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In the last of our <a href="/news/aila-victorian-chapter-awards-2018-winners-announced">2018 Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards</a> series, Apartments.com.au spoke to 2018 Jury Chair,Bronwen Hamilton, who says she had the rewarding yet difficult task of assessing the great landscapes across the state.

Aside from this role with the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), Bronwen also works at the Office of Victorian Government Architect and is the manager at the Victorian Design Review Panel. Her impressive CV includes work on both federal and state government projects where she has helped shape policy and infrastructure.

<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/12-chain_of_ponds-siteoffice.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Chain of Ponds. Image: Site | Office"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="290" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/12-chain_of_ponds-siteoffice.jpg?itok=h7j0gAnk" title="Chain of Ponds. Image: Site | Office" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Chain of Ponds. Image: Site | Office</figcaption></figure>Apartments.com.au: What drew you to landscape architecture?

Bronwen Hamilton: My keen desire to join creativity with the natural environment drew me to landscape architecture.

U: What theme dominated in the projects you reviewed for this year’s Victorian Landscape Architecture awards?

BH: A key theme was excellent design led strategic planning. While this was led by landscape architects, there were lots of good examples of landscape architects working as part of multidisciplinary teams.  Examples such as the Point Nepean Masterplan, Chain of Ponds Strategy for <a href="/new-apartments/moonee-ponds-vic-3039">Moonee Ponds</a> Creek and the Puffing Billy Masterplan. 

There were also a lot of institutional and civic landscape designs that were excellent. This talked to the increased need for Melbourne’s public buildings and institutions to offer high quality landscape and urban design. This was demonstrated in hospital, university and civic landscape architecture.

<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/03_point_nepean_masterplan_site_context_john_gollings.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Point Nepean site context. Image: John Gollings"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/03_point_nepean_masterplan_site_context_john_gollings.jpg?itok=8ZDVTNS0" title="Point Nepean site context. Image: John Gollings" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Point Nepean site context. Image: John Gollings</figcaption></figure>U: Working alongside the government, what do you consider to be most important for state-based projects?

BH: Leadership on high quality design. <a href="/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne and Victoria</a> generally have a reputation for high quality design. We see this in places like the central city laneways and support for key tourism sites such as the Great Ocean Road, and the Penguin Parade. Processes and principles that support high quality design are also important.

U: Are we seeing an increasing trend toward community consultation in landscape architecture projects?

BH: Community consultation is always a really important part of understanding a place and its unique needs. The trend we did see in the awards was a move towards greater cultural history and indigenous awareness. This was demonstrated on all project types and is an encouraging development for the profession.

U: Which Australian or local landscapes inspire you? 

BH: This is hard to choose, but I recently visited the Shipwreck Coast and Great Ocean Road for the VDRP’s 300th design review. The dramatic cliffs and windswept coastal landscapes in this area are iconic and beautiful. The trees are sometimes bent at a 45 degree angle from the southerly wind and the landscape is a colourful carpet stunted coastal plants.
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Laurence Dragomir

Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards 2018: Jury Chair Bronwen Hamilton

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Developer SMA Projects has partnered with Hayball architects to develop a seven-storey apartment building on one of the last development sites on Fitzroy’s Gore Street.

Situated at 250 Gore Street, the development which will be known as Fitzroy Ltd draws on the raw and refined materiality of Fitzroy's industrial past.

Fitzroy Ltd represents SMA Projects third foray on Gore Street and follows on from The Lyric - also designed by Hayball - and the completed Veludo development.

<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/hodgson_street_elevation.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Fitzroy Ltd's Hodgson Street elevation. Image: SMA Projects "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="371" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/hodgson_street_elevation.jpg?itok=eL-5OnzH" title="Fitzroy Ltd's Hodgson Street elevation. Image: SMA Projects " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Fitzroy Ltd's Hodgson Street elevation. Image: SMA Projects</figcaption></figure>The development will feature a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, in addition to a full-floor penthouse.

Fitzroy Ltd has been designed to sit comfortably within the streetscape and is located in close proximity to both Fitzroy and Carlton Gardens.

The building's exterior will feature materials such as bluestone and metal, while the textured brickwork will add to the fine grain character, complementing the neighbouring Victorian terraces.

A private rooftop offering residents respite and city views within a garden setting will crown the building and comes complete with outdoor dining, a BBQ and firepit.

According to SMA Projects, Fitzroy Ltd is expected to appeal buyers seeking Fitzroy's socially and culturally diverse lifestyle.

SMA Projects has engaged interior designer Kate Roach for the Fitzroy Ltd interiors, with buyers offered the opportunity to collaborate one-on-one with Roach to suit their individual style and needs.

Demolition is due to begin in December with construction proper commencing early 2019 and an anticipated completion date of December 2020.

<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/montage_fitzroyltd.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Vignette's of the entry experience, streetscape and ground floor apartment. Images: SMA Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="255" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/montage_fitzroyltd.jpg?itok=JNqnHOt7" title="Vignette's of the entry experience, streetscape and ground floor apartment. Images: SMA Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Vignette's of the entry experience, streetscape and ground floor apartment. Images: SMA Projects</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
Fitzroy Ltd will appeal to buyers who are looking for a home which is bespoke, functional and different from the norm.

The location is just 50m from Smith Street offering residents premium shopping and dining amenities, with the Melbourne CBD a short walk, cycle or tram ride away.

SMA Projects has now successfully secured approvals for six residential developments in Fitzroy and the surrounding suburbs. Fitzroy Ltd is a further testament to our ability to create homes that are sympathetic to the heritage and unique character of this area and the people who live within it.

Certain features at Fitzroy Ltd can be attributed to purchaser feedback from our previous developments such as the kitchen design, bathroom functionality and apartment storage. It’s the little things that count at Fitzroy Ltd. 

