<html><body>
With <a href="/news/the-new-victoria-police-centre-looks-set-to-become-reality">construction tenders called for during May</a>, the new Victoria Police Centre at 311 Spencer Street appears to be moving ever closer to reality. But what form will the new tower take?

According to the Ozscrapers forum, a new application has been lodged for the project which greatly expands the design to 39 storeys or 174 metres. To be built on a vacant piece of land adjoining the relatively new City West Police Complex, the tower was originally intended to accommodate approximately 40,000sqm of office space over 20-storeys.

Having put the scheme out to tender, CBUS Property and Australia Post would be ready to go with the initial Woods Bagot-designed scheme, pending final negotiations with the Victorian Government. Regardless of the design, the development team would likely be required to have the building operational by 2020, when Victoria Police's current lease at the World Trade Centre expires.

<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/image11_10.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="311 Spencer Street old and new? Image ourtesy Skyrise85 via Ozscrapers"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="292" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image11_10.jpg?itok=k2Sh--AT" title="311 Spencer Street old and new? Image ourtesy Skyrise85 via Ozscrapers" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>311 Spencer Street old and new? Image ourtesy Skyrise85 via Ozscrapers</figcaption></figure>The reworked design, which would be the tallest office tower to be constructed in the city for over two decades, features a sloping roof across three levels, and a number of similarities in expression and articulation to <a href="http://oma.eu/projects/de-rotterdam">OMA's De Rotterdam</a> project in The Netherlands. It should be noted that of the current crop of prospective commercial towers, 80 Collins Street is approved at a taller height, but proponent QIC have stumbled in getting the tower to construction.

Whatever its final form, 311 Spencer Street continues the ongoing transformation of Spencer Street, eliminating the gap between the Spencer Outlet Centre and City West Police Complex at 313 Spencer Street, while also covering the latter's substantial concrete core.

<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/e1b5a7d4e9b0e3a790a3a996957ea11e.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="311 Spencer Street's revised design. Image courtesy Skyrise85 via Ozscrapers"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="427" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/e1b5a7d4e9b0e3a790a3a996957ea11e.jpg?itok=Sb1qpY3r" title="311 Spencer Street's revised design. Image courtesy Skyrise85 via Ozscrapers" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>311 Spencer Street's revised design. Image courtesy Skyrise85 via Ozscrapers</figcaption></figure>Diagonally opposite 311 Spencer Street is Far East Consortium's pending West Side Place development, featuring Ritz Carlton set within the development's tallest tower at 270 metres. As the CBD continues to expansion westward into Docklands, locating Victoria Police in a single centrally located complex adjacent to Southern Cross Station looks to be the current thought process.

Cbus Property's 311 Spencer Street along with the likes of <a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">477 Collins Street</a>, <a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">405 Bourke Street</a>, <a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">130 Lonsdale Street</a>, <a href="/buildings/one-melbourne-quarter-695-collins-street-docklands">695 Collins Street</a>, <a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">80 Collins Street</a> and <a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">271 Spring Street</a> are set to herald the next wave of commercial office towers, following the unprecedented boom in residential towers over recent years.

With the <a href="/news/35-spring-street-marks-its-place-in-the-skyline">recent topping out</a> of its flagship residential project at 35 Spring Street, CBUS Property will be keeping busy with its mixed-use Collins Arch project which also features a considerable slab of premium office space. Site preparations will begin during September with construction proper commencing during 2017.

<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/collinsarch.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Collins Arch. Image courtesy of Colliers"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="880" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/collinsarch.jpg?itok=QNvsrQIW" title="Collins Arch. Image courtesy of Colliers" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Collins Arch. Image courtesy of Colliers</figcaption></figure>
</body></html>

Laurence Dragomir

Could 311 Spencer Street become one of Melbourne's tallest office towers?

<html><body>
An early registration sales day for 122 Roseneath St. in Clifton Hill last month has been a resounding success, with 53 of the 65 available apartments and townhouses sold within 12 hours. The strong interest follows an extensive process of consultation that sought feedback from prospective purchasers at key stages of the design process, prior to construction. 

Prospective purchasers were given the opportunity to express their views, creating a sense of ownership, whilst also giving the development partners – Wulff Projects, Icon Co. and Assemble – a chance to communicate the social and environmental values that underpin the project.

<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/roseneath_ex1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="122 Roseneath St's diverse streetscape. Image courtesy Assemble"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="290" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/roseneath_ex1.jpg?itok=BDO4EFHA" title="122 Roseneath St's diverse streetscape. Image courtesy Assemble" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>122 Roseneath St.'s diverse streetscape. Image: Studio Local Peoples</figcaption></figure>With a commitment to design, the development team believes a vertical life can be enjoyed by families, friends, pets, bike-lovers and green-thumbs alike.

So much so of the apartments on offer, seven have purchased by members of the development team. For some of them it's their first home, which reflects the development’s aspirations to create an affordable, diverse and engaged community in the inner-city suburb of Clifton Hill, where the median house price is now $1.161 million.

Urban.com.au caught up with Rachel Elliot Jones from Assemble and Edward Cramer from Wulff Projects to discuss the engagement process and the project's sales success. 

<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/roseneath_common_space_v02_hi_res.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="122 Roseneath St Common Space. Image courtesy Studio Local People"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="341" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/roseneath_common_space_v02_hi_res.jpg?itok=4H9pRtVo" title="122 Roseneath St Common Space. Image courtesy Studio Local People" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>122 Roseneath St Common Space. Image courtesy Studio Local People</figcaption></figure>According to Elliot Jones and Cramer, the team were bullish about the project's prospects once it hit the market. An unusually high proportion, 96%, of purchasers at Roseneath St. are owner-occupiers and domestic buyers, reflecting both the quality and affordability of the project. The developers estimate that 40% of all purchasers were first-home buyers, and that 38% came from Clifton Hill or surrounding suburbs.

85% of purchasers were able to buy one of their top 4 preferences.

As part of the exhaustive process - which lasted 8 months and was largely considered an untried process - a further design presentation where the latest iteration of renders, material boards were presented to prospective purchasers to gauge interest and collect feedback. Based on the feedback received and purchaser preferences, 4 of the studio apartments were consolidated into 2 x 2 bedroom apartments. 

The display suite was opened to those who had registered their interest and filled in their preference statements where they had to list 5-10 preferences. Elliot Jones says the biggest task the team faced was managing expectations, and it was critical that interested purchasers were greeted with a smile and a relaxed atmosphere ensuring purchasers were 'calm.' Additionally Fresh Fork and Everyday Coffee were on hand supplying food and coffees respectively. 

All three directors of Assemble – Quino Holland, Ben Keck and Pino Demaio – purchased a home in the development. This sent a strong message to prospective buyers and gave them confidence in the project.

The existing buildings onsite will be cleared over the course of the next 6-8 weeks with construction beginning in earnest by the end of the year. The development team are targeting a one year construction program with a completion date either side of Christmas 2017.   

<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/roseneath_r11_final_hi_res_upd.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="122 Roseneath St interior. Image courtesy Studio Local People"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="184" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/roseneath_r11_final_hi_res_upd.jpg?itok=HhDiv9IB" title="122 Roseneath St interior. Image courtesy Studio Local People" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>122 Roseneath St interior. Image courtesy Studio Local Peoples</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say</h2>

It was fantastic to see that more than 85 per cent of new residents were able to secure one of their top four preferences. The consultation process, which involved two stages of design presentations and several feedback surveys, directly informed aspects of the design, including the communal room, the inclusion of a communal laundry and the provision of an embedded energy network.

<blockquote>
The participation and feedback throughout the design presentations allowed us to tailor the design and give buyers the confidence to commit to the project. 

<cite>Ben Keck, Assemble Director</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
Having spent the first years of my life in regional Malaysia, I suppose ‘village living’ is in my roots… Returning to Melbourne in 2013, I’ve been really interested in what the future of housing and particularly medium-density living will evolve into, with changing demographics and populations. I’ve been investigating cooperative housing, tiny home living, and even looking into forming my own cooperative to form an intentional residential community, and I fell in love with 122 Roseneath’s vision, design and practice of engaging its stakeholders.

I’ve been involved in building all sorts of communities and networks over the past ten years of my professional life and I’ve always longed to be able to bring this into my home life as well.What was most important to me was the thoughtful sustainable design and that I would be joining a community, not just an apartment building.

<cite>Melina Chan, purchaser at 122 Roseneath Street</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
The people I have met who will be future residents of 122 Roseneath are all lovely – my next door neighbour seems fabulous – and there is a real sense that the buyers want to live in an environment where we all look out for each other. 

