Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

Apartments

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The making of Malvern East as an apartment stronghold that is. Established leafy streets aside, a large tract of Malvern East fronting Dandenong Road is steadily morphing from low-rise commercial/detached housing use to a higher density residential enclave.

The area is subject to a structure plan implemented by City of Stonnington which as seen below in Rothe Lowman's recent application for 887 Dandenong Road, generally encourages built form to six levels. 6-8 levels is the prevailing trend for the area generally opposite Monash University Caulfield, although additional projects are well spread along the northern side of Dandenong Road within Malvern East.

<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/Image57.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © Rothe Lowman"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image57.jpg?itok=cLDdFJnO" style="height:570px; width:580px" title="Image © Rothe Lowman"></a>

The domain of private and local property developers, major developments within the burgeoning Malvern East precinct include:

<h2>Proposed</h2>

887 Dandenong Road, Malvern East - 42 apartments.

<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/Image55_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="887 Dandenong Road, Malvern East. Image © Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image55_0.jpg?itok=eB5uXTc-" style="height:319px; width:580px" title="887 Dandenong Road, Malvern East. Image © Bates Smart"></a>

1009-1011 Dandenong Road - 35 apartments.

<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/emo01__large-landscape_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="1009-1011 Dandenong Road. Images © Architects EAT"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/emo01__large-landscape_0.jpg?itok=NO8IYUJT" style="height:284px; width:580px" title="1009-1011 Dandenong Road. Images © Architects EAT"></a>

<h2>Approved</h2>

80-90 Waverley Road - 64 apartments.

<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/image2%20%281%29_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="80-90 Waverley Road, Malvern East. Image © Floodslicer"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image2%20%281%29_0.jpg?itok=FJD1hOKv" style="height:402px; width:580px" title="80-90 Waverley Road, Malvern East. Image © Floodslicer"></a>

781 Dandenong Road - 314 apartments.

<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/Image363_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="781 Dandenong Road. Image © Floodslicer"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image363_0.jpg?itok=Gq44X3yI" style="height:387px; width:580px" title="781 Dandenong Road. Image © Floodslicer"></a>

<h2>At Sales</h2>

879 Dandenong Road - 56 apartments.

<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/gascoigne.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="879 Dandenong Road. Image © gascoigneapartments.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/gascoigne.jpg?itok=8WIvXUYG" style="height:327px; width:580px" title="879 Dandenong Road. Image © gascoigneapartments.com.au"></a>

<h2>Under construction</h2>

857 Dandenong Road - 59 apartments.

<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/exterior_small.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="857 Dandenong Road. Image © theclarence.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/exterior_small.jpg?itok=k4RlBiSc" style="height:385px; width:580px" title="857 Dandenong Road. Image © theclarence.com.au"></a>

<h2>Completed</h2>

951 Dandenong Road - 68 apartments.

<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/951-dand-09.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="951 Dandenong Road. Image © UDA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/951-dand-09.jpg?itok=uhc99rwi" style="height:360px; width:580px" title="951 Dandenong Road. Image © UDA"></a>

833 Dandenong Road - 83 apartments.

<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/833-dand-01.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="833 Dandenong Road. Image © UDA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/833-dand-01.jpg?itok=txuDsk95" style="height:401px; width:580px" title="833 Dandenong Road. Image © UDA"></a>

Total apartments numbers over the highlighted seven projects equates to 721 or roughly 1100 new residents within the developing precinct once construction is complete. Add the abundance of existing, small-scale commercial tenancies along the northern reach of Dandenong Road and the numbers above could be double over time as further developments soak up likely development sites.

Urban.com.au will be watching Malvern East with great interest.
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silvermb

The making of Malvern East

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When was the last time a sizable apartment project began construction, only to fall over and remain dormant? It certainly doesn't happen that often, particularly now given current market conditions and a buying/sales frenzy over any viable piece of land throughout inner Melbourne.

I'm sure there have been plenty before, but for the life of me I can't recall any bar one: 392 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North. Taken at the turn of 2012, the lead image shows a sorry state of affairs onsite for Tranquility Apartments as then head contractor Maxcon witnessed a build fizzle into the ether.

Then developer Brooklyn Projects suffered the ignominy of watching their headline development falter, leaving the site an overgrown mess for the best part of three years. Definitely not the norm for Melbourne.

<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/image21bro.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="For the sake of posterity, a Brooklyn Projects webpage screenshot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="325" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image21bro.jpg?itok=VDyJaDCX" title="For the sake of posterity, a Brooklyn Projects webpage screenshot" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A Brooklyn Projects webpage screenshot with Tranquility. Image courtesy creativeras.com</figcaption></figure>But as is the case so often, the dormant site had passed hands quietly with revised plans put before Yarra City Council. Studio Antonio Calabro (SACBW) have assumed design duties on behalf of new owner Blue Earth Group and have proceeded with a revised design of 72 apartments over six levels.

Overlooking Merri Creek Reserve, the project looks to make use of existing building footings prepared for Tranquility. With one bedroom apartments beginning from 52sqm, the one and two bedroom complex will be known as Northwood.