- Robert Murphy, SMA Projects development manager
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
When considering the interiors for Fitzroy Ltd, I was inspired by the sense of place and the people who wanted to live there. I wanted to take a more classic direction to ensure we celebrated Fitzroy’s unpretentious ‘cool.

The suite of materials we’ve chosen for Fitzroy Ltd have created a more discerning finish that is less overt and celebrates the natural and untreated aesthetic of the Fitzroy neighbourhood.

-  Kate Roach, Interior Designer
</blockquote>
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SMA Projects and Hayball team up on Gore Street

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Continuing with the theme of the 2018 Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards, Urban.com.au caught up with Steve Schutt, Director of Landscape Architecture at Hansen Partnership, who works on a variety of landscape projects both in Australia and overseas. 

Hansen Partnership received the Urban Design Award of Excellence for Victoria Square in Kerang and the Parks and Open Space Landscape Architecture Award for Williams Reserve in Richmond.

<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/02_-_victoria_square_kerang_-_andrew_lloyd.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Victoria Square in Kerang took home the Urban Design Award of Excellence. Image: Andrew lloyd"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/02_-_victoria_square_kerang_-_andrew_lloyd.jpg?itok=wXI252ll" title="Victoria Square in Kerang took home the Urban Design Award of Excellence. Image: Andrew lloyd" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Victoria Square in Kerang took home the Urban Design Award of Excellence. Image: Andrew lloyd</figcaption></figure>Urban.com.au: Tell us about Hansen Partnership and its design philosophy.

Steve Schutt: Hansen Partnership is a multidisciplinary planning and design practice based in Melbourne and working on projects throughout Victoria, Tasmania and internationally through our office in Vietnam. Our landscape architecture team aims to deliver creative, functional and attractive places for people. We take a site-responsive approach, with a strong focus on achieving environmentally sustainable outcomes, combining creativity and precision to ensure a smooth delivery into built reality.

We work collaboratively with clients to design places and spaces that incorporate the use, occupation and enjoyment of external environments. We design solutions that create, improve or rejuvenate external spaces, with a focus on considering the needs of the individuals, groups or communities who will occupy and enjoy those spaces.

U: Hansen Partnership works on metropolitan projects such as Williams Reserve and Windsor Village as well as projects in regional Victoria. How do these differences affect the landscape design? 
SS: Every project requires a tailored approach to design, as every site is unique. Our work is strongly influenced by context, and that cuts across physical context, environmental context and social context. We approach every new project with an open mind and we consciously avoid pre-prescribed outcomes for projects.

<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/03-williamsreserve-andrewlloyd_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Richmond's Williams Reserve won the Parks and Open Space Landscape Architecture Award. Image: Andrew Lloyd "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/03-williamsreserve-andrewlloyd_0.jpg?itok=kj8bKQj_" title="Richmond's Williams Reserve won the Parks and Open Space Landscape Architecture Award. Image: Andrew Lloyd " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Richmond's Williams Reserve won the Parks and Open Space Landscape Architecture Award. Image: Andrew Lloyd</figcaption></figure>U: Is there a feature or theme that you keep consistent or try to include across all of your projects? 

SS: As per the previous question, we try to avoid any sort of predetermined design themes or features which might be interpreted as being “the Hansen style”. Rather, given that many of projects involve existing urban environments, we employ a site-responsive approach and tend to utilise the physical characteristics of a place and the ideas and aspirations of the communities who use that space as our primary sources of design inspiration.

U: Can you give us an insight into any projects you are currently working on?

SS: We have a number of really exciting project within the office at present, including a street in Abbotsford which is in the process of being transformed into a local park, a new town Square in Croydon, a streetscape improvement project in Port Campbell and a number of major infrastructure projects across Melbourne, for which we are applying our expertise in landscape architecture, urban design and visual impact assessment.

U: Are there any landscape trends you have noticed rising in popularity at the moment, in Victoria or more broadly?

SS: As a lot of our projects involve existing urban environments, and in particular activity centres and transport hubs, we are seeing a move towards the design of ‘streets for people’, whereby pedestrians are being considered as the highest priority users of a street, with private motor vehicles being given a much lower priority. As the population density of our major cities continues to increase, we expect to see this realignment of priorities to continue to be a major influence in the way we design urban environments, and we are firmly of the view that such an approach will improve the quality, amenity, functionality and attractiveness of our towns and cities.
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AILA Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards 2018: Q&A with Hansen Partnership's Steve Schutt

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Developer Aust Global Investment (AGI) is set to deliver a new hotel within Bennetts Lane, with the boutique project designed via a collaborative partnership between Breathe Architecture and Plus Architecture.

The 14-storey hotel will feature 44 compact but cleverly-designed rooms, inspired by the Art Deco glamour of the former Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, which closed this year to make way for an apartment development. 

Plus Architecture's design for the hotel's exterior will activate Bennetts Lane with a reception and café area on the ground floor spilling out onto the laneway.

Its brick façade will rise five levels with a nine-level glazed structure rising above. A break between the two blocks provides the design with a legible podium and tower identity in addition to areas of greenery.

Two larger penthouse suites on the upper levels which provide guests with long stay accommodation options, have been set back to minimise the hotel’s perceived height while providing additional outdoor spaces.

In line with Breathe’s philosophy to use locally-sourced furnishings, Bennetts Lane will prioritise the use of local fittings and finishes.

<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/bennetts_lane_hotel.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The design draws on the qualities of the former Jazz Club. Image: Aust Global Investments "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="1160" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/bennetts_lane_hotel.jpg?itok=ZlfzPqP_" title="The design draws on the qualities of the former Jazz Club. Image: Aust Global Investments " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The design draws on the qualities of the former Jazz Club. Image: Aust Global Investments</figcaption></figure>AGI is currently seeking a Melbourne hospitality guru to operate the Bennetts Lane hotel which will also feature a basement speakeasy via an expressions of interest campaign which closes in mid-September.

