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Last month developer <a href="http://www.mirvac.com/">Mirvac</a> lodged an application to build a 14 level office building atop its existing 8-storey car parking garage at <a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.821554,144.963366,3a,75y,317.97h,92.36t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1ss-5K7ZkgUzDK0dmWvkP24g!2e0">2 Riverside Quay</a>. Designed by <a href="http://www.fkaustralia.com/">Fender Katsalidis Architects</a>, the new structure would rise an additional 51.5m for an overall height of 78m to roof.
While not the most architecturally adventurous design, the proposed building (rightly or wrongly) doesn't look out of place amongst its older, shorter siblings fronting the promenade. Unfortunately I can't help but think suburban office park when I look at the renders.
On the bright side, however, it will go some way to helping enliven an otherwise barren area with provision for a considerably improved public realm. I will be focusing on the merits of the ground level aspect (pardon the pun, but not really) of the proposal first before taking a closer look at the office building.
<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/Riverside%20Square.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Proposed Riverside Square perspective. © Mirvac"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="292" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Riverside%20Square.jpg?itok=DxKTT6ZA" title="Proposed Riverside Square perspective. © Mirvac" width="580"></a>
<blockquote>
	Central to the vision, is the strategy to deliver a reconfigured destinational public space to the east of the existing carpark and to create a new urban space for Southbank, Riverside Square.
	By embedding a range of programs which respond to a wide range of users, Riverside Quay will be an exemplar of public placemaking. The strategy for the precinct is to deliver a series of ‘public spaces’ as a staged process, with Riverside Square being the first step and the laneways and intersecting public spaces to follow.
</blockquote>
Mirvac are proposing to deliver the <a href="http://aspect.net.au/">ASPECT Studio</a>'s designed masterplan in partnership with the City of Melbourne, with the design approach centred on the following key themes and intentions/motivations:
<ul>
<li>
		Draw People In: An invitation to draw people into a stimulating and intimate experience - connected with Eureka Skydeck, Southgate, the promenade and the broader Southbank neighbourhood.</li>
	<li>
		Sequence of Public Rooms: A choice of activities and ambiences that appeal to many people at all times of the day and year, including significant residential, family, worker and visitor populations.</li>
	<li>
		Animated, Fine Grained &amp; Human Centred Design: Provide ample opportunities for people to linger, recreate and converse in comfortable and engaging outdoor spaces.</li>
	<li>
		Easy Connections: A precinct wide understanding of context has informed our approach to the Riverside Quay Reserve area, including important links to Eureka tower and Southbank (east, west and south) and Promenade</li>
</ul>
<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/Riverside%20Square%20Public%20Domain%20Character_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Riverside Square Public Domain Character. © ASPECT Studios"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="379" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Riverside%20Square%20Public%20Domain%20Character_0.jpg?itok=JJrgeALY" title="Riverside Square Public Domain Character. © ASPECT Studios" width="580"></a>
As the preceding images illustrate, the look and feel of what is an otherwise dead space favoured by skateboarders, is set for a significant transformation. Where previously visitors would pass through the on their way to somewhere more interesting and inviting, they will now be encouraged to stop and engage with the area.
This is all however subject to further negotiations between Mirvac and City of Melbourne, but thankfully the intent is present as it's a great opportunity to hugely improve a underutilised public space mere metres from the Yarra. My only concern is the amount of sunlight the square will actually receive, particularly in the cooler months as demonstrated in the shadow analysis below.
<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/shadow%20winter%20solstice.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Shadow Study - Winter Solstice."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="168" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/shadow%20winter%20solstice.jpg?itok=RpqCPLWZ" title="Shadow Study - Winter Solstice." width="580"></a>
The 20,000sqm development is targeting a 5-star Green Star &amp; 4.5 Star NABERS Energy rating through initiatives such as rainwater collection, water sensitive urban design, sustainable material selection, solar orientation and a host of other measures. Level 9 above the existing structure will house plant services and a significant new cyclist end of trip facility including 202 bicycle spaces, 10 male showers, 8 female showers to be accessed via a dedicated bike lift.
Kitchen facilities, a large rooftop pavilion and landscaped deck sit atop level 21. A new retail tenancy and office lobby are located along the eastern frontage connecting out to Riverside Square.
Additionally a new veil in the form of an art commission is proposed to conceal the existing parking structure's north and south facades. 32 parking spaces will be removed in order to accommodate the new service and facilities associated with the development above.
<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/2RQ%20elevations.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="North &amp; South Elevations. © Fender Katsalidis."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="259" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/2RQ%20elevations.jpg?itok=exrA1W_Q" title="North &amp; South Elevations. © Fender Katsalidis." width="580"></a>
Positives for mine centre around contributions to the streetscape and ground plane, whilst adding another layer or 'step' into taller structures deeper into Southbank - I look forward to seeing how this vision is delivered.
Overall despite some weaknesses, visually, the development promises to be a significant improvement on what is currently there.
<h2>
	Project team</h2>
<dl>
<dt>
		Developer</dt>
	<dd>
		Mirvac</dd>
	<dt>
		Architect</dt>
	<dd>
		Fender Katsalidis Architects</dd>
	<dt>
		Landscape Architect</dt>
	<dd>
		ASPECT Studios</dd>
	<dt>
		Planning</dt>
	<dd>
		Urbis</dd>
	<dt>
		ESD</dt>
	<dd>
		Umow Lai</dd>
	<dt>
		Traffic</dt>
	<dd>
		Cardno</dd>
	<dt>
		Waste Management</dt>
	<dd>
		Wastech</dd>
	<dt>
		Wind Assessment</dt>
	<dd>
		MEL Consultants</dd>
</dl>
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Laurence Dragomir

On the bright side >  2 Riverside Quay, Southbank

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The title of this afternoon's article is in part a light-hearted celebration of the return of Game of Thrones (for a fourth season tonight), but also a commentary on the visual and physical dominance of 252 LaTrobe Street when considered in its future context, amongst a host of other talls. In other words, an excuse for me to churn out some renders.

Where Melbourne Central once reigned supreme for over two decades as the dominant tower in the northern quadrant of the CBD, a Game of Thrones-style powerplay is emerging, with tower after tower reaching higher for the skies.

With a tapering form not unlike that of the deity of all skyscrapers - the Burj Khalifa - this 267m edifice looks like ruling the skies for quite some time come. I personally hope it doesn't meet the same cruel and tragic fate as Rob Stark (although in saying that he probably had it coming).

For now please enjoy the slew of images below of 252 LaTrobe in context. Until next time, brace yourselves… winter is coming… (it's only two months away!)