In a quirk of sorts the site has gone from one developer - who clearly struggled to advance the build - to another who appears to have little trouble pushing out masses of apartments with minimal fuss. A case in point sees commencement of construction this month on Blue Earth Group's <a href="/news/back-from-the-dead">A Apartments</a> project in East Brunswick without the project ever hitting the mainstream apartment sales channels; they have clearly mastered a winning formula.

<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/image23sac.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="392 St Georges Road reborn. Images courtesy Blue Wealth Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="150" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image23sac.jpg?itok=kt6YnzQ7" title="392 St Georges Road reborn. Images courtesy Blue Wealth Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>392 St Georges Road reborn. Images courtesy Blue Wealth Property</figcaption></figure><h2>Comment</h2>

Less empty sites doubling as blights on the urban landscape is a more than acceptable outcome, though this question must be asked: who is responsible for allowing a car park access ramp through the retained heritage facade?

A trivial issue in the grand scheme of things, but it does seem to defeat the purpose of retaining the facade to begin with. Certainly not the end of days, but it did bring forth an incredulous smile upon first viewing.
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Back from the dead

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By now we have all heard that, for the first time in history, half the world’s population is living in cities. And the forward estimates indicate that this trend will only continue to increase.

In Australia, we have seen a gradual, but continuing shift away from the quarter acre block to more compact living spaces like apartments. In the municipality of Melbourne, this trend is captured in the statistics:

<ul>
<li>In 2012, 80% of homes were apartments</li>
	<li>From 2006-12, 93% of new homes built were apartments</li>
	<li>Our population is set to double by 2031, that’s an additional 80,000 people moving into City of Melbourne</li>
</ul>
While some Melburnians might be willing to give up their back yard, what’s becoming increasingly clear is that they are not willing to sacrifice quality. While high rise development is booming, prospective occupants have particular expectations around their quality of life as residents of the most liveable city in the world. City of Melbourne’s recent Future Living research clearly demonstrated that good quality design and amenity is high on the agenda of Melburnians.

We also know that residential mid and high-rise buildings are energy intensive, currently contributing 13% of carbon emissions in the city. Improving the efficiency of apartment buildings is therefore an important component of Melbourne’s Zero Net Emissions by 2020 strategy (February 2014).

What most apartment dwellers don’t realise is that high-rise apartments have been shown to be the most energy intensive dwelling type, using approximately 25 per cent more energy per person than standalone homes or townhouses. This is due in large part to the energy consumption of shared services and common property such as hallway and car park lighting, ventilation, pools, heating and cooling. Ultimately, this is costing apartment owners money in the form of higher utility bills.

New green buildings are changing this equation. However, given the lion’s share of Melbourne’s built environment is already constructed, retrofitting existing building stock is essential to keeping household running costs down and reducing emissions. That’s why we are offering the <a href="http://smartblocks.com.au/" target="_blank">Smart Blocks</a> program to our building managers, strata managers, apartment owners and residents.

Smart Blocks is helping apartment owners and their managers to improve the energy efficiency in apartment buildings, preventing money being wasted on unnecessarily high energy bills. At the core of Smart Blocks is an interactive online toolkit that helps people discover what energy efficiency or renewable energy improvements can be made to common property in their own buildings and make clear the steps to get projects approved.

Apartment living is seeing us live in closer physically proximity to each other, ironically this does not necessarily result in a stronger social fabric within the building. However, building improvement projects can only be realised when owners, building managers and apartment owners work closely together – and so we hit the residential building retrofit conundrum.

Our research clearly indicates that negotiating complex strata rules and regulations is a primary barrier to creating change in strata buildings. This is only amplified when it comes to coordinating a common area retrofit across an entire building, which often requires a significant financial investment. This is exactly the problem that Smart Blocks solves. It guides users through strata rules and regulations, and proves a shared online project management platform that can be accessed by owners, managers and renters alike.

One of the best things about Smart Blocks is that it brings people together and helps them make change on their own terms for the betterment of their building. Once they’ve made one change and demonstrated value, it’s easier to make the next one – and it feels good. This is the sweet spot because we see people coming together around projects that are relevant to their day-to-day life.

In recognising that working together is key to retrofitting buildings (and indeed the city) for sustainability, City of Melbourne have come to the table, and we’ve brought cake. Smart Blocks is here for the taking, along with support from the Smart Blocks officer here at City of Melbourne and a $3,000 rebate for energy efficient lighting upgrades and solar installations for common areas.

Whether it’s to drive down electricity bills (investing in energy efficiency could save your owners corporation up to 20-30 per cent in energy costs) or contribute to an Eco City, the need for energy efficient and renewably powered buildings have never been clearer.

