A wave of investment, renewal and precinct growth continues to shape the northern edge of Macquarie Park, where daily life is supported by a rare combination of university activity, corporate employment, major retail, and expansive green corridors. It’s this convergence of amenity and connectivity underpins the setting for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a>, which has now topped out and is tracking toward completion in mid-2026.

Within this pocket of the precinct, residents move easily between the area’s key anchors. Macquarie Centre, home to more than 360 retailers, fresh food offerings, dining and entertainment, sits at the heart of local convenience and functions as a major transport interchange. The Metro, T1 rail line and extensive bus network place much of Sydney within quick reach, while surrounding arterial links support direct access to neighbouring districts.

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Green space remains a defining feature of the immediate environment. Lane Cove National Park stretches along the northern boundary of the precinct, offering bushland trails, cycling routes and quiet riverfront pockets. Shrimptons Creek and the campus grounds of Macquarie University extend these recreational networks, softening the urban setting and creating a daily connection to nature that informs the project’s architectural response.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> have shaped La Vera around these contrasts. The building’s northern elevation adopts an organic, curvilinear form that mirrors the natural topography of the national park. Three sculpted forms soften the tower’s profile and encourage a stronger transition between indoor living areas, balconies and the broader landscape.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=223737]

Cox Director Felipe Miranda says the building’s outlook played a central role in the design process.

“The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park… The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies,” Felipe Miranda of Cox Architecture said.

Toward the city-facing side, the design shifts to a more urban expression. A gridded facade and extensive glazing capture CBD views, creating a dual strategy that blends ecological outlooks with metropolitan orientation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=5827]

La Vera delivers 169 residences across one- to four-bedroom layouts, reflecting the needs of young families, downsizers, first-home buyers and investors seeking long-term certainty within a high-amenity location. From the project, residents can walk to Macquarie University, Macquarie Hospital and nearby corporate offices, reach national park trails within minutes, and enjoy retail and dining without relying on a car.

The project is delivered by Urban Property Group, a 4.5-star iCIRT-rated developer-builder with more than three decades of experience. The company has become a leader in adopting 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), first introduced on its Parq Bexley development and now embedded into its pipeline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=223727]

La Vera is the first development in Macquarie Park approved to offer this 10-year LDI policy, adding another layer of protection for purchasers and reinforcing the transparency of the construction process.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias says this assurance has become increasingly important for buyers navigating the off-the-plan market.

“Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been… Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share,” Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said.

Urban Property Group's in-house construction team is forecasting a mid-2026 completion, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/home789">HOME789</a> appointed as the project marketer.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

Staff Writer

La Vera delivers a nature-connected address within Macquarie Park’s core

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/aura-by-aqualand-north-sydney-168-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">AURA</a>&nbsp;doesn’t just rise over North Sydney, it redefines it. Now in its final release, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a>’s $1 billion architectural statement is not just complete, but already reshaping the way people live, connect and dine in this rapidly evolving harbourside CBD.

Positioned beside the new Victoria Cross Metro Station and boasting panoramic views across Sydney Harbour, Aura’s 386 residences crown a mixed-use precinct designed with unapologetic ambition. The curvaceous sandstone-inspired form by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, paired with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/richards-stanisich">Richard Stanisich</a>’s understated interiors, sets a design tone that’s both monumental and intimate.

At its peak, literally, the two penthouses so spectacular they command their own names; La Davina and Il Magnate. The residents are spread across the&nbsp;entire top floor, offering what many consider the most refined residences ever built in North Sydney. Designed by Richard and Kirsten Stanisich, each four-bedroom home is meticulously crafted to evoke calm, space, and permanence.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VB70993aG-I?si=adRBlXQliYmYvaSz" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The kitchens are fully wrapped in natural stone, with integrated Gaggenau appliances, Sub-Zero fridges, concealed sculleries, and even a zip hydro tap delivering boiling, chilled and sparkling water on demand. A linear stone fireplace anchors the open-plan living space, dividing lounge and dining zones with quiet sophistication.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292861]

The master suite, meanwhile, feels more like a private retreat, complete with a custom stone makeup vanity, walk-through dressing area, and spa-inspired ensuite with heated stone floors, a freestanding Villeroy &amp; Boch tub, and timber veneer joinery throughout.

Kirsten Stanisich, Director of Richards Stanisich, said the penthouses offer incredible scale reflective of a single residence.&nbsp;

“We sought inspiration for these remarkable residences from the classic top-floor Parisian apartment," Stanisich said.

"We looked at what made these French apartments so elegant and found it really came down to their scale. It was ultimately this generosity of space that we used for the AURA penthouses, where we’ve designed considered rooms with deep large-scale proportions."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=310337]

Everyday living at Aura feels no less elevated. A dedicated 24-hour concierge, Technogym fitness centre, sky dining terraces, and a resort-style pool serve a lifestyle designed to rival luxury hotels.

At street level, Aqualand’s own hospitality arm, Etymon Projects, curates a precinct of LA-style bistros, Japanese fine dining, and local wine bars, all seamlessly integrated into the building’s sculptural podium.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=310337]

This final chapter, aptly dubbed The Finale, is more than a sales phase, it’s an invitation to two of the most exclusive apartments ever to be built in North Sydney.

With limited residences remaining, buyers can access curated incentives including stamp duty rebates, rental guarantees, legal fee coverage, and even $20,000 towards dining within the precinct.

From generous one-bedders to The Icons, two singular penthouses priced well into prestige territory, Aura’s offerings reflect a scale and calibre rarely seen in urban Sydney. And with move-in now immediate, this is no longer a promise of future luxury. It’s happening.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=30959]

Aqualand unveils penthouse collection at AURA By Aqualand in North Sydney

There’s no sign of the development wave that began several years ago slowing along Old Burleigh Road.

Around 10 new apartment developments are either underway or preparing to launch along the 800-metre strip stretching from the southern edge of Surfers Paradise towards the heart of Broadbeach, collectively adding just shy of 1,000 new apartments to the beachfront corridor.

The latest plans propose a further 30 apartments to replace an original six-unit walk-up on a 658 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/20a-old-burleigh-road-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">20A Old Burleigh Road</a>. The 14-storey building has been designed by Ferro Chow Architecture, which recently joined the Elevation Architecture Group.

