Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

Australia Post is one of the country’s most trusted institutions, powering one of the largest delivery networks in Australia. As online shopping continues to scale, Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online.

That scale of eCommerce activity has fundamentally changed expectations around how and when parcels arrive, and what happens when someone isn't home.

<h3>Problem solved with Parcel Lockers</h3>

The traditional alternatives to home delivery are far from ideal. Buildings can rely on reception teams to manage deliveries, which introduces ongoing staffing costs and liability concerns. Parcels can be left in common areas, which creates security and aesthetic issues. Or residents are redirected to nearby Post Offices for collection, which shifts the inconvenience rather than solving it.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dVG5ChLHf7E?si=D9hQRGCBuzlSQBqK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The data behind that frustration is significant. Nationally, around 9 per cent of deliveries are carded, meaning the recipient was not home and must collect the parcel from a Post Office. That figure reflects the national average reported between November 2025 and January 2026. In Melbourne, that figure rises to 20 per cent. In high-density living, it climbs again to 28 per cent. In other words, more than one in four deliveries in Melbourne apartment buildings results in a failed first attempt.

<h3>How Parcel Lockers work</h3>

The mechanics are simple. When a parcel arrives, the resident receives a notification either through the Australia Post app or via SMS. They scan a QR code, use their one-time PIN and the compartment opens. The parcel is secure, accessible and removed from the lobby floor.

Located in thoughtfully chosen, easily accessible areas, including external building interfaces, mixed-use precincts or shared communal zones, Parcel Lockers enhance convenience without requiring internal building access or additional operational oversight.

<h3>The scale of the network</h3>

This expansion represents Australia Post's largest investment in parcel infrastructure to date, building on momentum that began in 2011 when the first 24 Parcel Locker sites were introduced.

Today the Australia Post Parcel Locker network spans over 1,400 locations and more than 105,000 individual compartments, with major investment already underway to significantly expand the network further.

<h3>What it means for developers and building operators</h3>

A Parcel Locker bank is free to install and free for residents to use. That removes one of the primary barriers to adoption and shifts the conversation from cost to integration.

Australia Post's preference is to engage with developers during the design phase. That allows Parcel Lockers to be located in a considered, publicly accessible space that works for residents and the broader community. Retrofit is possible, and existing buildings can be assessed, but the strongest results occur when Parcel Lockers are treated as part of the core services plan rather than a bolt-on solution.

While the iconic Australia Post red is widely recognised, Parcel Lockers can also be delivered in more muted palettes such as beige or green to align with architectural intent.

For developers, they offer a tech-forward amenity that meets modern expectations, a reduction in courier congestion and building-management load supporting lower emissions and better ESG outcomes, and a meaningful marketability advantage in high-density, eCommerce-active areas, all at no cost for installation and maintenance, with Australia Post funding the program aside from power access.

<h3>Who's using them</h3>

Generational shopping behaviours show strong, sustained growth across all cohorts. Millennials (27–43) led online spend in 2024, contributing nearly $25 billion. Baby Boomers (60–78) increased their online spend by 17.6 per cent, becoming the fastest-growing adopters. Gen Z (13–26) and Gen X (44–59) continue to lean on delivery services as part of their everyday shopping habits.

Internationally, uptake is even more pronounced. Overseas markets are seeing rapid adoption by both developers and consumers, positioning Parcel Lockers as standard infrastructure in many new residential projects. For Melbourne's development community, this signals a shift in baseline expectations. Just as secure bike storage and dedicated parcel rooms have become more common, integrated Parcel Locker networks may soon be viewed as part of the essential service mix.

<h3>The bigger picture</h3>

Parcel Lockers aren't just a logistics fix. Developers invest heavily in lobby design, materials, lighting and landscaping to shape first impressions. Yet a stack of unattended parcels can undo that effort in an instant. Embedding parcel infrastructure early allows projects to respond to how people actually live today, supporting resident satisfaction, reducing operational strain and aligning with broader community and ESG outcomes.