<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/Arron%20Wood%20Image-21.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="City of Melbourne Councillor Arron Wood. Image supplied."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Arron%20Wood%20Image-21.jpg?itok=HZDi_59p" style="height:812px; width:580px" title="City of Melbourne Councillor Arron Wood. Image supplied."></a>

Cr Wood is Chair of the Environment portfolio and Deputy Chair of the Economic Development portfolio. He sits on the Victorian Adaptation &amp; Sustainability Partnership Ministerial Advisory Committee, the Parks and Gardens Advisory Committee, the Yarra Park Advisory Committee and is a board member of the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.flickr.com/photos/35527156@N04/8761118550" target="_blank">Flickr</a>, CC BY-SA
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arronwood

Adding value one block at a time

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They're unlikely to demand the media hype of their taller inner-city siblings, but the wave of smaller suburban apartment developments continues unabated.
Spread far and wide, a raft of new small and medium-sized apartment developments have just entered the registration and sales period. Below is a sample of the dozens of residential projects that have hit the market, representing a fraction of the upcoming projects that will be entered into the Apartments.com.au project database shortly.
<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/Image56.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © thegeneralnorthcote.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="346" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image56.jpg?itok=oGl40tcN" title="Image © thegeneralnorthcote.com.au" width="580"></a> <figcaption><a href="http://www.thegeneralnorthcote.com.au/" target="_blank">The General</a> - Cnr High and Bent Street, Northcote</figcaption></figure><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/Image54.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © butleronbutler.com"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="366" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image54.jpg?itok=5d3VvOA-" title="Image © butleronbutler.com" width="580"></a> <figcaption><a href="http://www.butleronbutler.com/" target="_blank">Butler on Butler</a> - 2 Butler Street, Camberwell</figcaption></figure><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/01-interior.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Images © holmeshill.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="348" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/01-interior.jpg?itok=hDwLQnFs" title="Images © holmeshill.com.au" width="580"></a> <figcaption><a href="http://holmeshill.com.au/home" target="_blank">Holmes Hill Apartments</a> - 70 Batesford Road, Chadstone</figcaption></figure><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/exterior1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © thegilbert.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="362" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/exterior1.jpg?itok=E8BtmQK6" title="Image © thegilbert.com.au" width="580"></a> <figcaption><a href="http://www.thegilbert.com.au/" target="_blank">The Gilbert</a> - 14 Gilbert Road, Preston</figcaption></figure><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/ettaro-external-render-1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © ettaro.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="331" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ettaro-external-render-1.jpg?itok=DNuX1cZH" title="Image © ettaro.com.au" width="580"></a> <figcaption>Ettaro - 21 Brunswick Road, Brunswick East</figcaption></figure><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/8_09-05-2014_5284.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © citiplan.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="304" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/8_09-05-2014_5284.jpg?itok=w-9ZQuvL" title="Image © citiplan.com.au" width="580"></a> <figcaption><a href="http://www.elsternwickplace.com.au/" target="_blank">Elsternwick Place</a> - Riddell Parade &amp; Stanley Street, Elsternwick</figcaption></figure><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/facade.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © districtfitzroy.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="341" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/facade.jpg?itok=S667g-PK" title="Image © districtfitzroy.com.au" width="580"></a> <figcaption><a href="http://districtfitzroy.com.au/" target="_blank">District Fitzroy</a> - 160 Argyle Street, Fitzroy</figcaption></figure><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/image1_mainslider.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © blackburnvillage.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image1_mainslider.jpg?itok=MlgaBvEo" title="Image © blackburnvillage.com.au" width="580"></a> <figcaption><a href="http://www.blackburnvillage.com.au/" target="_blank">Blackburn Village</a> - 20 Queen Street, Blackburn</figcaption></figure><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/Image61.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image courtesy Enrich Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="285" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image61.jpg?itok=p9VY9lFG" title="Image courtesy Enrich Property" width="580"></a> <figcaption><a href="http://www.thriveparkside.com.au/" target="_blank">Thrive Parkside</a> - Galada Avenue &amp; Cade Way, Parkville</figcaption></figure><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/Image62_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © rimaapartments.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="246" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image62_0.jpg?itok=TNlAYRAg" title="Image © rimaapartments.com.au" width="580"></a> <figcaption><a href="http://rimaapartments.com.au/" target="_blank">Rima Apartments</a> - 22 Lygon street, East Brunswick</figcaption></figure>
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Charge of the light brigade

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<blockquote>
Through thoughtful analysis of the existing, under construction, approved and proposed developments, a unique and sensitive development is proposed. In this way the proposal is respectful of its current and future neighbours.
<cite><a href="http://www.hassellstudio.com/">Hassell</a>'s planning application for 97 Franklin Street</cite>
</blockquote>

The quote above demonstrates Hassell's determination to design a mixed-use tower with a "point of difference". The proposed development which <a href="/news/97-franklin-street-simply-mind-boggling">first appeared two months ago</a>, would see a two-storey rendered brick building - currently home to Hertz car hire outlet and Eckersley's Art &amp; Craft - demolished and replaced with a 62-storey tower rising to a height of 212.5m.

97 Franklin joins an increasing number of 200m+ giants on the northern tip of the CBD, including <a href="/buildings/light-house-450-elizabeth-street-melbourne">Lighthouse</a> next door and <a href="/buildings/victoria-one-452-472-elizabeth-street-melbourne">Victoria One</a> diagonally opposite.