The developer behind the project is Geoffrey Booth, whose Future Liv In has focused on delivering rental accommodation across regional Australia.

<img alt="Old Burleigh Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="99d393e7-d404-43bc-80cb-6255c39b83d6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2012.28.44%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ZFT8F3mOny4M4ut.kFF3woC9WH9oR5gT" />

The Old Burleigh Road development will comprise 18 two-bedroom apartments, 10 three-bedroom apartments, and a single four-bedroom residence occupying the entirety of level 12. Above, the building will be crowned by a two-storey penthouse with its own private lift, several multi-purpose rooms, and two rooftop terraces — one featuring a puppy lawn and spa, the other offering a private swimming pool, sunset deck, and built-in barbecue.

Resident amenities will be located on the second level and include a pool with adjoining spa, cabana, and pool deck, along with an indoor residents’ lounge featuring a bar and an alfresco barbecue kitchen.

In the architectural statement submitted by Elevation Architecture, the project is referred to as “UMI”, which the firm says has been “inspired by the majestic hinterlands and shaped by the coastal climate”.

“It is an exemplar of how community living can still feel at one with nature, breathable, and deeply connected in place,” the architects noted.

They added that the site benefits from established building separation to adjoining towers, helping to maintain privacy, sunlight, and residential amenity, while still offering direct beach access within an urban setting.

“Drawing inspiration from the Gold Coast hinterlands and the region’s natural landscape, the podium and tower detail highlights the contrasting elements of treetop green and cliff-face peach. The vibrant texture and materiality shaped by time has a richness in depth and character.”

<img alt="Old Burleigh Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b3d6c923-a0ab-4d74-86da-177313447e8e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2012.28.38%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=i2fygmoVQM6hWpbATTAW_yTitoMTrnI1" />

Old Burleigh Road has become a hotspot for developers, with the three-tower Jewel development kickstarting a wave of projects up and down the strip when it was completed in 2020.

Currently under construction and approaching completion is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/faro-broadbeach-123-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">FARO Broadbeach</a> by 5Point and Bottega, 21 large-scale half- and full-floor apartments. 5Point is also behind the recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lumara-108-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">Lumara</a>, another 37 apartments to add to the pipeline.

Luxury builder GRAYA is progressing construction on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/enclave-by-graya-118-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">Enclave</a>, its first Gold Coast tower, while Polycell remains the most active developer on the street. They are preparing to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sandpiper-broadbeach-155-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">Sandpiper</a>, a 50-storey redevelopment of the former Sandpiper Holiday Resort that will deliver around 200 apartments alongside extensive resident amenity. The group also has another 130-apartment project approved nearby, as does <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/dvb-approved-for-second-broadbeach-apartment-development">Dean Gallagher’s DVB Projects</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Old Burleigh Road apartment development wave continues

Sunshine Coast developer Habitat Development Group continues to position itself as one of the region’s largest new apartment developers.

Its latest project is in Maroochydore, where it is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-millwell-2-millwell-road-east-maroochydore-qld-4558">The Millwell</a>. Adjacent to the new 53-hectare Maroochydore City Centre project, Habitat is planning a further 180 apartments on a 3,468 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/132-136-aerodrome-road-maroochydore-qld-4558">132–136 Aerodrome Road</a>. The site was purchased with approval for a smaller 13-storey, 103-unit building.

Habitat will demolish the two existing retail centres, currently home to the Salvation Army Family Store and Neighbours Aid, and replace them with an 18-storey building featuring the significant rooftop amenities that have become a hallmark of Habitat developments in recent years. The rooftop will include both indoor and outdoor spaces, anchored by an infinity swimming pool.

<img alt="Maroochydore" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad434d07-666b-4614-b33e-530ad6a2d261" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2010.12.33%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7pyLsPWKQuwv0us3_v.9DmbzEc2VZe9Z" />

There will be a mix of one- to four-bedroom apartments.

The Development Assessment Report, submitted to the Sunshine Coast Council, says the proposal&nbsp;is not speculative, but a response to both zoning intent and demonstrated housing need.

“The proposed development represents an appropriate and logical intensification of the site, consistent with the planning framework and the intended urban outcomes for the locality.”

Across the Sunshine Coast, councils are increasingly scrutinising not just height or yield, but whether new projects genuinely align with the long-term structure plans underpinning growth corridors. The&nbsp;ASTP Planning Report&nbsp;reinforces the approach, noting that the project has been shaped around site responsiveness rather than generic typology.

“The development has been designed to respond to the physical constraints and opportunities of the site, while delivering a high-quality residential outcome that integrates with the existing and emerging urban context.”

<img alt="Habitat" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a03fc54-4ca5-4868-88d0-eeced70604e2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2010.12.28%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=1pkK3lJrrZjkghTLBReM2zatcas4Nc4B" />

In mid-2025, Habitat, a developer that also builds its own projects, commenced construction on The Millwell, located just over one kilometre from the new proposal. The Millwell will comprise more than 200 apartments across two eight-storey buildings.

Habitat also has two projects on Lake Kawana in Birtinya: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/st-clair-birtinya-930-931-waterside-retreat-birtinya-qld-4575">St Clair</a>, a 200-unit, two-building development launched last year and set to welcome buyers this year; and Esperance, a 175-apartment project currently progressing through the development approval process.

First look: Habitat continues to bolster Sunshine Coast apartment pipeline with Maroochydore development plans

John Camilleri, the breeder of legendary racehorse Winx, is set to deliver a landmark two-tower beachfront development that would redefine the Surfers Paradise skyline.

Camilleri, who spent around $100 million acquiring development sites across the Gold Coast in 2025, has lodged plans for two new towers on the dress-circle stretch of Garfield Terrace, just two days before Christmas.

In assembling the site, Camilleri's Celestino Developments has effectively acquired the 71 Garfield project by Iris Capital and AALTO by Weiya Holdings, creating an unrivalled <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">4,000 sqm beachfront holding along Garfield Terrace</a>.

The proposal comprises two residential towers of 55 and 48 storeys, linked by a dramatic skybridge which will home “exclusive VIP and wellness amenities.”

