The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
</section>
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Architecture

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Gabriel Poole has been designing houses on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland for over four decades.
He is well known for his enlightened, lightweight house designs and innovative use of materials, winning the national Robin Boyd award for domestic architecture in 1991 for an innovative tent house from the Australian Institute of Architects.
Then, in 1998, he was awarded its Gold Medal, its highest honour.
The Poole House, designed in 1962 while still a student draftsman in Robin Gibson’s office, was his first home in Brisbane's Sherwood.
He came renown for using the basic design principles of traditional Queenslanders but looking nothing like them.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/12/poole2.jpg" alt="">
Poole designed <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-sunshine+beach-129552670" target="_blank">a home on Seaview Terrace</a>, one of the Sunshine Coast's best streets, which has recently gone under offer. 
Adrian Reed and Darren Neal at Reed &amp; Co Noosaville had a $4.3 million guide.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/12/poole3.jpg" alt="">
His timeless beach house with a sophisticated aesthetic more recently underwent a redesign from the Brisbane-based interiors outfit, Troupe Studio.
A bank of sliding glass doors appears to bring the pool into the home.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/12/poole4.jpg" alt="">
The residence's top level master suite, which opens to a private and vast outdoor terrace facing the beach.
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Gabriel Poole-designed Sunshine Beach trophy home listed

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The shortlist for the 2019 Victorian Architecture Awards has been announced. The list includes Melbourne Jetbase, nominated for Commercial Architecture award, after its design by Cox Architecture. (Photographed above)
It features 89 projects across 14 categories celebrating public, residential, heritage and regional architecture.
Victorian Chapter President Amy Muir says that building sustainable communities is important for the state’s long-term panning needs.
“At a time where we are acutely aware of the issues that our industry is facing due to increased procurement and economic pressures, the awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge the significant efforts made by architects, clients, consultants and contractors to provide quality built outcomes,” said Muir.
Muir said that the number of heritage projects that made the shortlist doubled over the past year.
“Most importantly, sustainability in design needs to be understood through the lens of longevity, going beyond short-term gains and visions. This is a prevailing message highlighted in our shortlisted projects this year.
“All good buildings require a considered and collaborative design process. It is these projects that provide the best outcomes for delivering permanent benefits to communities at large.”
Public architecture also saw a rise in recognition – 11 projects listed this year compared to the prior year’s four.
“The design outcomes achieved via the shortlisted public architecture projects define the important role that the public realm plays in providing exemplar-built outcomes that support our growing communities and provide a legacy for future generations,” adds Muir.
“With population density rising across our cities, public space becomes an incredibly valuable commodity – not only from an economic perspective, but more importantly for the wellbeing of our communities.”
The winners of the 2019 Victorian Architecture Awards will be announced at the official awards dinner on 28 June.
Winners of each category will then be eligible for the National Architecture Awards program.
The shortlisted projects for the 2019 Victorian Architecture Awards are:
Public Architecture
Buxton Contemporary – Fender Katsalidis
Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal – Cox Architecture
Frankston Station – Genton
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Expansion – NH Architecture and Woods Bagot
Melbourne Jetbase – Cox Architecture
Parliament of Victoria Members’ Annexe – Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design
Port of Sale – FJMT
Rosanna Station – MGS Architects and Jacobs Architects
St Albans Station – Hassell
The Club Stand – Bates Smart
West Gippsland Arts Centre – Williams Ross Architects
Public Architecture jury: Rosemary Burne (Chair, Conrad Gargett) Simon Knott (BKK Architects) and Anne Clisby (Denton Corker Marshall)
 
Urban Design
Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal – Cox Architecture with Aspect Studios
Parliament of Victoria Members’ Annexe – Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design
Rosanna Station – MGS Architects and Jacobs Architects
South Melbourne Primary School – Hayball
Swan Street Bridge Upgrade – BKK Architects with McGregor Coxall and Relume
Urban Design yury: Adam Pustola (Chair, Lyons) Veryan Curnow (Jackson Clements Burrows Architects), Jocelyn Chiew (Monash University)
 