<cite>Marion Arnott, purchaser at 122 Roseneath Street</cite>
</blockquote>

As for what's next, Wulff Projects have collaborated with Assemble's design arm, Fieldwork for Newry Street townhouses in Richmond. 

<h2>Project team </h2>

<ul>
<li>Developers: Wulff Projects, Icon Co. and Assemble</li>
	<li>Architect: Assemble</li>
	<li>Communication and community engagement: Assemble</li>
	<li>Landscape architect: MALA</li>
	<li>Selling agent: Nelson Alexander</li>
	<li>Town planning consultants: Tract</li>
	<li>Legal counsel: K&amp;L Gates</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

Engaging with prospective buyers gives Roseneath St. an enviable sales record

<html><body>
One of the first things I was keen to do upon returning from my European holiday was provide the Apartments.com.au 3D model with some much needed attention, particularly in light of a number of recent significant approvals.

As such the following 11 projects have been added to the model or updated in the previous two weeks:

<ul>
<li>The Conservatory, 9 Mackenzie Street</li>
	<li>295-309 King Street</li>
	<li>Ritz Carlton at West Side Place &amp; Tower 2 updated</li>
	<li>The Jean Nouvel designed 383 LaTrobe Street in association with Architectus</li>
	<li>303 LaTrobe Street</li>
	<li>The late Zaha Hadid's 582-606 Collins Street with Plus Architecture</li>
	<li>Melbourne Quarter updated</li>
	<li>Tower 5 at Collins Square</li>
	<li>9-27 Downie Street</li>
	<li>7-23 Spencer Street</li>
	<li>35 Spring Street</li>
</ul>
Key - Red: proposed.  Blue: approved.  Green: Under 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/mm_west.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Soon enough you'll be able to pan around the Urban.com.au 3D model, much like Google Earth"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="268" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mm_west.png?itok=E8KnMmX4" title="Soon enough you'll be able to pan around the Urban.com.au 3D model, much like Google Earth" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Soon enough you'll be able to pan around the Apartments.com.au 3D model, much like Google Earth</figcaption></figure>Despite the additions, there still remains a significant number of projects yet to be added across the CBD, Southbank and Docklands, meaning a relatively complete model is still some time away. Ideally early 2017 would see a complete Melbourne model.

Ultimately as we continue to improve Apartments.com.au, there are a number of features we will be looking to implement, one of which would be providing an interactive model of the city (with various layers) that visitors to the site could orbit around and switch on and off proposed, approved and under construction buildings etc.

But for now you'll all have to rely on my renders and screen grabs, which I think are good for a bit of fun visual analysis of the state of play in the central city.

<h2>CBD North continues to perform as the west end slowly gathers pace</h2>

The CBD North area is currently the busiest in terms of construction and this is likely to continue with projects such as Queens Place, the Munro Site at QVM, and Swanston Central kicking off over the next 12 months or so. Meanwhile the west end of the CBD is gearing up for a host of major developments commencing with Collins Arch, Olderfleet Place, Collins House, West Side Place Towers 1 &amp; 2, and Melbourne Quarter adding a mix of apartments, hotel suites and office space; and let's not forget much needed public open space.

These projects also go some way to better connecting Docklands with the CBD both visually and physically; Spencer Street which once had a number of major bombsites will be unrecognisable in five years time.

<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_model_02_18082016.png" rel="gallery-all" title="CBD North is experiencing the greatest change"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="270" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/melbourne_model_02_18082016.png?itok=iEur3yb4" title="CBD North is experiencing the greatest change" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>CBD North is experiencing the greatest change</figcaption></figure><h2>Melbourne's future buildings would make for an impressive skyline</h2>

As the elevations below illustrate the Melbourne skyline is in for significant change (in case you weren't aware). The height and density far exceeds anything that has been developed in the last 20 years, where a whole other city is essentially being built within the current CBD.

Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area also shapes as another CBD-sized development in itself.

<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/mm_existing_elevation.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Existing, future and combined."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="320" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mm_existing_elevation.png?itok=WSfEqtba" title="Existing, future and combined." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Existing, future and combined.</figcaption></figure>The diagram also illustrates that there is a strong pipeline of development approved (blue) and ready to commence in the next few years once the current and sizeable construction cycle (green) draws to a close.

Lastly, I thought I would end with a render that shows how this current development boom is unique and unlike any other in Melbourne's history.

<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/starchitects.png" rel="gallery-all" title="A who's who on the Melbourne skyline."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="227" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/starchitects.png?itok=0-TpOVRi" title="A who's who on the Melbourne skyline." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A who's who on the Melbourne skyline.</figcaption></figure>The above image features: a Beyonce-inspired curvaceous tower, Melbourne's first Ritz Carlton hotel and the tallest hotel in Australia (until One Queensbridge Street takes the crown), a Zaha Hadid designed tower, a Jean Nouvel-designed tower, a Grimshaw designed tower, a SHoP-designed tower and two mainstays of Melbourne architecture in DCM and FKA teaming up to deliver the final piece of Batmans Hill.

The view of the city from the Yarra River and Southbank will be very different in the not-too-distant future, and tinged with the designs of some of the most recognisable architects of our time.
</body></html>

Melbourne CBD Model update: August 2016

<html><body>
Les Clarke, the last of ClarkeHopkinsClarke’s three founding partners recently retired in his 56th year with the practice.

Alongside David Hopkins and Jack Clarke, the trio founded Melbourne-based architecture practice ClarkeHopkinsClarke. With an early focus on residential and education projects, Les also designed several acclaimed homes, including the Housing Institute of Australia’s House of the Year in 1978. Today the practice’s work spans the education, multi-residential, retail, commercial, mixed-use, community, health care and aged care sectors.

Melbourne's robust development scene has allowed the firm to grow across key sectors, with the ClarkeHopkinsClarke team encompassing over 100 team members. This growth represents a new chapter for ClarkeHopkinsClarke and new opportunities, with associates Jordan Curran and Simon LeNepveu recently enlisted as new partners.

Continuing the work of Les Clarke, LeNepveu’s focus is on education planning, and he is well regarded for his strong capability in the design and delivery of these projects. LeNepveu has been with ClarkeHopkinsClarke for over 10 years, and will continue working with education team leader Wayne Stephens to carry Les Clarke’s legacy into the future.

Commencing his career working closely with Les Clarke and Dean Landy, Jordan Curran’s focus within the ClarkeHopkinsClarke practice is on projects with a strong urban design component such as those in the community, retail and mixed use sectors.

Urban.com.au spoke both Jordan Curran and Simon LeNepveu about planning for the future of the practice.

Urban.com.au: Firstly congratulations on your promotions to the position of partner within the practice. With Les Clarke stepping down how do you both see your respective roles evolving; Jordan in community, retail &amp; mixed use and Simon in education planning?

Jordan Curran: Les was a bit of a mentor for both Dean Landy and myself. His legacy in the retail, community sector will always be the idea that his work was always based around the end user and developing a real sense of community with his work.

I'm still involved with most of the retail and mixed-use, urban planning and design projects in the office and my role has now evolved with one of collaborating with Les for the least 7 years to taking on his work and adopting his ideas moving forward and exploring greater possibilities through innovation.

Simon LeNepveu: I would echo similar thoughts to Jordan. When Les founded ClarkeHopkinsClarke almost 60 years ago, it was founded as a practice that did a lot of work in education, which is what I specialize in.

I see my role now as taking Les' legacy - and we have been very fortunate to have him - and now stepping into the position of partner it's really about looking to take the work to the next level and pushing the boundaries with regard to what a school is and how that fits into the community and its role as both a community and city resource.

UM: How do you see those sectors evolving in the future? And what possibilities exist for innovation? Particularly with the move towards a vertical model of education.

SL: In terms of education there are some really exciting things happening both within Australia and here in Victoria. It's really starting to push boundaries about what a school is and re-imagine the traditional idea of a school as a 9 to 3:30 place but being a real active part of the community.

And as you mentioned there's been a recent shift towards a vertical model with quite a few in Melbourne in the works, one of which we're involved in and they're all looking at really inner city, dense sites and exploring how they might fit in within the urban fabric.

In a lot of ways it's very similar to the work Jordan does in retail and mixed-use and the idea of creating vibrant communities.

JC: With education we see that as an integral part of most of our town centres. We're currently working on about 3-4 town centres at the moment, new growth centres that would have community facilities, apartments, residential and we try to push education into that as a core part element and one which helps to activate other elements such as the retail - we want everyone spilling into the main street of town.

But what it means is that because there's not many community buildings being built at the moment, that's why from an education point of view we see that as an area in which to invest money from a community point of view - it's building a school.