In total, the development would deliver 275 two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments across the two towers, rising above a shared landscaped podium that incorporates a central green space and a beachfront swimming pool stretching more than 90 metres.

<img alt="DBI" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="097900f3-6bef-4919-b168-b08f2f762876" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.37.58%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=et0SpmcvaPPVrexI_zWi46BVFtZBxAzx" />

Architecture firm DBI, in documents submitted to Gold Coast City Council, said the project at 63–79 Garfield Terrace would “establish a new benchmark for beachfront residential living on the Gold Coast.”

"The project occupies a rare, uninterrupted oceanfront site and has been shaped by a design philosophy that merges architectural elegance with environmental responsiveness and a carefully curated lifestyle experience. Together, the 48-storey North Tower and 55-storey South Tower form a distinctive twin-tower composition whose dynamic silhouette will make a significant contribution to the Surfers Paradise skyline."

DBI said the architectural language draws inspiration from the fluidity and movement of the coastal landscape.

"Each tower is defined by organic, curving forms and continuous balcony ribbons that wrap the buildings, providing deep shading, enhancing environmental performance, and reinforcing the rhythmic, sculptural expression of the façade. These balcony forms also reduce the apparent mass of the towers while maintaining strong visual continuity from podium to summit. Sculpted reflective downturns run along the western spine of both towers, shifting and lifting as they extend upwards to frame service zones and open eastward to maximise ocean views."

<img alt="Garfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a2a00ce3-a0e9-45d6-b4b5-b7baed592ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.40%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=DnruWV1dhLrtXOeElwekyd7vPq2gw55t" />

The project’s most striking feature is the skybridge at level 45, which will house executive lounges, formal dining spaces, wellness facilities and panoramic ocean-facing views.

“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI added.

The podium will host an extensive suite of recreational amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a large open green lawn, and the signature 90-metre pool stretching along the beachfront. The pool is divided into lap, lounge and children’s zones.

The southern end of the podium will accommodate additional wellness facilities, including a gymnasium, plunge pools, treatment rooms and a dedicated yoga lawn.

<img alt="Garfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ee1b4f25-231f-4804-83b1-a573a1481962" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.55.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zObzIA3D5w7EwqPsHjr2pKrA4vbB28zL" />

There will be 127 apartments in the North Tower and 148 in the South Tower, including multiple penthouses, while the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages will be activated by a series of food and beverage tenancies.

Camilleri emerged as the most active site acquirer on the Gold Coast in 2025. He spent just over $30 million acquiring Pacific Point, a 10-level Surfers Paradise apartment block and an adjoining three-level duplex, from fellow racing identity and Aquis billionaire Tony Fung. Plans are now underway for a 93-apartment, 40-storey tower on the 1,682 sqm site.

He also paid $53.65 million for the 1,500 sqm Garfield Terrace site previously marketed as AALTO by Weiya Holdings, before acquiring the adjoining parcel from hotel billionaire Sam Arnaout’s Iris Capital, the developer behind V&amp;A Broadbeach.

First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge

ASPECT Studios

Melbourne residential tower K1,&nbsp;boasts&nbsp;360&deg; views with homes offering spacious garden balconies.&nbsp;DE Atelier Architects have designed three-bedroom sky homes with graceful, organic shapes, natural warm materials and luxurious interiors.&nbsp;

<a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_fill,w_962,h_420,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/k1-residences-1-union-street-melbourne-cd459faa3d88cc4d5e564b6bfbdbb45a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_fill,w_962,h_420,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/k1-residences-1-union-street-melbourne-cd459faa3d88cc4d5e564b6bfbdbb45a.jpg" style="width: 1924px; height: 840px;" /></a>

Bergman &amp; Co. creates interiors with exceptional clarity of vision to instil warmth, sophistication, and timeless beauty through combining the use of moody tones, sunlight and French oak. These residences are distinguished by exquisite features such as a desk suspended from the ceiling for the workspace, as well as finer details such as rose gold tapware, and curved garden terraces.

The kitchen includes VZug kitchen appliances that were manufactured in Switzerland, Liebherr integrated fridges and Vintec 40 bottle wine fridges.

Bathrooms include Rogerseller fittings that have been carefully selected to represent a timeless contemporary design with quality materials, simplicity and craftsmanship.&nbsp;Bathrooms also include heated shower rails and tile insert shower grate.

These luxurious residences come in a light and dark theme, both of which include neutral palettes.&nbsp;

<a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_fill,w_630,h_420,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/k1-residences-1-union-street-melbourne-02a22cd197380352f9b9de4436b5a747.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_fill,w_630,h_420,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/k1-residences-1-union-street-melbourne-02a22cd197380352f9b9de4436b5a747.jpg" style="width: 1260px; height: 840px;" /></a>

THE MATERIALS USED:

<ul>
	<li>Black Odyssey Marble benchtop&nbsp;and splashback</li>
	<li>Bottega and Angora Oak</li>
	<li>Smokey grey mirror wall</li>
	<li>Rose Copper</li>
	<li>Matte finish wall tiles</li>
</ul>

The gardens of K1 Residences are a defining aspect of the stunning building&#39;s design, designed by award-winning landscape architecture firm, Aspect Studios. Layers of greenery add a lovely tracery of dappled light to the exterior&#39;s arcs and crescents. This lush greenery reflects Melbourne&#39;s best-loved suburbs&#39; gardens and tree-lined streets.