Breathe and Plus will work closely with the successful operator to ensure their collective vision for the hotel is realised. Early design work suggests a reimagined hotel experience, in contrast to the five-star chains popping up around the city.

According to AGI, its vision to bring a truly unique Melbourne experience to guests was the key driver behind the appointment of local design firms, as well as its pursuit of a local hotel operator.

Construction on the Bennetts Lane hotel is expected to commence in early 2019, and open in mid-2020.

<h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
Boutique hotel operation is the natural next step for a lot of hospitality providers wanting to take their service and ethos to the next level – and the Bennetts Lane property offers an exceptional opportunity for a local operator to create a true Melbourne experience. 
Its initial design draws references from the jazz era, using moody and hard-wearing materials designed to age gracefully and curved forms that reference instruments. A stay at the hotel will feel like going backstage to experience a hidden part of Melbourne. - Jeremy McLeod, Director Breathe Architecture 
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
The Bennetts Lane hotel will give guests a feel for the real Melbourne, not a generic hotel stay between over-starched bedsheets.

Appointing local designers and finding a local operator who not only understands Melbourne’s laneway culture but can also help curate the hotel’s jazz-inspired theme, are critical elements in delivering the hotel vision.

- Lionel Shi, Founder Aust Global Investment
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
We really wanted to maintain the integrity of Melbourne’s laneway culture, so have ensured the hotel has a boutique sense of scale while activating Bennetts Lane on the ground planethrough the architectural design.

Bennetts Lane Jazz Club was a key reference and its influence is expressed in the brass, hand-folded features on the ground level façade, which are later referenced within the hotel.

- Ian Briggs, Director Plus Architecture
</blockquote>
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Aust Global Investment seeks to breathe new life into Bennetts Lane

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Melbourne's Southbank represents nearly 30 years of development which has transformed industrial land on the banks of the Yarra River into a thriving suburb and this shows no signs of abating anytime soon.

The next five years will see an even more dramatic transformation as Southbank not only reaches for the sky but sets its focus to the street and improving the quality of the pedestrian environment.

Significant developments such as some of Australia's tallest buildings in Australia 108 (319m) One Queensbridge Street and (323m) Southbank by Beulah (360m) will join Eureka Tower (297m) in producing a dramatic cluster of buildings.

<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/southbank_dev_overview_talls_aug18.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Southbank's tallest towers. L-R: Australia108, One Queensbridge, Southbank by Beulah"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="309" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_dev_overview_talls_aug18.jpg?itok=BzZL6A5h" title="Southbank's tallest towers. L-R: Australia108, One Queensbridge, Southbank by Beulah" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southbank's tallest towers. L-R: Australia108, One Queensbridge, Southbank by Beulah</figcaption></figure>Tower's aside Southbank is also seeing increased investment in the public realm both from the private sector, and local and state governments.

As part of stage 1 of its Melbourne Square development, OSK Property will deliver a new 3,700 sqm sloping public park which will occupy more than 20 per cent of overall site. Upon completion Melbourne Square will comprise six towers including an office and hotel, Southbank's first full line supermarket, and childcare and health services.

<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/osk_property_melbourne_square_aerial_park_2_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Square's sloping park. Image: OSK Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/osk_property_melbourne_square_aerial_park_2_0.jpg?itok=icEgt-Oh" title="Melbourne Square's sloping park. Image: OSK Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Square's sloping park. Image: OSK Property</figcaption></figure>The State Government's continued investment in the Southbank Arts Precinct will see $208 million committed towards the planning of stage 1 of a project that would see the development of NGV Contemporary on the former Carlton &amp; United Breweries headquarters site which the government purchased earlier this year.

A currently vacant site which hosts the Testing Ground pop-up at 1 City Road, will also become the home of a new hub for the precinct. 

The hub will house the Australia Performing Arts Gallery, an expanded Australian Music Vault, administrative, education and research facilities, and a new centre for small-to-medium and independent arts organisations.

18,000 square metres of new and expanded open space will be added to Southbank via an elevated park at the Southbank Boulevard end linking Princes Bridge down through the precinct to a new linear park on Southbank Boulevard.

<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/arm_shot_01_v11sm_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Southbank Arts Precinct transformation. Image: Urban Circus via ARM"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/arm_shot_01_v11sm_0.jpg?itok=EXPS1zlM" title="Southbank Arts Precinct transformation. Image: Urban Circus via ARM" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southbank Arts Precinct transformation. Image: Urban Circus via ARM</figcaption></figure>Other projects such as the City of Melbourne's Southbank Boulevard and Dodd Street transformation, coupled with the City Road Master Plan will add to the suburb's open space network which is currently lacking.

The Southbank Boulevard transformation project which will be undertaken in stages will create 2.5 hectares of new public open space on Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street, with the first stage expected to take 18-months to complete.

Upon completion the project will provide Southbank, which is Melbourne’s most densely populated suburb with much needed public open space.

<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/southbank_boulevard_and_dodds_street.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street will add much needed open space. Image: City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_boulevard_and_dodds_street.jpg?itok=pp1gXPgv" title="Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street will add much needed open space. Image: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street will add much needed open space. Image: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>A number of developments within the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area are expanding the Southbank skyline westwards however, these projects will ultimately form the Montague Precinct in the future.

<h2>Planning Assessment</h2>

An overview of projects currently under planning assessment within Southbank:

<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/southbank_dev_overview_planning.png" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="328" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_dev_overview_planning.png?itok=OUfoQ0Yb" width="580"></a>

<figcaption> </figcaption></figure><h2>Approved </h2>

An overview of approved developments within Southbank:

<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/southbank_dev_overview_approved.png" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="301" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_dev_overview_approved.png?itok=q7uQpII4" width="580"></a>

<figcaption> </figcaption></figure><h2>Sales &amp; Registration</h2>

An overview of Southbank developments currently at Sales &amp; Registration:

<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/southbank_dev_overview_sales_and_registration.png" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="329" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_dev_overview_sales_and_registration.png?itok=AnFGi4-h" width="580"></a>

<figcaption> </figcaption></figure><h2>Under Construction</h2>

An overview of developments currently under construction within Southbank:

<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/southbank_dev_overview_construction.png" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="329" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_dev_overview_construction.png?itok=Qf0vHS5Q" width="580"></a>

<figcaption> </figcaption></figure>
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Southbank Development Overview August 2018

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Southbank's continued evolution as Melbourne's most dense suburb continues with 11 projects dispersed throughout the suburb, currently at construction.