<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_16.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="399" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image_16.jpg?itok=hHrGWx2B" width="580"></a>

And for those who missed it <a href="/news/the-answer-224-252-la-trobe-street-melbourne">here's yesterday's article</a> by Mark. Click the images below for a larger view.
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The King in the North: 224-252 LaTrobe Street

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Following a great deal of procrastinating over the last few weeks, I have the pleasure of finally presenting part two of my What to do with Waterfront City? duology; a case of better late than never, one could argue. If you would, please cast your mind back to two months ago or alternatively <a href="/expert-insights/buying/what-to-do-with-waterfront-city-part-one">refresh your memory</a> with part one.

Today's piece focuses on the sites to the perimeter of the precinct that have been built to a low-density and feature only a single program: Costco and Medibank Ice House. Where part one investigated an approach to the public realm aspects of the precinct, part two looks at the commercial aspects.

Rather than being explicit about exactly what should be built or done with the precinct, the idea is to be a little more implicit: encouraging a level of discourse through some pretty pictures I put together.

<h2>Costco and Residential towers</h2>

When Costco opened the doors to their new warehouse in the heart of Vancouver in 2009, Costco's regional marketing manager for Western Canada, Robin Ross described it as "the most unique Costco in the world." Part of the Spectrum project, the Costco on Expo Boulevard anchors a residential development of four highrises, built on the edge of Yaletown making it the first Costco to be built in the heart of a city.

<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/Costco%20Vancouver_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Costco%20Vancouver_0.jpg?itok=m5qxjbwo"></a>

When Australia's first Costco was built in Melbourne's Docklands, all we got was a shed, albeit one with more character than most.

<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/Costco_Photo_04_PH.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Costco Docklands. © NH Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Costco_Photo_04_PH.jpg?itok=nlBeWVq3" title="Costco Docklands. © NH Architecture"></a>

Designed by <a href="http://www.nharchitecture.net/">NH Architecture</a>, I've always considered it to be missed opportunity to deliver a quality mixed-use project that marks the gateway into Docklands but also provides a crucial interface with the precinct and the adjacent future development at E-Gate.

<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/costco-RENDERS.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Revamped Costco with residential towers above. © Laurence Dragomir"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/costco-RENDERS.jpg?itok=S6K5SHyo" title="Revamped Costco with residential towers above. © Laurence Dragomir"></a>

Through a redressing of the exterior of the Costco warehouse and the introduction of residential towers (two vs Vancouver's four) that employ a warm palette of timber and feature rooftop gardens, a visually static building suddenly becomes more lively on the outside and provides a stronger edge to the precinct.

A sinuous podium structure housing Costco, allows for the creation of pocket parks providing a buffer to the road network adjacent. The separation between the towers allows visual privacy but also views beyond from the Melbourne Star Wheel, framing views to and from. Visually a higher density mixed-use development provides a cue for the imminent E-Gate regeneration project and a gateway landmark of sorts into Docklands.

<h2>Medibank Ice House and New Hotel</h2>

Few will probably recall but at one point in time it was proposed that the two ice rinks which form Medibank Ice House were to be built above the multi-storey car park at Waterfront City, effectively killing two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, this never proceeded to construction and we are now left with two problems. With the multi-storey car park being dealt with in part one, the attention shifts to Ice House.

<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/icehouse%20Hotel_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ice House Hotel. © Laurence Dragomir"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/icehouse%20Hotel_1.jpg?itok=DDDxhloi" title="Ice House Hotel. © Laurence Dragomir"></a>

As a means of funneling people through Harbour Town, why not build a hotel above the existing rink, utilising the pockets and strips of land around the perimeter to introduce lift cores and support columns. The foyer would be part of an expanded entry off Pearl River Road.

While the novelty of short-stay accommodation above an ice rink may not be everyone's cup of tea, the views back towards Docklands and the city would be quite something. Direct and easy access to CityLink via Footscray Road would also be one of the benefits of locating a hotel there.

Time permitting a conclusion piece - that considers the remaining undeveloped pockets of land adjacent to Harbour Town complex and the airspace above - may appear later down the track. Until then, I leave you with one final image to finish on looking down at the sites in question.

<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/Wfc2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ice House Hotel looking over WFC. © Laurence Dragomir"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Wfc2.jpg?itok=KRDyF6Qh" title="Ice House Hotel looking over WFC. © Laurence Dragomir"></a>
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What to do with Waterfront City? (Part Two)

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Recently news filtered through that Sydney-based <a href="http://www.ashemorgan.com.au/">AsheMorgan</a> had <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/docklands-sale-citys-biggest-in-seven-years/story-fn9656lz-1226857431660#">acquired Harbour Town and the Medibank Ice House Ice complex</a> within Waterfront City from <a href="http://www.ingrealestate.com.au/">ING Real Estate</a>. The $150m sale of the 40,000sqm centre follows the disposal of the Melbourne Star observation wheel to its Japanese builders and the sale of Waterfront City's only water fronted parcel to <a href="http://www.mab.com.au/">MAB</a> who are developing <a href="http://www.newquaypromenade.com.au/home">NewQuay Promenade</a>.

These asset disposals seem a clear sign that ING Real Estate are looking to slowly but surely exit the precinct and absolve themselves of any further responsibility within the area. They currently retain ownership (for the time being at least) of the the Costco building, the multi-level car park and an adjacent undeveloped tract of land. The question which must now be posed is - "where to now for the trouble plagued precinct?"

From the moment of its conception, Waterfront City has struggled with an identity crisis of sorts; it's part entertainment precinct and part shopping precinct with no real unifying theme. Bearing that in mind today's piece constitutes the first part of a series of articles looking at ways of improving the look and usability of the precinct.

<h2>Rebranding/Change of name</h2>

With the single stretch of water frontage now controlled by MAB (see render below) it would appear an opportune time to reconsider the precinct's name and branding strategy in addition to erasing the negativity associated with the precinct.

<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%20Promenade.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="NewQuay Promenade. © MAB"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/NewQuay%20Promenade.jpg?itok=V-VRoDDs" title="NewQuay Promenade. © MAB" width="580"></a>

Now this is probably best left to the marketing types but let's just go with something like North Dock. I'll be honest I didn't expend a whole lot of mental power in conceiving the name but I think it's not half bad. Feel free to suggest your own.

<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/northdock.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="North Dock."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="171" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/northdock.jpg?itok=2fnpsA8C" title="North Dock." width="580"></a>

<h2>Improving the first impression</h2>

When entering Harbour Town either after disembarking from a tram or crossing Docklands Drive, visitors to the precinct are confronted with a bland and sterile entry point defined by cheap finishes over what should be a gateway building. Introducing a green wall to soften the harshness of the facade and employing an operable timber screen both for resident privacy and visual interest would do wonders for a comparatively small outlay.