As Belinda Quinn, Senior Transaction Manager – Retail &amp; Out of Home at Australia Post, puts it, residents increasingly expect delivery solutions that align with real life, are flexible, secure and available whenever they need them.

How Australia Post is solving the parcel problem for apartment living

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One of Japan’s largest property developers, Sekisui House, launched the first of three environmentally friendly homes in its 150-home Coolum Residences development in the Sunshine Coast on Friday, in conjunction with Lend Lease.
The homes are built using the company’s Shawood system – billed as an environmentally friendly system of building that Sekisui House say has some of the most advanced eco-friendly design elements ever built in Australia.
The homes are developed with Queensland Architects using a combination of imported technology and local materials.
Construction materials for the homes are pre-engineered offsite, including the timber frames and metal joints. According to Lend Lease, each home uses photovoltaic roof tiles, highly insulated windows, wall ventilation and energy monitoring systems. The buildings are billed as low maintenance and include a self-cleaning external webbing.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/shawood1.jpg">
Lend Lease says there could eventually be 150 Shawood homes at the Coolum Residences development.
Coolum Residences is a 150-hectare block 120 kilometres north of Brisbane, with much of the project marketed towards Japanese investors.
Prices for the Shawood homes start at $1.5 million.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/shawood2.jpg">
Sekisui House, which bought AV Jennings in 2009, increased its exposure to the local property scene through an agreement with Lend Lease in 2010.
The 50/50 joint venture partnership focuses on residential master-planned projects in Queensland and Victoria.
As part of the 2010 agreement, Sekisui House bought land holdings from Lend Lease at Hyatt Coolum on the Sunshine Coast, as well as a 50% interest in the adjoining Hyatt Coolum resort.
Sekisui House intends building up to 450 new homes on the land, while Lend Lease will provide development management services.
Lend Lease Development bought the Hyatt Coolum in 2003 from Japan's Kumagai Gumi for about $35 million.
</body></html>

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Sekisui House debuts Shawood environmentally friendly homes at Coolum Residences on the Sunshine Coast

<html><body>
Property development can be daunting, so I’ve put together some FAQs to help address some of the important questions that will arise as you start your development.
This has been broken down to a three-part series:
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/how-to-get-started-in-property-development-jo-chivers/2012061355113">Getting started (as seen last Thursday)</a></li>
<li>Design, planning and approvals</li>
<li>Construction time </li>
</ol>
 