Upon completion these projects will collectively deliver 5,208 apartments in addition to 727 hotel rooms. 

<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/southbank_construction_overview_0.png" rel="gallery-all" title="An overview of construction activity within Southbank. "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="296" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_construction_overview_0.png?itok=DhUx-lm2" title="An overview of construction activity within Southbank. " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>An overview of construction activity within Southbank.</figcaption></figure>The largest of these is Australia 108, which is making heady progress as it begins to surpass the heights of surrounding towers, on its way to an eventual height of 319m.

It is located within a pocket of Southbank which has three other buildings of significant height and density under construction. These are Stage One of Melbourne Square which comprises two buildings of 72 and 56-storeys respectively and Southbank Place on opposite corners of Kavanagh Street. 

Melbourne Square has just begun climbing out of the ground, while Southbank Place is much further advanced and is well beyond the halfway point.

Additionally, the Adina Hotel on the corner of Southbank Boulevard and City Road is seeing the first of its first 10 floors being added above the existing office structure.

The outliers as indicated in the map above are 202-214 Normanby Road within the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area which has just commenced construction, and The Evermore and Botanic developments located within the Domain precinct.

<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/aus108_aug18.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Australia 108. Image: Mark Baljak"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/aus108_aug18.jpg?itok=75TdDFLV" title="Australia 108. Image: Mark Baljak" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Australia 108. Image: Mark Baljak</figcaption></figure>Australia 108's core has reached level 67, surpassing Freshwater Place, with the floor slabs tracking behind at approximately level 61.

<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/melbourne_square_aug18.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Square Stage One. Image: urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/melbourne_square_aug18.jpg?itok=MuAEYADo" title="Melbourne Square Stage One. Image: urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Square Stage One. Image: Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure>The cores for both towers are out of the ground and the first floor slabs have started being formed. 

<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/southbank_place_aug2018.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Southbank Place. Image: urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_place_aug2018.jpg?itok=DEmEX6Rz" title="Southbank Place. Image: urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southbank Place. Image: Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure>Southbank Place is progressing rapidly on the corner of Power and Kavanagh Streets with the core likely to top out by the end of the year and the floors not far behind. Facade installation is also keeping up with the pace of construction.

<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/imperium_hotel.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Imperium Hotel. Image: urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/imperium_hotel.jpg?itok=1vVoyHGT" title="Imperium Hotel. Image: urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Imperium Hotel. Image: Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure>Tucked away on Moray Street, Imperium Hotel's narrow footprint is rising quickly with the core clearing podium height.

<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/adina_aug18_worzil.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Adina Hotel. Image: SSC user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/adina_aug18_worzil.jpg?itok=J72-I5Py" title="Adina Hotel. Image: SSC user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Adina Hotel. Image: SSC user redden</figcaption></figure>The first of the steel members of the transfer level have been installed, with the subsequent floors above this to be CLT construction.

<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/167_city_road_aug18.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="167 City Road. Image: urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/167_city_road_aug18.jpg?itok=RbvGwGVe" title="167 City Road. Image: urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>167 City Road. Image: Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure>The wedge shaped hotel has topped out with facade installation and interior fit-out works continuing.

<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/melbourne_conservatorium_of_music.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Image: urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/melbourne_conservatorium_of_music.jpg?itok=P8VjfkOc" title="Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Image: urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Image: Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure>The John Wardle-designed building for University of Melbourne while not large by Southbank standard is making an impact on the Sturt Street streetscape.

<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/botanic_aug18.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Botanic. Image: urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/botanic_aug18.jpg?itok=XGlM44L4" title="Botanic. Image: urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Botanic. Image: Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure>Excavation is progressing on site at Botanic, to allow for construction of the basement parking levels.

<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/evermore_aug18.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Evermore. Image: urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/evermore_aug18.jpg?itok=L1gHtEWD" title="The Evermore. Image: urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Evermore. Image: Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure>The Evermore site has almost been completely cleared with piling due to commence thereafter.
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Southbank Construction Overview - August 2018

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On today's podcast I sit down with GoGet's Justin Passaportis and Joshua Brydges to discuss the role car sharing can play in the design of not only apartment developments but also our cities, as well as the potential benefits of autonomous car sharing vehicles to support a strong transport network.

Justin and Joshua cite developments such as The Commons and Nightingale projects in Brunswick and Central Park in Sydney, which have not only embraced car sharing as an alternative to private vehicle ownership but also assisted with The Commons and Nightingale in particular waiving the car parking rate required by the planning scheme and in doing so removed the need for costly basements.

Of particular note is the stat that 1 car share vehicle removes the equivalent of 10 private vehicles off our roads. While cities still need to be serviced by a comprehensive, reliable and efficient transport network, car sharing can support and complement this.

GoGet are offering Apartments.com.au readers and listeners with free access to their <a href="https://www.goget.com.au/pricing/">GoOccasional</a> plan for a year, which normally costs $169. The only cost will be for actual usage of the vehicles.

Simply follow the link above and enter the promo code URBAN18. 

<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/488444856&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 28 - GoGet's Justin Passaportis and Joshua Brydges

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Following last Friday night's announcement of the <a href="/news/aila-victorian-chapter-awards-2018-winners-announced">2018 Victorian Landscape Architecture Award winners</a>, Urban.com.au chats to Adrian Gray, State President for the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA). Adrian is an urban planner with experience in both the public and private sectors.

