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Last week saw the release of the State Government's strategy for Melbourne's future growth through to 2050, simply called '<a href="http://www.planmelbourne.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank">Plan Melbourne</a>.' The plan identifies key areas for future growth in the form of National Employment Clusters, Activity Centres (Metropolitan and Regional) and various Urban Renewal Projects at the CBD's doorstep.
One such project is East Richmond Station/Cremorne, originally mooted in the now defunct Melbourne 2030 plan, it brings us to the subject of today's article - <a href="http://www.cremorne2025.org/">Cremorne 2025</a>, an urban design studio run by <a href="http://www.artdes.monash.edu.au/#">MADA</a> investigating and addressing a broad range of current and future challenges for facilitating population growth future within urban renewal projects as well as the implications for established centres like the city of Melbourne. Put simply the idea of building up within the existing urban fabric of inner city suburbs rather than building out into rural areas. 
"The studio’s aim is to achieve visibility and to instigate wider public discussions concerning current and future challenges of growing cities. We want to inform the public beyond the borders of the academic world and the discipline."
<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/cremorne2025_Phase2a.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Phase 2 - Image source: http://www.cremorne2025.org/"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/cremorne2025_Phase2a.jpg?itok=-owx5F-N" title="Phase 2 - Image source: http://www.cremorne2025.org/" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
As the<a href="http://www.cremorne2025.org/" target="_blank"> Cremorne2025.org</a> website states, not many people are actually aware of Cremorne's existence, wrongly attributing it as Richmond, partly because up until 1999 it was a locality within Richmond. It's best characterized as an industrial zone, sprinkled with the odd low-rise residential (Floor Area Ratio of 0.95), with its most distinguishable features and landmarks being the various roof forms of the old red brick warehouses, the Nylex sign atop the old malting storage silos, as well as the more recent addition of <a href="http://www.dealcorp.com.au/era-apartments-commerical">Deal Corp's ERA apartments</a>, an 11-storey complex designed by <a href="http://www.plusarchitecture.com.au/portfolio/4254/">Plus Architecture</a>.
The studio proposes a Four Phase strategy for the area with the most intense and highest density development occurring at East Richmond Station, towards the centre of the site and straddling the M1 freeway adjacent to the Yarra River and the re-establishment of Cremorne Station which existed north of Balmain Street from 1859 until 1864. It also investigates various scenarios of adaptive re-use for the silos, warehouses and terraces through 'injecting' program into the existing shells or adding on top of or laterally to.
<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/PlanMelbourneInnerCityDiagram.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title=" Department Of Transport, Planning And Local Infrastructure, 2013"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/PlanMelbourneInnerCityDiagram.jpg?itok=FH84V1uL" title=" Department Of Transport, Planning And Local Infrastructure, 2013" typeof="Image"></a>
The studio tests various FAR densities and building scales (between 1-30 storeys &amp; 4-44 storeys) and attempts to improve and distribute the mix of program throughout the precinct a bit more evenly, resulting in a greater level of activity and street life at all hours of the day. 
The lack of open space and underutilised open space is addressed with the introduction of linear &amp; pocket parks, beautified pedestrian routes and other forms of open space within the body of the area and larger open space below the M1 as part of a new Northbank precinct as well as new connections over Punt Road through to Gosch's Paddock and Olympic Park beyond.
Beyond the master plan, groups of students investigate the possibilities of various new villages and precincts - moving from a macro scale study to a more micro - exploring how these new 'villages' and streets might one day look and how people might navigate the streets based on research into existing pedestrian and vehicular movement patterns throughout the study area and supplementing these with additional modes of transport such as rail and river ferry.  
<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/Phase4%20model.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Phase 4 - image source: http://www.cremorne2025.org/"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Phase4%20model.jpg?itok=VVpnoKJM" title="Phase 4 - image source: http://www.cremorne2025.org/" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
Overall the studio's research-driven proposition is a mature and well considered response to the principles and objectives of Melbourne 2030 &amp; its successor Plan Melbourne - increased density within an area rich in built history that does not compromise its neighbourhood character in paving the way for future growth - a good balance of new &amp; old, anchored by the idea of adaptive re-use. Cremorne2025 doesn't become a suburb dominated by high-rise and nor is it over developed - the higher density zones are generally located around transport corridors. It offers various residential typologies appealing to all aspects of the market and considers the commercial realities of concepts such as building over the freeway - which may seem questionable from a planning point of view but allows for the development of new public space, offsetting the negative impacts of overshadowing the Yarra and the southern bank.
There are some fantastic ideas that are articulated very well through simple but effective diagrams and supporting imagery so I would highly recommend taking the time out to <a href="http://www.cremorne2025.org/" target="_blank">sift through and absorb all the information</a> - I could try and summarise it all but I don't believe I would do it any justice as I think the work produced is really worth appreciating.
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Laurence Dragomir