Part two: Design, planning and approvals 
Winston Churchill famously once said “He who fails to plan, plans to fail”.
The design and planning phase of your property development will directly impact your end result.  So this is a very important stage.  Don’t rush it, take time to think about what you want to achieve and ensure you are happy with each milestone before proceeding on, as it can be costly to turn back and start again. 
Who do I need in my team for this phase of my project? 
You’ll need a surveyor, architect or draftsperson, builder, town planning consultant (not always necessary), the local council, perhaps a private certifier and a development project manager such as Property Bloom if you are time poor or inexperienced. Also your accountant can play an important role in helping you run your feasibility studies. 
Where do I start? 
You must start with clear concept of what you want to achieve.  Here are some questions to ask yourself:
How many dwellings do you want to get onto the land?
How much equity do I want to create by developing this land?
What does the DCP (development control plan) allow?
Design single- or double-storey dwellings – what does the market want?
Are you building to hold or sell?
Who is the target market – tenants or owner-occupiers?
If holding, what do tenants look for in rental properties?
What is the demand for the number of bedrooms?
What do I need to do to differentiate my development in the market?
How much can you finance?  It’s extremely important to have a preapproval on your development finance so you know you can complete your project.
What is the best structure to purchase and develop in?  This is a good question for your accountant. 
What do I do once I’ve found some land to develop? 
The first thing you’ll need to do is to have a surveyor completed a contour and detailed survey. Contour and detail surveys give a true representation of the shape, features and services of a site. They normally include manmade improvements, trees and, if required, adjoining property information.  Once you have this survey, you can pass it onto your architect, draftsperson or builder.  They need this to start on the concept plan.
Another important investigation tool is a geotechnical report. This will classify the site, soil and wind affecting your site.  This information is important to consider when starting on the design and critical for the engineering plans. 
Do I need to use an architect to design my project? 
This will depend on your goal and the area you are developing in. Sometimes it’s not necessary to use an architect if you know what you’ll be building is fairly basic. But if you are looking to create something a little different or need some expert advice on a tricky site then engage an architect. Property Bloom has a great relationship with our builder and we use the builder’s in-house drafting service to save our clients money. We will use our architect for more high-end developments. 
Steps in the design phase include: 
<ul>
<li>Concept plan. This will be the first concept of what can be achieved, and you can make changes to this. You can use this plan to show the council town planner to ensure you are designing within council guidelines. It’s easier to make any changes now then after you’ve submitted the DA to council. </li>
<li>DA plans. Once you’ve approved the concept plan, then you’ll move to the full development application plans, which are more detailed and may include other documents such as statement of environmental effects and Basix reports that need to be submitted to council with the DA plans. </li>
<li>CC plans.  Construction certificate plans are require after your DA has been approved. They will include engineer’s stormwater and slab design. </li>
</ul>
How long with my DA take in council? 
What a great question and one that has many different answers. It will depend on the complexity of your project and your council.  A single dwelling will be processed quicker than a medium-density project, for instance.  You may be doing a complying development and not even need to lodge with the council.  Speak to your council to get an idea of their processing times so you can plan this into your timeline.
Should I use a private certifier? 
Property Bloom always uses a private certifier once we’ve received our DA consent. We find it is much quicker to obtain the construction certificate consent, and the inspection process during the build phase is usually also speeded up when using a private certifier. To us this is well worth the small additional cost as time is money. 
What is a project schedule? 
At Property Bloom we prepare an initial project schedule that shows our clients the estimated timeline for the project. We use this tool to cross check each phase and gauge how we are progressing.  Each project is different and will take different amounts of times over each phase, but our job is to keep the project moving forward as efficiently as possible. so using the services of a project manager can really assist especially if it’s your first project, as you’ll learn so much from being guided through the often complex process of property developing. 
How do I complete a feasibility study? 
It’s important you undertake a detailed feasibility analysis before you decide to proceed with your development.  There are various software around you can use, but you’ll need to know what estimates to include, that’s the tricky bit.  At Property Bloom we base our analysis on recent and similar projects we have completed. As we’ve project managed over 50 developments in the Hunter region of NSW, we have a very good idea on the costs involved and are able to make quite accurate estimates.  From your analysis, you need to calculate the expected cost of the project and likely profit or equity that you can create from it and gross yields if you are planning to hold.  Once you’ve completed your feaso, keep updating it with the actual costs as you proceed through the project to keep track of the viability your development. 
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” - Alan Lakein.  That’s what I love about property development – bringing the future into the present.  You really can’t spend too much time on the design and planning phase of your development, but try not to get overwhelmed by all the detail.   While this is the most time-consuming phase, remember to step back and visualise the “big picture” to ensure you keep moving forward towards your end goal.
Jo Chivers is director of <a target="_blank" title="Property Bloom" href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/">Property Bloom</a>, which manages property development.
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Mastering the design, planning and approval stage of a property development

