The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Armsby Architects

<html><body>
Fishermans Bend's most recent planning application has been loaded with a host of community-oriented features.

18-22 Salmon Street Port Melbourne was lodged with the State Government earlier this month, and is the first project to do so post Planning Minister Richard Wynne's release of the <a href="/news/fishermans-bend-draft-framework-released-uplift-controls-to-drive-affordable-housing">draft framework</a> for the urban renewal area during October.

Dubbed Wirraway Central, the project would account for a 9,400sqm corner site that is currently home to a variety of low-rise commercial buildings and is metres away from Plummer Street's JL Murphy Reserve. Knight Frank handled the site's sale during February, with local developer Fishermans Bend Management Pty Ltd securing the site for $27.5 million.

The entity has moved at pace in taking the site to planning, enlisting Armsby Architects who have in turn created a premium mixed-use scheme which is intended to be delivered upon the expiry of current leases during 2019.

<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/pwvjic4qioadawokheey.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Aerial overview. Image: Knight Frank"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="381" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/pwvjic4qioadawokheey.jpg?itok=MgJhSqdm" title="Aerial overview. Image: Knight Frank" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Aerial overview. Image: Knight Frank</figcaption></figure>Wirraway Central consists of multiple 12 storey towers reaching 55 metres in height, in what is an 18 storey height limited area. The project's 80,000 square metres of Gross Building Area is expected to be built at a cost of $170 million, although the end value of the development will be far higher.

Community benefits underpin the development, with a Library and Community Hall proposed. These facilities are expected to be handed over to City of Port Phillip upon completion.

A primary school is also proposed, as are two supermarkets and a number of retail spaces and cafes.

Warriway Central will also include 260 apartments, in a split that sees 66 single bedroom, 91 dual bedroom and 70 triple bedroom apartments. The proposal is a departure from the norm in that it is heavily weighted toward three bedroom dwellings.

<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/image28_10.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Sketch of Wirraway Central's interior. Image: Armsby Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image28_10.jpg?itok=I9_R5WMt" title="Sketch of Wirraway Central's interior. Image: Armsby Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Sketch of Wirraway Central's interior. Image: Armsby Architects</figcaption></figure>Included in the proposal are 290 bicycle bays and 426 car parking spaces. In terms of design provisions for future infrastructure, Wirraway Central maintains a substantial setback to Plummer Street in order to cater for future light rail and/or a potential underground rail station.

With a history of pushing ESD boundaries, Armsby Architects will offer the project for certification as Fishermans Bend's first Green Star building, which carries with it internationally-recognised sustainability rating system.

Design lead John Armsby expects 18-22 Salmon Street to be the closest fit to the new draft framework that blankets Fiahermans Bend.
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silvermb

Community benefits and a Green Star rating underpin Fishermans Bend's latest proposal

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The recent <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.bdav.org.au_awards&amp;d=DwMD-g&amp;c=M50t_wfPryPkL4C2Nv6aB3q8AWPHmcy6NXnZ7db1zqg&amp;r=goapdA6bgLzr6yrIxf-zMqZi9f7ZqxQMoboCMwCo1eg&amp;m=CR_FEL7bfFqRRcMOAeNdgipiOYI3jYZTU7R_LQTWhWU&amp;s=ky_sWj3K8mYzf6LJOOsbr5MQ5j4ksfCK9SXTGhmZtRI&amp;e=">BDAV Building Design Awards</a> once more showcased the talents and expertise of Victoria's building designers.

2017 was the 22nd year of the BDAV Design Awards, which aims to "profile excellence in building design, as well as profiling the importance of the building design profession to both the building industry and to the broader community."

One project that ticked the boxes was Green Edge. Formerly an open air car park, the multi-residential design not only offers 9 star energy efficiency but also a certified Greenstar rating, demonstrating a holistic approach to sustainability. 

In light of Green Edge winning the category Energy Efficient Design – Residential and securing a commendation for Multi-Residential Design, Urban.com.au posed a number of questions to John Armsby of Armsby Architects, the design force behind Green Edge which was delivered by construction firm Team Building on behalf of developer Richmond Icon.