Urban.com.au: How is the landscape architecture industry changing for the better?

Adrian Gray: There are now more landscape architects than ever working in both public and private sectors with over 3,500 members of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

Landscape architects are influential in delivering quality public and private spaces and policy development within Local, State and Federal governments that ensure the liveability and well-being of people.

Landscape Architects are committed to designing and creating a better Australia by creating resilient social infrastructure that shapes the world around us. They conceive, reimagine and transform the outside world from streetscapes to parks and playgrounds, transport solutions, new suburbs and cities and are leading the importance of integrated green infrastructure that will sustain 21st century liveability, health and well-being.

<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/contact_sheet_aila_winners.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A selection of the winning projects from the 2018 Vic Landscape Architecture Awards."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/contact_sheet_aila_winners.jpg?itok=8oGGRuTt" title="A selection of the winning projects from the 2018 Vic Landscape Architecture Awards." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A selection of the winning projects from the 2018 Vic Landscape Architecture Awards.</figcaption></figure>U: What do you consider to be the biggest issue affecting landscape architects and the industry at the moment?

AG: The following quote from a World Health Organisation document tilted ‘Urban Green Spaces: a brief for action’, sums up what is required in the coming decades of this century;

<blockquote>
“Green spaces and other nature-based solutions offer innovative approaches to increase the quality of urban settings, enhance local resilience and promote sustainable lifestyles, improving both the health and the well-being of urban residents. Parks, playgrounds or vegetation in public and private places are a central component of these approaches….”
</blockquote>

AILA has been very active in recent years in creating position papers used for advocacy that supports the above such as Green Infrastructure, Living Cities Alliance and the Liveable Cities Series that address Cooler Cities, Active Transport and Healthy Communities.

Landscape Architects are the key to ensuing that public and private spaces are designed to create a resilient city for the 21st century through nature based solutions.

U: The Victorian Chapter of AILA has the largest member base - what do you enjoy most about your role working with so many landscape architects?

AG: I feel very honoured to advocate and represent all Victorian AILA members in promoting the role that landscape architecture has with the myriad issues facing Melbourne and regional Victoria. I am very active in partnerships that ensure that landscape architecture is part of the discussion in shaping public realm outcomes in Victoria. I enjoy:

<ul>
<li>Engaging with AILA’s sponsors;</li>
	<li>Working with academic think tanks such as the Clean Air and Urban Landscape from UoM/RMIT;</li>
	<li>Collaborating with AIA/PIA on built form advocacy in the lead up to the State election;</li>
	<li>Representing landscape architecture within important projects such as Greening The West and the development of the Melbourne Metropolitan Urban Forest Strategy by the Melbourne’s Chief Resilient Officer.</li>
	<li>Presenting where ever I can on how landscape architects make our cities great places to live. </li>
</ul>
U: How can landscape architecture form a greater part of the built environment?

AG: AILA has recently adopted a national Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan that will enable members to begin to form a deeper understand that Traditional Custodians have with the Australian landscape. Through a greater understanding of the intrinsic values and spirituality that connects Traditional Custodians to the landscape,  we hope that landscape architects can improve their understanding and care for the Australian landscape in both urban and in rural settings.

U: You work in urban design yourself, what do you think makes an enduring design when it comes to landscape architecture?

AG: Design needs to create connections between people, nature and place. I have seen from practicing in the public sector in Brimbank for the last ten years where there has been a significant commitment to designing quality, accessible places in streets and parks that when people feel great about where they live, they become more active physically and are connected to the urban landscape. People being connected to where they live means a happier and healthier community.
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AILA Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards 2018:  Q&A with Adrian Gray

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As previously reported in June, the State Government has committed $208 million towards the first stage of the transformation of Melbourne’s Arts Precinct.

It includes the continued development of the Reimagining Arts Centre Melbourne’s Master Plan, plus maintenance works for the Theatres Building which aims to minimise redundant works in the future.

In order to deliver the Arts Centre Melbourne’s vision for the future of the Theatres Building, NH Architecture and Norway’s Snøhetta have been appointed to commence design work on the project.

<blockquote>
Melbourne is the design capital of Australia. A reimagined Arts Centre will be at the focus of this ongoing architectural conversation and continue the great legacy of the original designers Sir Roy Grounds and John Truscott.

- NH’s Director of Architecture &amp; Design, Hamish Lyon
</blockquote>

NH Architecture has previously worked on both stages of the Melbourne Convention Centre, Margaret Court Arena and the Stage 2 and 3 Masterplans for Melbourne &amp; Olympic Parks.

Snøhetta is a design studio based in Oslo and New York City with an office in Australia and is responsible for the design of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, the 9/11 Memorial Pavilion and Times Square redevelopment projects in New York.

The Arts Precinct transformation includes the development of a building for the NGV Contemporary and major upgrades to theatres and public spaces at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building. Additionally a new creative hub at 1 City Road will provide new rehearsal and workshop spaces. 

An expanded Australian Music Vault and a new Australian Performing Arts Gallery are also on the design agenda. The NGV Contemporary will involve the construction of a new gallery on the site of the current CUB administration building on Kavanagh Street, which the State Government purchased for $95m earlier this year.

The project will also include more than 18,000 sqm of new and upgraded public realm, knitting together the Melbourne Arts Precinct with City of Melbourne's Southbank Boulevard transformation.

Conceived by ARM, the outdoor space will connect St Kilda Road between Hamer Hall and the Theatres Building, running along the western side of the Theatres Building and National Gallery of Victoria through to Southbank Boulevard.

<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/arm_shot_01_v11sm.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Southbank Arts Precinct transformation. Image: Urban Circus via ARM "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/arm_shot_01_v11sm.jpg?itok=b7uQ0z-Y" title="Southbank Arts Precinct transformation. Image: Urban Circus via ARM " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southbank Arts Precinct transformation. Image: Urban Circus via ARM</figcaption></figure><h2>Meanwhile...</h2>

It was recently announced that Cumulus Studio are the winners of an architectural design competition hosted by Arts Centre Melbourne (ACM) for a new design for Café Cento. Located adjacent to the National Gallery of Victoria, the ACM challenged a shortlist of architects to design a new “unique and memorable” home for what has become an ageing eyesore.