The Creme de la Creme - Cremorne2025

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	During the formative years of my architectural education I had a lecturer for one of the obligatory technology subjects who used to make a very clear distinction between "wood" &amp; "timber" - "You burn wood and you build with timber."  The term "wood' actually refers to the materials natural state before undergoing a process of modification at the hands of man (or these days machine) to become the "timber" that you purchase down at your local Bunnings or Masters (depending on your allegiances).</div>
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	Architects employ timber for many reasons - some for the warmth it brings to a space, others to provide a more 'natural' finish - a counter balance to manufactured glass and steel.  During my time at Kerstin Thompson Architects we employed a timber veil, to the new <a href="http://www.kerstinthompson.com/index.php?id=38">Marysville Police Station</a> in the form of alternating radial profiled battens, "recalling the local timber industry, surrounding forests and the heritage of timber buildings that were most strongly associated with Marysville's built past, now lost.  The timber veil allowed for a much softer and permeable interface with the 'Marysville Heart' Park to the north - balancing transparency to public areas and the privacy required of certain aspects of Police operation.  The Silvertop Ash battens were sealed but allowed to grey over time, giving the impression that the building has been there for longer than it has.
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	This softer, natural finish is becoming more prevalent throughout metropolitan Melbourne as an increasing number of architects incorporate timber into their designs, some going so far as to clad entire building exteriors as seen below.
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	<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/Img_6112.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Princess Street, Kew apartment complex."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_6112.jpg?itok=vyDXgNFv" title="Princess Street, Kew apartment complex." typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
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	Structurally, timber is a cheaper alternative to steel construction and up until more recently has been limited to buildings much smaller in stature - with precast concrete taking centre stage on high rise construction projects. Enter CLT (cross laminated timber veneer), a multi-layered,lightweight, loadbearing, solid timber panel that allows high rise buildings to go up in a fraction of the time usually required, best demonstrated in Melbourne by Lend Lease's <a href="http://www.forteliving.com.au/">Forte project</a> at Docklands - the world's tallest timber apartment building and a precursor to the direction of the future wharf structures to come at the western end of Victoria Harbour's peninsula.</div>
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	Above all else timber is visually stimulating and provides a welcome change to a typical Melbourne urban setting.  With that in mind expand the images below to fully appreciate some of Melbourne's finest buildings which employ timber in one form or another.  All images taken credited to Apartments.com.au staff.</div>
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Wooden you know it - architecture and timber