Urban.com.au: Were Green Edge's heightened sustainability credentials included at the request of the developer, or were you given a free reign of sorts to design as you saw fit?

John Armsby: Given the nature of the site being in such close proximity to a rail line and being off the main shopping strip I suggested to the developer we take this approach and he agreed, as long as it didn’t cost any extra to do so. Therein lay both the task and the challenge.

The project then became a real exercise in what I’d term ‘smart ESD’, meaning that every sustainability initiative had to be justified and ideally function in more than one way. There was no place for token or bolt-on sustainability in this project.

<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/image2ge.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Green Edge's pared back foyer"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image2ge.jpg?itok=hyVcCy9V" title="Green Edge's pared back foyer" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Green Edge's pared back foyer</figcaption></figure>UM: Was there an added cost to the project (either in design or build phase) associated with the implementation of the added green/sustainability features? In a roundabout sort of way, I'm asking why do you think developments to this standard are not more common?

JA: There was an obvious Greenstar certification and associated consultant cost with the project but the aim was to try and get items that needed to be there regardless to also work sustainably.

Careful consideration was given to every element of the design and by attempting to make every element serve an alternative use, the additional cost turned out to be absolutely minimal. I’m not sure if every project would present the same opportunities to ‘double dip’ that this project has.

The whole aim of Green Edge was to push the limits of what I’d call Mainstream Green, more or less how to produce a green building without the client even noticing. Many green buildings often look ‘strange’ and are off-putting to many purchasers so I was trying to prove that a green building doesn’t have to look ‘odd’ to still be green.

Initially, I started this project by designing footprints for apartments that I thought would work well energy-wise and how and where they should fit together in the building envelope. That then evolved into an experiment in tweaking every aspect of the layout, eg. dropping window heads by 300mm from the ceiling creates a little heat trap which in turn captures the heating and stops the heated air from escaping.

The heart of this project's success lies largely in its energy efficiency. It has a lot of other great stuff going on but if you can get the heating and cooling requirements right then that is a major advantage for the entire lifespan of the building. Once you get energy efficiency up over 9 stars, the heating and cooling costs are negligible.

Interestingly in this project, I have been able to follow up on power and water use and been able to verify all of the original predictions on consumption have been met or beaten.

The project largely contains no west facing windows with most windows to the western side being turned to face north and being protected with a turret-like fin which also removes overlooking of the neighbours. Balcony depths were fiddled with until an optimum depth for solar efficiency was achieved.

This project also utilises an electric heat pump hot water system. While many argue that there are less greenhouse gas emissions from gas hot water systems, in this case the Owners Corp have the opportunity to have zero greenhouse gas emissions if signed up to Green power.

The hot water system is also partially powered by photovoltaics and uses heat pump technology which results in an ultra efficient solution. Another benefit to this hot water system is that when coupled with Induction Cooktops in the kitchens the entire project has an opportunity to be fossil fuel free. 

This system was accepted by the client because it meant no gas pipework was required throughout the building. Not having to run copper gas piping through the building largely compensated the additional cost of installing this system; additionally, the occupants are only paying one utility supply tariff instead of two.

<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/image3ge.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A Green Edge apartment interior"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image3ge.jpg?itok=32HuJRtq" title="A Green Edge apartment interior" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A Green Edge apartment interior</figcaption></figure>All south facing apartments are close to the railway so all balconies to the south have wintergardens. This not only creates a very large triple glazed acoustic barrier to the trains but also enormously improves the energy efficiency of the project

The building is full of little things like this that all add up to make it a very special project.

UM: What were the different design aspects of creating a green/sustainable building like Green Edge? For instance, greater cooperation between architect and the ESD team?

JA: In this instance, I had the advantage of being the ESD consultant for the initial design phases of the project. Given I have been right in the heart of the sustainability side of the industry for so long it has now become something that seems to find its way into everything we do, often without even specifically trying.