Cumulus Studio's design, dubbed ‘The Protagonist’, investigates what exists beyond the monolithic walls of the Arts Centre and extends the experience to the street.

<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/cumulus_arts_centre.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Cumulus Studio's winning design for Cafe Cento. Image: Cumulus Studio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="282" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/cumulus_arts_centre.jpg?itok=x74ryTRR" title="Cumulus Studio's winning design for Cafe Cento. Image: Cumulus Studio" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Cumulus Studio's winning design for Cafe Cento. Image: Cumulus Studio</figcaption></figure>Characterised by an adjustable external screen which draws inspiration from the Theatre's curtains, The Protagonist seeks to create a significant civic presence that directly reflects the ACM brand.

In the morning, the curtains will be raised as the cafe opens, then at night, the curtains will be lowered to signify the end of service. Once lowered, the curtain can be used for art projection, marketing of upcoming ACM events, and lighting to activate the precinct at night.

As the primary design feature, Cumulus Studio settled on Kaynemaile for the curtain material.

The material is a fire and UV resistant polycarbonate chainmail mesh, originally developed as chainmail for the Lord of the Rings movie costumes.

Lead Image: Mark Gambino via nharchitecture.net

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/273635508" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://vimeo.com/273635508">Southbank Arts Precinct Transformation</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/armarchitecture">ARM Architecture</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.
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NH Architecture and Snøhetta appointed for Arts Centre project

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Following <a href="/news/third-time-lucky-for-riverlees-731-739-flinders-street-development">support from the City of Melbourne earlier in the year</a>, developer Riverlee is free to commence work on its $450 million redevelopment on the Northbank of the Yarra, following Ministerial approval.

Set to be called Seafarers Place, the project includes an extensive revitalisation of the former industrial waterfront site into a new mixed-use precinct, based around a high quality public realm in the form of a new 3,500sqm public park, including restoration of the historic wharf and heritage-listed crane.

<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/riverlee_northbank_pontoon.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Riverlee's Seafarer's Place is due to commence construction in 2019. Image: Riverlee"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/riverlee_northbank_pontoon.jpg?itok=wfBZLzOL" title="Riverlee's Seafarer's Place is due to commence construction in 2019. Image: Riverlee" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Riverlee's Seafarer's Place is due to commence construction in 2019. Image: Riverlee</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
At Riverlee, we pride ourselves on urban renewal. We are committed to rebuilding connections between people and places by delivering a masterplanned precinct that is rich in history, adding to Melbourne’s vibrant culture

 This regeneration project is significant in many ways and has been collaboratively designed with all of our partners and important government stakeholders, including the City of Melbourne, Department of Planning, Department of Treasury and Finance, Heritage Victoria, and many others.

We are excited to deliver the revitalisation of this historic wharf precinct. With never-to-be-built-out views of the Yarra River and Docklands Park, this underutilised site will transform into a world-class waterfront precinct bridging Melbourne CBD and Docklands.

The open spaces and public park are designed to give the waterfront back to the community and celebrate the unique character and history of the site.”

The overall design is bold and striking - the result of what has been a truly collaborative process. This project will be a new iconic waterfront destination for Melburnians and visitors to enjoy.\

-  David Lee Riverlee Development Director
</blockquote>

Seafarers Place comprises 150 luxurious residences, a 5-star hotel with 280 rooms and a 1000-seat function centre, along with a host of retail amenity transforming the site while remaining sympathetic to the Shed’s industrial past.

The site’s historic Goods Shed known as ‘Shed 5’ will be restored and repurposed into a premium waterfront event space, designed to celebrate and highlight its original roof trusses. Riverlee will also retain and restore the site’s iconic, heritage-listed crane to its former glory.

Designed by Fender Katsalidis and  OCULUS, the Northbank Goods Shed project represents one of the final undeveloped waterfront sites in Melbourne’s CBD.

According to Riverlee, it is committed to unlocking the potential of what is a currently underutilised precinct to contribute significantly to Melbourne’s expanding urban composition.

One of the other key ambitions of the project is to provide the “missing link” between the CBD, Docklands and the Yarra Promenade.

Wharf restoration works began in February and are expected to be completed in the coming months. Crane restoration works have commenced with construction slated for mid-2019. 
 
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Riverlee's Seafarers Place gains Ministerial Approval - construction to commence in 2019

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Joel Robinson

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

The long-planned transformation of Brisbane's historic Shafston Estate has taken another major step, with Capella Hotel Group announced as the luxury hospitality partner behind what will become Brisbane's first branded residences.

The project, to be known as Capella Residences Brisbane, is being delivered by Verso Projects at the landmark Kangaroo Point riverfront estate, with completion targeted for 2029.

The announcement follows a series of planning changes to the project over recent years. The site was originally approved in 2023 for a 15-level, 37-apartment development designed by Rothelowman for Burgundy Group before Verso Projects took over the 10,070 sqm riverfront holding and lodged revised plans with Kerry Hill Architects to increase the development to a 25-level tower with 51 apartments.

The latest announcement confirms Capella Hotel Group will bring its branded residential offering to the project, marking just the second Capella Residences development globally after Seoul, and the group's first branded residential project in Australia.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/23-castlebar-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Castlebar Street development</a> will centre around the restoration of the heritage-listed Shafston House, one of Brisbane's oldest residences, originally constructed in 1851 by Reverend Robert Creyke as a single-storey cottage known as Ravenscott.