UM: What sort of challenges do you think your respective sectors face with regard to issues such as population growth, for example, amongst others and what do you need to do as a practice to respond to these?

JC: For me the biggest challenge is keeping up with rapid growth and we want to be careful particularly in growth corridors where there's so much happening. And that's why important in the work we do; the community, mixed-use, education that it all comes together to form these vibrant communities.

What we don't want to be involved in is areas of rapid growth and they essentially become dormitory suburbs.

We actually want to bring all the work at CHC across all the sectors and bring it in to really create these active community hubs and great places where people want to be. That's part of our greater focus and we focus on key sectors which we always try to bring as many as we can to the table in the first stage.

So we try and masterplan and bring as many of these key pieces - medical, education, retail, townhouses, SOHO type townhouses etc - into stage one to create that buzz.

With retail another key challenge is online shopping so the focus becomes about creating a sense of place; somewhere you actually want to be and interact with others. A lot of that comes down to food and beverage, children's play areas and the use of fine grain materials such as timbers, bricks and different types of textures.

UM: Does CHC harbour ambitions to expand the Melbourne office in size and beyond that into other markets both in Australia or internationally?

SL: That's part of the discussion we've been having in the office and we've been invited to do a some projects in South Australia, Queensland where we are looking at some aged care projects and we've even designed a school in Indonesia, in addition to a few in New Zealand as well. Up until now it hasn't really been a core focus outside of Victoria but that's definitely an area of opportunity in the future.

How any interstate or international expansion will most likely manifest is with a Melbourne base and then satellite offices. Part of that ties into the research that we do and not just having the best research of the projects we're doing in Victoria but if we want to be considered leaders then we need to be analysing projects nationwide and globally.

So we want to be in those markets testing things out.

<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/image3_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Soho Village Point Cook is a pending ClarkeHopkinsClarke project"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="371" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image3_4.jpg?itok=a0znqudg" title="Soho Village Point Cook is a pending ClarkeHopkinsClarke project" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Soho Village Point Cook is a pending ClarkeHopkinsClarke project</figcaption></figure>UM: And lastly can you speak a bit about some of the projects that you're both working on in the office?

JC: In terms of the retail mixed-use, SOHO Village in Point Cook is one that we're working on and that's a bit of a test case for Wyndham City Council and UDIA. What we have tried to do is create an urban precinct in Point Cook which is very much car-centric.

We were able to get them to rebrand the IGA as the Village Pantry, we've got a boutique grocer, specialty shops, medical centre, yoga studio, apartments, townhouses, there's a church that also functions with childcare and conference facilities and then an office building which has some flexible desks you can actually rent out.

So the idea of this urban precinct is that you can live there and have everything at your doorstep. The apartments are the first in Point Cook and have all sold off the plan - it's been incredibly successful. Almost everything we try to push in terms of mixed-use developments we've put every piece of the puzzle into it and people have really bought into the idea of living in an urban village.

A lot of developers are taking notice of the project and we're looking at replicating the model in a lot of greenfield suburbs - looking at a bit of SOHO in every greenfield site we're working on in Victoria. The project is around 90% complete with completion expected in the next 3 months.

SL: One of the vertical schools we're working on is the new Beaumaris Secondary College on an existing school site and it's a very exciting project actually. It's different to some of the other vertical schools in the sense that you don't really think of Beaumaris in an urban context and even though it's quite a big site and one of the things that has made it interesting is some of the partnerships that are involved.

The school is a joint venture between The Department of Education and the Melbourne Cricket Club with the MCC developing a high performance training centre on the site as part of the JV and providing sports facilities and because they require so much space it has necessitated that the school be a multi-level school.

The project is about creating interaction between the wider urban precinct and it's an interesting area down with the site being formerly a part of Sandringham College which is a multi-campus school with two other campuses. This particular campus really struggled in the Beaumaris community and lacked its own real sense of identity and competing with private schools nearby so the Department is using this as a flagship case along with the other vertical schools.
</body></html>

ClarkeHopkinsClarke looks to the future

<html><body>
The City of Melbourne is looking to accelerate plans for improvements to Elizabeth Street between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane. As part of its actions for 2016-17, Council aims to consult with relevant stakeholders on the Draft Elizabeth Street Strategic Opportunities Plan, in addition to investigating and producing design options for improvements to the southern end of Elizabeth Street.

Despite being one of the most important entry points into the city and the retail core, this section of Elizabeth Street is characterised by poor urban design, an absence of trees, soft and hard landscape and constrained footpaths which results in a compromised pedestrian experience. Additionally the current state of the tram turnaround area and shelters detracts from the visual and historical significance of Flinders Street Station.

Traffic analysis undertaken by Council indicates that there are very low motor vehicle volumes in this section of Elizabeth Street, particularly southbound. According to Council the majority of vehicles which currently travel south on this section of Elizabeth Street can use alternate routes to reach their intended destination.

In contrast, pedestrian volumes are high and growing exponentially, driven in part by growth in public transport patronage.

<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/flinders-st-071111025.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Elizabeth Street's current state. Image: Culture Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/flinders-st-071111025.jpg?itok=jTtOqqjD" title="Elizabeth Street's current state. Image: Culture Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Elizabeth Street's current state. Image: Culture Victoria</figcaption></figure>These numbers suggest that there exists an opportunity for Council to reallocate space currently used for the southbound vehicle carriageway and parking to provide a more generous space for pedestrians on the east side. City of Melbourne is considering a range of design improvement possibilities that extend from street lighting, tree planting, landscaping and furniture placement that need to be considered in line with best practice Safer by Design considerations.

Streetscape improvements in the area are intended to provide a number of benefits to the city including an improved pedestrian experience, improved amenity and presentation of this historically and culturally significant part of Melbourne.

Public Transport Victoria (PTV) is required to replace some tram tracks in the southern end of Elizabeth Street and plans to do this in early 2017. Council officers are working with PTV to better understand the opportunities to take advantage of the track works to improve the surrounding area as a fully coordinated approach.

Council proposes a program of targeted stakeholder consultation to be undertaken from 3 to 31 August 2016. The aim is to understand all the issues pertinent to formulating a design outcome for the area.

Issues are likely to include loading and deliveries, property access, stormwater management, the condition of subsurface infrastructure, bicycle access plus accessible tram boarding and alighting.

The outcomes of the consultation along with a recommendation for the next steps on the project are expected to be presented to the Future Melbourne Committee following the 2016 Council elections. This would include implications for the remainder of Elizabeth Street to inform the Draft Elizabeth Street Strategic Opportunities Plan.

<h2>Stage one: Targeted stakeholder engagement</h2>

The feedback from stage one will help the City of Melbourne develop achievable design options for Elizabeth Street South which have broad support from key stakeholders. Additionally, it will assist in developing an optimal phase two engagement process into which the wider community can have input.

To assist with these activities, materials explaining the rationale for the project and the existing site conditions will be produced.

The purpose of the stage one engagement is to help share with the community council's intention to proceed with the road discontinuance in addition to:

<ul>
<li>Explaining the site’s complexities, constraints and opportunities.</li>
	<li>Collecting stakeholder insights and information.</li>
	<li>Understanding and addressing any concerns raised.</li>
	<li>Investigating further the site conditions/constraints.</li>
	<li>Maximising the City of Melbourne’s ability to collaborate to ensure the best possible outcome for the site.</li>
</ul>
A report detailing the outcomes of the stage one engagement will be prepared and presented to Future Melbourne Committee in late 2016.

<h2>Stage two: Broad community engagement</h2>

A series of design options will be developed following stage one and the broader community will be engaged to provide feedback on these in early 2017. This will provide input to assist with the finalisation of the new streetscape design for Elizabeth Street South.

<h2>Comment</h2>

This isn't the first time someone has suggested improvements to this section of Elizabeth Street. Gilbert Rochecouste, founder and managing director of Village Well, and widely recognised as the man who turned Melbourne's neglected and decrepit laneways into a globally renowned attraction has previously suggested tearing up Elizabeth Street, and incorporating and revitalising the hidden waterway under it that runs down to the Yarra River, known as Williams Creek.

<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/station_snip.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Elizabeth Street reimagined. Image courtesy of Thad Patradoon via The Age, March 5 2015"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="385" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/station_snip.png?itok=fkm_0VzJ" title="Elizabeth Street reimagined. Image courtesy of Thad Patradoon via The Age, March 5 2015" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Elizabeth Street reimagined. Image courtesy of Thad Patradoon via The Age, March 5 2015</figcaption></figure>While his concept extended beyond the boundaries of the current study area, the idea of removing vehicular traffic in both directions and perhaps through to perhaps Collins Street may have some merit and it would be good to know that Council has at least considered every possibility and opportunity.