Educational Architecture
Albert Park College Liberal Arts Centre – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Biomedical Learning and Teaching Building, Monash University – Denton Corker Marshall
Braemar College Stage 1, Middle School – Hayball
Christ Church Grammar School Main Campus Redevelopment – Sally Draper Architects in association with Mcldowie Partners
Monash University Caulfield Library Refurbishment – John Wardle Architects
Moot Court Learning Precinct for the Monash Faculty of Law – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Northcote High School Performing Arts and VCE Centre – Kerstin Thompson Architects
Prahran High School – Gray Puksand
South Melbourne Primary School – Hayball
Educational Architecture jury: Michael McKenna (Chair, Michael McKenna), Emily Chalk (Kosloff Architecture) and Sean van der Velden (Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design)
 
Commercial Architecture
ArtBank – Edition Office
Melbourne Central Arcade – Kennedy Nolan
Melbourne Jetbase – Cox Architecture
Private Women’s Club – Kerstin Thompson Architects
Pt Leo Estate – Jolson
RACV Cape Schanck Resort – Wood Marsh Architecture
United Places Botanic Gardens South Yarra – Carr
Commercial Architecture jury: Tim Leslie (Chair, Bates Smart), Anna Maskiell (Public Realm Lab), Domenic Cerantonio (Cera Stribley Architects)
 
Heritage
Albert Park College Liberal Arts Centre – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Bendigo Soldiers’ Memorial Institute – Lovell Chen
Classical Gas - Original Stereo Version – Multiplicity with Mel Ogden Landscapes
Flinders Street Station Façade Strengthening and Conservation – Lovell Chen
Kagan House – Kennedy Nolan
Loch Street House – Donald Gallagher and Shelley Penn Architect
Monash Caulfield, Buildings D, E and G – NMBW Architecture Studio
Parliament of Victoria Members’ Annexe – Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design
Royal Mint Wall Remediation – HLCD with Ingegnaria and Oculus
Sacred Heart Building Abbotsford Convent Foundation – Kerstin Thompson Architects
The Bank, Vaughan – Maria Danos Architecture
Heritage jury: Matt Gibson (Chair, Matt Gibson Architecture and Design), Janet Beeston (Frontier Heritage), adn Vicki McLean (Heritage Victoria).
 
Interior Architecture
2 Southbank – BVN
Denton Corker Marshall Studio – Denton Corker Marshall
Kia Ora Apartment – Baracco and Wright Architects
Melbourne Central Arcade – Kennedy Nolan
Parliament of Victoria Members’ Annexe – Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design
Powell Street House – Robert Simeoni Architects
Private Women’s Club – Kerstin Thompson Architects
The Club Stand – Bates Smart
United Places Botanic Gardens South Yarra – Carr
Whitlam Place – Freadman White in collaboration with Anon Studio
Interior Architecture jury: Karen Alcock (Chair, MAA), Eugene Cheah (Cheah Saw Architecture), and Oliver Duff (Clare Cousins Architects).
 
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Ballarat House – Eldridge Anderson
Bluff House – Rob Kennon Architects
Canopy House – Leeton Pointon Architects and Interiors
Cornerstone House – Splinter Society Architecture
Daylesford Longhouse – Partners Hill
Fitzroy Lane – Kennedy Nolan
Hawthorn House – Edition Office
House in the Hills – Sean Godsell Architects
North Melbourne House – NMBW Architecture Studio
Point Lonsdale House – Edition Office
Sandy Point House – Kennedy Nolan
Springhill House – Lovell Burton Architecture
St Andrews Beach House – Austin Maynard Architects
Residential Architecture – Houses (New) jury: Rodney Eggleston (Chair, March Studio), Andrew Simpson (Andrew Simpson Architects), and Claire Humphreys (Kerstin Thompson Architects).
 
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
182 Rose – Fieldwork
Acheson Place – Workshop Architecture
Brick and Gable House – Breathe Architecture
Caroline House – Kennedy Nolan
Cascade House – Atelier Red and Black
Edsall Street – Ritz and Ghougassian
Fitzroy Terrace – Taylor Knights
Garden Wall House – Make Architecture
Grant House – Austin Maynard Architects
Light Corridor House – Figr
Oak House – Kennedy Nolan
Powell Street House – Robert Simeoni Architects
South Yarra House – AM Architecture
Storybook House – Folk Architects
York St Residence – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) jury: Jane Caught (Chair, Sibling Architecture), Antony Martin (MRTN Architects), and Michael Roper (Architecture Architecture)
 
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Clyde Mews – Six Degrees Architects
Farmer Street – MA Architects
Hawke and King – Six Degrees Architects
Iglu Franklin Street – Bates Smart
Little Oxford – Kennedy Nolan
Nth Fitzroy Apartments – Fieldwork
Scarborough and Welkin – Justin Mallia Architecture
Whitlam Place – Freadman White in collaboration with Anon Studio
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing jury: Richard Middleton (Chair, Hassell), Bonnie Herring (Breathe Architecture), and Jesse Linardi (DKO Architecture).
 