Signage identifying the precinct awaits within the central median strip, with new greenery also helping to remould first impressions for visitors crossing Docklands Drive from NewQuay Promenade.

<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/WFC%20Gateway_EDIT_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Refurbished entry to Harbour Town © Laurence Dragomir"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="347" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/WFC%20Gateway_EDIT_0.jpg?itok=pyn9W4Xx" title="Refurbished entry to Harbour Town © Laurence Dragomir" width="580"></a>

<h2>Taking a cue from Merchant Street</h2>

Over at Victoria Harbour Lend Lease are in the process of <a href="http://www.victoriaharbour.com.au/news-and-events/news-and-events/news-degrees-of-change" target="_blank">upgrading Merchant Street</a> and have enlisted the help of renowned hospitality architects Six Degrees.

<blockquote>
"Changing things up is also part of Six Degrees’ approach to the project more broadly. Its aim is to achieve the mixture of venues and shopfronts you would see in any high street in Melbourne or, indeed, in any high street anywhere in the world. “In your usual high street … you’ve got evolution of 100 years – you’ve got all sorts of canopies, verandas, free-standing cantilevers and so on,” says Healy.

“We want to bring in that idea of variety and diversity. This is important at the level of scale. We needed to introduce a finer grain, so we decided to ‘chop’ and make tenancies into two and three … but we are trying to make it somewhat architecturally consistent per tenancy.”
</blockquote>

<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/MerchantStreetOverview.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Merchant Street revamp. © Six Degrees"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="191" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/MerchantStreetOverview.jpg?itok=wLqVDh6M" title="Merchant Street revamp. © Six Degrees" width="580"></a>

While Merchant Street presents a much smaller challenge than any overhaul of Harbour Town, a similar strategy could be employed incrementally with a variety of architects and designers chosen. The focus on a greater mixture of uses, architecture styles and in particular activating the upper level concourse should be at the forefront when trying to lift/design the current venue out of the doldrums.

The introduction of maritime materials and architecture on the remaining undeveloped roof tops is a possibility - topped with gabled roofs perhaps mimicking the existing Central Pier sheds and similar to what is proposed at Wharf Precinct within Victoria Harbour

<h2>(Car) Park²</h2>

Visible from the Melbourne Star and once proposed to house the Docklands Ice Centre atop, the Waterfront City multi-level car park is presently a wasted site. With previous proposals for an apartment complex along it's western elevation yet to see the light of day, I believe it's worth considering some alternative uses for the site, in particular the expansive rooftop.

A perfect place for a park, maybe? And why not throw in a community 'greenhouse' on top as well?

<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/waterfront%20city%20park.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Rejuvenated Car Park and park with 'greenhouse' on top. © Laurence Dragomir"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="299" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/waterfront%20city%20park.jpg?itok=SwAru233" title="Rejuvenated Car Park and park with 'greenhouse' on top. © Laurence Dragomir" width="580"></a>

<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/waterfront%20city%20park%20%2B%20greenhouse.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Car Park rooftop. © Laurence Dragomir"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/waterfront%20city%20park%20%2B%20greenhouse.jpg?itok=EQ_aaHD5" title="Car Park rooftop. © Laurence Dragomir" width="580"></a>

What do you think should be done to improve Waterfront City? Or what would you like to see?

Leave your comments below and stay tuned for part two focusing on the Medibank Ice House and Costco, to follow soon.
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What to do with Waterfront City? (Part One)

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Today's article centres once again on the Forum Hotel development at 150-162 Flinders Street, effectively the sequel to Mark's write up on <a href="/news/progressive-development-or-cultural-vandalism">the impact of the development on Hosier Lane</a>. The focus however shifts from street to sky, namely the design response of the tower element which would rise 107m above Russell Street.

Primarily the proposed hotel's function is to fund (or offset) the cost of restoration works on the Forum Theatre itself, at the expense of the Melbourne CBD's last remaining Robin Boyd designed buildings. Some may paint the building as a martyr but with the exception of perhaps the Black Dolphin Motel and Domain flats, Boyd's most highly regarded works are his houses.

The <a href="http://www.batessmart.com.au/">Bates Smart</a>-designed proposal continues the recent trend of towers on culturally significant sites or within historically sensitive streetscapes or precincts. Additionally the Hotel Forum proposal represents yet another attempt at inserting a 'backdrop' in the form of a glazed tower element - the idea of receding into the sky. Other examples of this nearby are 171 Collins Street, the Windsor Redevelopment and to a lesser extent the rejected W Hotel proposal on the Palace site which employed a vastly different architectural expression.

<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/recent%20examples.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="171 Collin St - Bates Smart; Windsor Redevelopment - DCM; Forum Hotel - Bates Smart; W Hotel Proposal - Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="84" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/recent%20examples.jpg?itok=2S8kDBpa" title="171 Collin St - Bates Smart; Windsor Redevelopment - DCM; Forum Hotel - Bates Smart; W Hotel Proposal - Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>171 Collin St - Bates Smart; Windsor Redevelopment - DCM; Forum Hotel - Bates Smart; W Hotel Proposal - Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>It's also worth noting three of the four aforementioned projects were designed by Bates Smart - their strike rate currently stands at 1 built, 1 proposed and 1 rejected - with DCM's Windsor development slated to begin construction later this year. Rightly or wrongly and despite some objections, the Windsor set a precedent for this type of development and unless a project has a direct (or perceived) impact on Parliament House as was the case with W Hotel, it will likely be approved irrespective of the discretionary height limits.

The crystalline tower presents as two distinct 'slipping' volumes of varying height - one planar, the other faceted - with a sliver of glazing separating them. The southern element draws on the diamond detailing of the Forum theatre whilst the northern element employs a fritted glazing - becoming a chameleon during the course of the day.

Designed to respond to the varying conditions of its immediate context, the proposal rests in an area blanketed by a 40m height limit, once again pushing the boundaries of the planning scheme. Ultimately however it is likely to be approved by the Minister for Planning and would join an existing suite of towers of similar height in the neighbourhood - refer height study diagram below.

<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/Height%20Study.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Height Study © Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="479" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Height%20Study.jpg?itok=IGFjs8TV" title="Height Study © Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Height Study © Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>Set to house 220 rooms across 17 floors, the balance of programme at the proposal's summit consists of a single residential level with (quite peculiarly) an office level and two floors of plant above. Call me a cynic but I question the necessity of those two upper habitable levels in particular - chop them off and you have a 93m tower. Perhaps they will come into play in any possible negotiations re: height, becoming sacrificial lambs of sorts or handy bargaining bait.