<a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_fill,w_697,h_420,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/k1-residences-1-union-street-melbourne-e7a591129cbf2a2a2082596a6d848a3a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_fill,w_697,h_420,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/k1-residences-1-union-street-melbourne-e7a591129cbf2a2a2082596a6d848a3a.jpg" style="width: 1394px; height: 840px;" /></a>

The verdant terrace features timber and natural greenery for you to enjoy the space for relaxation and socialisation. K1 Residences&#39; ground floor transitions seamlessly from a clean contemporary interior to a vast and beautifully planted garden. Residents can now enjoy indoor and outdoor living because of its low maintenance and stunning architecture.&nbsp;

<a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_fill,w_513,h_420,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/k1-residences-1-union-street-melbourne-a368fe75e34312bc5adb8c91f6489d57.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_fill,w_513,h_420,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/k1-residences-1-union-street-melbourne-a368fe75e34312bc5adb8c91f6489d57.jpg" style="width: 1026px; height: 840px;" /></a>

Located with the perfect balance of serenity and vibrancy, K1&rsquo;s immediate neighbourhood is tranquil and picturesque. The greatest of Melbourne&#39;s restaurants, entertainment opportunities, markets, shopping, and places to relax are all within walking distance. K1 provides easy access to everything Greater Melbourne has to offer. Major highways and freeways are only a few minutes away, and public transportation is easily accessible.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2772 project_image_fid=31757]

For more enquires on K1 Residences, please contact our agents via Urban.&nbsp;

briana

The design details: Materials used to craft the recently completed K1 Residences

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Today Apartments.com.au speaks to Erwin Taal, Senior Associate at ASPECT Studios about the office's work on Golden Age Group's Sky Garden development above The Glen Shopping Centre. Taal says the project provided a very challenging brief for a broad scale landscape that is not evident at first glance.

<blockquote>
A creative solution was required to provide the immersive landscape experience desired within the structural constraints of building over a retail precinct. 

This was achieved through the terracing of the landscape through using several lightweight shallow landscape trays creates an implied depth to the landscape that would otherwise not be possible. 

This depth is enhanced through the careful arrangement of plant heights to enhance this effect.
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/water_feature.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A water feature draws on the Chinese philosophy of the five essential elements. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="290" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/water_feature.jpg?itok=FiytHw7N" title="A water feature draws on the Chinese philosophy of the five essential elements. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A water feature draws on the Chinese philosophy of the five essential elements. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure>Apartments.com.au: What was the brief from Golden Age for the landscaped spaces within Sky Garden? 

Erwin Taal: Golden Age and Time &amp; Place had a vision and dedication to provide a generous, shared residential green podium that would provide a range of outdoor spaces, appropriate for the varying needs of residents, including:

<ul>
<li>implementing a range of age-appropriate spaces,</li>
	<li>spaces with varying intimacy and openness,</li>
	<li>providing a mix of shelter and exposure,</li>
	<li>passive enjoyment through to active recreation.</li>
</ul>
The brief also called for the establishment of a green landscape with a range of planting approaches that would create an engaging immersive environment for the residents, within the limitations of the building structure. This desire for immersion within the landscape was amplified through the refined “Sky Garden” approach that was requested by Golden Age.

U: Did the design concepts of the five elements inform a set of guidelines which assisted in the collaboration between ASPECT, Rothelowman and DKO Architecture? 

ET: ASPECT Studios are one of the forerunners with extensive experience and knowledge of green roof design. We worked closely with Rothelowman &amp; DKO to ensure a seamless interface between the landscape and architecture. From the outset, we proposed that the residential podium take on a sympathetic design approach towards the concept for The Square and Level 1 Retail to ensure a considered and consistent design concept between all facets. This was in keeping with the geometries pursued within the Rothelowman design of the residential towers. Our concept successfully reflected the seamless integration between internal and external as well as the architectural exploration of the five elements to effectively create one consolidated residential offer.

U: What influence did the architecture of the three apartment buildings have on the design of the landscaped spaces? 

ET: We considered the broader site arrangement and massing of the three residential buildings and retail forms in our conception of the external landscape. The elongated forms that were rounded off (referenced to as the “Aalto curve”) were used as a driver to articulate the arrangement of a series of outdoor landscape rooms within the linear external landscape that wrapped along the base of the three towers. Further detail within these outdoor rooms was drawn from the manipulation of the residential tower forms including:

<ul>
<li>Faceting (as a way of rounding off corners using a controlled radius)</li>
	<li>Pinching (the drawing in of elements of the façade to provide variation in form and rhythm)</li>
	<li>The terrace (as a way of progressively stepping down building heights)</li>
</ul>
The linear landscaped forms were subsequently modified to become more curvilinear and less linear in nature, again as a reference to a more intimate Sky Garden approach, whilst retaining the overall arrangement of the outdoor rooms.

U: What were some of the challenges for designing multi-generational spaces without over cluttering the spaces or diluting the design intent? 

ET: The linear arrangement of outdoor rooms along the base of the towers and multiple points of entry surprisingly assisted in dispersing various programmed spaces along the podium. We divided the programming of the outdoor rooms into active through to passive use, and formal through to informal settings to determine the range of activities to occur within each room. Some of the outdoor rooms naturally lent themselves to a younger or older generational focus, but we felt it important that the interaction between all users was a desirable element, much as a typical urban environment. By off-setting the connective circulation from the activity of the spaces, a higher intensity of activation was therefore possible without disrupting access to other outdoor rooms within the arrangement.

<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/sky_garden_spaces.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A variety of formal, informal, active and passive spaces have been designed as part of the landscape strategy. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="340" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sky_garden_spaces.jpg?itok=yBVmYbsW" title="A variety of formal, informal, active and passive spaces have been designed as part of the landscape strategy. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A variety of formal, informal, active and passive spaces have been designed as part of the landscape strategy. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure>U: Sky Garden sits above the Glen Shopping Centre which is undergoing a staged redevelopment adding green spaces within the centre environment. How do you see the roles of shopping centres changing in the future and bringing more of nature in? 

ET: As our multi-residential and ‘mixed-use’ residential markets continue to grow, developers are taking further influence from our overseas counterparts in introducing shopping centre residential typologies which offers the fusion of lifestyle, residence and nature. As expressed within The Glen redevelopment encompasses:

<ul>
<li>Our inhabitation within an increasingly dense urban environment,</li>
	<li>the blurring of the traditional separation between home and lifestyle, and</li>
	<li>the desire for more meaningful connection to nature within our lifestyled environments.</li>
</ul>
Shopping Centres are rapidly evolving to capture, and even drive, this fusion through diversifying their offer beyond that of traditional retail. Incorporating nature through the creation of extensive internal and external landscaped environments provides breathing spaces within these intensified environments and actively encourages prolonged occupation. Whilst not a re-creation of real nature, the use of green roofs and podiums are a controlled representation of it which has been tailored to suit our changing social and urban fabric and can offer many of the environmental, microclimatic and biological benefits.
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Laurence Dragomir

ASPECT Studios' Erwin Taal discusses Sky Garden's landscape design

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Earlier this week the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian unveiled the final design for the new Sydney Fish Market which will become the catalyst for the revitalisation of Blackwattle Bay and provide greater public access to Sydney Harbour and its foreshore. 

