Abadeen has released the whole-floor penthouse crowning its recently completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/park-residences-cremorne-2-sutherland-street-cremorne-nsw-2090">Park Residences</a> development in Cremorne, bringing the near-300 sqm residence to market for the first time.

Occupying the entire top floor of the boutique Lower North Shore development, the penthouse includes 221 sqm of internal living and a 74 sqm wraparound terrace, with a prized north-facing aspect taking in views across Middle Harbour.

The residence has been completed and fully furnished following a collaboration between Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown and internationally recognised interior designer Jack Freeman, Founder and Managing Director of FREEMAN &amp; CO.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and Freeman approached the penthouse as a finished home, sourcing furniture, artwork, lighting and objects from Australia and overseas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378718]

Pieces from Parisian design house Pierre Augustin Rose sit alongside contemporary artworks and bespoke lighting, with Freeman drawing on recent visits to PAD Paris and Salone del Mobile Milano for the final collection.

Brown said the aim was to create a penthouse that felt more like a large-scale private home than a traditional apartment.

"The experience begins the moment the lift doors open. You're welcomed into an elegant dining room before the home opens into an extraordinary living space framed by sun-drenched harbour views.

"Every time someone walks through the front door they pause. It's not just the view, it's the incredible sense of space, the warmth created by the northern sunlight that fills the interiors, and the way every room connects so effortlessly.

"It has all the proportions of a luxury home, while delivering the effortless lifestyle and personalised experience of living in a world-class six-star hotel, combined with the simplicity and convenience of apartment living."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378713]

A secure lift provides exclusive access to the penthouse level, opening to a dedicated arrival foyer and dining area before the residence expands into its main living and entertaining spaces.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing runs across the northern side of the home, connecting the interiors with the terrace and Middle Harbour outlook.

The penthouse also features a fireplace and substantial chef's kitchen, while the wraparound terrace has been designed to accommodate both everyday outdoor living and larger-scale entertaining.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378720]

Freeman said the interiors had been deliberately kept restrained to complement the scale, natural light and outlook already established by the architecture.

"The penthouse is a serene study in quiet luxury," Freeman said.

"The interior pairs soft, sculptural forms with warm timber, pale stone and a restrained neutral palette. Curated artwork and metallic accents add depth, while abundant natural light creates a calm, effortlessly refined atmosphere. In my world, less is always more."

Freeman said the approach was centred around collecting individual pieces rather than simply decorating the apartment.

"Every material, every object and every piece of furniture has been curated with intention. I am a true believer in collecting versus decorating.

"The architecture already provided extraordinary natural light, remarkable volume and an uninterrupted connection to Middle Harbour. Our role was to complement those qualities with unique one-of-a-kind pieces of fine art and collectible design sourced from recent travels around the world."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378694]

Among the collection are solid bronze sculptures by Lorenzo Quinn, alongside a curated crystalware collection and pieces sourced from international design fairs.

Park Residences sits opposite Cammeray Golf Club, Cammeray Croquet Club and Grand Slam Tennis Cammeray, around 300 metres from Neutral Bay Village and its established collection of restaurants, cafés and retail.

Brown said the combination of a whole-floor floorplan, northern aspect and proximity to Neutral Bay was becoming increasingly difficult to find on the Lower North Shore.

"Completed whole-floor penthouses with a sun-drenched north-facing aspect and sweeping Middle Harbour views are exceptionally rare," Brown said.

"Add a quiet position opposite golf, croquet and tennis facilities, a level walk to Neutral Bay Village and only minutes to the CBD, and you have a lifestyle that's incredibly difficult to replicate.

"This is a home that offers the privacy and generosity of a luxury residence together with the convenience of one of Sydney's best-connected harbourside locations."

The penthouse will be exclusively marketed by SRM Residential.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=114246]

Joel Robinson

Abadeen unveils penthouse at Park Residences in Cremorne

New Brisbane developer Dalcott has unveiled Marrone, the first of three residential projects it is planning in and around Browning Street in South Brisbane.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marrone-south-brisbane-39-browning-street-south-brisbane-qld-4101">Marrone</a> will comprise 97 predominantly two- and three-bedroom apartments, with larger residences aimed squarely at the owner-occupier market.

The project will sit in a quiet pocket of South Brisbane between South Bank and West End, close to the restaurants, cultural attractions and riverfront amenity that have driven the suburb's continued transformation.

Dalcott is targeting buyers looking for more space and amenity than has traditionally been offered in the inner-city apartment market, particularly downsizers and professionals wanting to remain close to the city.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149951 project_image_fid=377072]

Resident facilities will be concentrated around an extensive rooftop amenity offering, including a swimming pool, spa, infrared sauna, warm and cold magnesium plunge pools, private lounge, dining room and outdoor entertaining areas.

Dalcott Managing Director Lachlan Cottee said South Brisbane's combination of lifestyle, connectivity and established character had been central to the approach to Marrone.

“South Brisbane offers a combination of lifestyle, connectivity and character that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere in Brisbane,” Cottee said.

“Our focus has been on creating homes that feel connected to that environment while providing the level of design, functionality and quality that today's owner-occupiers expect.”

The residences will feature an expressive material palette. Italian Calacatta Viola marble, known for its deep burgundy veining, will be paired with aged brass tapware, Chestnut engineered timber flooring and Tuscan Oak joinery.

<img alt="Marrone" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b8d833da-3b30-496a-ae30-07bdff371b50" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%2010.52.35%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=P6DAgOfaQzIXljKKK5j3e5NhWtrHIu9G" />

Bathrooms will feature Nara Japanese ceramics and glass bricks, while clay, walnut and brass lighting will be used throughout the apartments.

Dalcott has appointed Realm Projects, led by Managing Director Shane Foley, to handle sales and marketing following previous sold-out collaborations between the groups.

Foley said the Brisbane apartment buyer had become increasingly focused on the quality of the home itself rather than simply securing an inner-city address.

“We expect to see strong demand from buyers who still want all the advantages of inner-city living but aren’t prepared to compromise on the quality of their home,” Foley said.

“Many will be downsizers looking to leave behind the maintenance of a traditional family home without giving up the space they enjoy, while others are likely to be professionals wanting a residence that reflects the way they live today.”

“Marrone responds directly to that demand, with generous floorplans, exceptional resident amenity and a location that places some of Brisbane’s best dining, entertainment and cultural attractions within walking distance.”

<img alt="Marrone" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="61f7b22f-899e-4c0f-940a-7d3ab1bfb93a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%2010.52.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=PvN1JYxBgUpyCB7efKo52WGdSDs9nmim" />

Marrone will be the first project delivered as part of Dalcott's broader investment in the precinct.