The tower sits above a podium comprising two floors of retail with 5 floors of commercial space above. A 50m internal laneway cuts across the site linking Russell Street to Hosier Lane. Now I personally like the articulation of the podium to Russell Street and the way the two tower volumes have been expressed, with a shadowline 'break' in-between 'tower' and 'podium' a design strategy more commonly used these days as a design response on smaller sites where deep setbacks are unviable.

In saying that I do however find the junction between the various components a tad awkward and lacking resolution - particularly the area highlighted below:

<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/junction%20of%20elements.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Junction of elements. Original image © Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="947" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/junction%20of%20elements.jpg?itok=XGmN45va" title="Junction of elements. Original image © Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Junction of elements. Original image © Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>The above illustrates an area where multiple geometries and materials converge hesitantly - a number along the same plane - detracting somewhat from what should otherwise be a beautifully proportioned object. A greater definition of hierarchy to these distinct elements wouldn't hurt.

Finally, I know Mark touched on Hosier Lane in his previous article but I will briefly say that I think brick would be a much more suitable material than corten panels. I understand the rationale behind why corten was employed - the oxidising over time giving it that worn or 'aged' appearance that would otherwise take a couple of decades but it is a material that is largely alien to Hosier Lane. I have rather crudely photoshopped Bates Smart's image from the planning application to give an indication of what I mean:

<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/Hosier%20Lane.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hosier Lane - brick blades. Original image © Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="364" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Hosier%20Lane.jpg?itok=mjox34n8" title="Hosier Lane - brick blades. Original image © Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Hosier Lane - brick blades. Original image © Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>I believe brick would respond much better to the laneway environment both visually but also from a historic point of view.

Despite a couple of reservations I may have, overall Bates Smart have conceived a solid scheme which based on their previous line of work will no doubt boast high quality finishes. On a more macro level it also has the ability to really inject some more life into that corner of the city and I look forward to viewing a revitalised Forum Theatre.
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Planning Application > Hotel Forum @ 150-162 Flinders Street

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I should preface this by saying 'dokily' was the only word (if you'd call it that) that I could think of that (kind of) rhymed with Oakleigh - sorry I'm not Eminem. The suburb of Oakleigh, located some 15km south-east of the CBD has been undergoing a metamorphosis of sorts in recent years with plenty of further development potential. As a casual visitor who passes through regularly but only stops by once or twice a month either for a coffee, gyros or pizza I thought it might be a good idea to set out on foot, trusty camera in tow.

Like a number of other suburbs, Oakleigh's centre is beginning to see a shift towards apartment living with development largely centred along the Hanover/Atkinson Street strip and Warrigal Road. These include <a href="http://www.athertonandatkinson.com.au/">Atkinson &amp; Atherton</a>, <a href="http://www.infinityoakleigh.com.au/">Infinity</a> and 29-31 Swindon Rd, although the last is technically in Hughesdale I've decided to still include it.

<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/oakleigh_apartment_devs.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Infinity; Atkinson &amp; Atherton; 29-31 Swindon Rd"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="105" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/oakleigh_apartment_devs.jpg?itok=2feO7cOV" title="Infinity; Atkinson &amp; Atherton; 29-31 Swindon Rd" width="580"></a>

Hanover Street in particular with its abundance of open air parking and proximity to Oakleigh Shopping Centre, Station and Dandenong Road, lends itself to further development with apartment buildings of around 5-8 storeys likely.

<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/GE_Oakleigh.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Googlemaps image of Oakleigh showing extent of parking."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="331" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/GE_Oakleigh.jpg?itok=YqYZ3Paa" title="Googlemaps image of Oakleigh showing extent of parking." width="580"></a>

Additionally Eaton Mall, the main cafe and dining strip has seen a transformation with new paving, seating, lighting and hard and soft landscaping. This has been a very good outcome for the area with the cafes consistently packed, particularly on warm Saturday evenings.

<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/eaton_mall_compilation.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Eaton Mall improvement works."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="126" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/eaton_mall_compilation.jpg?itok=CC5_nGwy" title="Eaton Mall improvement works." width="580"></a>

So without further ado please enjoy the photos from my walk around Oakleigh - the weather unfortunately was nothing to write home about. A map of my walking route can be seen below:

<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/walking%20map_edit.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Map of walking route I took."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="696" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/walking%20map_edit.jpg?itok=Z-MgP96K" title="Map of walking route I took." width="580"></a>
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Apartments in the 'burbs? Oakleigh Dokily

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Last month Apartments.com.au spent the better part of a day on Smith Street to film today's hotspot <a href="/news/hotspot-video-smith-street-apartment-boom-in-focus" target="_blank">video</a> - a rich, layered tapestry of people and places. Best characterised as a heritage streetscape and boasting an abundance of food offerings, street art, buzzing nightlife and a host of equally eccentric characters to boot.

Enjoy below a comprehensive photo essay of Smith Street - focusing particularly on the established buildings and places that have over time given Smith Street its well deserved title as one of Melbourne's quintessential experiences.
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Smith Street Super Thursday - A pictorial essay

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Victoria One, at 452 Elizabeth represents <a href="http://www.goldenagegroup.com.au/">Golden Age Group's</a> third foray into the Melbourne apartment market. Designed by <a href="http://elenbergfraser.com/">Elenberg Fraser</a>, the 75-storey development is set to join a growing number of high-rise developments beyond 170 metres in height through the northern end of the CBD, which are illustrated in the images below.

These include <a href="http://www.icdproperty.com.au/">ICD Property's</a> <a href="/buildings/eq-tower-127-abeckett-street-melbourne">Eq Tower</a>, <a href="/buildings/light-house-450-elizabeth-street-melbourne">450 Elizabeth Street</a>, <a href="http://www.meh.com.my/main">Mammoth Empire's</a> <a href="/buildings/empire-melbourne-398-elizabeth-street-melbourne">398 Elizabeth Street</a>, and <a href="http://www.bradygroup.com.au/">Brady Group's</a> Vision Tower with the twisting form of 450 depicted at 202 metres, although it's uncertain whether it has increased to 218 metres in height. Should these all proceed, they will greatly impact the northern entry into the city although that's an article for another day perhaps.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/03_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="268" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/03_6.jpg?itok=SFu5UdFM" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Northern Cluster as viewed from north-west . © Blockhead.</figcaption></figure><figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/02_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="263" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/02_4.jpg?itok=QhZ2g9b_" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Northern Cluster as viewed from south-west . © Blockhead.</figcaption></figure><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/elizabeth%20st_height%20profile.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="318" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/elizabeth%20st_height%20profile.jpg?itok=3Iy1dPvc" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Elizabeth Street Height Profile diagram. © Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>For now though let's focus on the subject of today's article - the 241 metre Victoria One. First announced during November last year, Jeffrey Xu's behemoth would become the tallest residential tower within the traditional Hoddle Grid.