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Victorian first-home buyers who buy a residential lot or a house-and-land package in the outer-Melbourne development of Potters Grove before June 30 would save themselves in excess of $8,000 compared with those who wait until after this date.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/potters1.jpg">
And developer Integrated Development is throwing in an extra $5,000 sweetener for first-time buyers of land or house-and-land packages in Potters Grove, in Officer, about 50 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.
Marketed by Oliver Hume Real Estate, the 26 lots in the first release of Potters Grove range from 325square metres to 512 square metres and are priced between $169,000 and $222,000.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/potters2.jpg">
A number of house-and-land packages are also available, ranging from $332,124 to $495,640. All of these are substantially below the Victorian government’s $600,000 threshold for first-home buyers to secure the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/time-running-out-for-first-home-bonuses-and-stamp-duty-concessions/2012052854863">$13,000 first-home bonus</a>, which expires on June 30.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/potters3.jpg">
From July 1 this year, first-home buyers  will be entitled to a 20% reduction in stamp duty on houses under $600,000. A buyer of a $495,640 house-and-land package at Potters Grove would receive $13,000 from the Victorian government towards the purchase of her new home on June 30, compared with a savings of $4,342 in stamp duty on July 1.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/potters4.jpg">
The developer’s own $5,000 bonus also expires on June 30.
“Officer is fast becoming one of Victoria’s most sought-after address, and we’re excited to be able to give first-home buyers a helping hand in purchasing their very own home at Potters Grove,” says Integrated Development director Jeff Garvey.
The project launched on April 21, and 15 lots have been sold so far.
Potters Grove is named for the nearby Berwick Pottery, and it is less than a kilometre from Officer railway station.
The median house prices in Officer fell 8.1% in the past year to $320,000, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.myrp.com.au/">RP Data.</a>
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Officer development Potters Grove lures first-home buyers with additional sweetener as government deadline looms

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Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art has won the people’s choice award at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2012 Tasmanian Architecture Awards.
Designed by Fender Katsalidis, MONA also won the Alan C Walker Award for Public Architecture.
The museum is carved into a peninsula of Hobart’s Moorilla wine estate and features interconnecting chambers that eschews a programmed circulation strategy for individual journeys of discovery.
“MONA is a place of mystery, exploration and wonder – unconventional, unpredictable, where the visitor can feel comfortably lost amongst extraordinary art,” the jury noted.
The museum was started by eccentric millionaire and professional gambler David Walsh in 2011. It’s the largest privately funded museum in Australia. The gallery represents the whims of Walsh, who says the museum acts as a subversive Disneyland.
Visitors arrive to the sex- and death-themed museum via a ferry service, which docks near the grand entrance. Entry leads down into the subterranean chambers, where the journey begins.
Nonda Katsalidis and Walsh became friends after Walsh moved into the penthouse designed by Katsalidis in Melbourne.
“He is the greatest architect in the world for my purposes, in terms of what I wanted to do,” Walsh told Australian Design Review.
“He doesn’t build the same building over and over again.”
In total, 23 prizes and commendations were awarded at the ceremony.
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Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art wins people’s choice award for Tasmanian architecture

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Wind and rain briefly caused mild disruption to construction, but the Forté project by Lend Lease in Melbourne’s Docklands is heading skywards rapidly – comparative to the norm.
Works only began last Saturday after the timber residential tower project was unveiled in late May. Construction is quieter than in more traditionally built developments.
It’s set to be a 10-storey timber building, the tallest of its kind in the world, in the Victoria Harbour precinct.
Known as Forté, the $11 million will be built at 807 Bourke Street.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/forteimpression.jpg">
It will be Australia’s first timber high-rise building. Set on an elevated concrete podium, the building will rise to 32 metres and will be built with prefabricated wooden panels made from cross-laminated timber and will feature 23 apartments.
Site work commenced in February with a targeted completion date of October – quicker than it takes to build some single-family houses.
{module Would you buy an apartment in a timber building?}
Property Observer photographer Alistair Walsh will undertake a photographic timeline study.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/fortesite1.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/fortesite2.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/fortesite3.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/fortesite4.jpg">
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Timber high rise Forté off to a quick, quiet start despite inclement weather 

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Stockland will build its new Brooks Reach community park in Horsley in the Illawarra based on the ideas and insights from 150 Dapto Public School kids aged five to 10.
The 6,800-square-metre park – the size of a football field – will incorporate many of the featured suggested by the kids, including a three-metre-high, seven-metre long “tower slide”; a large circular “bird’s nest swing”; and a spinning “supernova” carousel-like ride. 
It marks the first time in Australia that a developer has asked for children's input through consultation prior to the planning of an urban development. 
Last year the developer partnered with Professor Karen Malone of the University of Western Sydney last year to conduct research around what local children wanted to see in their own neighbourhood and the new one being developed at Brooks Reach.
The Wollongong Council has granted the park DA approval, and construction is expected to start mid-year, with completion due around October 2012. 
Malone said the top five things the children wanted from their playground were: 
1. Secret and shady places for cubby building
2. Thrill seeking
3. A play space where they could create their own space
4. A place that promotes learning /a place that keeps and protects nature
5. A place where we can create communities
 