It will be followed by La Terra, a boutique project comprising penthouse-style, single-level apartments on a northeast corner site with extensive resident amenity and city views.

Cottee said Marrone represented the first stage of the group's longer-term plans for the area.

Dalcott was established in 2025 by Lachlan Cottee and Ben Dalgliesh, combining development and construction capability under an integrated model and focusing on architecturally considered residential projects.

Marrone will initially be offered through a pre-release registration campaign ahead of its broader public launch.

Dalcott targets owner-occupiers with South Brisbane debut Marrone

Parnell Developments is the latest to seek significant uplift through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority on a Strathfield site previously approved for a much smaller apartment development.

Parnell has sought approval for a 32-storey mixed use tower across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-lyons-street-strathfield-nsw-2135">3-7 Lyons Street and 18 Parnell Street</a>, a&nbsp;1,857 sqm site around 400 metres from Strathfield Station. The building would yield 160 apartments, 15 per cent of which will be dedicated affordable as per the government mandate for buildings seeking additional uplift.

Approved previously was a nine-storey building back in 2022 with just over 30 apartments. That approval came prior to the project being&nbsp;progressively reconsidered as planning policy shifted toward greater density around transport hubs.

<img alt="Strathfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5af5281-a643-4eb2-b8c4-0081b59c04c7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%209.16.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=37bd3mI7rHNpThOV_75VO8xsGFwWOi1u" />

Turner has designed the latest building that would replace&nbsp;existing detached homes across the four lots.

The apartment mix comprises 22 one-bedroom apartments, 107 two-bedroom and two-bedroom-plus configurations, and 31 apartments with three or more bedrooms. The scheme also includes 203 car spaces across six basement levels and 58 bicycle spaces.

The proposal has been designed around a three-storey podium addressing Lyons Street, with the tower rising above and stepping toward its upper levels.

Turner said the podium was deliberately scaled to respond to the existing street, while the taller element has been designed as part of the emerging skyline anticipated around Strathfield Town Centre and the wider Homebush transport-oriented development precinct.

The Lyons Street frontage would have a more active, pedestrian-focused character, incorporating the commercial tenancy, landscaping and a brick-framed podium with an awning.

<img alt="Strathfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="14b20874-b8c3-4ac7-bc03-92be9a69fb78" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%209.17.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=av.9TxtqIRTC6v3PkSuu1rL9rreWoe2h" />

Parnell Street, which faces the railway corridor, has been given a different architectural treatment, with double-height breeze blocks, landscaping and communal areas used to soften the interface with the rail infrastructure.

The tower itself uses curved and recessed facade elements, with wave-like indentations across the northern elevation breaking the building into three vertical forms.

A palette of grey concrete, brick and breeze blocks is complemented by clay and terracotta accents, while the upper tower adopts a lighter expression through articulated slab edges, vertical fins and recessed glazing.

Residents would have access to 467 sqm of communal open space spread across three levels. The ground floor would accommodate the more active resident areas, including barbecue and group gathering spaces and an internal communal room capable of being used for working from home.

A more passive viewing deck is proposed at level three, overlooking the ground-level landscaping and neighbouring tennis courts, while a rooftop "sunset deck" at level 30 would provide another social and relaxation space.

<img alt="Parnell" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c3dce401-a80f-4682-8471-4caa01180880" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%209.17.34%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Xyo8JVqbOhSJXNy6Ih.1cHL.O6i0bGR." />

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Strathfield has been earmarked for substantial change through the Strathfield Town Centre planning work and the nearby Homebush TOD precinct.

Turner's report says the project has been designed to act as a transition between the existing low and mid-rise development surrounding the site and the taller built form expected to emerge across the town centre.

The proposal is being assessed as State Significant Development under the HDA pathway, alongside the concurrent request to amend the Burwood Local Environmental Plan.

First look: New apartment tower pitched for Strathfield Town Centre precinct

An $18 million penthouse has hit the market in Main Beach as construction tops out on La Mer, the $155 million apartment development rising just metres from the beach.

Spanning around 600 sqm across the top two levels of the 29-storey tower on Main Beach Parade, the four-bedroom penthouse is one of the latest eight-figure residences to test the upper end of the Gold Coast apartment market.

Its launch comes amid continued activity at the very top of the market, following the $30 million off-the-plan sale of a Burleigh Heads penthouse earlier this year, which surpassed the Gold Coast's previous $24 million apartment record set in 2023.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-mer-main-beach-3580-main-beach-parade-main-beach-qld-4217">La Mer penthouse</a> has been designed as a private residence in the sky, with 360-degree views spanning the ocean, Broadwater, hinterland and Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95606 project_image_fid=378731]

All four bedrooms have ensuites, while the ocean-facing master retreat occupies around half of the upper level and includes its own lounge, private balcony, two walk-in wardrobes and an oversized ensuite with a freestanding stone bath positioned to take in the views.

The residence also features a kitchen designed to accommodate a private chef, a 3.6-metre island bench, expansive butler's pantry, wine cellar and integrated bar.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95606 project_image_fid=378732]

A rooftop pool and substantial outdoor entertaining area with its own kitchen sit above the residence, while a grand staircase connects the two internal levels. The penthouse also has its own express lift.

OTP Group Director James Elliott, who is marketing La Mer, said the penthouse was expected to appeal to high-net-worth buyers seeking either a permanent Main Beach residence or Gold Coast holiday home.

“The La Mer penthouse represents exceptional value, considering its quality design, size, privacy and location, not to mention the 360-degree views capturing the beach and Gold Coast Broadwater,” Elliott said.

“We’re anticipating interest from high-net-worth individuals and couples seeking a residence or holiday home in the sought-after village enclave of Main Beach, taking advantage of the unprecedented growth underway in the area and neighbouring The Spit.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95606 project_image_fid=378736]

La Mer is being developed by developer-builder ODUS and Nazero, in partnership with funder Metrics Credit Partners.

ODUS Director Byron Sakha said topping out the tower had provided the opportunity to release the project's most significant residence.

“We’ve worked with internationally-recognised studio Sici Design on the penthouse interiors, with a focus on ensuring it isn’t luxury for luxury’s sake. Every element has been thoughtfully designed to enhance quality of life for those who call it home,” Sakha said.

“The views are the hero of virtually every space, but we’ve given equal attention to the fittings and finishes, so every detail exudes elegance and refinement.”

Sici Design Founder and Director Maria Papadopoulos said the extensive views became an integral part of the interior design rather than simply something the residence was designed around.

“The views weren't something we designed around, they became part of the design itself, with the true luxury of La Mer in its feeling of peace, calm and wellbeing,” Papadopoulos said.

“Luxury isn't defined by how something looks, but how it makes you feel, and we believe a luxurious home should be beautiful to live in, not stressful to maintain.”