I did then hand the process over to a specialist sustainability consultant to take care of the Greenstar accreditation process.

I would like to see greater feedback and engagement from Sustainability consultants because there is a lot to be learned from the information and data that software such as Firstrate spits out, which architects can make great use of if they knew what it all meant.

The ratings can be used to tell you the weak points in the efficiency of any project if only you know how to interpret the numbers. Often the problem might simply be that a window is just too large and facing the wrong direction and the room is overheating in summer and losing too much heat in winter and this can be seen in the Firstrate data files.

A problem within the Energy Rating industry is that too many developers only want to achieve the minimum level of efficiency so many raters do not get the opportunity to experiment with pushing the limits of efficiency and really tweaking a design

UM: Can you provide a rundown of the major ESD features that distinguish Green Edge?

JA: Its quite an extensive list, with the vast majority covered below:

<ul>
<li>Glazing oriented to avoid west facing glass</li>
	<li>Any western glass protected with screening devices or frit</li>
	<li>Optimised north facing balconies and south facing wintergardens</li>
	<li>Exposed thermal mass</li>
	<li>Ceiling fans throughout</li>
	<li>Individual ducting to each exhaust fan or range hood</li>
	<li>Individual Energy efficiency less than 30mj/m2</li>
	<li>Sustainably sourced materials with low VOCs</li>
	<li>Electric PV boosted central hot water heat pump system</li>
	<li>Dwelling shut down switch</li>
	<li>Airtight building construction</li>
	<li>High CoP A/C units. These were installed because the Coefficient of performance meant that they would be cheaper to run annually than a stand alone small panel heater.</li>
	<li>Energy efficient lighting with motion sensors and timers to public areas</li>
	<li>Energy efficient fittings and fixtures</li>
	<li>Rooftop clothes drying racks and residents garden with native vegetation planting</li>
	<li>Rainwater tanks</li>
	<li>Recycling of onsite construction waste</li>
	<li>Recycling opportunity of discarded household objects within the building occupants</li>
	<li>1 bike space per apartment</li>
	<li>On-site reduction of parking below statutory rate</li>
</ul>
<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/image4ge.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The as yet matured plantings atop Green Edge"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="409" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image4ge.jpg?itok=_f72T2wi" title="The as yet matured plantings atop Green Edge" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The as yet matured plantings atop Green Edge</figcaption></figure>UM: Do you have any other projects with similar green/sustainability credentials on the drawing board?

At the moment I have a small project in Port Melbourne which I am looking to construct using mass timber technology. It only has a small footprint but is actually a little taller than Forte in Docklands so will become the tallest residential tower in Australia if I can get it off the drawing board and under construction.

It has very large 3 bedroom and 4 bedroom apartments with only 1 per floor. It also incorporates many of the features of Green Edge, with no gas going into the building and in this instance I want to use individual heat pump hot water systems to each apartment.

It also contains a lot of PV panels however not as many as my Russell Street project (14-22 Russell Street) which has the entire north facing lift and stair core covered in many (thousands) of PV panels. The PV panels are to be used as a cladding system and rain screen to the building

With my latest project being preparing for planning lodgement in Port Melbourne, we are seeking to integrate PV panels right into the facade design. We have been in discussions with a PV panel manufacturer to get custom sized PV panels and have them glazed straight into the facade instead of alpolic or other spandrel finishes.

The cost of PV panels has dropped enormously to the point where this sort of thing is now financially viable. It is now possible to have a facade which can quite literally pay for itself. It is intended that this project will also have Greenstar accreditation but also has a lot of other interesting things going on which we are quite excited about.

That will need to be the topic for another day though.
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John Armsby discusses the merits of Richmond's award-winning Green Edge apartment development

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The well documented surge in apartments within the CBD over recent years looks to be dissuading developers from the inner city residential apartment sector. Whilst the masses of apartments roaring toward completion have taken the steam out of the apartment market, hotel and student accommodation projects have, in the interim, attracted a proportionately larger slice of the planning pie.

City of Melbourne are handling three prime examples, all of which were submitted late last year, which point toward this trend.