More than just the largest fish market in the southern hemisphere, the new development aims to provide significant public and cultural amenity and a new icon for Sydney, while also establishing a public connection to the water’s edge at Blackwattle Bay. The Premier said the purpose-built retail and wholesale facility will be positioned over the water as "the centrepiece of a new harbour-side precinct, taking advantage of panoramic views to the Anzac Bridge."

<ul></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/3xn_sydneyfishmarket_waterfront_01_aerial_1800.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The new Sydney Fish Market has been designed to provide a focal point on the harbour's edge. Image: 3XN"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/3xn_sydneyfishmarket_waterfront_01_aerial_1800.jpg?itok=gkvN3kOl" title="The new Sydney Fish Market has been designed to provide a focal point on the harbour's edge. Image: 3XN" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The new Sydney Fish Market has been designed to provide a focal point on the harbour's edge. Image: 3XN</figcaption></figure>As part of the development, the Sydney Fish Market will relocate from its current location to a 3.6-hectare site on an adjacent wharf in Blackwattle Bay in Sydney Harbour, which is expected to rival the world’s best markets.

Plans will also include:

<ul>
<li>new public wharves </li>
	<li>a waterfront promenade</li>
	<li>a new ferry stop</li>
	<li>new civic and community spaces,</li>
	<li>a variety of restaurants, cafes, bars, and;</li>
	<li>food stalls showcasing Australian produce to the world.</li>
</ul>
The building, which was designed by a team led by Danish architecture firm 3XN in collaboration with local architect BVN, GXN Innovation, and landscape architect ASPECT Studios, will feature a unique timber and aluminium roof inspired by fish scales floating over the building like a canopy. It will house  an expanded seafood cooking school, food kiosks, restaurants, bars and outdoor spaces for social events.

The winning team was selected through an international process, with a mandate to integrate significant sustainable and public amenity elements. The Design team approached this project with the specific goal of creating more than just a fish market; it is first and foremost a major cultural facility that enhances the existing market operations while creating generous public amenity to unlock the waterfront for Sydneysiders and visitors alike.

The design capitalises on the opportunity to link the bay with the significant green space of Wentworth Park to the south, and the entire Sydney community. UrbanGrowth NSW Development Corporation, the NSW Government agency responsible for bringing together economic, social and environmental benefits to create extraordinary places, has been working with the team since 2017 on meeting the brief to produce an iconic fish market design for Sydney.

The design team says it was inspired by the traditional market typology, which appears throughout history and across cultures. Market are considered the social hubs of cities around the world and generally comprise a series of stalls that are open to the air but covered by a canopy and located in a large plaza. Preserving the authentic market feel was a key objective and driver of the design in addition to maintaining a human scale with a true market atmosphere. 

<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/3xn_sydney-fish-market_promenade-view_as-2000.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The canopy structure which will float over the market. Image: 3XN"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/3xn_sydney-fish-market_promenade-view_as-2000.jpg?itok=9DXoSr8h" title="The canopy structure which will float over the market. Image: 3XN" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The canopy structure which will float over the market. Image: 3XN</figcaption></figure>Another key driver behind the design was resolving the conflicting requirements around public accessibility within an operating harbour and wholesale market. According to the design team, it was critical that the visual connection between the public areas and wholesale or wharf operations were maintained. The new design locates all the functions traditionally associated with fish markets – the landing and loading of fish, the wholesale market, and the auction hall on the ground floor. An amphitheatre and the foreshore promenade wrap over the operational wharf, providing visual connections for visitors to observe the operational activity, while still keeping them safe and separate.

Plazas located at either end of the fish market encourage and facilitate informal gatherings, creating additional connections between the public and the water.  and house wetland flora to filter both stormwater and grey water from the building. These bio-filtration systems filter water and can provide a protective habitat for local birds while filtering the immediate site water run-off.

The amphitheatre staircases that lead from the plazas to the public market extend and expand the surrounding landscape while establishing a foreshore promenade around Blackwattle Bay. This creates a new public route along the water’s edge with the stairs also providing public spaces where people can enjoy their food and the view over the bay to the Anzac Bridge.

The building’s unique timber and aluminium canopy forms an integral part of the design responding to the spatial demands of the program below in addition to environmental factors. The design will allow the canopy to be permeable as possible, minimising the need for conditioned air, while also deflecting the direct sun. Other sustainable design features include the ability to harvest rainwater for reuse, protects the retail spaces from the sun, and filters daylight for operations below. The unique form uses prevailing winds to extract hot air and protects the sellers from southerly winds.

Sydney Fish Market will continue to operate uninterrupted during construction of the new facility, which is expected to begin mid 2019, subject to all necessary approvals. The new fish market is expected to open in 2023

<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/3xn_sydneyfishmarket_eveningstar2_2000.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The new Sydney Fish Market will form a focal point for Blackwattle Bay. Image: 3XN"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="511" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/3xn_sydneyfishmarket_eveningstar2_2000.jpg?itok=OJuOyBsk" title="The new Sydney Fish Market will form a focal point for Blackwattle Bay. Image: 3XN" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The new Sydney Fish Market will form a focal point for Blackwattle Bay. Image: 3XN</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
Environmental and social sustainability are essential and inseparable parts of the design. The roof, landscaped forms, open atmosphere, plantings and materials that characterise the experience of the design are examples of this union. Throughout the course of the new Market’s concept and design development; public amenity and environmental sustainability have formed the core of our decision-making processes.

- Sydney Fish Market Design Team
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
3XN’s response places people at the centre, with an emphasis on place-making to foster a strong sense of community. The design excels in its ability to create value for all stakeholders; the fisherman, and restaurateurs as well as neighbours and tourists.