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'Thought into Form', <a href="http://www.artdes.monash.edu.au/#">Monash Art Design &amp; Architecture</a>'s (MADA) inaugural publication was this week launched by Dean, Shane Murray. The publication showcases the work of the faculty's staff and students, giving an insight into the processes and methodology of art, design and architectural learning at an undergraduate level and providing 'the starting point for discourse about how the multidisciplinary will help shape and inform our future.'  Apartments.com.au was invited to the launch at ACCA, an evening which included keynote speakers such as John Warwicker, Professor of Design MADA &amp; editor of Thought Into Form; a jetlagged but highly entertaining Juliana Engberg, Artistic Director, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art; Roger Wood, Wood Marsh Architecture; Tara McDowell, Director of Cultural Practice at MADA.  All of whom discussed the possibilities and future of collaborative creative practice.
MADA located within Building F at Monash's Caulfield Campus, which it shares with the <a href="http://www.monash.edu.au/muma/">MUMA </a>gallery (which this author was lucky enough to work on), providing a studio based curriculum which promotes multidisciplinary learning and the cross-pollination of ideas throughout the various schools which make up the faculty - a step away from the typical model of art, design and architectural schools which have generally confined themselves to the walls which house them.
<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/Image4_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Stills taken from MADA's event flyer. Images © Monash University"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image4_12.jpg?itok=CzuOfExW" title="Stills taken from MADA's event flyer. Images © Monash University" typeof="Image"></a>
The three schools, while sharing a common brand in the form of MADA have also been given their own identity by a team led by Professor John Warwicker and are likely to evolve and adapt over time at the hands of John's communications students. A more comprehensive write up on the branding and ideology can be found <a href="http://desktopmag.com.au/features/mada-%E2%80%94-thought-into-form/#.UkQiScZi1W8">here</a>.
Initially, I wasn't quite sure what direction to take with this article but eventually decided to provide a bit of a commentary on architectural pedagogy in Melbourne, based on my own architectural education. 
I studied architecture at RMIT's city campus between 2005-2009, where we shared levels 11 &amp; 12 of Building 8 with landscape architecture students and held joint exhibitions but otherwise had little to no involvement with them.  The focus was on research, investigations in form and materiality and the implications of these on the architecture that you developed with the ultimate aim of having students position themselves amongst the school's "pillars of architecture". The vast majority of work produced was speculative with no real world outcomes, which meant plenty of models and drawings either thrown away or locked away never to see the light of day despite the hours spent slaving away to produce them.
The learning was largely driven by the idea of the individual and despite working in groups, you were ultimately assessed as an individual. This isn't limited to RMIT - it has more-or-less been considered 'the norm' in architectural education the world over. 
“Built environment is a product of teamwork, the educational setting still places emphasis on individualistic work.”
“We are trained and we train architects as individualistic creative people to develop their senses and design ability to create a better world. However, as any practicing architect would argue the act of architecture in the real world is all about teamwork, starting with a client, and working with other professionals, including  officials, colleagues and builders.” – Hana Alamuddin, architect, extract from Architectural Education Today, Cross Cultural Perspectives. 
How you were trained as an architect at university wasn't a true representation of the 'real world' of an architect. You are not trained to work with others from different disciplines despite the fact that as an architect you will need to work with teams of consultants made up of structural, civil &amp; services engineers, landscape architects, builders etc. There was no scope for developing the skills to be able to competently collaborate with other disciplines, nor was there really ever the platform to allow for this to occur.
RMIT's award winning,brand-spanking new, Sean Godsell-designed and aptly named <a href="http://www.designhub.rmit.edu.au/about/overview">Design Hub</a> is a step in the right direction - providing a place for cross-disciplinary collaboration in research, at a post graduate level and a public interface for displaying the outcomes. 
So how is MADA's architecture school, launched in 2008, different?  This is best summed up by the following description, taken from MADA's website:
Art, design and architecture students have designed products to help people with disabilities, created installations that comment on social issues. and developed emergency relief structures. The applications are limitless.
<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/Image5_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A new working space - RMIT Design Hub. Image © seangodsell.com"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image5_11.jpg?itok=B0tj7hIA" title="A new working space - RMIT Design Hub. Image © seangodsell.com" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
This is evident in projects such as the <a href="http://architectureau.com/articles/stawell-steps/">Stawell Steps</a> project - a collaboration between Japanese artist Hiroshi Nakao and Monash architecture students under the supervision of <a href="http://www.nmbw.com.au/">NMBW</a> principal, Nigel Bertram. Part spillway, part brick ruin and part playground it successfully and carefully marries architecture, art and landscape to provide a multi-faceted installation that can be sat, walked or climbed on. The 'Steps' were developed over the course of a semester, with a prototype being built in MUMA's Ian Potter Sculpture Courtyard before a more permanent installation being built in Stawell. 
The Stawell Steps were shortlisted in the Regional Category at the AIA Victorian Chapters architecture awards - an award won by Marysville Police Station (another project I was fortunate enough to work on). What does that mean? Well, like Brett Seakins, who did the write up of the steps for Architecture Australia (linked in the previous paragraph), I can't help but be envious of what the Monash students have been able to achieve - something I wasn't able to until I began working in an architectural office... 
 
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Thought into Form and why it should MADA