<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/97%20franklin%20talls.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Land of the giants! © Laurence Dragomir"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="428" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/97%20franklin%20talls.jpg?itok=OawrIHol" title="Land of the giants! © Laurence Dragomir" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Land of the giants! © Laurence Dragomir</figcaption></figure>The proposal marks Artemis Hotel Group's first foray into the Australian market and architects Hassell have certainly delivered a remarkable first impression. Upon initial viewing, the building appears as a series of precariously balanced office blocks but in reality they house 144 serviced apartments, 356 residential apartments and 11 penthouses across the top four floors.

A retail tenancy occupies the north-west corner of the ground floor helping to activate the public realm, whilst a food and beverage dining area occupies level 01 looking out onto Franklin Street. 490sq.m of office space is included as are shared recreational facilities through level 07, bordered by an outdoor landscaped terrace. Resident only facilities splitting a north and south outdoor terrace are found on level 32.

The project caters for 440 bicycle spaces within the basement with only 160 car spaces located in the southern portion of the podium.

<h2>Architecture</h2>

The tower presents as three large volumes stacked atop one another and rotated 90 degrees: podium, low-rise and high-rise. Each responds to a particular set of parameters and conditions:

<blockquote>
The space between the low-rise component and the surrounding developments enables equitable solar access. The north facing high-rise component maximises its solar access and the orientation for the city grid enables morning and evening sunlight onto the southerly face. The rotation gives the low-rise component a greater setbacks and amenity, as well as corridor views. Whilst the high-rise is afforded a large northern city vistas as well as southern CBD views.
</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/97F%20design%20process%20diagram.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Design process diagram. © Hassell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="131" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/97F%20design%20process%20diagram.jpg?itok=k9hQjgx5" title="Design process diagram. © Hassell" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Design process diagram. © Hassell</figcaption></figure>As a result the development works on a macro and micro scale by virtue of developing a set of principles for the three volumes which are designed to respond to adjacencies in context, in turn providing a high degree of amenity to apartments and the public domain.

The golden facade consists of a fine, slender grid which responds to the human scale of the rooms, visually reducing the monumental appearance of the three volumes.

<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/97F%20montage_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Grid. © Hassell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="494" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/97F%20montage_0.jpg?itok=NYFxGUr1" title="The Grid. © Hassell" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Grid. © Hassell</figcaption></figure><h2>Setbacks</h2>

The low-rise volume employs the following setbacks from relevant boundaries:

<ul>
<li>5m from Southern Boundary</li>
	<li>8.2m from Eastern Boundary​</li>
	<li>0m from Franklin Street</li>
	<li>13.2m from Western Boundary</li>
</ul>
High-rise setbacks to relevant boundaries:

<ul>
<li>22.2m from Southern Boundary</li>
	<li>0m from Eastern Boundary</li>
	<li>10m from Franklin Street</li>
	<li>5m from Western Boundary</li>
</ul>
<h2>Public Realm</h2>

The proposal looks to provide a positive and meaningful contribution to the public realm by way a new north facing "urban forest" at ground level, running along the 40m frontage to Franklin Street. This is achieved by employing a 10m setback to the street with a 5m setback from the western boundary allowing for a new north-south laneway between the site and 450 Elizabeth Street.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/97F_GF.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ground floor + public realm. © Hassell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="474" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/97F_GF.jpg?itok=7fUmaZ8c" title="Ground floor + public realm. © Hassell" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ground floor + public realm. © Hassell</figcaption></figure>I thought I might conclude with this list of objectives which Hassell set out to achieve. I think it's fair to say the design team have done an excellent job in producing an architectural response which certainly provides a "point of difference amongst the typical developer driven projects prevalent in the precinct."

<h2>Objectives</h2>

The main development objectives are:

<ul>
<li>To create a quality, considered architectural response that addresses the varying site conditions.</li>
	<li>To increase the public amenity along Franklin Street, offering a greater urban integration with shared and functional spaces.</li>
	<li>To infuse mixed use principles that will help create an active and engaging street interface.</li>
	<li>To create a landmark development that truly responds to its context, resulting in a equitable development for both the client and the city.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Project Team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer: <a href="http://www.mingdegrandhotel.com/en/groupinfo">Artemis Hotel Group</a>
</li>
	<li>Project Manager: <a href="http://www.equisent.com.au/">Equisent</a>
</li>
	<li>Architecture: <a href="http://www.hassellstudio.com/">Hassell</a>
</li>
	<li>Town Planner: <a href="http://www.urbis.com.au/">Urbis</a>
</li>
	<li>Landscape Architecture: Urbis</li>
	<li>Traffic Consultant: <a href="http://www.mltraffic.com.au/">ML Traffic</a>
</li>
	<li>ESD Consultant: <a href="http://www.ark-resources.com.au/">Ark Resources</a>
</li>
	<li>Structural Consultant: <a href="http://www.arup.com/">Arup</a>
</li>
	<li>Wind Assessment Consultant: <a href="http://www.vipac.com.au/">Vipac</a>
</li>
	<li>Waste Management Consultant: <a href="http://www.wastech.com.au/">Wastech</a>
</li>
</ul>
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Laurence Dragomir

A Point of Difference > 97 Franklin Street, Melbourne

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Back in sunny February developer Mirvac lodged an application for a 30-storey tower, in part forming the first stage of the Bolte Precinct. Spearheading the westernmost strip of land within Yarra's Edge, the proposed tower at 160-186 Lorimer Street will effectively be the eighth built at Yarra's Edge, number 9 overall, but officially Tower 10 - work that one out!