The interiors combine Austral Dream Dolomite natural stone and travertine with timber flooring and a restrained coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95606 project_image_fid=378734]

Designed by Plus Studio, La Mer is one of the more boutique additions to the rapidly changing Main Beach apartment market.

The tower comprises just 24 full-floor, three-bedroom plus multipurpose room apartments below the two-level penthouse, giving the project a considerably lower density than many of the larger towers being developed across the Gold Coast.

Residents will have access to a pool and spa, gym, sauna, barbecue facilities, private sun lounges, yoga lawn and outdoor beach shower.

The penthouse has been released as part of the final collection of residences at La Mer, with remaining apartments priced from $4.3 million.

Construction is expected to complete later this year, with a fully furnished display apartment now open on level four.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=95606]

ODUS releases $18 million penthouse crowning La Mer Main Beach

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/far-east-consortium">Far East Consortium</a> is preparing to commence construction on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a> this October, marking the next milestone for the Melbourne CBD development and its higher-end Eliza Collection.

Spanning levels 44 to 68 of the 68-storey <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>-designed tower, the Eliza Collection has been conceived as a lower-density offering within the broader development, with only five apartments on each floor, dedicated lift access and a collection of resident spaces reserved exclusively for Eliza Collection residents.

The Eliza Collection forms part of Far East Consortium's broader move toward larger-format residences at 640 Bourke Street, where the number of apartments was reduced from earlier plans as apartment sizes increased.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365685]

"What it's meant for 640 Bourke is we've actually reduced the number of apartments. We've increased the overall size of the apartments. We don't have any studios in here, and what that does for a project is it elevates it," Far East Consortium Director of Sales and Marketing Lauren Sheldon said.

Rothelowman Associate Jun Chang said the design process provided an opportunity to create more generous floorplans.

"We were given the opportunity to be more generous. The apartments became bigger and squarer than any other apartments which had been designed in the CBD before that."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=368869]

That thinking carries through to the Eliza Collection, where the residences have been designed around the space and functionality associated with a larger home, but positioned high above the centre of Melbourne.

Kitchens are equipped with Gaggenau appliances, a butler's pantry, temperature-controlled wine cabinet and sculptural pendant lighting, while engineered timber flooring, stone and porcelain finishes and custom cabinetry feature throughout the broader interiors.

Privacy and security are another point of distinction. Eliza Collection residents have dedicated lift access, while 640 Bourke Street will provide concierge services and secure resident parking. Short-stay accommodation, including Airbnb, will not be permitted within the development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365689]

Eliza Collection residents will also have exclusive access to selected amenity spaces across levels one and three of the restored Eliza Tinsley building. These include the Salon with grand piano, an art therapy room, private dining rooms and treatment rooms.

They sit within more than 3,000 sqm of amenity planned across 640 Bourke Street, alongside facilities including a pool, gym, whisky lounge and further social and wellness spaces.

The Eliza Tinsley building itself is central to the wider project's identity. Rather than treating the existing Eliza Tinsley façade as a separate element, Rothelowman used it as a starting point for the architecture of the new tower, with the historic building to accommodate the project's gallery and lobby.

"It's a significant asset and wants to be celebrated and experienced by all residents every single time they go in and out of the building," Rothelowman Principal Stuart Marsland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=368872]

The tower will rise behind the retained heritage building at 640 Bourke Street, placing residents within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market and the Docklands waterfront.

With construction scheduled to begin in October, Far East Consortium has established an onsite display gallery at 640 Bourke Street, including fully built apartments that allow the project's layouts, materials and finishes to be inspected at full scale.

A fully built Eliza Collection apartment is also available to view at the display suite by appointment ahead of the planned October construction commencement.

Eligible purchasers who buy before construction commences can secure the full available off-the-plan stamp duty savings, subject to eligibility and applicable conditions.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=509]

Far East Consortium brings Eliza Collection to 640 Bourke Street ahead of October construction start

Apartments

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<div>Quest Apartment Hotels has started building its $16 million 68 apartment complex Quest Griffith in the Riverina region of south-western New South Wales.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Developed by Joss Group, the property will feature a mix of studios and one, two, and three bedroom apartments and is set to open January 2017.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Quest Griffith has opened the expressions of interest for franchisees.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>L-R: James Shields, Shaun Deaton, Mayor John Dal Broi, Richard Stamp</div>
 
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

Quest begins $16 million construction in NSW's Griffith

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<div>GUEST OBSERVER</div>
<div> </div>
<div>What’s happening with the residential apartment market in Melbourne today? There appears to be a lot of concern regarding oversupply of unit stock with localities such as the city centre, Docklands and Southbank predominantly under the spotlight. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Another concern appears to be the quality and aesthetic appeal of new developments, or rather lack thereof.</div>
<div> This morning I read that the Victorian Government will legislate new measures to control Melbourne’s future apartment developments by introducing restricted controls on setbacks, building height and space between neighbouring buildings. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
The plot ratio of all new developments is to be lowered from the previous 24:1 to 18:1. For those not familiar with plot ratios, it basically means that any new development can’t exceed a total floor space 18 times the size of the site it’s proposed to be constructed on. These controls coincide with a time where Melbourne leads the nation’s count of new high-rise buildings both under construction and in the pipeline (111). Furthermore, concern has also been raised regarding the provision of ventilation and natural light as well as apartment size in Victoria, where no minimum size requirements have previously seen some developments offer apartments as small as 24 square metres. It is proposed that Victoria follow New South Wales’s existing building standards that state one-bed apartments in Sydney must be at least 50 m2 in size. Some may argue that these measures may decrease affordability for the Melbourne apartment market, however, they may also see an introduction of stock that is more tailored to owner occupiers rather than investors, which may not only decrease vacancy but also be easier to sell due to the market favouring owner occupiers as a result of APRA implementing its strict measures on investor lending late last year. Arguably, future apartments may also have a better resale figure down the line if the ratio of owner occupiers in a development outweighed investors. Another measure to be introduced for Victoria is the increase in tax for foreign purchasers of residential property from the existing 3% to 7%. The new measure will be introduced in this week’s state budget and aims to raise local revenue and ensure that foreign purchasers who experience capital growth in Victoria contribute to the state. This may also slow the rate of foreign investment to combat affordability for Australian residents whilst also decreasing vacancy rates from offshore purchasers who wish to park their money in investment properties that may lay dormant. Vacancy rates are considered to be one of the best indicators of a market oversupply, however, amongst all the chat and hype of a potential oversupply has anyone really looked at the vacancy rate figures for these localities? As stated in last week’s newsletter, SQM Research data shows that vacancy rates for Melbourne have actually been in a downtrend since 2014 and are now below 2%. Those main areas of concern, CBD, Docklands and Southbank, show that the numbers have actually been falling to levels below their long term average. I’m not saying that Melbourne’s apartment market won’t be subjected to an oversupply in coming years, I’m not saying it will either, however, if I were asked to comment on whether or not Melbourne is currently over supplied, I would have to say no as the vacancy figures continue to show that the absorption rate of new product placed on the market continues to be steady. <a href="/images/2016/05/03/historicalvacancyratesmel.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
</div>
<div>
<img src="/images/2016/05/03/historicalvacancyratesmel.png" alt=""> source: <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank">www.sqmresearch.com.au</a>  </div>
<div>Luca Simms is senior investment analyst at SQM Research and can be contacted <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Current oversupply in Melbourne? SQM's Luca Simms