- Kim Herforth Nielsen, Founder and Creative Director at 3XN Architects
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
Danish designers delivered the iconic Sydney Opera House and we have great expectations that the Danes will deliver again with an iconic new Sydney Fish Market. We’re inspired by 3XN’s credentials and are excited to work with them to see our redevelopment vision come to life.

This will provide a new architectural focus for Blackwattle Bay and kick start the longawaited revitalisation of The Bays Growth Centre on Sydney Harbour,”

- Barry Mann, UrbanGrowth NSW CEO
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
The Sydney Fish Market currently attracts more visitors annually than the Great Barrier Reef and accounts for around 20 per cent of international visitors to the Sydney region. It is already the largest fish market in the southern hemisphere, trading approximately 14,500 tonnes of seafood per year.

This brand new fish market will draw locals and visitors to Blackwattle Bay to experience the excitement of an authentic market and auction floor, and taste some of our finest seafood in state-of-the-art surrounds. This will become a vibrant economic and community hub that supports NSW’s fresh seafood industry, our professional fishers and coastal fishing towns from Eden to Tweed Heads.

Relocating the fish market to the new site will return Blackwattle Bay’s foreshore to the public, improve pedestrian and cycling links and connect more of Pyrmont to the water as part of the long-awaited revitalisation of the area.

- Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of New South Wales
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
Sydney Fish Market is a beloved institution among Sydneysiders, Australians, and international visitors. Therefore, it was integral to select a design team that will modernize and improve the site while recognizing its long-standing heritage and retain the authentic experience that attracts customers and visitors.

- Bryan Skepper, Sydney Fish Market General Manager
</blockquote>

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Sydney Fish Market design to provide a new focal point on the harbour

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Construction has commenced on the University of Melbourne's Melbourne Connect - a pedestrian friendly innovation precinct located on the site of the former Royal Women’s Hospital, and connecting Carlton with the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus. This follows the demolition of the existing structures on the site and ground works.

Developed by the University of Melbourne in partnership with a consortium led by Lendlease, the precinct will provide facilities where university staff and students, researchers, local and international businesses, government and start-up companies are encouraged to connect, collaborate and execute breakthrough new ideas. Woods Bagot have designed the precinct in collaboration with Hayball and ASPECT Studios, with the aim of establishing a new benchmark in industry collaboration upon completion in late 2020.

The design features a 3,260 sqm ‘Superfloor’ on the mezzanine level which Woods Bagot says "embodies the value of collaboration in a very physical sense." The Superfloor connects the buildings that comprise Melbourne Connect, forming the interior 'heart' of the project and providing a contiguous, physical space for tenant partners and visitors to congregate and exchange ideas.

<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/130395_n30_printhicmyk.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The ensemble of buildings are arranged around a central 'Oculus.' Images: Woods Bagot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="330" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/130395_n30_printhicmyk.jpg?itok=_sJEGtBX" title="The ensemble of buildings are arranged around a central 'Oculus.' Images: Woods Bagot" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The ensemble of buildings are arranged around a central 'Oculus.' Images: Woods Bagot</figcaption></figure>Woods Bagot says it is committed to ensuring the project continues to be an exemplar of design and sustainability, highlighting this as a key driver since the consortium won the design competition in 2016. This intent is expressed in the mass timber structure of the smallest building in the precinct ensemble. According to Woods Bagot, the use of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) demonstrates the aspirational, future-focussed nature of the project. 

Designed to be bright and open, the building will play host to pitch nights, hackathons and masterclasses, workshops – providing opportunities to actively engage with government and industry. Childcare facilities will span the upper floors to the rooftop terrace. The lower levels of the CLT building form a centre dedicated to enriching the culture of entrepreneurship within the university and creating the future’s leading entrepreneurs.

The precinct will provide public spaces, retail, cafes, accommodation for more than 500 students and visiting academics, a childcare centre, a co-working and commercial office space, a fabrication laboratory and Science Gallery Melbourne, which will deliver cutting-edge exhibitions, events and experiences. The public realm is enhanced by a range of fixed and loose outdoor furniture elements, power outlets and WI-FI to support working and studying outdoors.

The ensemble of buildings are arranged around a central and publicly-accessible open space known as the 'Oculus', which has been designed by ASPECT Studio in conjunction with Hayball and Woods Bagot. The Oculus features vertical green “living louvres” that connect with the upper floors of the buildings as part of the visually identifiable ESD features within the precinct. 

The Oculus is supported by three laneways and a plaza which connect pedestrians and cyclists through to Swanston, Grattan and Cardigan streets. Public urban furniture is dispersed throughput these public spaces and form part of the precinct-wide way finding strategy.

ASPECT Studio's design approach for the public realm sought the adaptive reuse of materials from the former Women’s Hospital. This strategy was adopted to provide a visual reference to the history of the site in an innovative and environmentally sustainable manner.

The consortium delivering Melbourne Connect comprises Lendlease as developer, builder, co-investor and investment manager of the commercial space; GIC the major co-investor in the commercial space; Spotless as the facilities manager; and Urbanest as investor and manager of the student accommodation. The Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre and Science Gallery Melbourne will each be located at Melbourne Connect, with the Melbourne School of Engineering co-located in the precinct.

<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/130395_n32_printhicmyk.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Connect will transform the streetscape when completed in 2020. Images: Woods Bagot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="332" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/130395_n32_printhicmyk.jpg?itok=ik4MKMZs" title="Melbourne Connect will transform the streetscape when completed in 2020. Images: Woods Bagot" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Connect will transform the streetscape when completed in 2020. Images: Woods Bagot</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
CLT stands out for its sustainability, versatility, strength and aesthetic. Long championed by Lendlease, its benefits translate to safer working environments, improved quality and faster construction time on site due to prefabrication. It’s inspiring to use a technologically innovative product in an equally ground-breaking project.

Connected to the other buildings via a bridge link in the Superfloor, the building has been designed to maximise wellbeing by welcoming as much sunlight inside as possible. As inviting and innovative as the young entrepreneurs that will occupy it, it looks outward over the green space and creates a visually permeable environment that encourages spontaneous networking and alliance

- Hazel Porter, Principal and Project Architect, Woods Bagot
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
An extension of the workplace for meeting, workshopping, socialising, exhibiting and hosting events, the Superfloor sits at the heart of Melbourne Connect. Taking cues from the central Oculus space below, the interior spaces create an interior ‘landscape’ that allows for serendipitous peer-to-peer meetings and promotes innovation and knowledge exchange for the whole precinct.