While certainly ambitious it certainly would represent the next stage in Melbourne's evolution: replacing defunct or underutilised infrastructure with landscape and public spaces. Similar improvements have previously been foreshadowed for Southbank Boulevard, City Road and Stage 2 of the Sandridge Bridge transforming it into a High Line style linear park: yet none of these is yet to see the light of day.

This area of Elizabeth Street provides the bookend to the Queen Victoria Market Precinct and both carry significant cultural and historical importance to Melbourne. High quality pedestrian environments and spaces at these particular key locations are critical for they have been long neglected and provide the doorsteps to two Melbourne icons and are also important interchange nodes for public transport patrons.

I'd love to hear readers thoughts.
</body></html>

City of Melbourne gets ball rolling on Elizabeth Street South

<html><body>
<a href="http://gardenstatehotel.com.au/">Garden State Hotel</a> is a highly impressive, purpose-built four storey bar and hospitality venue at 101 Flinders Lane. Formerly the site of iconic ’80s and ’90s hospitality venue Rosati, and once a beacon for the city’s social scene, Garden State Hotel is now owned and operated by Sand Hill Road, the hospitality group behind a string of successful high-end pubs including Bridge Hotel, Richmond Club Hotel, Terminus Hotel and Prahran Hotel.

As with the reinvention of these now iconic venues, Sand Hill Road has once again tasked <a href="/architects/techne-architecture-interior-design">Technē</a> with transforming the venue into the Garden State Hotel.

Technē has completely redesigned the venue while preserving its distinctive exterior as well as other elements of the building's fabric, itself a heritage Victorian era building that began life as a textile mill in 1896. New materials enhance, compliment and draw on the existing characteristics of the site, while displaying an aesthetic very much in the vein of Technē's previous works.

The Technē design centres on a large multi-level beer garden, an oasis of sorts in the middle of the <a href="/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne CBD</a> and a far cry from the multi-level hotel once proposed for the site.

<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/shr_gardenstatehtl_-smg_252862.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Interconnectivity is at the heart of the Garden State Hotel's design. Image courtesy Sand Hill Road"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/shr_gardenstatehtl_-smg_252862.jpg?itok=oMQrLHQV" title="Interconnectivity is at the heart of the Garden State Hotel's design. Image courtesy Sand Hill Road" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Interconnectivity is at the heart of the Garden State Hotel's design. Image courtesy Sand Hill Road</figcaption></figure>Instead a series of spaces - a procession of contraction, expansion and again contraction - beginning with the front bar are evident. These are tied together by a timber pergola structure which reinforces the importance and role of the central courtyard filled with plants and trees. Reflecting this verdant theme, the name Garden State Hotel borrows Victoria’s century-old state title, ‘The Garden State’.

Urban.com.au met with Technē director Justin Northrop for a tour of the venue, who described the project, built by <a href="/builders/schiavello-constructions">Schiavello Constructions</a>, as an unprecedented opportunity to reinvigorate a substantial CBD site for the hospitality sector.

The 2,000sqm project has a capacity for 840 guests, and preserves much of the original textile factory’s saw tooth roof while opening its central bays to form a terraced beer garden that has the feel of a Victorian conservatory, one which encourages exploration and discovery of its various spaces.

The contemporary pub is a versatile space, with different rooms and areas to support varied audiences and functions as pubs are traditionally very much voyeuristic places.

<blockquote>
Within the Melbourne CBD there is probably no other hospitality venue, based on the spirit of a pub, that offers a comparable variety of spaces and experiences under the one roof. Additionally we are able to work effortlessly with Sand Hill Road, having developed effective communication, trust and understanding over a number of years.

For Garden State Hotel, together we explored planning diagrams in three dimensional models because the vertical connection between spaces is so critical to encourage patrons to move throughout the whole venue.

<cite>- Justin Northrop, Technē director</cite>
</blockquote>

According to Northrop, one of the challenges the site presented was the change in level between Flinders Lane and Duckboard Place to the rear. This presented an opportunity for the project to act as a mediator, helping patrons negotiate this level change through their movement through the spaces with the central courtyard allowing for circular traffic through and around while creating lines of sight from one space to the next.

<blockquote>
All spaces have an outlook… the project's biggest gesture is interconnection.

<cite>- Justin Northrop, Technē director</cite>
</blockquote>

<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/shr_gardenstatehtl_-smg_253225.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The front bar which greets visitors at the entry from Flinders Lane. Image courtesy Sand Hill Road"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/shr_gardenstatehtl_-smg_253225.jpg?itok=lE7MjqD2" title="The front bar which greets visitors at the entry from Flinders Lane. Image courtesy Sand Hill Road" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The front bar which greets visitors at the entry from Flinders Lane. Image courtesy Sand Hill Road</figcaption></figure>In addition to the multi-level beer garden at its core, the project involved the creation of a street level public bar at the front of the site. It was critical that patrons arriving at the front were greeted by a member of the bar staff.

While the front bar is still likely to be a vibrant community watering hole, bespoke dining areas and private function rooms create opportunities where the pub now services the entire hospitality spectrum, from casual get-togethers to finer dining and corporate events. The venue is very much egalitarian, says Northrop with everyone and anyone welcome.

He expects a broad patronage, underpinned largely by professionals in adjoining buildings, but sees the venue as "somewhere you could also bring your mother for lunch."

A self contained dining area dubbed Garden Grill, inspired by the bistros of New York and France, borders the courtyard and features the Raw Bar, serving Melbourne’s freshest seafood. The ambience is soft and warm with a strong sense of tradition.

The basement-level Rose Garden is an intimate cocktail bar with chandeliers, eclectic antique wall décor, repurposed oregon purlins and giant rose motifs hand-painted by local artisans and can be accessed off Duckboard Place. Northrop describes the space as very much as a mash up of old and new.

<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/shr_gardenstatehtl_-smg_252762.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Rose Garden located in the basment. Image courtesy Sand Hill Road"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/shr_gardenstatehtl_-smg_252762.jpg?itok=l3yQo_pc" title="The Rose Garden located in the basment. Image courtesy Sand Hill Road" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Rose Garden located in the basment. Image courtesy Sand Hill Road</figcaption></figure>New concrete columns support the upstairs kitchen and the other upper level spaces including the Balcony Dining Room, for small group bookings. The Observatory is the venue’s premier functions space, which will hold up to 120 people in a light-filled room with views onto both the garden below and over to the city outside.

What Garden State Hotel shares in common with other Technē and Sand Hill Road projects is a dynamism evident in its various internal spaces. Technē’s design for Garden State Hotel links vertically integrated spaces across four levels both physically and visually, encouraging a sense of exploration and movement throughout the venue.

I encourage all Melburnians to get down to Garden State Hotel and explore for themselves, and at the very least appreciate the nuances in the design.
</body></html>

Garden State Hotel (Previously Known as Rosati)

<html><body>
It's not often you return from an overseas trip to be greeted with a letter from City of Yarra pertaining to a Planning Application for a significant development down the street.

Planners <a href="https://urbis.com.au/">Urbis</a> on behalf of <a href="http://www.bamfa.com.au/">Bamfa Properties</a> has submitted a combined planning permit application and planning scheme amendment to pave the way forward for a significant mixed-use scheme. A 12-storey and 10-storey building with associated 3-storey podia at 462-482 Swan Street is proposed adjacent to Burnley Station on an approximately 4,658sqm site.

The <a href="http://elenbergfraser.com/">Elenberg Fraser</a> designed scheme replaces five Edwardian cottages and a series of light industrial 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/site_plan_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Site Plan. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="273" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/site_plan_0.jpg?itok=bCD0BOSx" title="Site Plan. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Site Plan. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>Overall the site has a 80 metre frontage to Swan Street/Burnley Station and a 57 metre frontage along the Burnley Street service road. The site is currently zoned as Commercial 2 with the amendment seeking a change of use to Commercial 1, befitting the site's role as a gateway to Burnley Station and the Burnley Station Village.

A change in use to Commercial 1 would also help to facilitate a complementary mix of commercial, entertainment, community and residential uses which encourage activity and supports improvements of the public realm.

The applicants argue that the nature of the site, being on a prominent corner adjacent to two key transport corridors lends itself to the building which is argued is in keeping with recommendations of the Swan Street Structure Plan (March 2012).

<blockquote>
The Swan Street Structure Plan envisages this site to be the gateway of the Burnley Precinct and an appropriate located for a mixed use high density development.
<cite>Urbis Planning Report</cite>
</blockquote>

The design employs strong curvilinear forms to both podium and L-shaped tower elements, with bronze glazing and planter boxes a feature of the development's primary facades. These combined with vertical timber shading screens provide the building with warmth.