The 4,000sqm site will have a future interface with the high-density Lorimer Precinct to the south, which forms part of the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area.

<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/Yarras%20Edge%20Site.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Yarra's Edge site aerial."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="149" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Yarras%20Edge%20Site.jpg?itok=L2wILbgy" title="Yarra's Edge site aerial." width="580"></a>
<figcaption>Yarra's Edge site aerial.</figcaption></figure>The boot shaped Tower 10 sits atop a 5-storey podium which rises 19.5m for an overall height of 100 metres (RL100.175). As per the planning application, 229 dwellings (none of which rely on borrowed light), 302 parking spaces, 84 bike spaces and 229sqm of retail at ground level are included.

The breakdown of apartments is as follows: 118 one bedroom, 71 two bedroom and 40 three+ bedroom dwellings. Apartments have been introduced to the podium in order to veil an above ground car parking structure, always a welcomed result.

Architecturally the tower has a similar DNA to Yarra Point but with a much more fluid form that responds to prevailing windy conditions. Visually the proposal will form the termination of the Bourke Street axis - a critical vista from within Docklands. Curiously there has been a departure away from procuring designs via competitive entry (Wood Marsh delivering Tower 5 &amp; 6) in favour of in-house design.

<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/YE9_L1%20PLAN.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Level 01 plan."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="401" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/YE9_L1%20PLAN.jpg?itok=hZL1Xp5I" title="Level 01 plan." width="580"></a>
<figcaption>Level 01 plan.</figcaption></figure>History will show that only T5 was built as per Wood Marsh's vision with Mirvac Design taking over design duties for Tower 6 which has since become <a href="http://www.arraybymirvac.com/home">Array</a> (currently under construction), the feminine counterpart to the masculine T5. My biggest criticism is the predominantly bare concrete podium articulation along Lorimer Street which will become a primary facade once the Lorimer Precinct begins to develop - a somewhat short term approach for a long term structure holding a prominent position.

Design Development Overlay 49 (DDO49) allows for a single or twin tower development rising a maximum height of 130m and it would have been good to see that extra 30m utilised for a proportionally more slender tower in keeping with the heights of T5 &amp; Array. Perhaps the neighbouring Tower 11 will go all the way in the not-too-distant future?

Overall it would appear that the City of Melbourne support the proposal which has undergone a number of design iterations via workshops, so official Ministerial approval is expected soon enough.

<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/YE9_from%20river%2002.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Tower 10 aerial with a glimpse of Tower 09 in the distance."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="349" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/YE9_from%20river%2002.jpg?itok=lvKdrx1F" title="Tower 10 aerial with a glimpse of Tower 09 in the distance." width="580"></a>
<figcaption>Tower 10 aerial with a glimpse of Tower 09 in the distance.</figcaption></figure>Until next time I'll leave you with an image hinting at the height and form of Tower 09 (in the distance above), expected to be the tallest of all within Yarra's Edge.
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The Edge of Tomorrow > 160-186 Lorimer Street, Docklands

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After snaring the site for $13 million during February 2013, Melbourne-based property developer <a href="http://www.hallmarc.com.au/" target="_blank">Hallmarc</a> has moved ahead with designs for its 14 Queens Road development parcel. Currently a 1970's vintage 12 level commercial complex known as Atari House, plans before City of Port Phillip are seeking permission to refurbish and extend the existing structure.

In the process Atari House would be no more, rebranded as Tyrian Queens Road in line with Hallmarc's existing serviced apartment brand.

<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/1238_20129x17356.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Atari House as it stands. Image courtesy Commercial Property Guide"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/1238_20129x17356.jpg?itok=IM4i6Sh5" title="Atari House as it stands. Image courtesy Commercial Property Guide" width="580"></a>

<h2>Project profile</h2>

<h3>Tyrian @ 14 Queens Road, Melbourne</h3>

<ul>
<li>Developer: Hallmarc</li>
	<li>Architect: David Elliott Architects</li>
	<li>Site: 2326 m²</li>
	<li>Redeveloped to 14 levels and 45.15 metres in height</li>
	<li>143 dwellings split between 73 traditional apartments and 70 Tyrian-branded serviced apartments</li>
	<li>72 car parks, 54 stores and 42 bicycle bays</li>
	<li>Walkscore: 83</li>
</ul>
<h2>A familiar design</h2>

The single three-dimensional image within the planning application makes for uncertain viewing, aesthetically at least, with the design difficult to grasp. Upon viewing the existing <a href="http://www.tyrian.com.au/exterior-photos" target="_blank">Tyrian outlet on Johnston Street, Fitzroy</a> the design and colour impetus becomes apparent with the Fitzroy complex seemingly forging the way for 14 Queens Road.