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<div>
<div>GUEST OBSERVER</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Water leaks and water damage have been highlighted as a common and major maintenance issue for apartment buyers and owners, which can cost thousands of dollars to repair.</div>
 <div>
Faulty workmanship, poor design or poor quality materials and ageing are the major factors in apartments or high rise buildings developing water leaks. </div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Water leaks are one of the major issues facing the ongoing boom of apartment building as major cities consolidate with high rise buildings and suburban areas undergo revitalization with increased apartment developments.  </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Older apartment buildings usually have increased problems due to lack of maintenance. Statistics from Archicentre's pre purchase inspections between 2010 and 2015 show that across Australia 4 percent of dwellings have a major water problem and 34 percent have a minor problem which, if not rectified could develop into a costly defect.</div>
<div>
 This compares with 31 percent having a minor problem in the 2001 to 2010 period indicating that the problem is getting worse. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>One common leak problem occurs with balconies constructed above another unit.  It only needs one leak caused by a poor sealing job or a broken tile or a blocked drainage point to cause substantial damage to an adjoining property. 
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In one Archicentre inspection of balconies in an apartment complex with over 100 balconies, nearly all had a similar leak impacting on the apartments below.  Intrusive inspections of selected balconies revealed waterproofing problems leaving the property owners with substantial repair bills.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>With over three million Australians living in apartments and that number set to increase dramatically with an ageing population and the general population increasing, the maintenance of both old and new apartment buildings will place an increasing financial pressure on Owners' Corporations and their property managers. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Water has a number of ways of impacting on apartments including:</div>
<ul>
<li>Poor sealing of balconies. </li>
<li>Lack of roof maintenance. </li>
<li>Lack of maintenance on windows and external doors. </li>
<li>Deterioration of tanking for below ground car parks and basements.  </li>
</ul>
<div>Water is a very destructive fault as it has both short and long term impacts which can make an apartment uninhabitable.  </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Apart from water damaging plaster board and causing structural timber rot, it can also have a major safety impact on an apartment if water enters electrical fittings and a major health impact caused by damp and mould.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>As part of Archicentre's pre-purchase property inspections on apartments for prospective buyers, signs of water damage are high on the agenda because of their potential high impact long term on a buyer's investment.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It is important for people buying into apartment complexes to realise they are not only financially responsible for their own apartment but also for common areas which can include car parks, basements, lifts, lobbies and recreation areas.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Summary of water damage in Australian homes</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sample of Archicentre pre-purchase inspections 2010 to 2015 - 12,050 dwellings in this sample.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>A major problem is defined as affecting the integrity or structure and costing more than $10,000 to repair. 
</div>
<table><tbody>
<tr>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1"> </td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">NSW</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">VIC</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">QLD</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">SA</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">WA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">Minor</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">43%</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">31%</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">40%</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">35%</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">Major</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">9%</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">3%</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">7%</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">5%</td>
<td rowspan="1" colspan="1">4%</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 Robert Caulfield is director Archicentre and can be contacted <a href="https://www.archicentre.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Leaks, water damage can be major cost for apartment owners

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After securing a substantial slice of the former Pentridge Prison during 2013 developer Shayher Group is now poised to push ahead with a masterplanned development covering the 65,000 square metre site.

Dubbed Pentridge Coburg, Shayher Group intend to create 14 new buildings within the bluestone-walled precinct while also dedicating approximately 16,900 square metres to parkland. Coupled with ancillary open space, the overall site area dedicated toward public open space will push toward the 40% mark.

<blockquote>
Our vision for Pentridge is to create a vibrant, well-designed urban village that breathes new life into this historical asset, transforming it from one of Australia’s most prominent jails into a new community hub complete with housing, retail, community areas and open public spaces.
<cite>Anthony Goh, Shayher Group</cite>
</blockquote>

Built form within Pentridge Coburg will be guided by the <a href="http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/globalassets/areas/planning/reference-documents/moreland-~-pentridge-coburg-masterplan-2014-approval-pentridge-design-guidelines-and-masterplan-2014.pdf">Pentridge Coburg Design Guidelines and Masterplan</a> which will see buildings between 2 and 19 levels created. The development schedule within the document indicates that there will be four precincts within Pentridge Coburg with two precincts capable of handling high-rise development.

Supplementing the numerous expected apartment buildings will be a dedicated retail/dining piazza with Shayher Group's Anthony Goh indicating the developer is contemplating between 20 and 25 outlets.

 

Heritage retention will also be a key design factor within Pentridge Coburg with all existing historic buildings to be retained for public use throughout the site. Additionally, under the masterplan new buildings will be designed to combine and compliment with the existing heritage structures.


<blockquote>
To pay homage to the site’s heritage, the new precinct will host interactive historical displays to retain the site’s character while bringing renewed life to the prison through the careful placement of contemporary architecture to promote liveability and encourage future housing and economic growth.

We will continue to work closely with Heritage Victoria to ensure the practical restoration of old buildings is in line with their history and is undertaken in a manner that will improve their condition and preserve their heritage. We want to celebrate and retain the rich historical elements of Pentridge by creating an authentic place that Melbourne’s arts, community, cultural and small businesses groups want to be associated with.
<cite>Anthony Goh, Shayher Group</cite>
</blockquote>

Shayher Group will also this year oversee the restoration of the former jail’s seven guard towers as part of several years of heritage restoration works and archaeological surveys. Accordingly all buildings identified as significant heritage buildings will be retained and reactivated, including Divisions A, B, E, the former wardens building, the former administration building, prison walls and watch towers.

With NH Architecture responsible for the overall site masterplan, Anthony Goh has indicated that Shayher Group intend to utilise different architecture firms as the roll-out of the precinct proceeds.