Anchoring the Elizabeth/Franklin corner, the tower would provide a gateway partner to another Elenberg Fraser designed tower at 450 Elizabeth Street. Victoria One as it has been dubbed intents to replace the current single and two storey buildings housing a Drummond Golf outlet, a site which has previously seen an <a href="http://eatas.com.au/">Architects EAT </a>concept for a 32-storey Tetris-inspired building simply known as Drummond Apartments.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com.au/maps?ie=UTF8&amp;layer=c&amp;sll=-37.807867,144.960438&amp;cbp=13,125.12,,0,0.02&amp;cbll=-37.807786,144.96029&amp;q=452+elizabeth+street&amp;hq=&amp;hnear=452+Elizabeth+St,+Melbourne+Victoria+3000&amp;ll=-37.807867,144.960438&amp;spn=0.007188,0.013937&amp;t=h&amp;z=14&amp;iwloc=A&amp;panoid=FWmdRcaDGfQ5KTODDhYw9A&amp;source=embed&amp;output=svembed" width="100%"></iframe> <a href="https://maps.google.com.au/maps?ie=UTF8&amp;layer=c&amp;sll=-37.807867,144.960438&amp;cbp=13,125.12,,0,0.02&amp;cbll=-37.807786,144.96029&amp;q=452+elizabeth+street&amp;hq=&amp;hnear=452+Elizabeth+St,+Melbourne+Victoria+3000&amp;ll=-37.807867,144.960438&amp;spn=0.007188,0.013937&amp;t=h&amp;z=14&amp;iwloc=A&amp;panoid=FWmdRcaDGfQ5KTODDhYw9A&amp;source=embed">View Larger Map</a>

<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/drummond%20apartments.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="291" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/drummond%20apartments.jpg?itok=Tuny5DK1" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Drummond Apartments. © Architects EAT</figcaption></figure>Should it gain approval the proposed development would boast 622 apartments, (a positively low) 163 parking spaces, the capacity to store 263 bicycles with retail applied to ground and first floors. A wrap of apartments conceals the parking levels along the western and southern frontages whilst residential amenities are distributed throughout the building, located on levels 09, 44 and 64.

Presenting as a strong vertical element the development employs a tower-podium typology of sorts which a shadowline visually separating tower and podium, with no setbacks to the south or east due to the site's small footprint of 937 square metres. Minor setbacks of 5m to the common boundary to the north and 4.5m to the centre of the laneway to the east have been designed in.

<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/setbacks%20diagram.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="231" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/setbacks%20diagram.jpg?itok=QeCGA3lc" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Setbacks diagram. © Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>The tower's facade is a formal representation of Victoria's 'Garden State' identity drawing upon elements of Victoria's landscape such as gardens and waterfalls. The fluid transition of the silver fin elements which cascade down the face of the tower, contract, expand and peel away where communal facilities are located, allowing for glimpses from the outside world of the coloured green glazing behind.

A departure from Elenberg Frasers's typical and successful bronze facade formula, the green facade is reminiscent of the dramatic unfolding when passing through Victoria's rainforest environments. The green gradually fades into a silver towards the tower's apex as landscape meets sky.

The podium heavily features vegetation as a way of softening the building's presence to the street and concealing the car parking along the eastern facade by way of the introduction of shallow angled planter boxes breaking up the otherwise precast concrete.

<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/452_PODIUM.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Podium design response. © Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/452_PODIUM.jpg?itok=DUqVAzct" title="Podium design response. © Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Podium design response. © Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>Overall the design is another solid addition to Elenberg Fraser's growing portfolio of high-rises, provoking visual metaphors of a vertical garden oasis in the midst of an otherwise concrete jungle. Sporting a rippling facade 452 Elizabeth street not only provides visual interest but goes some way to alleviating the effects of wind on the pedestrian environment below.

With the <a href="/news/victorian-government-announces-suite-of-super-tuesday-approvals">recent approvals</a> of Eq. Tower at 127-141 A'beckett Street and 398 Elizabeth Street and 452 Elizabeth Street likely not far behind, the north end of Melbourne's CBD is beginning to present as the counterpoint to Southbank's growing high-rise cluster.

According the Golden Age's website, Victoria One is expected to have its public sales launch during 2014.

<h2>Project team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer: <a href="http://www.goldenagegroup.com.au/" target="_blank">Golden Age Development Group</a>
</li>
	<li>Architect: <a href="http://elenbergfraser.com/" target="_blank">Elenberg Fraser</a>
</li>
	<li>Project Manager: <a href="http://www.sinclairbrook.com.au/">Sinclair Brook</a>
</li>
	<li>Town Planner: <a href="http://www.urbis.com.au/">Urbis</a>
</li>
	<li>Traffic Consultant: <a href="http://www.ratio.com.au/home">Ratio Consultants</a>
</li>
	<li>Waste Management Consultant: <a href="http://www.leighdesign.com.au/">Leigh Design</a>
</li>
	<li>Landscape Consultant: <a href="http://www.oculus.info/">Oculus</a>
</li>
	<li>Building Surveyor: <a href="http://www.plpaust.com/">PLP Building Surveyors</a>
</li>
	<li>ESD Consultant: <a href="http://www.ark-resources.com.au/">Ark Resources</a>
</li>
	<li>Structural &amp; Civil Engineer: <a href="http://www.robertbird.com/">Robert Bird Group</a>
</li>
	<li>Services Engineer: <a href="http://murchie.com.au/">Murchie Consulting</a>
</li>
	<li>Land Surveyor: <a href="http://www.bosjon.com.au/">Bosco Jonson</a>
</li>
	<li>Quantity Surveyor: <a href="http://www.wtpartnership.com/">WT Partnership</a>
</li>
	<li>Wind Engineer: <a href="http://melconsultants.com/">MEL Consultants</a>
</li>
	<li>Fire Engineer: <a href="http://www.aecom.com/Where+We+Are/Australia+-+New+Zealand/Building+Engineering">AECOM Fire Engineers</a>
</li>
</ul>
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Victoria One - 452 Elizabeth Street

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UPDATE 13/11/2015: a new amended design has been unveiled, see the plans <a href="/news/a-new-melbourne-icon-squarely-in-minister-wynnes-hands-447-collins-street">here</a>.