External materials are near identical with 12 Queens Road featuring a mixture of charcoal, bronze and purple cladding, timber lining to Queens Lane, bluestone detailing, charcoal perforated metal screens and grey/purple glass. Purple being the necessary element, as Tyrian refers to the colour of dye obtained from some molluscs which in turn was used to dye fabrics.

<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_5786.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title=" A refurbished 14 Queens Road. Image © Malcolm Elliott Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="723" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_5786.jpg?itok=hHKOYaCq" title=" A refurbished 14 Queens Road. Image © Malcolm Elliott Architects" width="580"></a>

The revamped 14 Queens Road will feature two additional levels atop the existing structure while plans also call for the floorplates to be extended toward Queens Road. The result would see a podium employed while floors 6-12 would feature curved/indented balconies, adding a point of difference to an otherwise generally rectangular design.

The existing basement structure will be slightly augmented to accommodate its new use while services will be bought up to an energy efficient standard. Overall the complex would be accredited with a 4 Green Star rating, with preliminary inspections awarding a score of 49.

<h2>The Tyrian touch</h2>

<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-0005-1-select.jpg" rel="gallery-all" style="font-size: 12px;" title="an existing Tyrian Fitzroy interior. Image © Tyrian"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="305" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img-0005-1-select.jpg?itok=gIq9JkSV" title="an existing Tyrian Fitzroy interior. Image © Tyrian" width="580"></a>

As mentioned the serviced apartment component absorbs 70 rooms, broken down to 20 x studio, 20 x one bedroom, 20 x two bedroom and 10 x three bedroom. Likely indicative of 14 Queens Road's interiors, the existing Tyrian's <a href="http://www.tyrian.com.au/images" target="_blank">gallery page</a> shows bright interiors contrasted by rich fixtures and furnishings.

Ground level features a Porte Cochere entrance while amenity includes the obligatory gym, common areas etc. Retention of the existing 130 m² cafe is proposed once works have been completed.

<h2>Love thy neighbour</h2>

Adjoining 12 Queens Road is also subject to a 20 level residential planning application, <a href="/news/planning-application-12-queens-road-melbourne" target="_blank">covered by Urban.com.au</a> during March. Assuming both projects receive planning approval within a similar time frame, it is feasible both may proceed to construction within close proximity of one another.

Should this be the case 408 new dwellings would flood into this pocket of Queens Road, further eroding the area's traditional commercial background.
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Tyrian Purple > 14 Queens Road, Melbourne

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A peculiar thing happened on the way to Bacchus Marsh... in 2008 mind you. Heading west for one reason or another, I noticed a tower crane on the horizon in Caroline Springs.
Relatively new Caroline Springs, tower crane, high-density development on the forsaken fringes of Melbourne? Hickory at the time were constructing a six level serviced apartment complex (now Quest branded) in the upstart western locale. For a suburb 25 kilometres from the big smoke, in an area considered beyond the borders of civilisation by many urbanists, this was confounding.
<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/121_04-12-2012_4370.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The first strike. Image © Hickory"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="284" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/121_04-12-2012_4370.jpg?itok=-7gVdNFP" title="The first strike. Image © Hickory" width="580"></a>
More confounding has been the restrained yet constant thrust in apartment living post-2008 surrounding Lake Caroline, the suburb's principal activity area. What can this be attributed to given there are no public transport options save for the odd bus, solid retail offerings yet measly entertainment options. Let's not forget comparable house &amp; land packages within close proximity as well.
Could it be a shift in individual living preferences? It seems that like so many middle and outer suburbs in Melbourne - even Caroline Springs - have fallen for a fundamental cultural acceptance of high-density living. Apartment dwellers are a minority in Caroline Springs, but a growing minority.
Added to the aforementioned Quest serviced apartment complex is the Mercure Hotel Caroline Springs and a gaggle of small to medium-rise apartment buildings, the most noteworthy of which are:
Cascada &amp; Belise. Both via Boom Property Group with Cascada at registrations while Belise is at sales. Combined 136 apartments.
<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/Image26cs.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Belise &amp; Cascada. Image © Boom Property Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="208" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image26cs.jpg?itok=UCDhXiIS" title="Belise &amp; Cascada. Image © Boom Property Group" width="580"></a>
Aqua Lakeside nearing completion whilst Woodward Way is freshly completed. Combined 156 apartments.
<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/Image25cs.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Aqua Lakeside and Woodward Way. Image © Varcon and MASBuild"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="237" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image25cs.jpg?itok=60H6K-G_" title="Aqua Lakeside and Woodward Way. Image © Varcon and MASBuild" width="580"></a>
Conceived by Metaxas Architects, Caravelle Lane (left) holds a planning permit while The Esplanade was completed during 2013. Combined 119 apartments.
<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/Image28cs.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Caravelle Way and The Esplanade. Image © Metaxas and Figurehead"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="197" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image28cs.jpg?itok=YDTmpFQy" title="Caravelle Way and The Esplanade. Image © Metaxas and Figurehead" width="580"></a>
While apartment development increases, news broke last week that Caroline Springs will <a href="http://ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/railway-stations/new-station-for-caroline-springs/" target="_blank">be serviced by a new railway station</a> located in neighbouring Ravenhall. With at-grade parking for 350 spaces, my only request is that another tower crane be used to create a community health hub/multi-level car park similar to the ultra impressive <a href="http://www.cundall.com/Projects/Euneva-Avenue-Community-Health-Facility.aspx" target="_blank">Euneva Complex</a> in Glen Waverley.
Too much too soon? Perhaps, but Caroline Springs has in part shifted toward a more robust urban environment by way of an increased penchant for high-density living. With plentiful brownfield sites around Lake Caroline, Caroline Springs will remain an interesting study as to how deeply high-density living can penetrate typical detached living, fringe Melbourne suburbs.
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A funny thing happened on the way to the Marsh