<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_3368.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Pentridge Village's first stage, Horizon Apartments, has progressed well "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_3368.jpg?itok=Uspcwh2K" title="Pentridge Village's first stage, Horizon Apartments, has progressed well " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Pentridge Coburg's first stage, Horizon Apartments, has progressed well</figcaption></figure>Pentridge Coburg's first apartment project designed by PRO-ARK is well into its build with head contractor Construction Engineering delivering Horizon Coburg. Consisting of over 50 apartments split between two buildings, Horizon Coburg which is due for completion late this year is currently supplemented by infrastructure works covering the site which will enable further projects to be delivered.

Shayher Group intend one of those projects to be 21 Pentridge Boulevard. Currently before DELWP, the apartment project consists of one tower spanning 19 levels with another more modest building of 9 levels. The Buchan Group-designed project could yield approximately 220 apartments over a site area of 6,300sqm.

The public release of 21 Pentridge Boulevard will occur following the completion of the planning permit application process, according to Anthony Goh.
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silvermb

Shayher Group outline their grand Pentridge Coburg plans

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Super penthouses atop Melbourne's tallest apartment projects may be the headline story, but there is currently a groundswell within the inner and middle suburb luxury apartment sector as a string of new boutique projects on offer. Running hand in hand with these new releases is evidence that luxury off-the-plan property sales are substantially on the rise.

Property sales agent Marshall White Projects recently released figures showing that year on year sales of apartments valued in excess of $650,000 rose from 278 in 2014 to 507 during 2015. Further the agency recorded 51 off-the-plan sales over $1.5 million in 2015, with just 20 logged for the same period in 2014.

This equates to a 250 percent increase in just one year.

<blockquote>
There is no doubt that the off-the-plan market has changed considerably in the past 18 months. Traditionally, off-the-plan sales have suited first home buyers who may not have the capital behind them to buy a freestanding home, and local investors due who were drawn to the tax breaks and savings when purchasing off the plan.

Now, however, developers and sales agents have identified a new market demographic in older downsizers or families who want to spend the same amount of money they would on a terrace home, however they are now seeking out larger luxury apartments as a viable lifestyle option.

Over the past 12 months I would estimate that approximately 30 percent of our owner occupier purchasers have been downsizers, compared with just 15 percent the year before.

With this changing market in mind we are now recommending that our clients have consolidation opportunities already prepared before going to market for all new developments to allow for a substantial weighting towards large, three bedrooms, luxury apartments.
<cite>Leonard Teplin, Director, Marshall White Projects</cite>
</blockquote>

In the broader sense Apartments.com.au has also noted an increase in the inclusion of three bedroom apartments in many of the projects that have entered the Apartments.com.au Project Database of late, with certain projects now containing a majority three bedroom dwellings.

Customisation is also increasing in off in the off-the-plan market according to Marshall White Projects, with older owner occupiers now firmly in the driver’s seat when it came to the personalised design, layout and finish of their new apartment.

<blockquote>
It would be rare in this market if we didn’t sell a project without at least one instance of customisation or amalgamation. Today’s luxury apartment buyers know exactly what they want and they have the money behind them to make it happen. We are constantly seeing buyers purchase two apartments next to each other and working with the architects to create a truly bespoke, three or four-bedroom home.

18 months ago developers wouldn’t dream of creating a three bedroom – two living area or four-bedroom apartment within their projects – let alone a whole building of them – but now we are finding these larger offerings are the first to go, and if a building doesn’t have a three to four bedroom offering buyers will purchase two smaller apartments and customise their own.
<cite>Leonard Teplin, Director, Marshall White Projects</cite>
</blockquote>


Leonard Teplin has also called on the State Government to overturn the controversial Neighbourhood Planning Zones in order to keep up with this growing demand.

<blockquote>
This luxury downsizer market doesn’t want to live in a high rise building in the CBD; they are seeking low-rise, boutique apartment developments in quiet side streets in locations like South Yarra, Hawthorn, Camberwell, Toorak and Armadale. The problem is these new Neighbourhood Zones have now locked up much of the land that is suitable for these developments, which is severely limiting demand and creating undo pressure on the end user.

This will only inflate apartment prices down the track so something must be done to ensure we can continue to feed this demand into the future.

<cite>Leonard Teplin, Director, Marshall White Projects</cite>
</blockquote>


In light of the above seen below are three newly release projects set to further add to the Melbourne's luxury apartment stock:

<h2>Lindsay Brighton</h2>

<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/image15_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Jacmax's Lindsay Brighton. Image: Jacmax"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="276" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image15_3.jpg?itok=1d8qDFQX" title="Jacmax's Lindsay Brighton. Image: Jacmax" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Jacmax's Lindsay Brighton. Image: Jacmax</figcaption></figure>Internationally award winning architects, Fearon Hay and property developer Jacmax has combined to create Lindsay Brighton. The first Victorian residential project for the New Zealand based design firm is designed with luxury detail in mind.

Three-meter high ceilings, seven-meter natural stone kitchen bench tops and full-height libraries with associated timber, bronze bookcases and ladders are some of the features included within the three level development.

<blockquote>
We wanted to transform the idea of apartment living through crafting a prestigious residential offering with opulent simplicity, providing a low maintenance, luxury lifestyle. There were no limitations when designing the residence. Fearon Hay were given a completely blank sheet.
<cite>Trent Skurrie, Director, Jacmax</cite>
</blockquote>

11 apartments make up the development with nine two and three-bedroom dwellings in addition to two penthouses. Pricing for the project begins at $1.6 million through to $4 million with apartment sizes beginning at 135sqm and increasing to a Penthouse-sized 297sqm.

<h2>Autun</h2>

<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/image16_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Marshall White Projects will market Autun. Image: theautunestate.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="282" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image16_5.jpg?itok=uE09nCGf" title="Marshall White Projects will market Autun. Image: theautunestate.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Marshall White Projects will market Autun. Image: theautunestate.com.au</figcaption></figure>Marshall White Projects' latest offering is the Autun Estate low-rise apartment and townhouse project located in a quiet side within Malvern East.

Designed by Conrad Architects and with interiors by SJB, the development will consist of two, three and four bedroom residences with the surrounding gardens created by Jack Merlo Design. Builder Glenvill Homes has been appointed with the high-end project townhouses selling for $1.2 million and beyond.

<h2>Englefield</h2>

<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/image19_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Englefield exterior &amp; interior. Image: Perri Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="266" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image19_8.jpg?itok=o3DNiQgv" title="Englefield exterior &amp; interior. Image: Perri Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Englefield exterior &amp; interior. Image: Perri Projects</figcaption></figure>Perri Projects has created the ‘Tailored Living Residences’ concept that will see home automation, personalised valet services and remote control technology delivered to residents as part of Perri Projects’ new ‘The Englefield’ development in South Yarra. The bespoke development will hold seven penthouse-sized apartments.