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"Catch a ride to the end of the highway. And we'll meet by the big red tree. There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'. Come along, come along with me"
These lyrics are synonymous with US rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival's Up Around the Bend but would also seem equally at home in the Napthine Government's Draft vision for Fishermans Bend.  Released on Monday the draft signals the beginning of the community consultation process (which runs until November 22), allowing Victorians to provide feedback before the release of the Strategic Framework Plan in 2014.
Fishermans Bend has been designated as the area bound by Lorimer Street to the North, Todd Road to the West, Williamstown Road to the South and Boundary Street linking City Road to the east, with the West Gate Freeway slicing through as demonstrated by the Places Victoria image below.  It will be identified by four suburbs of various scale and densities; Lorimer, Montague (City of Melbourne LGA) Sandridge and Wirraway (City of Port Phillip LGA)
<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/Fishermans%20bend.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Fisherband Bend split into four mini precincts"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Fishermans%20bend.jpg?itok=e0mw22wb" title="Fisherband Bend split into four mini precincts" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
The Fishermans Bend urban renewal project was first announced in July 2012 by Planning Minister Matthew Guy as a project of State Significance in response to the continued growth on the outskirts of the city in the form of urban sprawl, but also as a means of providing affordable housing closer to existing jobs, services, public spaces and public transport.  In one foul swoop 250 hectares of mostly industrial land was rezoned to Capital City Zone - expanding the existing zone by 50% to allow for the development of apartments and offices intended to accommodate 80,000 residents and 40,000 workers in 40 years time.  Putting these figures into perspective the 2011 census lists Southbank's population as sitting at just over 11,000 people, Docklands at just shy of 6,000 and the whole Melbourne Central area sitting at just under 94,000.  Upon completion somewhere around 2020 after a 25 years of construction, Docklands is forecast to become home to 20,000 residents and 60,000 workers.
Not unexpectedly Fishermans Bend immediately drew comparisons with the much-maligned Docklands project (an article for another day) and was derided as another Docklands waiting to happen - doomed to fail before it had even begun.  Perhaps on the surface such a comparison would seem logical and warranted however closer analysis suggests that isn't exactly the case. For starters Docklands was a blank canvas of Government owned land immediately adjacent to the CBD that lay dormant for decades, boasting little to no critical  infrastructure with only the benefit of Spencer Street Station on its door step.
Fisherman's Bend on the other hand comprises 1000 plots of land owned by various developers and industries serviced by roads, buses and the 109 tram. The best comparison I can think of for Fishermans Bend is Southbank.  It too started life as a former industrial area and in the space of 25 years has become a high-rise suburb that has activated the banks of the Yarra, but unfortunately whose back streets are very much traffic sewers and not pedestrian friendly. 
With Docklands the State Government and it's development arm, Docklands Authority, had ultimate control over how the area developed as it owned the land and could subdivide plots of various sizes and sell them off to whom they saw fit.  Yet the precinct forged ahead in an uncontrolled, ad-hoc manner, rather than beginning with Docklands Stadium and expanding organically from there.  The Southbank scenario isn't ideal either, with a Structure Plan only being drafted up some 20 years after the fact  and long needed  community infrastructure only now infiltrating its way into the area. Development at Southbank has largely been informed by the various zonings and overlays which make up the Melbourne Planning Scheme and have resulted in cookie cutter towers upon podiums of parking with no life at street level and quality urban design severely lacking.
With Fishermans Bend in its entirety being rezoned Capital City Zone, the challenge of controlling which areas are developed and when beyond simply being able to acquire the land necessary to provide community facilities, open space and the infrastructure required to service the area becomes excessively difficult.  As does providing the right mix of residential typologies that are not only affordable but also result in a quality built environment which promotes and fosters high level urban design and architecture, particularly when the development will be largely developer driven. I suppose in an ideal scenario Lorimer and Montague, boasting the best proximity to Docklands and Southbank would be first cabs off the rank followed by Sandridge and Wirraway.
<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/FBend%20Header.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="An aerial perspective of Fishermans Bend with development laid out"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/FBend%20Header.jpg?itok=7zPS6x7n" title="An aerial perspective of Fishermans Bend with development laid out" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
So let's take a look at the plan...
The Draft Vision for Fishermans Bend is informed by the following 10 key moves: 
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	1. Grow Central Melbourne around the Yarra River</div>
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	2. Link the city to the bay</div>
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	3. Integrate with the rail network</div>
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	4. Connect the inner city</div>
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	5. Extend Melbourne’s parks to the bay</div>
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	6. Deliver new boulevards</div>
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	7. Create a network of local parks and green spaces</div>
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	8. Create a walkable and cycle friendly place</div>
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	9. Create centres for local communities</div>
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	10. Create distinctive and diverse neighbourhoods</div>
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	Summary of the Draft Vision
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		High-rises of greater than 18-storeys prevalent in Lorimer</li>
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		Low-rise of 4-storeys to the southern boundaries of Montague, Sandridge and Wirraway at the interface with existing residential areas</li>
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		Maintaining various existing grains within the urban fabric, with consolidation of sites and subdivision of sites discouraged</li>
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		Built heritage to be celebrated and integrated within new developments </li>
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		The introduction of linear parks to connect the inner city park network with the bay</li>
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		Greater variety in residential typologies</li>
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		Potential for 2 x Metro Stations within Sandridge and Wirraway as part of an extended Metro system</li>
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		Extension of the Collins Street tram route 48 from Victoria Harbour over the Yarra and down Plummer Street to the bay</li>
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		The creation of street lined boulevards along Lorimer Street, Plummer Street and Williamstown Road</li>
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		Potential for 4 x new schools - one per suburb</li>
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This poses questions such as  will the Southbank depot need to be expanded ?  Is duplication of the 109 tram route worth investigating?  I catch the 109 to work every morning and during peak times we're akin to sardines particularly if there's a delay - how will it cope with 80,000 extra people?  Will a levy be introduced where by developers contribute an amount (say 5-8%) towards investment in infrastructure?  Will the Collins Street team bridge incorporate a shared path for pedestrians? The bridge will have to be operable and/or of a gradient to allow for watercraft to pass below.
If ferries are introduced will trams get priority in terms of right of way? Should the sites destined for metro stations be acquired by  the state government now and then sold back to developers with their own zoning perhaps with no height limits in place, allowing for an integrated Transit Oriented Development with a commercial component to help offset the cost of the stations and tunneling. What model will the schools adopt?  Vertical or a more traditional stand alone model?
Summary of the Design Guidelines (note these are discretionary)
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		Laneways at no greater than 100m intervals</li>
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		Vehicle access and services to secondary streets</li>
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		Podiums to 5 storeys or 20m in height with towers setback 10m from boundaries or other towers</li>
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		Frontages over 30m in length to be broken up either in a formal sense or through materiality</li>
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		No blank walls with artworks being implemented as a 'last resort'</li>
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		A wrap of program around above ground parking levels particularly to primary streets with screening to secondary streets only </li>
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		Encourage a mix of uses through out the day</li>
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		Encourage landscaped podiums</li>
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		Awnings to provide shelter on new and existing buildings</li>
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These are all to be expected and seem fairly obvious strategies to employ, with most already existing in some form or another within the Melbourne Planning Scheme.  Yet the evidence of these controls being implemented successfully on a large scale is generally lacking.  The key to achieving the right outcomes I believe comes down to how vigilant CoM, CoPP and DPCD are in enforcing Floor Space Ratios.  Yes developments should be judged on their individual merits but if the basic principles are applied equally we won't end up with 30-storey towers built on 300sqm sites to all boundaries resulting in blank facades and a poor pedestrian environment.
A question that will no doubt be raised soon enough is what effect will these guidelines have on existing planning applications?  Urban.com.au will investigate the impacts at  a later date so stay tuned.
With all the above in mind, I believe the most crucial aspect to ensuring Fishermans Bend's success will be how it develops and achieves the critical mass required to make it a desirable place to visit, live and work, and whether it can realistically offer the right mix of different residential typologies to appeal to Melburnians from all walks of life. The responsible authorities have to stay the course and stick to the plan once it's finalised while being careful to avoid the danger of introducing so many controls  that the area seems manufactured and monotonous rather than something which has developed organically and evolved over time.
The Project Control Group consisting of  Places Victoria, the Department of Transport Planning and Local Infrastructure, the Office of the Victorian Government Architect, Port of Melbourne Corporation, the City of Melbourne and the City of Port Phillip should be commended for developing a long-term vision for what is an ambitious project, however the hard work essentially starts now. It's one thing to develop a plan that ticks the right boxes, but much harder to implement particularly when so much of the plan relies on private investment.  Hopefully lessons have been learnt (both good and bad) from projects such as Southbank, Docklands, Dandenong and of course the Melbourne CBD, none of which were built in a day but if Fishermans Bend is to meet the expectations of the Government's vision, then it cannot be rushed.
So come on the risin' wind, we're goin' up around the bend.
Further information on Fishermans Bend can be found here:
<a href="http://www.fishermansbend.vic.gov.au/">http://www.fishermansbend.vic.gov.au</a>
<a href="http://www.fishermansbend.vic.gov.au/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&amp;blobheader=application%2Fpdf&amp;blobkey=id&amp;blobtable=MungoBlobs&amp;blobwhere=1370918553209&amp;ssbinary=true&amp;blobheadername1=Content-Type&amp;blobheadervalue1=application/pdf&amp;blobheadername2=Content-Dispostion&amp;blobheadervalue2=attachment%3B+filename%3Ddraftvision.pdf">Fishermans Bend Draft Vision</a>
<a href="http://www.fishermansbend.vic.gov.au/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&amp;blobheader=application%2Fpdf&amp;blobkey=id&amp;blobtable=MungoBlobs&amp;blobwhere=1370918552400&amp;ssbinary=true&amp;blobheadername1=Content-Type&amp;blobheadervalue1=application/pdf&amp;blobheadername2=Content-Dispostion&amp;blobheadervalue2=attachment%3B+filename%3Dinterimdesignguidelines.pdf">Fishermans Bend Design Guidelines</a>
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We're Goin' Up Around The Bend