 
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/06/kiddieplayground.jpg" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/06/kiddieplaygroundthumb.jpg"></a>
“This feedback from the kids means that Stockland is now able to create a playground that gives kids all the things they want and dreamed of – a chance to be imaginative, explore, test their limits, learn and laugh with their friends,” says Malone. 
“The Brooks Reach park research been a fantastic project to lead, and is something new for Australia and in fact globally to have children involved in a design process initiated by a developer like this. 
“It’s great that Stockland actively looked to get the community involved in this way. It is not something that happens every day, and I’m sure the result will be terrific.” 
Stockland senior development manager Michael Braithwaite says the kids’ involvement has added an exciting element to the design process. 
“Encouraging a healthy and active life is something Stockland is really passionate about, so we wanted to come up with something that the kids and their families would enjoy and use regularly. 
“The best way to give the kids what they really wanted was to involve them from the outset. We’ve now got a design that caters to all age groups in a really meaningful way. It’s been a very exciting and eye-opening experience for everyone,” he says.
 Dapto Public School deputy principal Cheryl Seagrove says: “Most of the children who will be living at Brooks Reach will attend Dapto Primary School, so we were very interested in establishing a link between the school and the new neighbourhood. 
“We’ve worked with Stockland in the past on similar initiatives, such as the recent launch of the Walking Bus here in Dapto. It’s been wonderful to see a developer take on board the insights of local children and allow them to authentically participate in the planning process,” she says.
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Brooks Reach estate developer gets playground lesson from school kids

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Does the disappearance of one timber building make a sound if people aren't around to hear it?
No one will ever know because all cameras were pointed towards the recent launch of Lend Lease's new Forté development as Grocon's Delta plans were quietly put on hold.
Lend Lease have started construction on the world's tallest timber residential building in Docklands.
Grocon had announced plans in March last year to build the world's tallest timber residential building on the former Carlton United Brewery site in Melbourne.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/delta3.jpg">
The 10-storey Delta was due to take the title from London's nine-storey Stadthaus, but Lend Lease will now beat Grocon to it.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/lend-leases-docklands-project-forte-will-be-worlds-tallest-residential-timber-building/2012052554840/Page-2">Lend Lease's Forté will rise 32 metres from the ground to be the world's tallest</a>, and Melbourne's first timber residential tower.
Construction is due to be finished in October.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/delta2.jpg"> After Grocon's March announcement not much more was heard.
In September last year, Grocon's national design manager and general manager of the CUB site, David Waldren, gave a talk at the Building Australia's Future conference suggesting plans were going ahead.
But Property Observer spoke to Grocon spokesperson Jane Wilson, who confirmed industry whispers that the plans for the building were on hold.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/delta4.jpg"> 
"The situation with Delta is pretty much that it's on hold at the moment," Wilson says.
"It's still a concept at the moment, but we do hope to build it next year.
"We certainly do want a timber residential building, and we hope it will go ahead.
"Lend Lease is obviously going to be ahead of us."
<img src="/images/stories/delta.jpg">
Grocon will for now focus on the Swanston Square development on the same site.
"We have been selling apartments in Swanston Square development, which is part of the CUB site.
"We're due to start construction there soon," Wilson says.
Grocon need not worry too much as if any of three mooted plans around the world go to plan, Lend Lease will have the title taken away from them soon enough.
{module Would you buy an apartment in a timber building?}
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Timber! Grocon’s wooden Melbourne building Delta on hold as Lend Lease’s Forté to grow quickly

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There can often be some misunderstanding around a fixed-price contract.  If you don’t know a builder, then there can also be a little mistrust as you look over the tender. Am I being overcharged?  Is everything included?  Will there be many variations?