Small Project Architecture
Doubleground – Muir and Openwork
Jock Comini Reserve Amenities – Kerstin Thompson Architects
New Agency – Sibling Architecture
Smiths Beach Surf Life Saving Tower – MRTN Architects
Sunda Bar and Restaurant – Kerstin Thompson Architects
Super Field – Baracco and Wright Architects
Tiny Home – Maddison Architects
Together Apart – Architecture Architecture
Small Project Architecture jury: Keith Streames (Chair, Streames Architects), Natalie Miles (Austin Maynard Architects), and Jamie Sormann (Foomann Architects).
 
Sustainable Architecture
Bendigo Soldiers’ Memorial Institute – Lovell Chen
Eltham North Adventure Playground – Gardiner Architects with Jeavons Landscape Architects
Hawke and King – Six Degrees Architects
Loch Street House – Donald Gallagher and Shelley Penn Architect
MPavilion – Estudio Carme Pinos and Zilka Studio
Parliament of Victoria Members’ Annexe – Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design
Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre – Guymer Bailey Architects
Scarborough and Welkin – Justin Mallia Architecture
Tiny Home – Maddison Architects
Sustainable Architecture jury: Marika Neustupny (Chair, NMBW), Emma Gauder (Architects EAT), and Andrew Walter (Woods Bagot).
 
Melbourne Prize
Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal – Cox Architecture with Aspect Studios
Parliament of Victoria Members’ Annexe – Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design
Private Women’s Club – Kerstin Thompson Architects
South Melbourne Primary School – Hayball
The Club Stand – Bates Smart
Melbourne Prize jury: Jane Williams (Chair, John Wardle Architects), Alix Smith (Hassell), and Stefano Scalzo (Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority).
 
Regional Prize
Cobram Library and Learning Centre – Cohen Leigh Architects
Jock Comini Reserve Amenities – Kerstin Thompson Architects
Port of Sale – FJMT
Pt Leo Estate – Jolson
Regional Prize jury: Kim Irons (Chair, Irons McDuff Architecture), Sarah Zahradnik (NH Architecture), and Kim Bridgland (Edition Office).
 
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
House in the Hills – Sean Godsell Architects
Peter Mathieson Pavilion – CO-OP Studio
Rosanna Station – MGS Architects and Jacobs Architects
Springhill House – Lovell Burton Architecture
The Cinema Complex at the District Docklands – NH Architecture
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture jury: Dr Leanne Zilka (Chair, Zilka Studio), Aimee Goodwin (Project 12 Architecture), and Tim Wilson (Folk Architects).
Main photo: Melbourne Jetbase, nominated for Commercial Architecture award. Cox Architecture. Photographer: Peter Clarke.
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Victorian Architecture Awards 2019 shortlist revealed

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Beacon Hill, the Bowral farm with luxury Glenn Murcutt-designed homestead, has been listed for sale.
There are $6 million plus hopes for the 40 hectare estate which is named after a World War II radio beacon that once stood on its highest point to transmit radio signals from Sydney to Canberra.
Murcutt, a Pritzker Prize-winning architect, is renowned for love of space, light, nature, minimalism, earthy tones and harmonising structures with their environment.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/9/Murcutt3.jpg" alt="">
The four bedroom home sits at the end of a private treelined driveway and has open plan living areas featuring a gym, gourmet kitchen and a home office with its own fireplace.
In the grounds is a resort-style heated swimming pool with adjacent spa, sauna and outdoor heater shower.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/9/Murcutt2.jpg" alt="">
The property lends itself to those with equine interests, with horse paddocks, arenas and stables.
The Agency's Ben Olofsen is marketing the home on behalf of the famous Meagher legal family.
<div class="mod" lang="en-AU" data-attrid="hw:/collection/people:spouse" data-md="1001" data-hveid="CAsQDA" data-ved="2ahUKEwiih9CJo7_hAhVVU30KHZKrBa4QkCkwEHoECAsQDA"> </div>
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Glenn Murcutt-designed Bowral home Beacon Hill hits the market