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Since being submitted nigh on one year ago, MAB Corporation's planning application for a prime piece of Fishermans Bend land has sat idle at the desks of State planning body DTPLI. As with all Fishermans Bend planning applications, no final decisions will be handed down until a point where a final Structure Plan for the urban renewal area is delivered by the State Government.

Not that MAB Corporation would necessarily be concerned by the delay as the Melbourne-based developer has held the land parcel in question for some years. Developing the low-rise Industry Business Hub at the western edge of 15-87 Gladstone Street prior to the announcement of rezoning, MAB Corporation subsequently enlisted prolific architecture form Hayball to take the lead in conceiving a staged, three tower residential scheme as seen below.

<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/Image23mab.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="15-87 Gladstone Street. Image © Hayball"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="644" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image23mab.jpg?itok=Dlt_J1mx" title="15-87 Gladstone Street. Image © Hayball" width="580"></a>

<h2>Development Summary</h2>

<h3>15-87 Gladstone Street, South Melbourne</h3>

<ul>
<li>Towers @ 29 levels/93m, 25 levels/81m, 26 levels/81m</li>
	<li>Site: approximately 140m x 40m and 5984 sq.m</li>
	<li>Apartments: 733 (1/1+study/2/3 bed options)</li>
	<li>Retail: 427 sq.m</li>
	<li>Cars: 579 &amp; motorcycles - 6</li>
	<li>Bicycles: 225</li>
</ul>
<h2>Diversity of design</h2>

According to Hayball's urban context report, three distinct tower designs have been created:

<ul>
<li>The fluid metallic form of the CITY TOWER reflects its significant location at the city end of the project and adjacent to the major infrastructural entities to the north.</li>
	<li>The CENTRE TOWER sits at the mid point of the site – horizontal and folded spandrels using palette of reflective materials, respond to its contextual role as a connecting element.</li>
	<li>The PORT TOWER is a more robust composition of stacking elements with colour and intricacy relating to the strong metaphor of port activity.</li>
</ul>
While the three towers forms offer visually different outcomes, "The PODIUM edge offers the greatest opportunity to instill a sense of richness and diversity into people’s experience of the project. Care has been taken to deliver the maximum sculptural and activation potential at ground level."

<h2>Oculus deliver</h2>

<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/Image22mab.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ground and podium landscape plans. Image © Oculus"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="256" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image22mab.jpg?itok=IgI_8VKT" title="Ground and podium landscape plans. Image © Oculus" width="580"></a>

Landscape design team Oculus have delivered a grand public/private interface at street level. "The selection of materials, the incorporation of trees and vegetation and the maintainability of the landscape all impact on the perception of a project and its wider site, helping to establish value, a local identity and to foster civic pride." The indicative renders (see link at bottom of page) show a malleable, green and interactive environment fronting public areas - just as anticipated in early visions for the precinct.

Via the landscape proposal, Oculus seek to:

<ul>
<li>Establish a hierarchy of green spaces adjacent to living spaces providing a diverse range of uses, microclimates and rooms</li>
	<li>Establish a clear network of paths connecting existing streets to residential dwellings</li>
	<li>Emphasise green pattern and hierarchy through the intense planting of trees and shrubs and retention of existing street trees in road reserves at the edge of the site</li>
	<li>Create a series of vistas to capture internal and external views</li>
	<li>Use landscape elegantly to create identity and maximise amenity for new and existing users</li>
	<li>Ensure that circulation is permeable and accessible to all by creating safe and convenient access between key destinations</li>
	<li>Provide a diverse planting palette between indigenous species contrasting with exotic species</li>
	<li>Establish ample opportunities for various outdoor activities on the podium level</li>
	<li>Ensure consistent palette of landscape elements that are deployed throughout the development to create a sense of identity, cohesion and place with the existing character of Gladstone Street.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Comment</h2>

"Both the sub-precinct ‘3 sites master plan’ and detailed design for the Gladstone St site have been developed with extensive consultation between the consultant team and DPCD (DTPLI), Places Victoria and City of Port Phillip." If this does not evoke a WTF moment regarding Fishermans Bend's progression I'm not sure what does!