Today I opened an email that made me smile and really feel grateful for such a wonderful builder we are working with on our development projects.

The email came from the office of my builder. It related to a three-villa project under construction. It had two variations attached to it; one for the site preparation and the other for slab piering.  I’d been overseeing the works with the site manager so I was expecting the variations but weren’t sure on the exact cost they’d come in at.

“Variations are changes to the original contracted work, which involve either an addition or reduction in the scope or value of work,” so the <a href="https://consumer.masterbuilders.asn.au/the-building-process/contracts-and-variations/variations">Master Builders Assoc describes</a>.

So you’ll always find some items marked as provisional in your builder’s contract, because you can’t always plan the entire “scope or value of work” required when developing.

In this builder’s contract this clause was clearly included:  “Provisional sum is the estimate cost of labour and materials; it includes an amount for the builder’s margin. If the cost is more than the allowance, the difference including builder’s margin will be added to the contract price. “

Back to our three-villa project variations.  The first one covering the site preparation was for tree removal.  The builder’s tender covered vegetation clearing but from the time Property Bloom located the site, ran our analysis, designed the project, lodged the development approval and construction certificate and the client had her construction loan finalised and we could start to build, the vegetation had grown to a rather large tree.  We did get a quote from a tree lopper to clear it, but we decided that it would be cheaper for the builder’s excavator to push it over and clear it as part of the site preparation. So we did expect a little increase to this provisional cost but wouldn’t know until the excavator submitted his invoice to the builder. It ended up being a little over $1,000 for this work.

The other variation was for under slab piering.  Once work was completed, we knew that we hadn’t needed to use the entire provisional allowance in the builder’s tender.  When on site with the concreter, I could see that the depths he was drilling to were not as deep as expected and so there were less lineal meters of piering required.  For this work our client was receiving a credit as the provisional allowance was over-estimated.

I needed to let my client know that there had been some variation to the build cost.  After all, she had signed a fixed-price contract a few weeks earlier, but I had made a point to explain the items marked provisional in her contract.  Usually provisional items are:

<ul>
<li>Disposal of stormwater – even with an engineer’s plan, this may vary during construction</li>
	<li>Retaining walls – the square meters of retaining often can’t be totally confirmed until the site is cut</li>
	<li>Piering to under the slab – dependant on how deep they may need to drill to hit solid support</li>
	<li>Site preparation – excavation – cut and fill.  There can be more fill required to bring in or take away</li>
</ul>
The conversation I had with my client was easy. She was coming out in front with the credit on the piering more than covering the variation on the site clearing.  This is the kind of outcome we strive for, but it doesn’t always work that way.

In property developing or home building, there can often be a degree of disappointment once under construction as issues arise.  Mostly this comes down to the developer or home owner’s expectation that the costs won’t change.

The more developments or home builds you manage, the more issues you become aware of. But if you can go into it knowing there is a degree of risk that you must take, then you won’t be disappointed if an issue does come up.

No one can really know what will happen once you start work, but as project managers, it’s our job to manage the issues in the most effective way so that we minimise costs and the valuable time in may take to sort out the issue.  And when it goes the other way and a credit is issued, then that’s a wonderful feeling.

<h2>Recently listed properties:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3490]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3783]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3565]
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Why the cost can change, even in a fixed-price building contract