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A Steve Koolloos-designed Paddington trophy home has hit the market. 
The offering at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-paddington-130394026" target="_blank">84 Paddington Street</a> is a bold reimagining of a Victorian terrace with nine-metre-high atrium voids.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/2/28/paddo.png" alt="">
There's been a diverse range of materials used including concrete, brickwork, timber and marble.
The property features a triple-car garage, a dedicated studio, and a plunge pool in the bamboo-framed backyard. 
It was designed for the prior owners, Juicy Design director Tom Williams and wife Belinda by Steve Koolloos of MCK Architects after leaving only the facade and one side wall from its days as an ordinary Victorian terrace.
A three-storey high untouchable gum tree in the garden is viewed from the north-facing rear living room that also overlooks a glass-fronted plunge pool.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/2/28/paddo2.png" alt="">
The Agency Eastern Suburbs agent Ben Collier has its schedule for March 2 auction.
There is a $7.7 million price guide.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Steve Koolloos-designed Paddington terrace listed with $7.7 million hopes

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The vacant land parcel bought for a New Farm record by Corporate Travel Management founder Jamie Pherous last year now has plans tabled for an ultra-modern home.
Pherous paid $11.3 million for the <a href="/news/business-tycoon-james-pherous-emerges-as-new-farms-11-3-million-mystery-buyer">1,100 square metres Moray Street block</a> of land last year and said he had intentions to build one of Brisbane's best houses.
The land previously belonged to Jane Gibson, the widow of Brisbane architect Robin Gibson. They paid $200,000 for the block in 1986.
The proposal is for a Tim Stewart Architects designed four level, seven bedroom home.
<img src="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/raw/images/c55b8e43-9f59-4e3e-bf8a-fb7c2168bbcf.png" alt="31-33 Moray Street, New Farm">
Source: www.cityshape.com.au
There's set to be a basement level for car parking and recreational facilities including a games room and gym which leads out to a clifftop pool.
The upper ground level will comprise a media room, office, study, laundry and combined living, dining and kitchen terrace at the rear.
Level one will include a master suite with dressing room, ensuite. There will be a further five ensuited bedrooms.
On the fourth level, there will be a roof terrace with another swimming pool, an entertainment room with kitchenette and guests quarters. 
<source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-960.webp" sizes="(min-width: 721px) 960px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-960.png" sizes="(min-width: 721px) 960px" type="image/png"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-720.webp" sizes="(min-width: 641px) 720px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-720.png" sizes="(min-width: 641px) 720px" type="image/png"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-640.webp" sizes="(min-width: 481px) 640px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-640.png" sizes="(min-width: 481px) 640px" type="image/png"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-480.webp" sizes="(min-width: 241px) 480px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-480.png" sizes="(min-width: 241px) 480px" type="image/png"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-240.webp" sizes="(min-width: 121px) 240px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-240.png" sizes="(min-width: 121px) 240px" type="image/png"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-120.webp" sizes="(min-width: 120px) 120px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d-120.png" sizes="(min-width: 120px) 120px" type="image/png"></source><img src="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/raw/images/203e41cd-31b0-4f32-8974-b919fc3ecd2d.png" alt="31-33 Moray Street, New Farm">
Source: www.cityshape.com.au
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New Farm designs for one of Brisbane's best trophy homes

