Australia headquarters, currently under construction and set to be completed at the end of 2018.

The 50-hectare Town Centre is located central to Williams Landing's four residential neighbourhoods and incorporates its own shopping centre, transport hub, freeway interchange and regional bus interchange .

The Shopping Centre offers the full range of retailers and services you’d expect including a Woolworths supermarket, medical centre, dental clinic, chemist, childcare, gym, licenced restaurants, cafés and over 20 specialty retailers.

<h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
We are excited to be bringing the Victorian State Government to what is quickly becoming a white-collar employment precinct in the western suburbs of Melbourne. The commencement of construction of our fourth office building marks another milestone for Williams Landing.

Employers continue to value our excellent train and road access and proximity to the Melbourne CBD and western suburbs workforce along with the retail, leisure and services amenities at Williams Landing Town Centre.” says Mr Archer.

Wyndham is one of the country’s fastest growing municipalities and we are pleased to be delivering over 1,400 new jobs to Williams Landing once our Target HQ, 111 Overton and 107 Overton are completed by the end of 2019.

- Patrick Archer, Cedar Woods’ Chief Operating Officer
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
 
With Wyndham outgrowing cities like Greater Geelong, the jobs that this project will bring to our City are indeed welcome. This is an exciting development and we look forward to hosting the Victorian State Government in Wyndham.

- Cr Walter Villagonzalo, Wyndham City’s Future Focused Economy Portfolio
</blockquote>

Lead Image: L-R: Cr Aaron An, Cr Peter Maynard, James Service (JGS Property), Patrick Archer, Cr Walter Villagonzalo | Photo credit: Daniel Pockett
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Cedar Woods breaks ground on Williams Landing's next office building

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

&nbsp;

The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" dir="auto">
The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

Laurence Dragomir

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