<img alt="Capella" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b9f4ce5-638f-4d6b-8082-3ca7e4b75fca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-09%20at%207.20.41%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=f7aeqsW_DzOJI4FymWb3lD8NptSfsP7q" />

Capella said the project aligns with its focus on heritage-led developments, with the Brisbane estate combining the restored historic residence with a new luxury apartment tower and hospitality-inspired resident amenities.

Residents will have access to the Capella Living Room, a concierge-led communal space inspired by the group's luxury hotels, alongside landscaped gardens, six swimming pools, wellness and recreation facilities.

The broader estate will also include two riverfront homes, a six-berth private marina, porte cochère arrival experience, secure basement parking and a new section of public riverwalk along the Brisbane River frontage.

The heritage Postal Depot Building will also be retained and repurposed as a guest house, in line with the revised development plans.

The project represents another evolution for the site, which Kerry Hill Architects previously described as a rare opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's most significant heritage estates while creating a new benchmark for apartment living.

"The Shafston Estate provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's finest heritage precincts and to reinstate residential use as a unique site perched on the edge of Kangaroo Point," Kerry Hill Architects said in its Urban Context Report accompanying the planning submission.

"The project will celebrate excellence in sub-tropical residential design, setting a new benchmark for vertical living in Brisbane."

Verso Projects, which now has an $8.5 billion development pipeline spanning more than 6,000 dwellings across apartments, townhouses, retail and commercial projects, said the partnership with Capella would elevate the development beyond a traditional residential project.

"We feel honoured to be restoring Shafston Estate to its former glory, elevating it to new heights of luxury and excellence underpinned by Capella's distinctive service ethos and design philosophy, and making it a standout landmark in Brisbane," Verso Projects CEO Steve Laffey said.

"By partnering with Capella, globally recognised for its refined approach to luxury hospitality and deep respect for cultural and historical context, we will elevate this project beyond a residential offering into a world-class destination."

Capella Hotel Group President Roland Fasel said Brisbane's emergence as a global city made it the right location for the company's Australian residential debut.

"Brisbane is a city on the cusp of something remarkable, and Capella Residences is our commitment to being part of that story," Fasel said.

"The Capella residential experience is more than luxury. It is about a sense of belonging to a place with deep meaning."

Private appointments have now opened for the project, with a display suite expected to open in late 2026 ahead of the planned 2029 completion.

Capella to launch Brisbane's first branded residences at Shafston House, Kangaroo Point

Lewis Land's latest apartment release within its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan is targeting one of the Gold Coast's fastest-growing buyer groups, with almost a third of apartments at Solis priced below $1 million.

The seven-storey building at Biggera Waters will comprise 91 apartments, including 24 one-bedroom residences starting from $778,000, a price point Lewis Land says is aimed squarely at first home buyers struggling to enter the Gold Coast market.

<img alt="Harbour Shires" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e7486e37-22f6-4c92-b212-9b0622070b8f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.34%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=W8MJwJUCf6HkIyl_EVSksnd.QI6MZryY" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lewis-land-group">Lewis Land</a> Head of Development Michael Long said the developer deliberately allocated a significant proportion of the project to more affordable apartment types.

"First home buyers have been priced out of many parts of the Gold Coast, and we saw a clear opportunity to address this and play our part in a longer-term housing solution," Long said.

"That's why 24 of the 91 apartments being delivered at Solis have been designed and priced for the city's next generation of homeowners, quality one-bedroom apartments, half of which include an additional multipurpose room to maximise space and flexibility.

"This approach places 30 per cent of apartments in Solis under $1 million, and with close proximity to Harbour Town's future light rail extension connecting residents to the city's major employment and knowledge hubs, it's a win for buyers looking to secure their first property."

<img alt="Sores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="550526d3-73ba-4710-9739-c5f4294a30ef" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.29%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=cQQdXHt9wS0UXwZEm5Py5bH_3kAmzyhu" />

Designed by BDA Architecture, Solis will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with residences ranging up to 232 sqm. Apartments feature generous balconies and contemporary finishes, while residents will have access to Harbour Shores' lagoon pool, clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga studio and sauna.

The focus on first home buyers resonated with purchaser Holly Humphreys, who said she and her boyfriend spent more than a year searching for their first property before shifting their attention from houses to apartments.

"We fell in love with the first house we bid on and got our hopes up, but after repeated knockbacks we learned not to get too attached," Humphreys said.

"We offered at the high end of price guides, but sales kept going even higher. That's where we really struggled and we needed to re-evaluate our budget and our expectations. Standalone houses were off the table, and we pivoted to apartments and townhouses."

Humphreys said it was encouraging to see developers recognising the growing demand from first home buyers.

"There's a growing number of young buyers looking to enter the market earlier because they understand that getting in now can make a real difference as prices continue to rise," she said.

"It's fantastic to see a developer recognise this and then actively take measures to deliver an apartment with us in mind."

Solis is the first development planned within the second stage of the Harbour Shores masterplan, with early works expected to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land targets first home buyers at latest Harbour Shores release, Solis

Luxury apartment developer Abadeen has recorded $19.25 million in apartment sales across two of its Lower North Shore developments in the lead-up to the end of the financial year, headlined by the sale of a $6.75 million penthouse at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/koyo-crows-nest-5-rodborough-avenue-crows-nest-nsw-2065">KOYO in Crows Nest.</a>

The transactions also included the sale of a newly completed three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/park-residences-cremorne-2-sutherland-street-cremorne-nsw-2090">Park Residences in Cremorne</a> for $6.35 million, with the residence selling shortly after the project's first public inspections following completion.

The sales come as completed, owner-occupier-focused apartments continue to attract strong demand across Sydney's Lower North Shore, particularly from buyers looking for certainty and immediate occupancy.

The penthouse at KOYO spans 491 sqm across a single level and was designed by architect Koichi Takada. The development is one of Abadeen's flagship boutique projects in Crows Nest.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=370093]

Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said buyer activity lifted noticeably in the lead-up to the end of the financial year.