It was <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/city-office-tower-faces-demolition-20140206-324mr">recently announced</a> that an application to demolish the 27-storey, former National Mutual Plaza at <a href="/buildings/collins-arch-447-collins-street-melbourne">433-455 Collins Street (aka 447 Collins St)</a> was on the agenda for the <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Meetings/PortfoliosMembership/Pages/FutureMelbourneCommitteeToR.aspx">Future Melbourne (Planning) Committee</a>.  A decision to issue a permit (subject to certain conditions being met - these can be found in the link provided at the bottom of this article) the likely outcome. 

In December 2013, previous owners <a href="/developers/ispt">ISPT</a> sold the site to <a href="/developers/cbus-property">CBUS Property</a>, after having carried out facade rectification works to make the site safe for pedestrian traffic. It has since emerged that CBUS had sought Expressions of Interest from 12 architectural practices to partake in a design competition for the site.  In due course these were whittled down to a short list of four consortia comprising some of Australia's biggest and most experienced architectural practices combined with big name internationals. They are as follows:

<ul>
<li>
<a href="/architects/hassell-studio">HASSELL</a> + <a href="http://www.big.dk/#projects">Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG)</a> (Denmark)
</li>
	<li>
<a href="/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a> + <a href="http://www.som.com/">Skidmore Owings &amp; Merrill</a> (US)
</li>
	<li>
<a href="/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> + <a href="http://www.shoparc.com/projects">ShoP Architects</a> (US)
</li>
	<li>
<a href="/architects/bates-smart">Bates Smart</a> + <a href="http://snohetta.com/">Snøhetta</a> (Norway)
</li>
</ul>
This calibre of architectural pairings is unprecedented in Melbourne, particularly when it comes to a private sector project. We have seen it more recently with the Flinders Street design competition however that was an open competition but it is quite rare for a developer to go to this length. This site however deserves it. So what can be expected in terms of design outcomes? Well one of the conditions of the planning permit reads as follows:

<blockquote>
<div>Prior to the commencement of the demolition or removal of existing buildings or works (excluding demolition or removal of temporary structures) on the land, the owner of the land must enter into an agreement pursuant to Section 173 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. The agreement must provide the following: </div>

<div>a. The public has ongoing access to an open area with interconnection to the public realm on Collins Street. The open area must have reasonable solar access, read as public space and achieve comfortable wind conditions to the satisfaction of the City of Melbourne</div>
</blockquote>

This means that any future development must include public space to Collins Street, how this is achieved will be of interest.

From a master planning point of view I think we'll see a similar outcome to CBUS's <a href="http://www.cbwmelbourne.com.au/Core/Splash/CBW/CBW.aspx">CBW</a> development albeit with significantly more public space. That is two Next Gen commercial towers (a GFA upwards of 80,000sqm is likely) with a north-south laneway bisecting the site in addition to public open space of some description toward the north of the site fronting Collins Street. This open space will probably present as a much softer buffer to the hustle and bustle of Collins Street with stronger connections to adjacent buildings.

I've always been a firm believer that the quality of what is lost must be significantly outweighed by the quality of any future replacement. Now a lot of people will mourn the loss of the current building - I'm somewhat indifferent - but how many could argue that it is a worthy replacement for the Western market that once occupied the site?  I'd wager very few.

<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/WesternMarket.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Western market courtesy of The Collector's Marvellous Melbourne."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="275" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/WesternMarket.jpg?itok=OfrNjPd8" title="Western market courtesy of The Collector's Marvellous Melbourne." width="580"></a>

That being said, let's take a look at the design credentials of the teams.

The Locals:

With the exception of Fender Katsalidis, all three other local offices have had previous experience on CBUS projects.

Bates Smart have previously been engaged by CBUS for CBW (VIC), 171 Collins St (VIC) and 35 Spring Street (VIC).

<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/BS_CBUS.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="201" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/BS_CBUS.jpg?itok=hHEDxTPO" width="580"></a>

Other Bates Smart projects include Queensbridge Tower, 3 Collins Square and 685 LaTrobe Street.

<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/Bates%20Smart.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="211" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Bates%20Smart.jpg?itok=a4nd_066" width="580"></a>

 

Woods Bagot designed City West Police @ 313 Spencer St (VIC), NAB D2 @ 700 Bourke St (VIC)  and 1 William Street (QLD) for CBUS. 

<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/WB_CBUS.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="313 Spencer St, 700 Bourke St &amp; 1 William St © Woods Bagot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="213" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/WB_CBUS.jpg?itok=wq2aIaek" title="313 Spencer St, 700 Bourke St &amp; 1 William St © Woods Bagot" width="580"></a>

Additionally Woods Bagot are also responsible for the 80 Collins Street development for <a href="http://www.qic.com.au/">QIC</a> and the <a href="http://brookfieldofficeproperties.com/content/melbourne/southern_cross_east_tower-21110">Southern Cross Development</a> for <a href="http://www.au.brookfield.com/">Brookfield.</a>

<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/WB_COM.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="433" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/WB_COM.jpg?itok=JCT-1Fv0" width="580"></a>

 

Hassell worked on CBUS's new Medibank 'Green' HQ @ 720 Bourke St (VIC).

<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/Hassell_720B.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="720 Bourke Street © HASSELL / Scharp"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="293" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Hassell_720B.jpg?itok=TmDZN3CN" title="720 Bourke Street © HASSELL / Scharp" width="580"></a>

Other upcoming Hassell-designed commercial projects include KPMG's new HQ @ <a href="http://www.collinssquare.com.au/">Collins Square</a> and <a href="/news/coming-up-with-the-goods-710-collins-street-docklands">710 Collins St</a>. They were also involved in a previous design competition for the site.

<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/HASSELL_COM.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="KPMG@Collins Square, 710 Collins St, Previous competition entry for 447C. © HASSELL"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="198" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/HASSELL_COM.jpg?itok=8T7ByU2F" title="KPMG@Collins Square, 710 Collins St, Previous competition entry for 447C. © HASSELL" width="580"></a>

Hassell have previously teamed up with Herzog de Meuron to take out the Flinders Street Station design comp and are operating more as a design-driven studio these days as opposed to a large commercial practice.

<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%20Street_HASSELL.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hassell + Herzog de Meuron's winning scheme for Flinders Street Station"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="148" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Flinders%20Street_HASSELL.jpg?itok=CreHMTtj" title="Hassell + Herzog de Meuron's winning scheme for Flinders Street Station" width="580"></a>

 

Fender Katsalidis, while having never been commissioned by CBUS are however renowned for some of Melbourne's best and most prominent residential buildings including Melbourne Terrace, Republic Tower and Eureka Tower - although it has been a long time between drinks since they last produced an office building in Melbourne.