After reading multiple other applications for Fishermans Bend it is somewhat bewildering that developers can prepare plans after consulting with relevant planning bodies only to have those plans shelved for an extended period of time. Perhaps a lesson for future Melbourne urban renewal projects - consult thoroughly, prepare a credible structure plan and only then allow the planning applications to flow.

Regardless an election year is afoot and there's no doubt an announcement regarding Fishermans Bend is imminent. Could there be a dual announcement finalising a Fishermans Bend Structure Plan while also heralding the approval of a select cluster of current planning applications (including 15-87 Gladstone Street) akin to '<a href="/news/victorian-government-announces-suite-of-super-tuesday-approvals" target="_blank">Super Tuesday</a>' earlier in 2014. If only I were a gambling man...

<h2>Development Team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Client: <a href="http://www.mab.com.au/" target="_blank">MAB Corporation</a>
</li>
	<li>
<a href="http://www.hayball.com.au/" target="_blank">Hayball</a> (consultant lead, urban design and architecture)</li>
	<li>
<a href="http://www.oculus.info/index.php" target="_blank">Oculus</a> (urban design and landscape)</li>
	<li>
<a href="http://www.contour.net.au/" target="_blank">Contour Consultants Australia</a> (planning)</li>
	<li>
<a href="http://www.mordueengineering.com.au/" target="_blank">Mordue Engineering</a> (structural)</li>
	<li>
<a href="http://www.wge.com.au/" target="_blank">Wood and Grieve Engineers</a> (services + ESD)</li>
	<li>
<a href="http://www.tgmgroup.com/" target="_blank">TGM Group Pty Ltd</a> (civil)</li>
	<li>
<a href="http://www.traffixgroup.com.au/">Traffix</a> (traffic)</li>
</ul>
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Biding time > 15-87 Gladstone Street, South Melbourne

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When it rains, it pours! No not a reference to the dismal weather at the moment, but the continuing surge in new apartment project releases Melbourne is experiencing.

Sure to be one of 2014's marquee releases, Light House Melbourne is the assigned moniker to one of this city's more unique apartment projects. 450 Elizabeth Street first gained approval during 2012 on behalf of site owner Sixth Grange Pty Ltd for a 62 level, 197 metre tower carrying 541 apartments.

Subsequently project partner Hengyi Australia was added and during February 2014 consent was received to extend the tower beyond the approved scheme seen below. Melbourne City Council now lists the project at 67 levels and 218 metres, although Colliers via their statement below have the tower at 69 levels of undulating edifice.

<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/11038_450_ElizabethStreet_Apartments_01.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="511" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/11038_450_ElizabethStreet_Apartments_01.jpg?itok=DJxOGzH1" title="Image © Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image © Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
Apartment living redefined by a kaleidoscope of possibility, with its shimmering, striking exterior Light House is certain to become a hero of the Melbourne skyline. This unique building has a sculptural presence, rising an impressive sixty-nine stories. Within each of these exterior facets is an exceptional bay window, increasing the light and space in every residential apartment to witness the lively streetscapes below and enjoy the sense of community in this bustling part of the city.
<cite>Colliers International (Selling Agent)</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
Appearing to turn on its trajectory, the building has no corners. How do you dissolve the corners of a skyscraper when that is where all sheer forces are normally resolved? Well, we discovered the answer lies in traditional masonry techniques for turning corners using bricks.

This three-dimensional kaleidoscope not only twists and undulates on its axis but its façade is a moving object. The effect of constant motion is amplified by the multi-chromic directional paint system applied to the surface, which reflects and draws the building up into the sky. You may have seen this paint effect on cars before, but never on a building!
<cite>Elenberg Fraser (Architect)</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/ef450eliz.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A distinctive facade. Image © Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="374" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ef450eliz.jpg?itok=eceF2KK9" title="A distinctive facade. Image © Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A distinctive facade. Image © Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
This supermodel of a building also needed to battle the slenderness ratio – the rule that governs how tall and thin buildings can go. It overcomes this constraint by virtually becoming a vertical cantilever with a series of outrigger beams to prevent it from overturning, and to stop it rotating along with the façade system. The series of rotational units are a series of bay windows for the apartments, which pick out different vistas of city as the façade crinkles.
<cite>Elenberg Fraser (Architect)</cite>
</blockquote>

Joining Light House Melbourne in the immediate vicinity are the soon to be released <a href="http://empiremelbourne.com.au/" target="_blank">Empire Melbourne</a>, <a href="http://www.victoriaoneapartments.com.au/" target="_blank">Victoria One</a> and the at sales <a href="http://www.eqtower.com/#" target="_blank">Eq. Tower</a>.

Registration of interest for Light House Melbourne are open via the project website http://www.lighthousemelbourne.com.au/
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