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The Greenhouse, the eco-home at Wights Mountain, has been sold for $2.6 million.
The 2.4 hectare estate overlooks the rolling countryside in the Moreton Bay region, north-west of Brisbane.
Completed in 2017, the Shaun Lockyer Architects designed modern farmhouse seeks to connect to the environment. 
The use of iron bark timbers connects the house to the landscape of towering eucalyptus.
Its landscaping was designed by Dan Young featuring drought tolerant native plants.
The building block, now with dog proof fencing, cost $650,000 in 2015.
Lee and Lee-Anne Stevens who run Healthy Abode, a consulting and project management company for natural, clean, simple living, then created their own sanctuary.
It was about space, energy and health, slowing down and enjoying the simple pleasures in life.
The house has a functional one level floor plan where each room is accessed off a long corridor.
It has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is also a studio apartment.
There's an organic veggie garden at the front of the home. Chooks can roam in the rear courtyard.
The infinity edge swimming pool comes with an outdoor entertaining area with built in barbecue kitchen.
Matt Lancashire at Ray White sold the home.
The Stevens have since spent $1.08 million on a 1980s cottage on 8,100 square metres in the Byron Bay hinterland.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian. 
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Shaun Lockyer-designed trophy home at Wights Mountain, Queensland sold

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A Lewis Coote-designed Deepdene trophy home has been listed for sale.
The single level home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-deepdene-130333778" target="_blank">1B Angle Road</a> sits in a garden oasis with a private swimming pool.
Modernist Australia suggests it was a very early 70s Lewis Coote designed home. 
"The C-shaped floor plan will sucker in the MCM die-hards," it suggested.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/2/7/Coote2.jpg" alt="">
"This lovely residence hopefully will attract some form of live-in owner and disperse that sulphuric stench of development which envelops such duel access, school-zoney property," it concluded.
The home last traded for $972,000 in 2005.
It has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a study.
Kay &amp; Burton Hawthorn agents Daniel Bradd and Scott Patterson are marketing the home with a $2.65 million to $2.95 million guide.
 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Lewis Coote-designed Deepdene trophy home listed

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A round up of some key appointments across the industry, as firms look ahead to a busy 2019.

<h2>Technē expands workplace division, promotes Dana Hutchins</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/dana_hutchins.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="425" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/dana_hutchins.jpg?itok=aBHRk-QC" width="580"></a></figure><a href="/architects/techne-architecture-interior-design">Technē Architecture + Interior Design</a> in Australia has recently promoted Dana Hutchins to Senior Associate, who will now be spearheading the practice’s workplace division with colleague Gabriella Gulacsi.

With almost 15 years’ experience as an interior designer, Hutchins’ portfolio of projects at Technē include the MRC Medallion Bar, a workplace for Deka and the highly anticipated Hotel Esplanade (The Espy) opening in November 2018. With her experience as an interior designer evenly divided in the workplace and hospitality sectors, Hutchins has spent her recent years working within the latter. 

She believes her hospitality experience will give her a new perspective that can be brought into upcoming workplace projects. Hutchins has seen the trend in workplace design moving away from clean-cut, 
corporate offices and believes good workplace design is best centred on flexibility and bringing people together.

Founding partner and director Nick Travers is delighted to bolster the practice’s workplace offering with Hutchins’ promotion.

<blockquote>
“Dana has already made significant contributions to projects at Technē and we are thrilled for her to continue to apply her professionalism and expertise in our workplace division.” 

- Nick Travers, Founding partner and director
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
“The Espy is the most deign intense, complex and highly involved project I have ever worked on but I enjoyed the opportunity to work on a heritage project of this scale. I have always been interested in using interior design to intersect everyday life with experiences that are memorable. I appreciate and have missed the process and strategy often underpinning workplace design along with the logic and order of workplace planning.

A good workplace brings people together, organically allowing for collaboration and socialisation between team members. As workplace design has shown an increasing shift towards hospitality and social spaces, it is an exciting time to bring the work and expertise of Technē into the domain of workplace.

Technē is best known for creating cafés, restaurants and pubs which are social hubs and this experience can be translated into the design of workplaces as companies are moving towards agile work practices. Our ambition is that as a team we can create socially rich and memorable workplaces.

I am very excited to do that with Gabi who I have worked with for most of my career. We both have different roles and interests on a project but our complementary skillset makes for a strong combination.”

-  Dana Hutchins, Senior Associate
</blockquote>

<h2>Bates Smart Appoints a Strategic Advisory Board and Announces Director Promotions</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/bates_smart_advisory_board.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="L-R: Cian Davis, Kellie Payne, Rachael McCarthy, Simon Swaney"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="212" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/bates_smart_advisory_board.jpg?itok=vFuNyshc" title="L-R: Cian Davis, Kellie Payne, Rachael McCarthy, Simon Swaney" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>New Directors L-R: Cian Davis, Kellie Payne, Rachael McCarthy, Simon Swaney</figcaption></figure><a href="/architects/bates-smart">Bates Smart</a> has appointed a dedicated Advisory Board, formed in August this year, comprising five prominent Australian business leaders with diverse experience spanning sectors including property, legal services, finance and corporate business management.