"We saw a clear increase in enquiry levels, inspection numbers and buyer engagement across our completed projects leading into the end of the financial year," Brown said.

"Buyers have become far more decisive over the past six months. The combination of improving confidence, limited supply and the ability to physically inspect completed residences is creating strong competition for premium apartments in the best locations."

Brown says the&nbsp;response to Park Residences following completion has been particularly strong.

"Buyers want certainty and are responding positively to the opportunity to walk through a finished product, inspect the quality firsthand and move in immediately," Brown suggested.

"Projects such as Park Residences and KOYO demonstrate that when the product is exceptional and the location is irreplaceable, buyers are prepared to act quickly."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=370116]

Abadeen CEO Joe Tack said quality continued to differentiate projects in the current market.

"Today's buyers are incredibly discerning," Tack said.

"They are seeking larger floorplans, premium finishes, walkability, lifestyle amenity and confidence in the developer delivering the project. Well-designed boutique developments continue to outperform because they offer something genuinely difficult to replace.

"The enquiry we are seeing across our completed and recently completed Lower North Shore portfolio is very encouraging, and we expect this momentum to continue into spring."

The sales follow increased enquiry across Abadeen's Lower North Shore portfolio which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/northcote-collective-naremburn-2-northcote-street-naremburn-nsw-2065">Northcote Collective in Naremburn</a> which also completed recently.

KOYO penthouse headlines Abadeen's $19.25 million EOFY sales flurry

The City of Sydney has approved plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/billbergia">Billbergia Group</a> and Metrics Credit Partners’ $3.5 billion Castlereagh Place project in the heart of the Sydney CBD

The towers will be among the tallest in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw-2000">Sydney</a>'s CBD, with more floors than any other residential tower in the city.&nbsp;

The 6,000 sqm site was acquired by the joint venture partners in 2024. It is the largest amalgamated land parcel in the Sydney CBD and comprises eight individual sites fronting Castlereagh, Pitt and Liverpool Streets.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castlereagh-place-sydney-324-348-pitt-street-sydney-nsw-2000">Castlereagh Place</a> will transform an underutilised city block into a landmark mixed-use destination, anchored by two 82-storey towers comprising 607 luxury residences above an 8-level podium housing a 209-room luxury hotel. A 1,000 square metre civic park on ground level features a curated mix of food, beverage and retail.

The plans have been refined over the past year to rebalance the residential and hotel offering, and reconfigure the retail footprint to create a stronger, more dynamic dining experience.

A three-level flagship building on the prominent corner of Pitt and Liverpool Streets will be the gateway to the Castlereagh Place lifestyle precinct. Set to become a Sydney icon, the building is capable of housing multiple hospitality venues.

“Castlereagh Place is designed to be the City's next great urban oasis - an energetic mixed-use precinct that pulses with life, day and night,"&nbsp;said Joseph Kinsella, Group Director of Billbergia.

"It will bring the vibrancy of places like Barangaroo and Darling Quarter into a more accessible, central destination at the very heart of Sydney."

Kinsella said the project will build on&nbsp;Sydney’s growing laneway culture with the City’s largest network of new activated lanes - an expanded, next-generation take on precincts like Angel Place, Palings Lane and Ash Street in Wynyard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374401]

Castlereagh Place has been designed by architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">fjcstudio</a> in collaboration with Trias Studio, Aileen Sage and Polly Harbison Design, joint winners of an international design competition in 2018.&nbsp;

Signature design elements from the original scheme remain unchanged, while the public domain has been significantly enhanced, delivering 60 per cent more open-to-sky space.

Pedestrian access will also be enhanced through new laneways linking Pitt, Liverpool and Castlereagh Streets, drawing people into a new civic park with outdoor seating, landscaping and integrated public art.

With activated laneways supported by strong hospitality offerings, Castlereagh Place is tipped to become a vibrant new dining destination in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.

It marks the largest undertaking to date for the Billbergia and Metrics Credit Partners partnership. Together they are developing other underutilised Sydney sites into mixed-use precincts, including the $2.2 billion Concord Central and the $1.3 billion Chatswood Grand Residences.

Metrics Managing Partner and Group CEO Andrew Lockhart said Castlereagh Place is a landmark project that will redefine Sydney’s skyline.

"As the tallest residential high-rise development, the revitalised site will offer panoramic views across the CBD and surrounds. We are excited to partner with Billbergia to reinvigorate an underutilised site and create a sophisticated and contemporary mixed-use offering situated in the heart of Sydney.”

Total apartments within the towers have increased to 607 dwellings, with a focus on larger floorplans. Aligned to growing market demand, Castlereagh Place now comprises 299 three-plus-bedroom apartments, 198 two-bedroom units and 110 one-bedroom configurations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374402]

Resident amenities will include an exclusive residents club containing a gym, rooftop pool, dining rooms, co-working spaces, library, golf simulator, games room, cinema room, and access to an exclusive concierge service. There will be around 500 basement car spaces below the towers.

The development will also include a state-of-the-art wellness centre, set to feature a bathhouse with magnesium pools, hot/cold plunge pools and premium amenities.

&nbsp;

According to fjcstudio, the towers will feature distinctive yet elegant architectural design reflecting Sydney’s geometry and urban character, with a network of through-site links and intimate public spaces activating the streetscape.

"Castlereagh Place is a city-making project of significant scale and ambition," said Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director at fjcstudio.

"It will create a rich urban complex of public open spaces, landscaped gardens, and vibrant laneways. Defining these new public spaces and the important streetscape of Castlereagh Street is a sequence of fine-grained, diverse retail and hotel architecture designed in collaboration with Aileen Sage, Polly Harbison Design and Trias.

“Rising above the tree-lined, human-scale streetscape are two slender residential towers that will transform the city skyline and look towards the Harbour, Hyde Park, and the Royal Botanic Garden.”

Demolition and early construction works have commenced onsite at Castlereagh Place.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134477]

Laurence Dragomir

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