<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/FKA_RESI.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Terrace, Republic Tower and Eureka Tower. © Fender Katsalidis. "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="307" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/FKA_RESI.jpg?itok=aP0zMqpH" title="Melbourne Terrace, Republic Tower and Eureka Tower. © Fender Katsalidis. " width="580"></a>

And a couple of FKA's latest offerings in the form of Fulton Lane, 350 William Street and Batman's Hill:

<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/FKA_NEW.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Fulton Lane © Fender Katsalidis. 350 William St © realestate.com.au. Batman's Hill © Porter Models. "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="305" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/FKA_NEW.jpg?itok=51HR0UyJ" title="Fulton Lane © Fender Katsalidis. 350 William St © realestate.com.au. Batman's Hill © Porter Models. " width="580"></a>

 

The Internationals:

- Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG), Denmark. Formed in 2005, the office hit the BIG time with their 'The Mountain' residential project in Copenhagen. Projects include The Mountain, West 57th and Marina lofts. BIG are quite active on the competition circuit having obtained most of their commissions as a result of design competitions.

<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/BIG_PROJECTS.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="134" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/BIG_PROJECTS.jpg?itok=QnV6Vubm" width="580"></a>

 

- Skidmore Owings &amp; Merrill (SOM), USA. One of the largest architectural firms in the world SOM, formed in Chicago in 1936, specialize in designing commercial skyscrapers having designed a long line of world's tallest buildings. They are responsible for One World Trade Centre in New York, Sears (now Willis) Tower in Chicago, Burj Khalifa (Dubai) and 140 William St in Melbourne (in conjunction with Yunckan Freeman).

<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/SOM.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="1WTC, Sears / Willis Tower, Burj Khalifa © Skidmore Owings &amp; Merrill. 140 William St © National Library of Australia."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="268" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/SOM.jpg?itok=DABPFRyq" title="1WTC, Sears / Willis Tower, Burj Khalifa © Skidmore Owings &amp; Merrill. 140 William St © National Library of Australia." width="580"></a>

 

- SHoP Architects, USA. Perhaps not as well known as the previous two international offices, SHoP has been around since 1996. The New York based architects are behind the super-slim 111 West 57th, a scheme for the Hudson Yards redevelopment and Mulberry House  

<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/ShoP.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="111 West 57th St, Hudson Yards comp, Mulberry House. © SHoP Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="260" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ShoP.jpg?itok=pHU1Wus3" title="111 West 57th St, Hudson Yards comp, Mulberry House. © SHoP Architects" width="580"></a>

 

- Snøhetta, Norway. Last but no least is the Norwegian firm founded in 1989, with the name that probably make you go "who?".  They are best known for the Oslo Opera House - a project that blurs the boundaries of landscape and building. Other projects include the National September 11th Memorial Museum Pavilion and the Ryerson University Student Learning Centre in Toronto. 

<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/Snohetta.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Oslo Opera House, Sep11th Memorial Museum Pavillion, RUSLC. © Snøhetta"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="127" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Snohetta.jpg?itok=R2qqrGiO" title="Oslo Opera House, Sep11th Memorial Museum Pavillion, RUSLC. © Snøhetta" width="580"></a>

The Verdict:

I'm a sucker for design competitions and I can't wait to see what all the teams come up with, in particular HASSELL + BIG and Woods Bagot + SHoP. You could mount a strong argument for any one of those teams to win based on experience alone, however it will ultimately come down to the chemistry of the pairings - whether a harmony and balance of ideas can be achieved.

Bates Smart &amp; Snøhetta's more restrained aesthetics could lead to a very visually beautiful scheme - a marrying of landscape and architecture where public/private thresholds aren't quite so evident.

The pairing of Hassell and BIG will likely result in super-scaled landscape-derived interventions - tapered geometric forms which echo mountains and hills.

FKA + SOM might form the most 'corporate' scheme with a hint of Melbourne. 

Woods Bagot and SHoP could be anything with Woods Bagot's current penchant for more crystalline and imperfect forms vs SHoP's much simpler forms.

Overall I think a lot of glazing and vegetation will be prevalent across all the schemes, with some favouring a leafy park over a plaza - a garden oasis of sorts in the centre of a city.

With the design competition having commenced on the 10th of February and a nominated timeframe of approximately 6 weeks for completion and submission of designs + 2 weeks for design review, an announcement on the winning scheme prior to Easter seems likely.  Demolition however will commence within 2 months of the Demolition Permit being issued, independent of the design competition, with the works to be staged as follows:

Stage 1. 

- Duration 10 months. 

- Demolition of office building to Collins Street ground level 

- Removal of hoarding and re-opening of the site for interim public use.

Stage 2. 

- Duration 2 months. 

- Demolition of the ground and basement levels will proceed at the commencement of the main development works which is subject to planning consent and adequate revenue pre-commitments.

Once the winning scheme is announced, rest assured Apartments.com.au will have it covered.

Peace out.

<div>The full report to the Future Melbourne Committee can be found <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Meetings/Lists/CouncilMeetingAgendaItems/Attachments/11261/FEB14%20FMC2%20AGENDA%20ITEM%206.2%20APPLICATION%20FOR%20PLANNING%20PERMIT%20TP%202013-227%20433-455%20COLLINS%20STREET%20MELBOURNE.pdf">here</a>.</div>

<div>See my concept for Apartments.com.au from last year <a href="/news/blockhead-concept-447-collins-street-market-square">here</a>. </div>

<div> </div>
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CBUS brings in the BIG guns for 447 Collins Street

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The focus of today's article is <a href="http://www.equiset.com.au/">Equiset</a>'s proposal at 710 Collins Street, designed by <a href="http://www.hassellstudio.com/">Hassell</a> and potentially Docklands' tallest building at 189 metres.  I will also touch briefly on the proposal's impact on the skyline together with <a href="http://www.collinssquare.com.au/">Collins Square</a> <a href="/news">Tower 4D</a> and <a href="http://www.lendlease.com/site-settings/splashpage.aspx">Lend Lease</a>'s <a href="http://www.batmanshillcollinsstreet.com.au/">701 Collins Street project</a> (covered in a separate <a href="/news/batmans-hill-collins-street-the-missing-piece-of-the-docklands-jigsaw">article</a>) by way of a number of in context renders.