At street level clear gazing allows for visual connection from street to retail tenancies within, while silver glazing provides a counterpoint and contrasting feature to rear facades.

A supermarket with frontage to Swan Street is most prominent, with three smaller tenancies rounding out the retail mix.

Apartment typologies within 462-482 Swan Street range from 96 x 1 bedroom apartments of 45-49sqm; 20 x 1 bedroom+ apartments of 50-59sqm and 127 x 2 bedroom+ apartments of 60-79sqm.

<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/ground_floor.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ground level retail plan. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="346" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ground_floor.jpg?itok=O6e2bAmF" title="Ground level retail plan. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ground level retail plan. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>Car and bicycle parking is limited to lower basement up to level 02 with a wrap of active use (residential or commercial) to the two primary facades of the podium. A shared rooftop garden sits atop level 3 of the podium providing all apartments with some degree of outlook, either to the street or internal rooftop garden area.

<h2>462-482 Swan Street application summary</h2>

<ul>
<li>8-10 storey east tower and 10-12 storey west tower</li>
	<li>Maximum height of 40.95 metres</li>
	<li>243 apartments</li>
	<li>3-storey podia</li>
	<li>3,175sqm supermarket at ground level</li>
	<li>Smaller retail tenancies of between 71-84sqm, totalling 227sqm</li>
	<li>Three office tenancies to first floor, 60-250sqm in size</li>
	<li>366sqm gymnasium and 348sqm swimming pool</li>
	<li>445 carparking spaces and 339 bicycle spaces</li>
	<li>Eight bike spaces to Swan Street (four bike share) and eight bike spaces to Burnley Street</li>
	<li>New pedestrian plaza created along Bumley Street and streetscape improvements (including widening) to Swan Street.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Comment</h2>

As a resident who lives within 200 metres of the proposed development, I support the aspirations of the development. The project presents an opportunity to create a cohesive and coherent streetscape which at present is compromised by the light industrial properties along both Swan and Burnley Streets.

Additionally the development has the potential to act as a catalyst for further streetscape improvements and development to Swan Street west of Burnley 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/street_level.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Street level activation to Swan Street and Burnley Street respectively. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="173" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/street_level.jpg?itok=D44y4369" title="Street level activation to Swan Street and Burnley Street respectively. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Street level activation to Swan Street and Burnley Street respectively. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>In terms of heritage sensitivities, no overlay applies to any of the existing structures which comprise the development site, and the overall benefits to both the passengers accessing Burnley Station and surrounding residents via provision of a supermarket and retail activation to Burnley far outweigh the loss of the Edwardian dwellings.

The site is well serviced both via Burnley Station and the number 75 tram which operates along Swan Street. Further, the eight bicycle spaces proposed to both Burnley and Swan Street - four of which are bike share - reinforce Swan Street as a critical cycling route as well as the site's connectivity to the Yarra City Trail.

<h2>462-482 Swan Street development team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer: Bamfa Properties</li>
	<li>Architect: Elenberg Fraser</li>
	<li>Planner: Urbis</li>
	<li>Traffic: GTA Consultants</li>
	<li>Waste Management: Leigh Design</li>
	<li>ESD: Sustainability</li>
	<li>Landscape Concept: ERM</li>
	<li>Wind: Vicpac Engineers &amp; Scientists</li>
	<li>Acoustics: Acoustic Logic</li>
</ul>
 
</body></html>

Swan Street sizes up: 462-482 Swan Street, Richmond

<html><body>
Located on the corner of Millswyn Street and Toorak Road West, The Millswyn offers 10 grandly proportioned residences from $3.9 million to $13+ million in the Domain precinct, bounded by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Fawkner Park.

The development presents a rare opportunity to acquire large contemporary private residences in one of South Yarra’s most prestigious precincts just five minutes’ walk from the 'Tan' running track and Domain village; a minute to Fawkner Park; three kilometres from Collins Street and a kilometre from the centre of South Yarra.

The Millswyn has been designed by one of Australia's leading architects, Rob Mills who has employed historic architectural principles, most notably the ‘Golden Mean Ratio’ to give The Millswyn harmonious proportions with a sense of monumentality informed by the renaissance architecture and the architecture of Le Corbusier.

<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/rob_mills_21.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Architect Rob Mills"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="820" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/rob_mills_21.jpg?itok=bRj9SVfe" title="Architect Rob Mills" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Architect Rob Mills</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
Golden mean is the ratio that is the guiding geometric principle of the Parthenon, renaissance Architecture and the modernist architecture of Le Corbusier. The Millswyn embodies the Golden Mean geometry particularly the first floor facade where each window are proportioned by the Golden Mean and place side by side to create the defining rhythm of the facade. In contrast the ground floor is constructed of sheets of glass thus allowing the rhythm and simplicity of the first floor facade to stand-alone. Finally the third level is setback once again to create space for the first floor façade.
We aspired to create a monumental building that drew inspiration from Barry Patton (of Yuncken Freeman)'s Treasury Place as well as the grille of a Rolls Royce - both powerful images - which result in a confident design.
<cite>Rob Mills, Architect</cite>
</blockquote>

Speaking to Apartments.com.au, Mills described the practice's role was to "capture the imagination of the client."

The building despite being larger than the homes Mills' practice typically designs is still based on the same principles as it is in effect 10 residences within a single skin. The target demographic is also largely the same: a downsizer market made up largely of baby boomers looking for an "aspirational purchase" and a simpler life that allows them to retain their seaside or country side holiday properties.

Input was sought from agents who worked closely with the project team to finalise the design with Mills in particular remarking that it "was beneficial to seek other opinions and external input."

Formerly, The Albany Hotel site - a 3-storey 1960s motel - The Millswyn will be built in the grounds of Millswyn Court. The development will retain and incorporate the historic Victorian Italianate mansion built in 1886 for one of South Yarra’s original settlers, James Gatehouse.

The motel has since been demolished to allow for construction to commence on site. According to Mills the new and the old were initially separated but will now sit comfortably together. The mansion will go to the market in approximately two months.

The design shares a lot of elements and characteristics evident from Renaissance architecture including the articulation of the three storeys. Glass has been purposely used to float the building above the ground, so your eye is taken to the mid level of the building.

You get an uninterrupted view of the façade as the guiding geometry of the project is based on the Golden Mean. The exterior of the building is clad in Italian limestone providing colour and durability and reinforcing the connection to classical architecture.

Joining Mills on the project is garden design guru to the rich and prominent: landscape architect Paul Bangay. Mills and Bangay took a genuinely collaborative approach to the project.

Often spending three hours a week together in isolation in Mills' studio it was critical to the design that the approach to nature and the architecture was one of harmony, with the landscape elements complimenting and adding to the experience of the architecture both externally and internally.

<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/gabrielsaunders_millswyn-ssw-living.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Interior render showing green outlook. Image courtesy of Marshall White"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/gabrielsaunders_millswyn-ssw-living.jpg?itok=4aIgyynQ" title="Interior render showing green outlook. Image courtesy of Marshall White" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Interior render showing green outlook. Image courtesy of Marshall White</figcaption></figure>It was important to both Mills and Bangay that residents were "in touch with nature and were provided with a green outlook whether it was views to the trees along the street or planters to the upper levels, it completely changes the environment of the residences".

By minimising the amount of paving and maximising the landscape the amount of glare within the residences is significantly reduced.

The residences offer purchasers the full amenity of a high-end Rob Mills designed home: three bedrooms, luxurious main bedroom suite with a spacious walk-in wardrobe and en suite, large entertainment kitchens with island benches, en suite bathrooms, guest powder rooms, separate laundries, gracious arrival foyers, landscaped terraces or courtyards and secure parking for two to four cars in private garages. The design of the residences allows rooms to be used for many purposes. "The key is understanding that furniture has equal value in what you're creating," says Mills. 

Some layouts include a scullery area or full butler’s pantry and/or a separate study /second living area. The extra high ceilings are 3 to 3.24m, accentuated by full-height windows and doors and inbuilt pelmets. Extensive internal floorplans range from 207 to 404sqm and the eight large ground and first level residences have private outdoor living areas of 24 to 96sqm and are afforded filtered tree line views to the east.

On the upper level the two penthouses have rooftop terraces of 145 and 207sqm accessed via sculptural spiral staircases, another signature of Rob Mills work, with outdoor kitchen and entertainment space.

The arrival experience is consistent through from ground floor arrival through to the private lift. The fit-out of these spaces matches that of the apartments. Residents and guests alike entering the penthouses are greeted on arrival with sunlight soaked spaces and views of gardens beyond.