Generally rolled into larger, mixed-use developments over recent years, the smaller stand-alone hotel is making a comeback. Two such examples are in the pipeline, with one potentially accounting for a historic Melbourne facade.

<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/image39_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A new Elizabeth Street perspective. Image: Kyriacou Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="340" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image39_5.jpg?itok=wO8Cwi4L" title="A new Elizabeth Street perspective. Image: Kyriacou Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A new Elizabeth Street perspective. Image: Kyriacou Architects</figcaption></figure>601-603 Elizabeth Street is an eye-catching proposal for a thin 15 level hotel tower encompassing 72 suites.

On little more than a 202sqm site, the design by Kyriacou Architects sees a 49m tower finished in intricate China white concrete panelling which splays above the entrance, forming a unique canopy. Local firm Nicson Property Group is behind the project and hopes to gain approval for the design which involves solely single bedroom suites ranging in size between 17sqm and 23sqm.

Approval of the project would further extend the mixed-use nature of City North, a designated development precinct which includes the Elizabeth Street stretch north of the CBD. Research, medical, commercial, student accommodation, apartment and affordable housing builds have all been delivered in recent years throughout the precinct.

601-603 Elizabeth Street potentially may add another use to City North.

<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/image51_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="244-248 Flinders and design references. Image: Armsby Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image51_6.jpg?itok=Fxp-SA-C" title="244-248 Flinders and design references. Image: Armsby Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>244-248 Flinders and design references. Image: Armsby Architects</figcaption></figure>Yooralla's former headquarters at 244-248 Flinders Street is also subject to a hotel-based planning application.

Moremas Land Pty Ltd is seeking to replace the historic building with a 13 storey complex which includes 215 hotel rooms, consisting of deluxe and standard room options. Also present across ground level is a walkway linking Flinders Street and Degraves Place; this will be the spine for a new retail arcade featuring 6 new leasable spaces and a restaurant fronting Flinders Street.

244-248 Flinders Street is hoping to drop into an area flush with hotel suites. Westin Melbourne, DoubleTree by Hilton, Rendezvous Hotel and Adelphi Hotel are all a short distance away, whilst Apartments.com.au last week noted <a href="/news/peppers-and-vibe-land-new-melbourne-addresses">Vibe Hotel as taking on branding rights for 1 Queen Street</a> nearby.

Originally, the Flinders Street site was home to a single storey shop built in the late 1800's. According to planning documents, "At the start of the 20th century a two storey building "Snows" menswear was built and was then significantly modified by Tattersalls in the late 1950's. The building has continued to undergo alterations internally and externally throughout the years, including major internal and facade works in the late 1990's."

How Melbourne City Council reacts to the proposed demolition of 244-248 Flinders Street in a sensitive strip of heritage buildings remains to be seen.

<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/image53_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The existing building. Image: Armsby Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="219" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image53_2.jpg?itok=k0KkYdii" title="The existing building. Image: Armsby Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The existing building. Image: Armsby Architects</figcaption></figure>Having no such heritage qualms is Zebra House at 303-305 Royal Parade, which will be University of Melbourne's (UoM) latest student accommodation project.

The well known Royal Parade commercial building will in time become another domicile for students, adding to the thousands of current student accommodation beds in development around the inner city. Breathe Architecture and Architectus will oversee the existing building's transformation into 332 student beds.

This will be achieved by repurposing the existing building, and adding a smaller 6 storey wing at the rear of the site.

UoM picked up the ageing building during 2014, reportedly for $25 million. Shortly thereafter UoM declared 303-305 Royal Parade to be an integral part of the institution's strategy of providing at least <a href="http://newsroom.melbourne.edu/news/student-accommodation-boosted-university-melbourne">2,000 new student beds by 2020</a>.

<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/image40_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Zebra House. Planning image: Breathe ARchitecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="460" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image40_6.jpg?itok=rTs-vN05" title="Zebra House. Planning image: Breathe ARchitecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Zebra House. Planning image: Breathe Architecture</figcaption></figure>
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