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Following on from <a href="/news/the-pencil-skyscraper-464-collins-street-in-depth#content" target="_blank">Mark's comprehensive article on the development at 464 Collins Street yesterday</a>, I have the privilege of providing you all with a follow up article aptly named "How do you solve a problem like 464?" More specifically I am referring to the sheer concrete wall abutting the western boundary of the site, broken up only by two slivers of glazing; a pet hate of the Apartments.com.au crew.

464 Collins Street is not alone in this regard and this article should in no way be construed as an attack on the building or project architect Bates Smart for that matter, whose work I generally admire. Rather the intent is to highlight what we consider to be a problem that is becoming more prevalent with new buildings along shared boundaries - the dreaded blank wall.

This commonly occurs on smaller city sites housing residential towers designed to achieve the maximum yield or commercial towers with a side core arrangement hoping to maximise floor plate efficiency. As a result of this insatiable need for more and more apartments/office space in the city coupled with Floor Space Ratios unofficially going out the window (pun definitely intended) some time ago, means setbacks from boundaries are becoming somewhat of an endangered species. This basically limits the possibility of any windows to habitable rooms along the site's boundary and you guessed it we're left with a blank wall.

<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/eEYx88.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Star &amp; Sky as seen from Elizabeth Street. Image credit Ryan Seychell."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/eEYx88.jpg?itok=zlWF4NEh" title="Melbourne Star &amp; Sky as seen from Elizabeth Street. Image credit Ryan Seychell." typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Star &amp; Sky as seen from Elizabeth Street. Image credit Ryan Seychell.</figcaption></figure>The most recent crop of buildings to be adorned with this must have architectural accessory are Melbourne's answer to Mary-Kate &amp; Ashley Olsen (better known as Melbourne Star and Melbourne Sky above), developed by Brady Group and designed by Peddle Thorp Architects. Both buildings' service cores are located to the east and west boundaries of the greater site, the towers only being separated (just) by Sutherland Lane.