Finishes are in keeping with the high-end nature of the penthouse with luxury Italian marble wrapping around island benches, kitchen benchtops and splashbacks with bathroom walls, floors and vanities.

French grey American oak floorboards flow through living areas with pure wool carpets to bedrooms. Two pack joinery features bronzed accents and the Miele kitchen appliances include two ovens, induction cooktop and integrated refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher with a Qasair rangehood. Penthouses also have direct access to their 4 car garage via private lifts which service only those residences. One of the penthouses has already been sold.

Prospective purchasers can view the project by appointment at Marshall White; Level 1, 1111 High Street, Armadale. The project is under development by the Pask Group with completion anticipated in January 2018.

For Mills The Millswyn presents the next stage of evolution in the practice's work with further projects on the drawing board in Melbourne with Sydney's waterfront next on the horizon.
</body></html>

Not your run of the Mill apartment: The Millswyn

<html><body>
With a number of significant projects wrapping up construction within Docklands and the end of the financial year imminent, the half way point of 2017 seems like a good time to take a closer look a the state of affairs within Docklands.

Probuild and Hickory have all but wrapped up external construction on their respective builds Marina Tower and Banksia along the NewQuay promenade with just the internal fit-outs to be completed.

Their completion will leave the just begun Elm and Stone as the sole building within NewQuay under construction. It will eventually be followed by a Six Degrees-designed 20-storey building carrying 172 apartments to be located on Lot 5 at 375-381 Docklands Drive.

<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/newquay_june17.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="As Marina Tower and Banksia wind down, Elm and Stone gets underway. Images Mark Baljak and Redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="202" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/newquay_june17.jpg?itok=bDTM5FY-" title="As Marina Tower and Banksia wind down, Elm and Stone gets underway. Images Mark Baljak and Redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>As Marina Tower and Banksia wind down, Elm and Stone gets underway. Images Mark Baljak and Redden</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
The design is intended to build from the successful aspect of the CBD including diversity in the façade designs, access to natural light and ventilation and the incorporation of public spaces, arcades and lanes. We hope this will be an exemplar for human scale development in Docklands.
<cite>Six Degrees Architects</cite>
</blockquote>

With that in mind, let's take a look at what is currently under construction in Docklands.

<h2>311 Spencer Street</h2>

Currently awaiting Ministerial approval for the proposed new headquarters of Victoria Police at 311 Spencer Street, site works have commenced in preparation for full scale construction of the 171 metre high tower once approval is granted.

<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/red_311sp.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Site works are slowly getting underway. Image: 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/red_311sp.jpg?itok=cpj3f6AT" title="Site works are slowly getting underway. Image: Redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Site works are slowly getting underway. Image: Redden</figcaption></figure><h2>839 Collins Street</h2>

Work is progressing on the new offices of ANZ along the banks of the Yarra at Victoria Harbour. Designed by DCM, the 21-storey office tower is about to begin its ascent out of the ground with the erection of dual tower cranes and the formation of the core pit.

<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/839_collins_street.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The core pit is being formed and two cranes have now been installed on site. Image: Glennwilson at OzScrapers"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/839_collins_street.jpg?itok=fr9o0K34" title="The core pit is being formed and two cranes have now been installed on site. Image: Glennwilson at OzScrapers" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The core pit is being formed and two cranes have now been installed on site. Image: Glennwilson at OzScrapers</figcaption></figure><h2>No. 1 Collins Wharf</h2>

The first stage of the Collins Wharf sub precinct which extends all the way along the remaining undeveloped tract of Victoria Harbour peninsula, is making steady progress with the core box now ready to begin its rise to an eventual height of 90 metres.

<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/gw_915c.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Site progress at No 1 Collins Wharf, Victoria Harbour. Image: 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/gw_915c.jpg?itok=gG88LJOz" title="Site progress at No 1 Collins Wharf, Victoria Harbour. Image: Redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Site progress at No 1 Collins Wharf, Victoria Harbour. Image: Redden</figcaption></figure><h2>Tower 5 Collins Square</h2>

With the tower going momentarily on hold following completion of the 'podium' structure while Walker Corporation scoured for tenants in the building, it's now very much full steam ahead with the last puzzle in the Collins Square jigsaw set to be completed next year.

<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/t5cs.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The final tower at Collins Square is making up for lost time. Image: 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/t5cs.jpg?itok=HgPiC5gJ" title="The final tower at Collins Square is making up for lost time. Image: Redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The final tower at Collins Square is making up for lost time. Image: Redden</figcaption></figure><h2>One Melbourne Quarter</h2>

And finally, the first stage of Melbourne Quarter is quickly rising above Collins Street and upon completion will become the new home of global consulting firm Arup and will include a publically accessible skygarden hovering over Collins Street. Two other commercial towers will round out the commercial neighbourhood to Collins Street while the first of three residential towers which comprise the Flinders Street neighbourhood are yet to begin 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/june_pic.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="One Melbourne Quarter Construction progress. Image: Lendlease"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/june_pic.jpg?itok=UasUIJYe" title="One Melbourne Quarter Construction progress. Image: Lendlease" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>One Melbourne Quarter Construction progress. Image: Lendlease</figcaption></figure> 

 

Other projects which should commence in the next six months include Salta's build-to-rent development at 695 LaTrobe Street which includes and Indigo Hotel and Mirvac's Voyager residential tower at Yarra's Edge.


As mentioned in an article a few weeks ago, we'll continue to test hosting parts of the Apartments.com.au model on the site to complement other content, such as a construction update in this instance.

<figure><div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper"><iframe allowfullscreen="" allowvr="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="true" onmousewheel="" src="https://sketchfab.com/models/069f9f80fdb04cababdf53701efadbc6/embed" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="640"></iframe></div>

<figcaption><a href="https://sketchfab.com/models/069f9f80fdb04cababdf53701efadbc6?utm_medium=embed&amp;utm_source=website&amp;utm_campaign=share-popup">Melbourne Docklands</a> by <a href="https://sketchfab.com/urbmelb?utm_medium=embed&amp;utm_source=website&amp;utm_campaign=share-popup">Urban.com.au</a> on <a href="https://sketchfab.com?utm_medium=embed&amp;utm_source=website&amp;utm_campagin=share-popup">Sketchfab</a></figcaption></figure>
</body></html>

Docklands construction update June 2017 (with 3D)

<html><body>
Dublin was a city that really impressed me, particularly for its size and with little reliance on major landmarks unlike other cities. It's relatively flat, much like Melbourne and very walkable.

It's airport in particularly the relatively recent T2 is also quite impressive: clean, modern and generally easy to navigate around.

Again the Airlink bus service is once again probably your best bet for traveling into the city centre. The next day I found out the location of my hotel was within an area of the city that housed many of the embassies, including - you guessed it - the Australian Embassy.

<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/image_7.jpeg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Australian Embassy and surrounds. Notice the lack of sausage sizzle"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="580" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image_7.jpeg?itok=8ohvNnxt" title="The Australian Embassy and surrounds. Notice the lack of sausage sizzle" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Australian Embassy and surrounds. Notice the lack of sausage sizzle</figcaption></figure>As I had yet to vote in the Federal election I thought what better way to cast my very first vote from abroad than do it in Dublin with a sausage sizzle to boot. I was disappointed to learn that there was no sausage sizzle but also no queue to speak of, I was in and out in two minutes.

I don't know about anyone else but I consider the lack of sausage sizzle at a voting station, albeit abroad to be un-Australian particularly when friends in other cities were welcomed with them at Australian embassies.

Despite this I wouldn't allow the lack of sausage sizzle dampen my spirits, nor the drizzly weather which I had worked out by the end of my trip came in cycles every two hours.

One particular area I was keen to explore in cities which had them was their respective Docklands precincts. Moreso one's undergoing urban renewal, in order to form a better idea of where Melbourne's Docklands redevelopment sat in a global context.

The Dublin Docklands, in particular the area around Canal Square - south of the river - has been developed as a relatively low-rise business district with a sprinkling of residential apartment buildings and public spaces.

<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/image_8.jpeg" rel="gallery-all" title="Dublin Docklands, north and south of the river."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="580" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image_8.jpeg?itok=GvHDHUc6" title="Dublin Docklands, north and south of the river." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Dublin Docklands, north and south of the river.</figcaption></figure>Aside from voting and checking out the docks renewal, I had very little else planned in terms of must see items. Instead I set off on foot with no particular destination or plan of attack save for stopping at a pub for a pint of Guinness or two and trying to stay dry!

The aim was to see where the streets would take me and what I'd discover along the way.