The board members are: John O’Neill AO, Chair of the Advisory Board and Chairman of The Star Entertainment Group; Fiona Hindmarsh, Non-executive Director of Hindmarsh; Julie Levis, Partner of Clayton Utz; Greg Paramor AO, Non-Executive Director of Charter Hall Group and former Managing Director of Folkestone; and Colin Smith, Managing Director of Phoenix Consulting.

Bates Smart Managing Director, Simon Swaney said the Advisory Board will establish a clear strategy for the future and ensure the practice is well equipped to respond to opportunities while maintaining exceptional design quality. 
2018 has been a year of significant progress for the practice with the studio announcing the promotion of Kellie Payne (Sydney) and Cian Davis (Melbourne) as Directors, with Rachael McCarthy (Melbourne) advanced to Studio Director. 
These new appointments are in addition to further staff promotions across the Melbourne and Sydney studios with a total of 21 Associate Directors and Associates named, two thirds being women.

Swaney notes that the restructure, which commenced in 2013, has been vital in supporting the strong and valued client base while maintaining design excellence. The practice has experienced significant growth over the last five years to service clients’ needs and the expansion in the leadership team reflects

<blockquote>
“We welcome our newly appointed Advisory Board and their strategic guidance that draws on their diverse skills to strengthen the practice. Our Directors are delighted to have their experience spanning various sectors, regions and genders available to them as well as their immense capabilities to support the cultural and fiscal success of our practice.

“We congratulate Kellie and Cian, who now join our directorship, for their dedication and achievement in delivering excellence over a number of years, and Rachael who will skillfully continue to develop our Melbourne workplace strategy and design capabilities. We value their expertise and leadership enormously in not only offering exceptional client service but in nurturing the growth of new and existing talent.

“Our business has undergone a significant generational change and the new appointments to the leadership group continue this change and will be supported by our talented teams in their respective architecture and interior design fields.” 

- Simon Swaney, Bates Smart Managing Director
</blockquote>

<h2>Architectus welcomes new Principal to the leadership team</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/sophie_cleland_01.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="612" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sophie_cleland_01.jpg?itok=RFrjcc2e" width="580"></a></figure><a href="/architects/architectus">Architectus</a> has appointed Sophie Cleland as Principal to the leadership team.

An architect with over 15 years of experience, Sophie joins Architectus from ARM Architecture where she developed substantial expertise working on public projects, including the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Athlete’s Village Community and Retail Precinct, the National Museum of Australia and Wanangkura regional sports centre.

Sophie is a member of the NSW State Design Review Panel and the Office for Design and Architecture South Australia (ODASA) for the SA Government.

Sophie’s appointment as Principal follows a year of continued growth at Architectus with recent significant project wins including the Western Sydney Airport Business Park Master Plan.

<blockquote>
“Sophie brings a clear strategic approach to the design process and strong client and stakeholder relationships, including extensive experience working with high levels of government, Government Architects and other State and Territory agencies. We are delighted to have Sophie join our Melbourne studio.”

- Ray Brown, Architectus Managing Director 
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
“I am excited to be joining the Architectus leadership team and have the opportunity to drive design strategy in the delivery of high quality public architecture. In my new role, I want to inspire a sense of narrative within the work, to create high quality and forward-thinking spaces that connect people, cultures and their ideas.”

- Sophie Cleland 
</blockquote>

Lead image: <a href="http://www.kerstinthompson.com/">Kerstin Thompson Architects</a> 
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Laurence Dragomir

A number of Architecture firms make key leadership appointments ahead of 2019

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A free exhibition at the State Library Victoria will display photographs of Melbourne’s mid-century architecture for the first time.  Opening Saturday 1 December 2018, 'Peter Wille: Out Driving' will feature small and large scale reproductions from the Library’s collection of more than 6,000 colour slides by architectural draughtsman, design enthusiast and amateur photographer Peter Wille.