Consequently a pedestrian walking along Elizabeth Street is presented with a great big blank wall making up about 50% of the eastern elevation, a sliver of glass, and a facade nominal setback consisting of a series of windows and balconies which will lose any amenity that they may currently have once the adjoining site is redeveloped.

Melbourne Star &amp; Sky highlight the problem developers and architects on tight sites have to contend with perfectly; you either build all the way to the boundary and have no windows or you setback a minimal distance (usually 1.5m) and risk the loss of what natural light and means of ventilation those apartments possess to any future development.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/08jj.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="464 Collins with a kinetic energy facade applied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/08jj.jpg?itok=LZIS6Wlj" title="464 Collins with a kinetic energy facade applied" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

<figcaption>464 Collins with a kinetic energy facade applied</figcaption></figure>So just what can be done with a blank concrete wall along a shared boundary considering there's the possibility that at some point in the not-too-distant future another building will cover cover the precast facade. Using 464 Collins Street as my subject I had a crack at some potential treatments for the blank concrete wall to the west. While the urban art and embossed precast make grand visual statements that may fall foul of planning authorities, the kinetic energy facade strikes a balance between subtle visual interest and intense facade activation.

Consisting of small aluminum tiles bound by lengths of wire, the facade treatment seems fluid, reacting to wind movement in a constantly changing manner providing an interface between built form and the natural environment. Current examples include <a href="http://www.uap.com.au/art/infrastructure/brisbane-domestic-terminal-car-park/" target="_blank">Brisbane Airport's car park</a> and Marina Bay Sands Singapore. The beauty of such a facade application is that when required it could be easily removed utilising 464 Collins Street's building mechanical unit with minimal fuss.

Ultimately though once again it's a matter of heightened planning policy and enforcement; I wouldn't be holding my breathe...

Click for a larger view and enjoy the renders including some context shots!
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How do you solve a problem like 464?

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Open House Melbourne 2013 entered its fifth year on the ever growing Melbourne events calendar this weekend. Boasting over 100 buildings open to the public all over town, it is a stark contrast to the eight that opened their doors along the Swanston Street spine during the event's inception.

For the second year running I volunteered my services and having completed a shift at Trades Hall in Carlton last year I found myself stationed at Urban Workshop, located at 50 Lonsdale Street in the 'East Precinct.' We had over 400 visitors walk through the doors and take a guided tour of the ground floor lobby by historian Michelle Summerton, as well as the 33rd floor offices of Australian Super who managed the operation of the building for OHM2013.

<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/IMG_0123_lo-res_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Urban Workshop Streetscape"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/IMG_0123_lo-res_0.jpg?itok=57EuKVLK" title="Urban Workshop Streetscape" typeof="Image"></a>

<figcaption>Urban Workshop Streetscape</figcaption></figure>The site has a rich history forming part of the notorious 'Little Lon' red light district and once featured a network of laneways that dissected the site in amongst 10 cottages. One of these lane ways is retraced on the paving in the foyer spelling out 'Little Leichardt". The name of another laneway pays homage to a colourful character in Melbourne's past, brothel owner, Madame Brussels.

The current development was designed by John Wardle, Hassell and NH Architecture and was to be constructed by Grocon, yet after a fresh tender process Multiplex ultimately built the complex which became the new home of the Department of Human Services and Australian Super amongst others. The redevelopment incorporated two 19th century buildings into the revitalised streetscape, including what was one of Melbourne's first pubs. Prior to construction commencing, an archeological dig was undertaken on site uncovering over 300,000 artifacts, which are now on display in an installation curated by local artist Rosslynd Piggot, on the ground floor.

For now here are some shots I took from the street and from up on level 33 for those of you who missed out. Ciao.

Related links:

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.madamebrusselslane.com.au/">http://www.madamebrusselslane.com.au</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/">http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.johnwardlearchitects.com/projects/project/14-the-urban-workshop">http://www.johnwardlearchitects.com/projects/project/14-the-urban-workshop</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.nharchitecture.net/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=496&amp;Itemid=496">http://www.nharchitecture.net/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=496&amp;Itemid=496</a></li>
</ul>
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OHM 2013: Building E16 - Urban Workshop

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A lot has happened since my last concept article (<a href="/news/blockhead-concept-this-little-piggy-went-to-market-on-his-fixie">This Little Piggy went to Market (on his fixie)</a>): Kevin Rudd is now Prime Minister, Australia has lost The Ashes but is fighting for respect, The Maroons are State of Origin champions and Hawthorn lost to Geelong while Essendon has run out of steam yet again.