<blockquote>
Our experience and research have indicated that there is a new demographic of purchasers seeking out luxury apartments in curated developments that offer convenience as well as space and privacy.

These purchasers are seeking a luxury apartment with either two or three bedrooms, a study and a large outdoor entertaining space, in a low-rise, premium address that affords them the privacy they desire. We have designed The Englefield to embody these principles; every apartment is of a large, discerning size, equipped with the highest calibre fittings and materials, and embellished with incredible lush landscaped surrounds.

We have enhanced the appeal of the project even further by adding unparalleled service and luxury to our owners through our tailored living concept
<cite>David Scalzo, Director, Perri Projects</cite>
</blockquote>
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The luxury apartment market on the rise

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Interdisciplinary consulting firm Urbis has released its latest figures on the state of Melbourne's apartment sector, providing both an overview of what transpired during the latter part of 2015, while also pointing toward prevailing trends for the remainder of 2016.

According to Urbis, Melbourne's off-the-plan apartment activity continued to gain momentum throughout 2015, despite a number of factors designed to bridle growth such as tightening lending criteria, overseas purchaser surcharges and changes to central city planning controls which have been discussed at length on Apartments.com.au during the last week.

Contained within the Urbis Melbourne 2015 Q4 Apartment Essentials report, figures show that the weighted average price of surveyed projects in inner Melbourne for Q4 2015 was $700,000, having ranged from $690,000 to $730,000 over the course of the 2015.

Project surveys over the year recorded apartments with prices ranging from $310,000 to $4,800,000, demonstrating the spread of product type and a diversified purchaser profile in the market.

<blockquote>
Even at a 6% premium, the higher prices recorded in the central precinct remain well below the $1 million average for new apartments in Inner Sydney, reinforcing Melbourne’s value proposition on the east coast.

The Urbis sales survey results serve as a reminder that there are a number of sub-markets operating in inner Melbourne, varied by location, target market and price. With a selection of luxury developments preparing for launch, prices could well extend beyond this range in 2016.
<cite>Mark Dawson, Director of Economics and Market Research, Urbis</cite>
</blockquote>

<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/image3urbis.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Urbis' Q4 2015 apartment price summary"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="382" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image3urbis.jpg?itok=KzUHJFyr" title="Urbis' Q4 2015 apartment price summary" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Urbis' Q4 2015 apartment price summary</figcaption></figure><h2>Central City Supply Impacted by Planning Controls</h2>

Urbis research shows that 10 apartment projects had sold out at the close of Q3 2015, with a near equal number of projects launching their sales campaign during Q4. These fresh launches totalled 2,000 new apartments that hit the market as developers looked to capitalise upon both the improved weather and holiday season.

In terms of planning and future supply, 2015 witnessed an abnormal spike in planning submissions, particularly in the days leading to June 30 as the Metropolitan Planning Levy was implemented on July 1.

<blockquote>
By the end of the year in Q4, while the bulk of future supply continued to be concentrated in the Central precinct, there were early signs that uncertainty stemming from the interim controls had already started to apply the brakes to future development in the central city.
<cite>Mark Dawson, Director of Economics and Market Research, Urbis</cite>
</blockquote>

<a href="/news/new-permanent-central-city-controls-headed-to-independent-planning-panel">Amendment C270</a>, which plans to restrict the scope of development on both CBD and Southbank sites, raises the prospect of further moderation to future apartment supply numbers in the Central Precinct.

Urbis are currently monitoring 11 new projects in inner Melbourne which they expect to launch during the first half of 2016, with the likelihood that 3,000 new apartments will be taken to market. Urbis have also indicated that a number of these projects will be included within their Q1 2016 report, thus providing a barometer of purchaser demand and development opportunity in what has become a very dynamic Melbourne apartment market.

<h2>Urbis Melbourne 2015 Q4 Apartment Essentials report snapshot:</h2>

<ul>
<li>The weighted average sales price of apartments in Melbourne is $699,705 in Q4 2015, having ranged from $690,000-$730,000 throughout 2015.</li>
	<li>Based on the surveyed data, the Inner North remains the most affordable precinct in Melbourne to buy a new apartment, with an average weighted sale price of $518,230. Inner North suburbs include Brunswick, Brunswick East, Princes Hill, Parkville, Carlton North, Fitzroy North, Clifton Hill, North Melbourne, Carlton, Fitzroy, Collingwood and Abbotsford.</li>
	<li>Based on the surveyed data, Central remains the highest priced precinct with an average weighted sale price of $742,830. Central suburbs include Melbourne CBD, Melbourne (St Kilda Road), Docklands, Southbank and South Wharf.</li>
	<li>The Inner West precinct has seen a weighted average sale price of $570,600, an increase of $54,350 compared to Q3 2015. Inner West suburbs include Flemington, Kensington and West Melbourne.</li>
	<li>The two-bed, two-bath product remained the most popular across all precincts, equating to 45 per cent of total sales.</li>
	<li>Referencing the map above Inner East suburbs include East Melbourne, Richmond, Cremorne, Burnley, Toorak, South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor and Armadale.</li>
	<li>Referencing the map above Inner South suburbs include Albert Park, Balaclava, Elwood, Middle Park, Port Melbourne, Ripponlea, South Melbourne, St Kilda, St Kilda East and St Kilda West.</li>
</ul>
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Urbis research shows apartments to remain a key driver of Melbourne’s growth

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Footscray is set to accommodate another massive apartment project within the Joseph Road Precinct Urban Renewal Area as developer Growland Group prepares to launch Joseph Place.

Set over a 13,500 square metre former Toyota dealership, the site is currently in the final stages of remediation with the beginnings of a display suite taking shape. It's purpose will be to woo prospective buyers for Joseph Place's apartments which number near on 1,000.

The $600 million mixed-use master planned urban village which is expected to house up to 3,000 residents eventually will consist of six buildings, in addition to amenities such as Melbourne’s first elevated Olympic-sized running track, podium-top gardens and amenities and a retail laneway linking Footscray to the Maribyrnong River.

<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/image45_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Joseph Place has gained a new exterior. Image: Growland Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="464" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image45_2.jpg?itok=yXeAn8AK" title="Joseph Place has gained a new exterior. Image: Growland Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Joseph Place has gained a new exterior. Image: Growland Group</figcaption></figure>4-8 Hopkins Street has been in the planning system since 2013 with Places Victoria initiating a master planned outcome for the site which along with neighbouring sites forms the backbone of Joseph Road Precinct. Kavellaris Urban Design has been working on Joseph Place as project lead for an extended period of time with State Goverment approval for the development in the offing.