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The R. Corporation’s Cheltenham development Central Park is selling briskly as first-home buyers seek to purchase a property under $600,000 before the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/time-running-out-for-first-home-bonuses-and-stamp-duty-concessions/2012052854863">Victorian government’s $13,000 first-home bonus expires on June 30</a>.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/chelt1.jpg">
The 208-townhouse development launched in late March, and 40 of the 52 in the first stage have sold. Just over half of the townhouses sold in the first three days.
<img src="/images/stories/cheltcentralpark1.jpg">
The majority of the offerings in Central Park are priced under the all-important $600,000 threshold. There are five styles of townhouse offered in this release, all named after flowers. Buyers of the three-bedroom offerings Gardenia (135 square metres, from $630,000) and Orchid (170 square metres, from $825,000) will not be eligible for the government’s first-home bonus, but the other styles are under the threshold. These include the three-bedroom Camellia (117 square metres, from $595,000), three-bedroom magnolia (138 square metres, from $592,000) and two-bedroom Jasmine (121 square metres, from $530).
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/chelt2.jpg">
“For first-home buyers now is the perfect time to buy,” says R. Corporation marketing manager Rohan Ames.
<img src="/images/stories/cheltcentralpark4.jpg">
“With as little as $45,000 [deposit], access to the first-home buyers’ extra $13,000 for new homes and their first-home buyers’ grant … Central Park townhouses offer a modern and affordable way into home ownership in the bayside area.”
The median sale price for houses in Cheltenham, which is about 20 kilometres south-east of Melbourne CBD, is $605,000, according to RP Data.
 
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
 
<img src="/images/stories/cheltcentralpark2.jpg">
The development was initially marketed at the second-home buyer market, but Ames says first-home buyers are finding they can afford several of the offerings.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/05/chelt3.jpg">
“Our sophisticated product and considered design aesthetic is, most importantly, attainable.  First-home buyers will be genuinely surprised that they can afford to live in an R. Corporation townhouse,” says Ames.
<img src="/images/stories/cheltcentralpark3.jpg">
All of the townhouses have two bathrooms, and they all include landscaped courtyards, balconies or gardens. Every property also comes with a carport or garage.
 
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First-home buyers buying sub-$600,000 townhouses in Cheltenham’s Central Park project

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Until <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/lend-leases-docklands-project-forte-will-be-worlds-tallest-residential-timber-building/2012052554840">Lend Lease's Docklands project Forté is completed, </a>London currently holds the record for the world’s tallest timber residential building with Waugh Thistleton's nine-storey Stadthaus (pictured below).
The building took just 49 weeks to complete, with the basic structure taking just nine weeks.
Some 265 trees were used in its construction. It houses 29 apartments and a ground-floor office.
<img src="/images/stories/stadhaus.jpg">
Photo courtesy of Waugh Thistleton
One building perhaps not counted among official records was Russian gangster Nikolai Sutyagin's DIY creation (pictured below). He cobbled together 13 storeys to build a reported 43-metre ramshackle house in Arkhangelsk. Unfortunately it was partially torn down in 2009 and the remaining structure burnt down earlier this month.
<img src="/images/stories/russian.jpg">
Arkhangelsk wooden mansion. Photo courtesy of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.flickr.com/">Flickr</a>
And it seems Melbourne isn’t the only city to reach for the canopy.
Vancouver has mooted plans for a 30-storey wooden tower aptly titled Tall Wood Tower. Michael Green Architecture designed the tower.
<img src="/images/stories/tallwood.jpg">
Tall Wood Tower. Photo courtesy of Michael Green Architecture
Dornbirn in Austria may soon be home to a 20-30 storey mixed used wooden tower called the LifeCycle Tower, designed by Creative Renewable Energy and Efficiency.
<img src="/images/stories/lifecycle.jpg" width="470">
LifeCycle Tower. Photo courtesy of CREE
And Kirkenes in Norway will join the game too, with plans approved to build the 20-storey Barentshouse Kirkenes.
<img src="/images/stories/barents.jpg" width="470">
Barentshouse Kirkenes. Photo courtesy of Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter
Building things entirely out of wood isn’t a new concept, either. Considered the tallest wooden structure in Europe, Northern Transylvania’s 56-metre Barsana Monastery was built in 1720.
<img src="/images/stories/monastery.jpg">
 
Barsana Monastery. Photo by Brandon Atkinson, courtesy of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>
The tallest wooden structure still standing is a radio tower in Gliwice Poland built in 1935. It stands at 118 metres. It’s still not as tall as the tallest wooden tower ever built though. The 1933-built Mühlacker Transmission Tower in Germany once stood at 190 metre before it was destroyed in 1945.
<img src="/images/stories/radiotower.jpg">
Gliwice tower. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
 
 
{module Would you buy an apartment in a timber building?} 
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