Not surprisingly (and much to my delight) the primary streetscapes were lined with buildings of masonry construction not unlike Edinburgh.

The main point of difference however, was the greater variation in colour and texture which made for more visually pleasant streets, even when grey skies loomed large overhead.

Branching off the primary street network of the city are a series of alleys and laneways with retail activation with pedestrians the primary users. This further added to the city's walkability and to the overall experience of exploring the city.

Moments of street art also popped up occasionally on the sides of buildings providing further visual interest to the streets and laneways.

<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/image_9.jpeg" rel="gallery-all" title="The streets of Dublin"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="580" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image_9.jpeg?itok=5vzLJCPQ" title="The streets of Dublin" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The streets of Dublin</figcaption></figure>If you're thinking of visiting Dublin or haven't been I would highly recommend it. Look out for my two-part story on London next week. In the meantime, you can keep up to date with my travels <a href="https://twitter.com/dragomeister">on Twitter</a>.
</body></html>

Winter Escape Episode III: Dublin

Longstanding Gold Coast and Canberra developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/morris-property-group">Morris Property Group</a> is continuing to roll on with its Glitter Strip apartment pipeline, seeking to return to Mermaid Beach with a new 68-apartment development.

Morris, founded by Barry Morris in 1978 and one of the Gold Coast’s most prolific apartment developers over the past two decades, has filed plans for a 12-storey mixed-use building at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/36-seabeach-avenue-mermaid-beach-qld-4218">34-36 Seabeach Avenue</a>, on the prized eastern side of the Gold Coast Highway.

The 1,227 sqm site occupies a prominent corner position at Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway, opposite the Mermaid Plaza retail and office precinct and around 140 metres walking distance from the future Mermaid Beach South light rail station.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser &amp; Partners</a> has designed the project, which will comprise 68 apartments across a mix of 48 two-bedroom and 20 three-bedroom residences.

The building will rise 12 storeys, reaching a maximum height of 36 metres, with the apartments accounting for a total of 156 bedrooms. The development application also seeks approval for short-term accommodation across the 68 apartments, while two office tenancies are proposed at ground level.

The plans show 108 car spaces across the development, with parking accommodated at ground level and within a three-level basement accessed from Seabeach Avenue.

<img alt="Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c2175c99-12fd-4a3c-9be1-89bbf258a90d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-20%20at%202.59.41%E2%80%AFPM_0.png?VersionId=iNLzWcE6gaAE76rafhEXfHve.4g4Se0p" />

Resident amenity will be concentrated on level two, where Fraser &amp; Partners has designed a recreation deck with a swimming pool, 90 sqm pool terrace, outdoor barbecue area and gym.

The broader communal offering will also incorporate landscaped spaces, with the planning documents noting the amenity has been designed to provide areas for recreation, social interaction and outdoor living.

The proposal would continue the transformation of the Gold Coast Highway corridor through Mermaid Beach ahead of the arrival of the light rail.

The site is zoned Neighbourhood Centre and sits within the Mermaid Beach/Broadbeach Light Rail Corridor neighbourhood plan. While the prescribed building height is 24 metres, the site is identified within an Urban Neighbourhood context providing for a 50 per cent height uplift to 36 metres.

Planning documents describe the stretch of the Gold Coast Highway between Broadbeach and Nobby Beach as increasingly characterised by medium and high-rise development, with the proposed Morris tower joining projects including Ventura, The Alfred, Oceans and Otto.

<img alt="Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="911f193f-e381-4a55-be08-58be87fcf978" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-20%20at%202.59.48%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=oxVvLJaY.SOXEdXrIcogfyEXDfvCmmpM" />

The development would mark Morris Property Group's latest investment in Mermaid Beach, where it has already delivered two apartment projects.

Otto, at 1 Bondi Avenue on the western side of the Gold Coast Highway, comprises 70 apartments across nine storeys. The project was completed in 2019 and includes a residents' gym, recreation deck and swimming pool.

Morris also developed Oceans at 46 Ocean Street, a nine-storey, 70-apartment build-to-rent development completed in 2019. Oceans was the group's first build-to-rent project and incorporates commercial space at ground level.

The two existing Morris projects sit further north along the same Gold Coast Highway corridor as the proposed Seabeach Avenue development. Fraser &amp; Partners' planning analysis specifically identifies both Otto and Oceans among the established built-form precedents surrounding the site.

<img alt="Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="14925119-7b71-4812-8149-340317512c7c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-20%20at%203.00.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=aEJqYuw_nTCjcin17BSD0piB1EFotTlj" />

Mermaid Beach represents only part of Morris' considerable Gold Coast footprint.

The family-owned developer has been particularly active in neighbouring Broadbeach, delivering projects including Sierra Grand, Eclipse, Synergy, Qube, Koko, Opus and Malo, while its current pipeline includes Maison and the two-tower Crest development.

Further south, Morris has also developed a string of projects in Burleigh Heads, including Element, Boardwalk and Sandbar, while Essentia expanded its footprint north into Surfers Paradise.

The Seabeach Avenue application has been lodged by PMM Broadbeach Pty Ltd and seeks a development permit for a Material Change of Use for multiple dwellings, short-term accommodation and office uses. Zone Planning Group prepared the planning application, with Fraser &amp; Partners commissioned as architect.

The project comes as the developer continues to expand its Gold Coast pipeline while retaining a significant presence in Canberra. Morris now has more than $2.5 billion of development in its national pipeline and has delivered more than 7,000 homes during its near five-decade history

Joel Robinson

First look: Morris Property Group returns to Mermaid Beach with new Seabeach Avenue apartment development

<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3hvFB2uWTRfEyEcpTSnnK9" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis" target="_blank">Fortis</a>&nbsp;is continuing its stronghold on Sydn​ey’s eastern suburbs apartment market, launching&nbsp;in September&nbsp;its latest boutique&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/double-bay-nsw-2028&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0GI5S9-wNeiLUnM-d1uYkw" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/double-bay-nsw-2028" target="_blank">Double Bay</a>&nbsp;development,&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-william-double-bay-55-william-street-double-bay-nsw-2028&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2YNouJQcFjiTTgVHbgDLA-" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-william-double-bay-55-william-street-double-bay-nsw-2028" target="_blank">55 William</a>.

55 William presents&nbsp;just eight north-facing&nbsp;two-bedroom, three-bedroom and full-floor&nbsp;residences to the market, priced from $4.5 million.

The upcoming launch comes just weeks after Fortis secured approval for the $80 million development, its third eastern suburbs approval in two months. Construction is already underway, with completion targeted for 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376250]

55 William adds to a growing concentration of Fortis projects in and around Double Bay, a market the developer has become increasingly active in over recent years.

Fortis previously completed the nine-residence Marmont on New South Head Road, while it is currently developing a mixed-use residential and retail project at 12 Cross Street. Its wider Double Bay footprint also extends into commercial and retail development.

The developer's broader Sydney residential pipeline is particularly concentrated across the eastern suburbs, with projects spanning Doub​le Bay, Ro​se Bay, Wo​ollahra, Dar​ling Point, Poi​nt Piper and Eli​zabeth Bay.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376253]

At 55 William, Fortis has again turned to MHN Design Union, the architecture practice behind several of its eastern suburbs projects, while London-based 1508 London has been appointed to handle the interiors and Wyer &amp; Co the landscaping.

The six-level building will comprise a combination of two and three-bedroom apartments, including a garden residence, full-floor apartments, a sub-penthouse and penthouse. Each residence will have secure basement parking and private outdoor space.

A rooftop terrace for all residents, along with select apartments, enjoys views across Double Bay Harbour and toward the Sydney skyline.

Ceiling heights will reach up to three metres&nbsp;in select residences, while the kitchens will feature natural stone and integrated Gaggenau appliances.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The boutique nature of the project reflects the type of stock Fortis has increasingly targeted across Sydney's eastern suburbs, where larger apartments and smaller buildings are being pitched primarily toward local owner-occupiers and downsizers.

Fortis Group General Manager Ed Eve said the developer continues to see demand from buyers wanting to remain in the eastern suburbs but move into newer, lower-maintenance housing.

“We're seeing continued demand from local owner-occupiers and downsizers looking for high-quality homes that allow them to remain in the eastern suburbs, close to the lifestyle and community they know,” Eve said.

55 William is also one of the early projects to respond directly to the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms. Fortis had previously secured approval for just two townhouses on the 599 sqm site before revising the scheme to eight apartments following the planning changes.