<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/62_eltham_borland.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Peter Wille, photographer | Kevin Borland, architect | Rice House, Eltham | Completed 1954, reproduction of colour slide, H91.244/566"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="408" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/62_eltham_borland.png?itok=9ISBi0PE" title="Peter Wille, photographer | Kevin Borland, architect | Rice House, Eltham | Completed 1954, reproduction of colour slide, H91.244/566" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Peter Wille, photographer | Kevin Borland, architect | Rice House, Eltham | Completed 1954, reproduction of colour slide, H91.244/566</figcaption></figure>The exhibition will showcase a period of experimental design – from post-war austerity to the height of modernism – featuring the groundbreaking work of architects including Robin Boyd, Peter McIntyre, Kevin Borland, and John and Phyllis Murphy.

It will also explore how the types of buildings in four areas of Melbourne reflect their environment. Suburbs will include South Yarra and Toorak in the south east, Kew in the east, Beaumaris, Aspendale and Frankston in bayside, and the outer suburbs of Eltham and Warrandyte.

<blockquote>
"These images give a unique and candid insight into a period of pioneering Australian architecture.  

Wille’s passion for design is evident in his dedication to amassing this significant survey of Melbourne’s mid-century buildings. 

Setting out with just his car and his camera, Wille captured almost two decades of design and social history.”

- Eve Sainsbury, Exhibition curator
</blockquote>

The free exhibition will be open daily, with a curator talk on Tuesday 12 February.

<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/52_warrandyte_hipwell.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Peter Wille, photographer | John Hipwell, architect | Hipwell House, Warrandyte | Completed 1953, reproduction of colour slide, H91.244/3095"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="397" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/52_warrandyte_hipwell.png?itok=BR0tZaTw" title="Peter Wille, photographer | John Hipwell, architect | Hipwell House, Warrandyte | Completed 1953, reproduction of colour slide, H91.244/3095" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Peter Wille, photographer | John Hipwell, architect | Hipwell House, Warrandyte | Completed 1953, reproduction of colour slide, H91.244/3095</figcaption></figure><h2>Exhibitions and events details:</h2>

Peter Wille: Out Driving exhibition 
Free entry. Open daily from 1 December 10am–6pm (Open until 9pm on Thursdays) 
Location: South Rotunda, State Library Victoria

Lead image: Peter Wille, photographer | Robin Boyd, architect | Neptune’s Fishbowl, South Yarra | Completed 1970, reproduction of colour slide, H91.244/739
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Melbourne's mid-century architecture on display in new State Library Victoria photography exhibition

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St Kilda's landmark Esplanade Hotel or "The Espy" - as it is affectionately known - is reopening its doors following an extensive two year refurbishment undertaken by owners Sandhill Road and long time collaborators, Technē Architecture + Interior Design. The 140 year-old icon has been reborn via a design strategy which celebrates the story of the landmark venue and its rich layers of history.

First built in 1878, The Espy has experienced a number of alterations and additions over the years - namely in the 1920's and 1970's - before being acquired by Carlton and United Breweries in 1995 and then by Becton Corporation in 1997.  Becton sought to develop a 35-storey residential tower on the site, which was eventually scaled back to a more modest seven-storeys following strong community opposition. 

<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/espy201801-010.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Technē's design uncovers and celebrates the Espy's layers of history. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/espy201801-010.jpg?itok=99TyVLpR" title="Technē's design uncovers and celebrates the Espy's layers of history. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a></figure>The Espy, represents Technē’s largest and most complex hospitality undertaking to date, and is 50 per cent larger than <a href="/news/garden-state-hotel-previously-known-as-rosati">Garden State Hotel</a>, which Technē also worked on with Sand Hill Road. Technē's design strategy reflects Sand Hill Road’s vision for the venue; highlighting the different eras across 12 bars, two restaurants and a variety of discrete spaces totalling 3,000 sqm which can accommodate up to 1,780 patrons.

Since day one, The Espy has been a Victorian-era seaside resort and the hotel home to notable personalities such as entrepreneur, art collector and philanthropist Alfred Felton. It’s been a jazz-era ballroom and a rock and roll mainstay from the 1990s until 2015 when it closed for renovation.

