Urban DC completes Woods Bagot-designed Heirloom in Armadale

Urban DC has completed its latest premium Melbourne apartment development, with buyers moving into Heirloom on Armadale's tightly held High Street.

The Danny Ciarma-led developer has delivered 38 oversized apartments at 1187 High Street, adding another completed project to its growing portfolio across Melbou​rne and Sy​dney.

Designed inside and out by Woods Bagot, Heirloom rises six storeys and comprises a collection of two, three and four-bedroom apartments targeted predominantly at the local owner-occupier and downsizer market.

Builder Cobild has now wrapped construction on the project, which had been tracking toward a mid-2026 completion.

Urban DC acquired the prominent High Street site with a view to creating a development that would sit comfortably within Armadale's established residential character, while offering the scale and amenity increasingly sought by downsizers leaving larger homes in Melbo​urne's inner east.

That approach is reflected in both the size of the apartments and the level of specification throughout the building.

Residences feature 2.8-metre ceilings, Gaggenau and Liebherr appliances and custom timber veneer joinery, while most of the larger three and four-bedroom apartments have three-car private lock-up garages with number plate recognition.

There are 123 car spaces across the development, a significant provision for a 30-residence building and another nod to its owner-occupier focus.

Woods Bagot looked to Armadale's established Victorian and Edwardian architecture when shaping the building's exterior.

Handmade German brickwork, expressed concrete, dark metal and fluted glass have been layered across the façade, with a series of arches and recessed balconies giving Heirloom a strong presence on High Street without departing too far from the architectural language of the surrounding suburb.

Jack Merlo was appointed landscape architect, extending greenery across the building's private terraces and outdoor spaces. Upper-level residences capture views toward the Mel​bourne CBD.

The location puts buyers directly on the High Street retail and antiques strip, with its collection of cafés, restaurants and boutiques, while Armadale Station and several tram routes are within walking distance.

Pricing at Heirloom starts from $2.2 million, while some of the larger three-bedroom residences have been offered at close to $6 million.

The completion continues an active period for Urban DC, founded by registered architect and developer Danny Ciarma.

Ciarma has more than two decades of development experience and has built Urban DC's portfolio predominantly around design-led residential projects in established, higher-value suburbs.

Its previous projects include Oscar Brighton, 818 Caulfield Residences and 401 St Kilda Road, while its current pipeline is expanding beyond its traditional Melb​ourne base.

Urban DC is progressing Harbour Frankston, its bayside apartment development overlooking Port Phillip Bay, while it has also turned its attention to Sydney's eastern suburbs with a project in Rose Bay.