The Superfloor ensures that visitors can easily and naturally move between a variety of enclosed and open spaces in a way that encourages connection with others via permeability, visual connection and prioritising human comfort. The flexible spaces have been designed in a way that considers how the area will be occupied at different times throughout the year –focussing on how people meet and like to work together.

- Sue Fenton, Senior Associate and Interior Design lead, Woods Bagot
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
The laneways create moments of curiosity, discovery, warmth, contemplation and occupation for those coming to Carlton Connect. We designed with the pedestrian at the forefront of our mind. Comprehensive site studies of wind and light ensure that the space is welcoming, social and inviting.

Carlton Connect is a great example of cutting edge collaborative design where our advice and input as landscape architects is integral to the precinct as a whole. We’re informing a lot of the decisions. Our design for the public realm is responsible to every person using it; not just one user group.

- Terrence Stapleton, landscape architect, ASPECT Studios
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
We’re thrilled to be involved in this flagship initiative, to develop Australia’s leading innovation precinct to facilitate the connection between researchers, industry, government bodies and community.

What’s exciting about this precinct is that it’s not just offering a post-graduate living quarter – it’s a completely integrated, mixed-use offering that combines spaces for industry, research and development, academics, public showcase and community facilities like childcare and retail all in one.

Students are part of a world-class academic precinct, a hub where everything is happening on their doorstep. It’s innovation immersion at another level.

Hayball is leading the design for the student accommodation offering at the precinct, working in partnership with Urbanest as the developer and operator of this space and as part of the Lendlease-led consortium to develop the precinct. One of the biggest design considerations was ensuring the 527 beds and communal spaces cater to the post-graduate market and visiting academics, while bringing the enthused and active academic culture into the common spaces.

Because of this, it was important to create spacious rooms that go above and beyond, homes that are equipped with amenities and offer plenty of breathing space. Likewise, with the communal spaces, there was a strong emphasis on creating a mix of meaningful spaces that are open, welcoming and inclusive to encourage students to mix with others, as well as have opportunity for quiet reflection.

- Thomas Gilbert , Principal at Hayball 
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
Melbourne Connect is a project that will make a significant contribution to the city’s reputation as an international research and innovation leader. The precinct will make a real difference, delivering innovative solutions to major societal challenges.

- Duncan Maskell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne  
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
Melbourne Connect brings together university led research, industry and elite thinking in a purpose-built innovation precinct, and demonstrates how the combined expertise of industry and academia can be harnessed to achieve great outcomes.

- John Burton, Managing Director Urban Regeneration, Lendlease
</blockquote>

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C_B0TuoYkwc" width="560"></iframe>
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Construction commences on University of Melbourne's Melbourne Connect

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Toga Group is pushing through with the mass redevelopment of Redfern's Surry Hills Shopping Village.

After a competitive design process which saw a consortium headed by architecture firm SJB lead all comers, a detailed development application is in motion for the sprawling Redferm site on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist streets.

The heritage listed former Bank of NSW building at 397-399 Cleveland Street is to be retained and surrounded by 8 new buildings. In line with the site's existing use, a mass of retail is included, as is commercial office space, basement parking for 345 vehicles and 157 apartments.

A key plank of the design's success is the inclusion of extensive public domain works.

<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/image77_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Terrace houses fronting Marriott Street. Image: SJB"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="310" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image77_3.jpg?itok=a-1cn95I" title="Terrace houses fronting Marriott Street. Image: SJB" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Terrace houses fronting Marriott Street. Image: SJB</figcaption></figure><h2>A slow road</h2>

Toga Group first surfaced as the development partner of choice for the prominent 12,244.1 square metre development site during 2015, when Coles elected to maintain its presence onsite. When the site was listed for sale during 2014, the Wesfarmers-owned Coles exercised first rights over the shopping centre with an eye toward redevelopment.

The development process has now progressed to the point where a detailed development application landed with City of Sydney late last month. Initially touted as capable of handling 300 apartments, the expected 157 apartments are well short of initial intentions.

Coles and Toga Group's joint application has a construction value of $149 million.

Coles is making a habit of pursuing development opportunities on the eastern seaboard. The Surry Hills complex joins additional current Coles developments in <a href="/developments/lindfield-nsw-2070">Lindfield</a> in Sydney and <a href="/new-apartments/the-mark-441-glen-huntly-road-elsternwick">Elsternwick</a> plus <a href="/buildings/261-271-bridge-road-richmond">Richmond</a> in Melbourne.0

<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/image81a.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Site overview. Image: SJB"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="332" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image81a.jpg?itok=2csuqkcG" title="Site overview. Image: SJB" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Site overview. Image: SJB</figcaption></figure><h2>Design prowess</h2>

Toga Group's Redfern site was subject to a competitive design process, with a trio of other design consortiums losing out to a team including SJB, Architect Prineas and Aspect Studios.

Design teams trumped for the Redfern site include Bates Smart/Chenchow Little/Luchetti Krelle, DKO Architecture/Archer Office/Hames Sharley/Tribe/Aspect Studio and the Woods Bagot/Alexander &amp; Co/Christopher Owen Landscape Design trio.

The Competitive Design Alternatives Report made not of the winning team's positive design outcomes.

<blockquote>
The Selection Panel also noted that the scheme included delightfully whimsical elements that provided a distinctive identity and character.

There was a genuine understanding of the character of the area and a lot of thought had gone into the design of the apartments, even down to the uniquely shaped windows. The planning strategy that enabled apartments to be no more than one stair flight from communal garden areas was also commendable.

There was considerable thought to materiality and detailing, with more intricacy and articulation to the lower levels and street frontages, supporting upper levels with less variety in material or colour. The design is also potentially suited to modularisation, although this would require further investigation.
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image7a9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Non successful participants in the design competition"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="237" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image7a9.jpg?itok=nRlINv55" title="Non successful participants in the design competition" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Non successful participants in the design competition</figcaption></figure>
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silvermb

Toga Group takes Redfern's Surry Hills Shopping Village down the development path

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With 2018 now in full swing, what better time to check in on the progress of one of the largest developments currently underway not only in Docklands, but in Melbourne - Melbourne Quarter.