Technē's design features three different spaces capable of accommodating a range of performances from intimate jazz or stand-up comedy to rock bands drawing big crowds in the Gershwin Room - a space which Technē has left largely untouched. 
The Espy further celebrates its musical heritage with vintage rock posters on display throughout the building, sourced from the venue’s archives. The renovations have also opened up and activated the Espy's second level, expanding the public offering from two levels to four. An operable glass roof has been provided over the famous terrace entrance and highlights the grand stairway that connects the building’s different levels.

On the ground floor, the foyer’s grand arch windows provide a visual connection through to the Main Bar and to a cellar door-inspired dining area, complete with wine barrels filling the walls, and kitchen beyond. The former Espy kitchen has been re-imagined as a public bar featuring traditional curved oak detailing.

<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/espy201801-003.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/espy201801-003.jpg?itok=MgDHIAnj" width="580"></a></figure>Cantonese restaurant Mya Tiger is located on the first floor and draws inspiration from the famous Raffles Hotel in Singapore, providing patrons with views of Port Phillip Bay in addition to the activity on the terrace below. Felton’s spirit of art collecting and as a host of salons for the creative community informs the Technē design response on the second floor. 
Other areas include a small mezzanine-level function room and the 1950s inspired Studio Bar on the ground floor, a space that patrons can book to record podcasts, providing what Technē term “a slightly more modern character” compared to some of the venue’s other restored spaces, with diner-style booths and ’50s-style wood panelling. (As an aside, Apartments.com.au is looking at recording an episode of our <a href="/guides">podcast</a> with Technē in the space.)

A series of hand-painted, period-style murals by Perth artist Desmond Sweeney (8 Foot Walls) provide a unique design feature, with one occupying an entire eight metre wall in the the Green Room.

Technē worked closely with Sand Hill Road stylist Eleisha Gray on conceiving the interior design and decor of the reborn Espy, curating a selection of imported furniture and decorative objects in keeping with the overall narrative. A tribute to The Espy’s heyday, Technē and Sandhill Road's transformation will ensure the St Kilda landmark remains one of the oldest, largest and most prominent 19th-century hotel resorts still operating in Victoria. 

<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/espy201801-006.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/espy201801-006.jpg?itok=FIkHqeiE" width="580"></a></figure>In addition to The Espy redevelopment, a host of other projects such as the recently completed Gatwick Hotel redevelopment as part of The Block TV series, and the <a href="/developments/st-kilda-vic-3182">Victorian Pride Centre</a> are breathing new life into <a href="/developments/st-kilda-vic-3182">St Kilda</a>. A snapshot of the the area's development pipeline is captured below.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="420px" src="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/st-kilda-vic?embeddable=map" width="100%"></iframe>

<h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
There’s something about this Hotel that captures the imagination like no other.

These are the things we determined to keep at the forefront of our minds as we conceived the look, feel and spaces of the new Espy – age, grandeur, history, arts – and respect for what it took to keep her alive all these years.

- Matt Mullins, Sand Hill Road director 
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
There is no other hotel or food and beverage project in the city that is as big and complex as The Espy. Working with a building with such an interesting history has extended our entire working process.

The design is unique because it focuses entirely on historical layering. Different eras and styles call to each other across the spaces – making for an eclectic customer exploration – and this is united throughout by exposing the good bones of the original building.

In a design sense, the glass roof allows the old building to be viewed as it was before the art deco bay window extension was added to it. There's that element of Victorian grandeur that is coming back into the ground level foyer and elsewhere.

Alfred Felton’s ghost benevolently haunts the rooms on the second level. His story is more clearly explained than it has ever been and the renovation opens up spaces to the public that have not been seen since the early 20th century when they became boarding rooms.

We imagined this level as a Victorian parlour with small rooms, small bars filled with curios and little art works. There is a library and a salon – one of the spaces is called The Pharmacy because Alfred Felton made his money in part as a manufacturing chemist.

- Justin Northrop, Technē Director
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
People have a real connection to the Gershwin Room. We’ve refreshed the bar but wanted to make sure the whole space still feels recognisable. Our design concentrates on the building’s heritage and does not aim for a contemporary makeover.

We hope it will be hard to tell which sections are original details and which things have been recreated. This approach is new for us and also it’s also largely new in Melbourne; it’s more familiar in Europe where this architectural tradition is much older.

- Nick Travers, Technē Director 
</blockquote>

All images supplied by Technē.
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