Equiset's proposal calls for the demolition of the barely 5-year old <a href="http://elenbergfraser.com/">Elenberg Fraser</a> designed 'Lantern' structure fronting Collins Street in addition to 7 bays of <a href="http://elenbergfraser.com/#!/project/goods-shed">Goods Shed North</a>, in order to accommodate a 34-storey Premium Grade commercial tower offering 47,500m2 (NLA) of office space. The office space will be supplemented by up to 1,200m2 of retail space, stronger connections between the Goods Shed and Collins Street via a new set of public stairs,  a new laneway and public plaza.

The development is aiming for a minimum 5-Star Green Star Design &amp; As Built, and a minimum 5-Star NABERS.

<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/710%20Collins%20Street_tower%20views.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="408" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/710%20Collins%20Street_tower%20views.jpg?itok=jTfQ566S" width="580"></a>

The proposed tower presents as a crystalline element on the skyline "whilst providing a glimpse of the overall super structure within."  Hassell's scheme employs a largely homogenous glazed skin raised above a brick plinth that suggests an erosion of form, with openings 'carved in' to allow views from within and out, with the stair cascading down from Collins Street to the new lobby below.  

While the Goods Shed and proposed tower never physically come into contact, a number of visual relationships are intimated through the timber-lined,  vaulted underbelly of the tower.  Generated from the profile of the goods shed and enhanced via the angled facade to the lower levels of the tower - the skyscrapers highly reflective glazing is designed to capture the Goods Shed in an almost ethereal reflection of what was once a much longer continuous structure. 

The benefit of the proposed development is two fold - it frees up the Goods Shed from any new architectural intervention thus providing the public with a greater viewing opportunity of its interior and structure, allowing  for an enhanced pedestrian experience.  Additionally a new view is opened up through to the Goods Shed below and Stadium Precinct beyond (including another Hassell tower at 720 Bourke), framed by the vaulted ceiling above. 

<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/Public%20Stair.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Public stair with vaulted ceiling above and view beyond."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="413" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Public%20Stair.jpg?itok=AS2DSOGX" title="Public stair with vaulted ceiling above and view beyond." width="580"></a>

The ground floor area of the development is largely permeable with retail offerings flanking the new east-west laneway and activity spilling out on to it which should also go someway to activating both Aurora Lane and Village Street.  The proposed treatment to these areas is a timber decking - a softer contrast to the robust brick plinth. Minimal car parking of only 8 spaces is included with an entry off Village Street; extremely low by any measure but particularly so for a commercial complex.

Cyclist facilities are proposed within the Goods Shed via Village Street with visitor bicycle spaces externally. 

<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/new%20laneway.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="New laneway between tower and Goods Shed."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="411" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/new%20laneway.jpg?itok=qqAOs8xS" title="New laneway between tower and Goods Shed." width="580"></a>

An area that could do with a bit more refinement is the westerly wall of the brick plinth, flanking the stairs and housing the substation.  Currently it presents to the street and pedestrian as a blank brick wall save for the car park entry - now I love my brick but I would like to see a bit more articulation whether through the feathering of the brick, manipulation of the brick to create some sort of visual relief, or artwork or even a great big 710 Collins Street sign.

One of the aims of the development is to "re-establish and reconnect Batman's Hill to the traditional city of Melbourne by strengthening the CBD built form from Docklands."   This begins to become evident when 710 Collins Street is viewed in the context of future development at Batman's Hill, namely the new 145m KPMG headquarters at Collins Square and the mammoth 701 Collins Street development - ten buildings ranging in height from 20m to 160m.  

Batman's Hill was always envisioned as being the transitional threshold between the CBD and Docklands, yet visually this is only just beginning to become apparent. 

<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/710C%2001_EDIT_1.png" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="239" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/710C%2001_EDIT_1.png?itok=detFpOu_" width="580"></a>

One thing that is highlighted is an imbalance in the Batman's Hill precinct - with a taller, denser core towards the south of the precinct.  Buildings such as 750 Collins Street, 700 Collins Street and 737 Bourke Street seem aesthetically and at a macro scale rather transitory, as if it's only a matter of time before they too are replaced by something taller and architecturally more adventurous.

As Docklands continues to mature I expect we will see more and more first generation (or G1 as I like to call them) commercial buildings replaced with taller, more striking buildings and 710 Collins is just the beginning of the next phase of Docklands evolution.  While the partial demolition of Goods Shed North is unfortunate I believe the benefits to the public realm far outweigh the negatives. The employing of timber and masonry as more natural counter elements to the glazed steel structured tower is a huge positive for mine, resulting in a less sterile environment.

Overall I believe Hassell have designed an excellent scheme which strikes a good balance between the commercial requirements of their client, heritage concerns and benefits to the public realm.   
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Coming up with the Goods - 710 Collins Street Docklands

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

Joel Robinson

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
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SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Local Little Bay residents, along with buyers from premium postcodes across Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs, have dominated purchases in developer-builder Urban Property Group’s first Eastern Suburbs apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a>.

The $250 million coastal project, one of the first new developments in the area in several years, has proven particularly popular with downsizers, especially those from Coogee and Bondi. One Double Bay downsizer paid $4.7 million for a four-bedroom penthouse, setting a new local apartment price record in the process.

Buyers have been attracted to the combination of coastal tranquillity, premium design and amenity-rich neighbourhood living. The walkable village setting, along with proximity to three of Sydney’s leading golf courses, New South Wales Golf Club, St Michael’s Golf Club and The Coast Golf Club, has also been a key drawcard.

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Built across two low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis</a> and set along a lush, landscaped green spine, designed by leading landscape architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, ESTE Little Bay offers a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> Sales Director, Tom McIvor said the response to ESTE has been "nothing short of extraordinary."

“Buyers have been quick to recognise ESTE as a rare opportunity to invest in a coastal sanctuary that offers both seclusion and connectivity to the heart of Sydney,” McIvor said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352687]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Senior Director, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">Clayton Ross</a> said the local market has responded incredibly well, driven by ESTE’s exceptional location and the rarity it offers.

“We’ve seen strong interest from a variety of buyer groups, all of whom are drawn to the exclusivity and quality of the build and construction by the 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder / developer, Urban Property Group. There’s truly nothing else like it along Sydney’s coastline.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352690]

The project also includes robust buyer protections, including Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance, providing 10 years of structural cover, and an independent iCIRT-rating of the developer.

“The iCIRT-rating adds another layer of confidence,” Ross added. “Buyers see it as a safeguard for their investment and their lifestyle.” A highlight of ESTE’s offering is its exclusive wellness amenities, including a heated rooftop infinity pool and outdoor heated spa, a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, and a sauna.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a> is topped out and is on track to complete towards the end of 2026, with residents moving in before Christmas.

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Laurence Dragomir

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