First look: Abadeen lodge plans for second Melbourne apartment development

The Victorian division of Sydney's longtime luxury Lower North Shore development company Abadeen, is continuing its push into Melbourne's owner-occupier market.

Having launched Maléa, a collection of just seven luxury apartments on Malvern East's Central Park, Abadeen, led locally by former CBRE Director Andrew Leoncelli, has filed plans for its next project.

They'll be developing a boutique building in PRAHRAN at 616-646 High Street, on the corner of Airlie Avenue and High Street near Toorak Park and Orrong Romanis Reserve.

Abadeen secured the 2,198 sqm site, which is the former Cabrini Hospital medical facility, last year.

They had Carr Design a four-level building that curves around a Smooth Bark Apple tree, immovable as it's listed as a national trust significant tree.

Carr is no stranger to having to incorporate a heritage-listed tree in a new development, nor are they a stranger to having to do so for a development overseen by Leoncelli.

Leoncelli's ALP Developments were behind Victoria & Burke in Camberwell, where Carr had to incorporate a 220-year-old gumtree in the development of just 15 apartments. The Burke Road project broke records for the suburb when two of the penthouses sold off the plan for $5.5 million each in 2020.

There are a further three trees on the PRAHRAN site, two Flowering Gums and an English Oak, which line the perimeter and need council approval to be removed or pruned.

The documents submitted to the Stonnington Council said the building form pays homage to the existing heritage-listed tree curving around its canopy.

"Windows and glazing are perpendicular to the building grid and juxtapose against the curved form, creating moments of interest in the facade."

There will be 26 apartments across the four levels, a mix of two-beds, two-bed plus study's, and three-bed apartments. They will sit above two levels of basement with parking for 56 cars.

The two-bedroom apartments start from around 100 sqm internally and the largest three-bedrooms, the three penthouses, range in size from 180 sqm to 269 sqm internally, not including the wraparound terraces and the private rooftop terraces.

Abadeen broke onto the Melbourne off the plan apartment development scene late last year when they launched Malea.

Designed by Ewert Leaf and in landscaping by John Patrick, Malea comprises seven two and three-bedroom apartments with Miele and Gaggenau appliances, extensive outdoor spaces immersed in nature, and a parkside location unrivalled in Malvern East.