All the while I've been lying in bed at night thinking about Station Pier, Port Melbourne. This article forms part of a series of articles focusing on Port Melbourne's past, present and future. As the name suggests I'll be focusing on a possible future for at least part of the site.

I may revisit the pier itself for another article at some stage, however I have decided to focus on the area highlighted in red below, closest to Waterfront Place.

<figure><img alt="" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/pictures/article-images/Existing%20site%20plan.jpg"></figure>My concept for the site consists of seven parts as seen on the map below:

<figure><img alt="" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/pictures/article-images/site%20plan_edit-01_1.jpg"></figure><ol>
<li>A museum and visitor centre focusing on the history of the pier</li>
	<li>A raised sloping park with public parking underneath, replacing the current open air car park and nature strip</li>
	<li>New paved square</li>
	<li>Overpass and raised public concourse allowing for courier/truck access through and underneath the development</li>
	<li>8-storey apartment building with retail at ground and concourse levels + 2 rooftop gardens and pergola structure</li>
	<li>55-storey Hotel and apartments with retail and commercial space at ground and concourse levels + garden on rooftop</li>
	<li>65-storey apartment tower atop a 3-storey shared podium, retail at ground and concourse levels</li>
</ol>
While the height of the towers may be significantly beyond any other development in the area, they sit to the south of the existing residential area and west of the beach; overshadowing of the beach only really occurring late in the afternoon, which particularly in summer, might not be such a bad thing. As per previous concepts dreamt up for Apartments.com.au, I have tried to provide a reasonable balance between private and public spaces.

The idea is the development would act as a gateway for visitors arriving via sea (standing out from a distance) while also activating what is an otherwise series of 'dead' spaces. The concept won't appeal to all, but hopefully it serves its purpose in provoking thought for a complex that could be so much more.

Hope you enjoy the images below, click for them for a full screen view.
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Blockhead Concept - Pier-ing into the future

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Following <a href="/news/anstey-in-colour">Anstey in Colour</a> and <a href="/news/anstey-in-development">Anstey in Development</a>, the final instalment is… "This little piggy went to market (on his fixie)". Today we look at Brunswick Market (661 Sydney Road), its immediate derelict neighbours on Florence Street and the potential development opportunities that exist within the precinct.

The strategy covers a number sites, which are but a short stroll or fixie ride from Anstey Station and Sydney Road. See Google Maps image below, with site highlighted in a rich shade of Brunswick Green.

<figure><img alt="" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/pictures/article-images/Site.jpg"></figure>As John Batman once declared on the banks of the Yarra, to whomever was listening "This is the place for a village!" So too do we at Apartments.com.au decree that this is "the place for a village!"

The strategy behind the plan is simple: live local, grow local, buy local - a self sustained village of sorts. The market traders could live within any one of the 5 apartment buildings or shop top homes, the fruit and vegetables would be grown on-site and sold on site, with the Brunswick Market housed in a new building fronting Sydney Road, integrated with an urban farm to the rear that spills out onto Florence Lane (nee Street).

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/05_overall%20aerial_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Anstey Village overview"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="263" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/05_overall%20aerial_0.jpg?itok=hWLqsZqT" title="Anstey Village overview" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Anstey Village overview</figcaption></figure><h2>Key features</h2>

<ul>
<li>A rebuillt Brunswick Market.</li>
	<li>A Multi-storey urban market housed within a glass house.</li>
	<li>5 apartment buildings ranging in height starting from 3 storeys fronting Sydney Road and rising to 13-storeys facing Breese St, employing a variety of materials to break down the visual mass and create an identity for each tower element.</li>
	<li>The pedestrianising of Florence Street with a strong interface between it and the new market / multi-storey urban farm.</li>
	<li>Shoptop housing along Florence Lane with a mix of retail spilling onto the laneway with plenty of bicycle parking.</li>
	<li>An expansive rooftop park.</li>
	<li>North facing sky gardens interspered between apartments.</li>
</ul>
Whereas my last renders for <a href="/news/the-future-of-vertical-farms-in-melbourne">integrated vertical farming</a> were more about exploring a notion, Brunswick Village is certainly a more viable commercial concept. Regardless of whether the site is owned by state, private of institutional interests the concept could proceed given the acquisition of a minimal number of adjoining sites.

Without burdening readers with a thorough business case, development would roll out as follows. The current vacant carpark would be developed initially, with profits from residential unit and retail space sales to fund the still running market redevelopment. Stage two involves redeveloping the market space fronting Sydney Road to the north of Florence Street. The new market would move into this area and stage three would see the remainder developed, delivering additional multi-stotey urban market space along with a signature circular residential building.

There you have it, the potential to deliver a redeveloped market with improved urban outcomes whilst having the market run continually in some way, shape or form throughout the construction process.

Next up is a <a href="/news/blockhead-concept-pier-ing-into-the-future">revamped Station Pier</a>. Feel free to leave your suggestions as to what you'ld like to see next. Enjoy the images below.
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Blockhead concept - This little piggy went to market (on his fixie)

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Market Square is the first in a series of articles I will be writing for Apartments.com.au that will be looking at the adaptation, regeneration and development of buildings, structures and sites through conceptual interventions in the form of pretty pictures.