In addition to the roughly 1,000 apartments, a hotel has also been mooted for Joseph Place. Ground level will see 30 retailers split over 4,000 square metres of retail space and public open spaces, with an emphasis on food-driven outlets, continuing the trend of popular eateries in and around the area.

<blockquote>
Joseph Place will elevate what’s on offer in Footscray, bringing its amenity in line with its inner city neighbours. The elevated Olympic-sized running track takes the idea of an apartment gym to the next level, encouraging health and wellbeing outdoors, but not out in the Melbourne traffic.

The aim is to do something different and bring to Footscray a new style of living that celebrates connection and resonates with Footscray’s existing multicultural heritage and established food scene.

People want to interact with each other – it’s partly why cities are growing so rapidly and it informed how we approached the design of this site. We want this area to become a social, economic and residential hub on the city fringe that makes people’s lives better – and that’s achievable through a combination of great housing, world-class amenity and vibrant retail.
<cite>Kavellaris Urban Design director Billy Kavellaris</cite>
</blockquote>

Joseph Place will also likely include a rock climbing wall and theatre, with the array of amenities onsite possible due to the excessively large size of the site.

<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/image42.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Podium top garden. Image: Growland Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image42.jpg?itok=Yt9u35_5" title="Podium top garden. Image: Growland Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Podium top garden. Image: Growland Group</figcaption></figure>In early design iterations Joseph Place was to have maintained <a href="/news/council-apprehensive-over-the-revamped-939-apartment-8-hopkins-street">an all glass exterior</a>, although new renders have seen the project's exterior change markedly in composition but not so in shape. Joseph Place's buildings will still carry an eye-catching undulating form.

Growland Group's advancement of Joseph Place comes as the expanding developer is working on further apartment projects in Moonee Ponds, St Kilda Road and Highett, with the latter <a href="/news/rothelowman-seeks-a-new-high-design-benchmark-of-highett">recently covered</a> by Apartments.com.au, although Joseph Place is expected to be the first project to launch sales.

<blockquote>
Footscray is currently in the midst of a demographic shift - attracting a new wave of students, young professionals and working families who are looking to reside in a well-connected community with easy access to transport services and state-of-the-art retail, dining and leisure facilities on their doorstep.

The inner west has been recognised as one of Melbourne’s most undervalued opportunities and is due for rapid growth over the next two to five years. The future growth potential of Footscray is huge and Joseph Place signals a renaissance in the area.
<cite>Growland CEO Stephen  Yau</cite>
</blockquote>

Pending approval the project's sales campaign will be launched in coming months with construction expected to begin in early 2017.
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Growland Group readies Joseph Place as Footscray's next super project

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Joining Chris on the latest episode of your Property Empire is Andrew Rechtman from Realestate.com.au and Charles Tarbey, Chairman and owner of Century 21, Australasia.
During the week we had an email in from Frank Raiti in Sydney and he asked:
I've just received a letter from my Strata managers as one of the other owners in my block has requested a Special By-law be introduced to prohibit smoking on the whole property.
I don’t live there and so it doesn't directly affect me but how do you think it will affect my ability to rent or sell the property in the future? Is it a positive or a negative?
Charles: I’m not a smoker so I guess it would be a good thing if you’re not a smoker, because those people who don’t smoke can really smell it.
Chris: More and more these days because no one’s smoking
Charles: If one of my team goes out in the back lane for a coffee you can tell well before they get anywhere near you they’ve been smoking. I think it would impact very much on their ability to rent. I think also, in fact, on the sale price.
Chris: Do you think that’s a positive or a negative?
Charles: I think it’s a negative thing because people like to have a smoke and you can’t take that away. If a guy has nowhere else to go what are you going to do? walk out to the street in your own home now, in your own property and have a smoke? It could be quite a problem for values and for renters. Absolutely. 
Chris: Well the other thing is do you have the other tick box on REA, smoke free zone? 
Andrew: For a smoke free zone yes, but there certainly are things like pet friendly versus not pet friendly. There are issues around making noise. There are buildings where you’re not allowed to have excessive noise and parties. Even parking on some property. My personal favourite is… we have seen buildings with excessive smoke from BBQs… so you’ve got to keep the BBQ under control. It’s very hard to know and you’d have to talk, you know, for your reader, you’d have to ask what is the domain in that particular building? Talk to the tenants, do the tenants mind? I tend to agree with Charles. 
Charles: How do you police it though, really?
Andrew: There’s got to be better ways of them putting, you know, by-law in the building to stop smoking and it does feel like it’s stepped over that personal…
Chris: You see with corporate buildings these days that ban the smokers from being out the front because it’s a bad image for the company as well isn’t it. 
Charles: I think it’s a very bad image for any business when you’ve got people out the front having a smoke. I know some companies where people stand out the front and have a drink. You know, they’ve got a can of VB in the hand and it never looks good. So the back lane is always the best place. But still, you’re going to end up removing a whole series of situations. Pet friendly’s great because a lot of people have a small pet and I don’t see that as an issue as long as it doesn’t make so much noise, but boy oh boy you’re getting really into it if you’re going to start smoking.
Chris: The pet friendly thing is, if you didn’t like pets and you’ve found they’re noisy, would that reduce buyers in the building?
Charles: Well, anything that reduces the opportunity to expose your property to more sellers than normal is always going to have an impact on your price. Limitations like a first home buyer’s property is going to have a million buyers looking at it. A super residence in the eastern suburbs or top area in any area of Sydney is going to have 10 buyers looking at it. 
Andrew: It depends on community standards as well. So at some point it’s going to flip the other way which is I won’t buy from a building that allows smoking. We’re seeing that change in community standards over time. I remember going on airlines where you could smoke not that long ago and you could smoke in bars and pubs and restaurants.
Chris: But having the pet friendly, for instance then, there’s a lot of people who won’t rent. So my philosophy on rentvesting is all good financially but if you’ve got a pet or you’ve got a dog then suddenly you can’t do the rentvesting thing. So that’s where someone may get a premium to get into pet friendly. 
Charles: They may, but I think people just don’t tell you they have a pet. I mean my experience in real estate is you don’t get the full picture on what’s really going on when somebody’s renting. I’m sure that’s your experience too. You rent a property out to one person and in some parts of medium density, you find 10 people living in the property.
Chris: So, would you go with the by-law or go against it do you think? And obviously we’re not giving financial advice here.
Andrew: I’d encourage you to talk to the tenants and see what they think. If there’s a general mood that they shouldn’t be smoking then I’d probably be in support of it. But I think in the long term it probably devalues your property.
Charles: I would be against it and I’m a non-smoker.
For more information other things to consider when buying a property contact Chris at <a href="mailto:yourempire@skynews.com.au" target="_blank">chris@yourempire.com.au</a>.
To watch Your Property Empire on Sky News Business with Chris Gray, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7azCaK_aYKU" target="_blank">click here</a>.
 