Situated one street back from Double Bay's water's edge, the project enjoys an enviable harbourside setting within walking distance of Double Bay Village and the ferry wharf.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376252]

Fortis has increasingly made the eastern suburbs a major focus of its Sydney pipeline. Beyond Double Bay, it recently completed the 14-residence Piper in Point Piper and has projects underway or planned across Rose Bay, Woollahra and Darling Point.

The developer recently secured approval for Verano in Rose Bay, a six-level development comprising 21 two, three and four-bedroom apartments, also designed by MHNDU.

55 William&nbsp;is soon to be release to the market with VIP appointments commencing early September,&nbsp;with residences priced from $4.5 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152579]

Fortis continues eastern suburbs push with 55 William launch

UAE-based developer Arada has unveiled plans for a $2 billion twin-tower apartment development in Broadbeach, marking its first move into Queensland as it continues its rapid expansion across Australia.

Arada will develop 952 apartments across two towers on a prominent site opposite the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the project targeted for completion ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The project represents Arada's largest commitment to the Australian market since arriving in the country in 2024 and significantly expands a local pipeline that has now grown to eight projects and more than 5,000 homes.

It will also be the first major Queensland project delivered by Roberts Co since the tier-one contractor was acquired by Arada Group in 2025.

Plus Studio has designed the Broadbeach development, which will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two towers connected by a landscaped podium.

A significant resident amenity offering will include lagoon and lap pools, a gym, sauna and steam room, alongside a mist room, infrared room and salt scrub facilities. Communal terraces, private dining areas, a library, residents' lounge and work-from-home spaces are also planned. Around 1,200 sqm of retail and hospitality space will occupy the ground floor.

The site puts Arada in one of the Gold Coast's most active apartment markets, directly opposite the convention centre and within walking distance of Pacific Fair, The Star Gold Coast and Broadbeach's dining and retail precinct.

It also has immediate access to the Gold Coast light rail network and sits just a few blocks from the beach.

Arada Group Chief Executive Ahmed Alkhoshaibi said Broadbeach represented an opportunity for the developer to expand beyond its initial NSW pipeline.

“Broadbeach is a world-class address that gives us the canvas to create a community of exceptional design and lifestyle quality that genuinely enriches the daily lives of the people who call it home,” Alkhoshaibi said.

“This is our first development outside New South Wales, and it reflects our growing ambition to grow in key urban markets around the country.”

Alkhoshaibi said bringing Roberts Co into the project would give Arada greater control over the development and construction process.

“Delivering this project through Roberts Co, our own tier-one construction business, means we can bring the quality, pace and accountability that our buyers expect.”

The move into Broadbeach comes as Arada accelerates its Australian expansion following its entry into the market two years ago. The developer has assembled a pipeline of eight projects comprising more than 5,000 homes, while the acquisition of Roberts Co last year gave the group its own Australian construction capability.

Globally, Arada has a development portfolio valued at $50 billion comprising more than 55,000 homes across the UAE, United Kingdom and Australia.

The Gold Coast is emerging as the next major market for the developer, with strong population growth and infrastructure spending ahead of the 2032 Games continuing to underpin significant apartment development across the coastal strip.

Arada plots $2 billion Broadbeach towers in major Queensland move

Sydney’s downsizer market is changing, with a growing cohort of buyers prioritising the right home over simply finding a smaller one.

Coronation Property Head of Sales Cam Porter says the traditional idea of downsizing does not necessarily reflect what many buyers are now looking for, particularly those moving from established family homes across Sydney.

Instead, he says they are increasingly becoming “right-sizers”, seeking lower-maintenance homes without sacrificing the space, amenity or quality they have become accustomed to.

“We are increasingly seeing buyers who are not motivated by the idea of simply moving into a smaller property,” Porter says.

“They are right-sizers. They want a home that is easier to manage and better connected, but they still expect generosity, quality and a floorplan that supports the way they live.”

It is a subtle but important distinction in a market where apartment developers are increasingly targeting established owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377495]

For many of these buyers, moving from a house to an apartment is not driven by a desire to dramatically reduce their living space. Instead, the appeal is in removing some of the maintenance associated with a larger home while retaining generous living areas, storage and enough flexibility to accommodate family and friends.

Coronation’s sales team is seeing buyers place particular importance on natural light, practical storage and additional rooms that can be used as guest bedrooms, home offices or secondary living spaces.

Kitchens and dining areas are also playing an increasingly important role, particularly for buyers who regularly entertain or have children and grandchildren visit.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377494]

“These buyers still want their home to feel generous,” Porter says.

“They may want less maintenance, but they are not looking for less life.”

The challenge for the broader housing market is providing enough of the right stock to encourage that move.

While much of the discussion around Sydney’s housing shortage has centred on the number of homes being delivered, Porter says the diversity of those homes is equally important.

Older homeowners can remain in large family houses for longer when they cannot find an appropriate alternative in the neighbourhoods where they have built their lives.

“The decision is rarely as simple as wanting fewer bedrooms,” Porter says.

“People are weighing up their connection to a neighbourhood, the space they need for family, the quality of the home and whether it will continue to work for them over the long term.”

It also has implications beyond the downsizer market. Providing suitable apartments for smaller households can free up established houses for families who need the additional bedrooms and land, creating greater movement through the housing market.

<h2>Lillian targets the next stage of apartment buyer</h2>

It is a buyer Coronation is targeting at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lillian-erskineville-9-metters-street-erskineville-nsw-2043">Lillian</a>, its new collection of apartments, terraces and penthouses at Erskineville Village.

Designed by Silvester Fuller, Lillian has been shaped around larger living spaces, natural light and flexible floorplans, alongside landscaped areas, wellness amenity and communal spaces for residents.

The development will form part of Coronation’s broader Erskineville Village precinct, which will combine new homes with green space, retail, hospitality and new pedestrian connections.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377688]

McPherson Park will sit at the centre of the precinct, creating a significant new green space alongside the project’s retail and hospitality offering.

For Porter, the opportunity is to give buyers another housing option without forcing them to leave the part of Sydney they already know.

“People should be able to change the type of home they live in without having to change their entire life,” he says.

“For many buyers, Lillian offers the opportunity to remain connected to the Inner West and the city, while gaining access to a more convenient, walkable and considered way of living.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377687]

Coronation will explore the changing <a href="https://lillianresidences.com.au/news/lillian-x-space-x-downsizers-event-27-august/">right-sizer market at an event on August 27</a>, bringing together experts across property, design and lifestyle.

Held in partnership with SPACE, Poliform and Downsizer.com.au, the event will include a property market outlook from economist Michael Blythe alongside discussion around the considerations facing buyers planning their next move.

Attendees will also be able to learn more about the residences and amenity planned at Lillian Erskineville.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135149]

From downsizing to right-sizing: What Sydney buyers want from their next home

Family-owned builder and developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/omaya">Omaya</a> is bringing its 27-storey The Maybelle development to market, with the 229-apartment tower rising alongside Ismay Reserve near North Strathfield.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-maybelle-21-parramatta-road-homebush-nsw-2140">The Maybelle</a> will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with its height providing elevated outlooks towards the Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge, while other residences will look across neighbouring Ismay Reserve.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/squillace-architects">Squillace Architects</a>, the tower combines its parkside setting with proximity to the established retail, dining and transport amenity around North Strathfield.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376196]

Residences will feature open-plan living spaces and a choice of two interior schemes, while communal amenity is spread across two elevated levels of the building.

Level 8 will be home to the Garden Pavilion, a full-floor resident space incorporating communal entertaining and breakout areas, seating and recreation spaces. Further up the tower, a landscaped Sky Terrace on Level 14 will provide another communal area with panoramic views towards the Harbour Bridge and Sydney skyline.

At ground level, the development sits directly alongside Ismay Reserve, where lawns, walking paths, children's play areas, picnic spaces and recreational facilities extend the green space available immediately around the project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376194]

The Maybelle is also within walking distance of North Strathfield and the Bakehouse Quarter, which provides a mix of cafés, restaurants, shops and everyday services.

Existing rail and bus services provide connections across Sydney, while the future North Strathfield Metro and access to the M4 will add to the transport options available around the precinct. Walking and cycling routes also extend via Powells Creek towards Sydney Olympic Park and its sporting, entertainment and parkland precincts.

Families are also well positioned for access to a broad selection of established schools and education options across Strathfield and the surrounding Inner West.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376181]

Omaya has operated in Sydney for more than 35 years, managing projects from acquisition and design through to construction and delivery. The family-owned company is both developer and builder of The Maybelle.

Apartments start from $560,000, with the development protected by 10-year Latent Defects Insurance.

Construction is well underway, with completion expected by the end of 2026 and move-in anticipated from Q1 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134873]

Laurence Dragomir

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Laurence Dragomir

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News