The concept for Market Square, located at 447 Collins Street investigates the possibility of redeveloping the former National Mutual Plaza into a bustling urban oasis in the middle of the Melbourne CBD, that in part pays homage to the site's previous life as the Western Market.

The idea came about after a panel on the Godfrey and Spowers designed building came <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/concrete-slab-falls-10-storeys-20120130-1qp08" target="_blank">crashing down</a> in January 2012. Following which, owner's ISPT engaged consultants Aurecon to complete an assessment of the structural integrity of the tower and its facade.

<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_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A bustling urban oasis in the middle of the Melbourne CBD"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/03_2.jpg?itok=-MVxD5Pt" title="A bustling urban oasis in the middle of the Melbourne CBD" typeof="Image"></a>

<figcaption>A bustling urban oasis in the middle of the Melbourne CBD</figcaption></figure><h2>The Site</h2>

Before I go any further, here is a brief rundown of the site:

<ul>
<li>The current 1960's international style marble facade building replaced the former Western Market following its demolition in 1961.</li>
	<li>The Western Market, established in 1841 and operating for 90 years before its closure, was Melbourne's first official fresh fruit and vegetable market. Market Street is named after it.</li>
	<li>The site is zoned as CCZ1 (Capital City Zone 1) meaning a permit is required to:</li>
</ul>
<ol style="font-style: italic;">
<li>To construct a building or construct or carry out works which will cast a shadow across the north bank of the Yarra River between 11.00 am and 2.00 pm on 22 June. A permit may only be granted if the responsible authority considers the overshadowing will not prejudice the amenity of the Yarra River corridor.</li>
	<li>To construct a building or construct or carry out works which would cast a shadow between 11.00 am and 2.00 pm on 22 March and 22 September over public space, public parks and gardens, public squares, major pedestrian routes including streets and lanes, and privately owned plazas open to the public. A permit may only be granted if the responsible authority considers the overshadowing will not prejudice the amenity of those areas.</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>See <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/melbourne/ordinance/37_04s01_melb.pdf">Schedule 1 to the Capital City Zone</a> for more info.</li>
	<li>Additonally the usual <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/melbourne/ordinance/43_02s01_melb.pdf">Design Development Overlay</a> applies to the site.</li>
	<li>Basic Planning Property report for the site can be found <a href="http://services.land.vic.gov.au/landchannel/content/propertyReport?reportNo=3">here</a>
</li>
	<li>Currently no Heritage Overlays apply to the site</li>
</ul>
While ISPT consider the current building's future following the exit of the final tenants mid-year (there has been talk of retaining it and carrying out remedial works to the facade) I have decided in this instance to knock it down and go tabula rasa on its derriere.

You're probably asking "but why Laurence? what's wrong with the current building?" "have you no architectural conscience?" "Tabula, Rasa? Derriere? Good god man what are you on about?"

All very good questions. Here I see an opportunity to inject some much needed sheltered, green space into the heart of the CBD.

<h2>Project Summary</h2>

The key elements of the scheme are as follows:

<ul>
<li>A 4,000sqm, sunken (relative to Collins Street), north facing public park, accessed via stairs and bleachers along Collins and featuring a community garden</li>
	<li>A large timber 'Urbarn' Market (Urban + Barn, gee aren't I clever) paying homage to the site's former life as the Western Market</li>
	<li>A 45-storey office tower raised above a 12-storey public 'podium' housing your stock standard bars, cafe, restaurants etc. plus a publically accesible, tiered, urban farm stepping up from Collins Street. The tower is topped off with a roof top garden and 80m light shard.</li>
	<li>A 12-storey high, concrete verandah over the park on a monumental scale akin to the Grande Arche in Paris providing shelter from the weather and framing the view of the significant beaux-arts former Port Authority Building to the south.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Method behind the madness?</h2>

I tried to be strategic in orienting the tower to run north-south versus the current building which is sited to run east-west. This was done as a means of reducing the visual bulk from the river and the amount of overshadowing for a tower of its height even is it's not ideal from an ESD point of view.

I have attempted to control the amount solar gain through the faceted triple skinned glazed facade which is also intended to act as a wind mitigator, by reducing the amount of 'flat' surface area.

The provision of an urban park was partly done to offset any loss of amenity to the Northbank as a result of the tower's height, which is taller than the current building due to the amount of site area given over to public programme.

I also liked the idea of inserting a park into Melbourne's main street amongst the corporate towers.

I think I've rambled on enough for now, so until next time when I will be tackling Station Pier in Port Melbourne. Please enjoy the site chronology and images below - let me know what you think. Peace out.
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Blockhead Concept - 447 Collins Street / Market Square

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.

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<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.

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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.

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<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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