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Should strata place a ban on smoking? Chris Gray's Your Property Empire

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Box Hill continues its evolution into a high density activity centre with a fresh town planning application under assessment for a 30-storey residential tower at 820 Whitehorse Road, rising to a height of 99.78 metres.

Designed by Fender Katsalidis for Longriver Group, the proposal seeks to join a growing list of high rise residential towers in the area such as SkyOne (36-storeys / 122.8m) and <a href="/buildings/east-central-tower-820-whitehorse-road-box-hill">Whitehorse Towers</a> (36-storeys / 115m + 26-storeys / 83m). The site in question is currently occupied by a 3-storey office building.

<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/box_hill_towers.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="SkyOne and Whitehorse Towers. Images courtesy Golden Age Group and Peddle Thorp"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="249" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/box_hill_towers.jpg?itok=OzeM_YKl" title="SkyOne and Whitehorse Towers. Images courtesy Golden Age Group and Peddle Thorp" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Whitehorse Towers and SkyOne. Images: Peddle Thorp and Golden Age Group</figcaption></figure>What is proposed begins with a grided timber podium with an overall height of 29.5 metres, to be built to the full extent of each boundary. Level 6 forms the rooftop of the podium and is dedicated in part to residential amenities such as a 60sqm pool with associated outdoor seating and landscaping, casual and formal dining spaces, theatre, gym and sauna/steam room.

The timber pergola aesthetic of the podium was first adopted on Republic Tower and subsequently employed in some form or another on other Fender Katsalidis-designed projects such as Fulton Lane, Australia 108, Melbourne Quarter and 16-22 Claremont Street.

The tower element, in contrast, features a concrete lattice wrap which recedes in density as the tower transitions upwards, further revealing the glazed skin underneath. The intended tower has three major setbacks creating a tiered silhouette on the skyline and the illusion of an erosion of tower form and shell.

The orthogonal nature of the building form and facade articulation also displays strong similarities to the ATO building diagonally opposite and a departure from the curvilinear forms of SkyOne and Whitehorse Towers.

<blockquote>
Being above the typical viewing cone of people passing by, the tower is conceived as more of an urban form. Whilst materiality and grain of the podium is heightened, by contrast that of the tower is reduced.

Recognising the prominence of the north western corner of the site, the building quarter in that location rises some metres higher than the other elements, thereby acknowledging that important view to Box Hill, and further articulating the skyline of the building. At the top of the building the southern elements step down to further accentuate the skyline articulation and to protect residential properties south of the building from overshadowing.

Within the broad structuring of that urban scale articulation is a filigree of smaller concrete elements wrapping themselves around the primarily glazed facade of the tower. That filigree is visually denser at the base of the tower, and becomes sparser and thinner as it climbs up the buildings. In doing so the materiality of the tower is responding to a key characteristic of the topography of this locale: the variegated skyline of the bounding ridges in Box Hill and north in Doncaster.

Those ridges can be perceived as having a visually dense base which at its skyline transforms to a lacework of leaves.
<cite>Fender Katsalidis Architectural Statement</cite>
</blockquote>

<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/image5_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="An earlier iteration of 820 Whitehotrse. Image: Longriver"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="342" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image5_5.jpg?itok=V9xyoJ2R" title="An earlier iteration of 820 Whitehotrse. Image: Longriver" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>An earlier podium iteration of 820 Whitehorse Road. Image: Longriver</figcaption></figure>820 Whitehorse Road seeks to accommodate 301 apartments comprising 45 x 1 Bedroom, 249 x 2 Bedroom and 1 x 3 Bedroom apartments, in addition to 6 duplexes providing a degree of housing diversity although it could be argued that more 3 bedroom apartments should be considered.

There are 272 car spaces in total, contained predominantly within two basement levels and throughout the 5 level podium. Vehicular access to the car park is via Fairbank Lane which also includes a number of ancillary services along its frontage. There is also provision for 92 bicycle spaces within the development.

A retail wrap in the form of a 152sqm cafe and 66sqm alfresco dining area, and a 434sqm auto showroom seeks to activate Whitehorse Road and Young Street . The remaining podium levels contain a wrap of apartments, concealing podium car parking for the most part. These podium apartments all feature outdoor balconies providing the streets with a level of passive surveillance.

<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/820_whitehorse_road_dual.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="820 Whitehorse Road. Planning images: Fender Katsalidis "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="343" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/820_whitehorse_road_dual.jpg?itok=CfioIJ5f" title="820 Whitehorse Road. Planning images: Fender Katsalidis " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>820 Whitehorse Road. Planning images: Fender Katsalidis</figcaption></figure>Lodged with Whitehorse City Council during February 2016, the development team behind 820 Whitehorse Road includes:

<ul>
<li>Fender Katsalidis Architects: Architectural plans</li>
	<li>Ratio Consultants: Traffic Impact Assessment Report</li>
	<li>Urbis: Planning</li>
	<li>David Lock Associates: Urban Design Statement</li>
	<li>Wood and Grieve Engineers: Sustainable Management Plan</li>
	<li>Leigh Design Pty Ltd: Waste Management Plan</li>
	<li>MEL Consultants Pty Ltd: Wind Assessment Report</li>
	<li>Development site sale transaction handled by Savills in September 2015.</li>
</ul>
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Laurence Dragomir

A new order: 820 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill

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A $24 million high-end apartment complex in Victoria's Rockhampton, overlooking the Fitzroy River, has been completed.
Located on Victoria Parade, the 10-storey building named Southbank on Victoria comprises 55 apartments, including one, two and three-bedroom units, said a media release.
Designed by Australasian architecture firm The Buchan Group, the development on a site area of 7,500 sqm represents the ongoing rejuvenation of Rockhampton’s residential unit market.
The Buchan Group was appointed in August 2012 to work with local property developer Griffin Builders to bring provide architectural, interior design and graphics expertise to the project.
The Buchan Group’s senior associate Paul Watson said the waterfront high-rise set a new benchmark for apartment living in Rockhampton.
“The Buchan Group team worked on sophisticated designs that incorporated the bold and linear edges of Southbank on Victoria’s external façade frame, with modern, interior elements highlighting the city’s growing cosmopolitan lifestyle,” he said.
“As the original concept for the block changed over the project life, we reduced the density of the development to maximise efficiency and consciously mirror the ambience and serenity of the nearby waterfront, city views, and parkland settings."
 A majority of the apartments were shown to be sold on the project's <a href="https://www.southbankrockhampton.com.au/southbank_availability" target="_blank">website</a>. Among the ones left, the two-bedroom apartments start at $390,000.
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