Located within the Batmans Hill precinct of Docklands, Lendlease's $1.9b Melbourne Quarter project will deliver seven commercial and residential buildings that will assist in strengthening the connection between the Docklands and the CBD, while also completing Collins Street' the southern Docklands frontage.

In addition to 130,000 square metres of commercial office space, more than 50 percent of the Melbourne Quarter precinct will be dedicated to open space with a Skypark, central plaza and neighbourhood park designed by ASPECT | OCULUS.

<blockquote>
Lendlease has seen strong leasing activity push the national CBD vacancy rate to its lowest level in four years, and with a predicted shortage of prime grade contiguous office space in the near future, this has helped spur on pre-commitment activity.

(Melbourne Quarter) will cater for the continued growth and strong tenant demand for new office space in Melbourne as both national and global businesses target the new supply of buildings coming to market in the city’s CBD.

To complement Melbourne Quarter’s leading workplace design, we’re focusing on sustainability and access to amenities as key considerations for our office buildings, allowing tenants to work in nearby green parks, open spaces and co-working environments for greater employee health and wellbeing.

-  Mark Menhinnitt, Lendlease Managing Director Urban Regeneration and Infrastructure Development
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/mq_wh_lobbyentrance.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Square, the central space of MQ will sit just off Collins Street. Image : Lendlease"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="290" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mq_wh_lobbyentrance.jpg?itok=aXmIlNu6" title="Melbourne Square, the central space of MQ will sit just off Collins Street. Image : Lendlease" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Square, the central space of MQ will sit just off Collins Street. Image : Lendlease</figcaption></figure>Melbourne Quarter will include:

• 130,000 square metres of office space

• 1,690 apartments for 3,000 new inner city residents

• 4,000 square metres of retail space, including 40 shops, food and beverage retailers

• 1,000 square metres of community space

<h2>One Melbourne Quarter</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/p1170646.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="One Melbourne Quarter construction progress. Image : redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="286" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/p1170646.jpg?itok=zWH_qr4t" title="One Melbourne Quarter construction progress. Image : redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>One Melbourne Quarter construction progress. Image : redden</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
(This) year will see the completion of the precinct’s first office tower, One Melbourne Quarter, which will be home to our new Lendlease Victorian headquarters in September. We look forward to welcoming other leading businesses to the precinct in due course.

-  Mark Menhinnitt
</blockquote>

Currently progressing onsite at an impressive pace, One Melbourne Quarter, upon completion will contain 25,000 sqm across its 14 storeys.  Public realm frontages on all sides will be activated via retail and café tenancies in addition to a 200 bicycle end of trip facility.  Retail space in small tiered retail pavilions address and mediate the Collins Street hill.

The Skypark - conceived as a timber plank by landscape architects ASPECT | OCULUS - overhangs the Collins Street frontage for 90 metres and will provide significant public space.

Arup and Lendlease will relocate into the building later this year.

<h2>East Tower</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/p1170645.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Quarter East Tower construction site works are well underway. Image : redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="290" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/p1170645.jpg?itok=FLPbaboL" title="Melbourne Quarter East Tower construction site works are well underway. Image : redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Quarter East Tower site works are well underway. Image : redden</figcaption></figure>The first of three Fender Katsalidis designed residential buildings is officially underway at 628 Flinders Street. 

The 40-storey East Tower will feature hanging gardens climbing the full height of the building and take advantage of views of the city and bay. The building, along with the other residential buildings is aiming for a 5-Star Green Star rating and will also implement smart technologies such as a Melbourne Quarter app for residents. 

<blockquote>
The ability to connect our residents to the wider community is something we've been looking to introduce and they'll able to do that via an app. It'll be a project specific app that can be accessed via an iPad or iPhone and allow residents to book the extensive communal facilities which that are in the buildings which comprise 'Club MQ'.

With 'Club MQ' we're looking at setting a new benchmark with the level of amenity that we're providing, and this will be available in the first tower and then the two other towers will share from that.

- Ben Christie, Lendlease Head of Apartments
</blockquote>

<h2>Melbourne Quarter Tower</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/5bdccf00-e747-11e5-a571-7f3805729a0f_1_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Quarter Tower Image : Lendlease"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/5bdccf00-e747-11e5-a571-7f3805729a0f_1_1.jpg?itok=H6aT3QyL" title="Melbourne Quarter Tower Image : Lendlease" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Quarter Tower Image : Lendlease</figcaption></figure>Located at 693 Collins Street to the east of the under construction One Melbourne Quarter, Melbourne Quarter Tower will rise 28-storeys and provide 55,000 square metres of office accommodation when complete. The DCM-designed tower will also feature the second stage of the Skypark, completing the development's Collins Street frontage.

As part of the design the upper levels of the building will cantilever above Collins Street and will feature a rooftop area for tenants. 

Melbourne Quarter Tower was approved in March 2017 and is targeting a 6 Star Green Star rating and a 5 star NABERS energy rating. 

<h2>Two Melbourne Quarter</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/a367_mq_view_49_wurundjeri_way.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Two Melbourne Quarter received approval late in 2017. Image : Lendlease"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="681" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/a367_mq_view_49_wurundjeri_way.jpg?itok=ALyvpY37" title="Two Melbourne Quarter received approval late in 2017. Image : Lendlease" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Two Melbourne Quarter received approval late in 2017. Image : Lendlease</figcaption></figure>The  25-storey office tower at 697 Collins Street was granted planning approval just prior to the 2017 Christmas break. The Woods Bagot designed tower will feature 49,000 square metres of office space, accommodating about 4,500 new workers, plus 800 square metres of retail space on the ground floor.

As with the other commercial buildings at Melbourne Quarter, the tower will spill out on to a new public plaza off Collins Street, and will also feature a four-storey public staircase connecting to Aurora Lane.

2MQ seeks to build upon the sustainability credentials of Melbourne Quarter with a strong focus on water consumption, waste management and indoor environment quality. The building is targeting a 6 Star Green Star rating and a 5 star NABERS energy rating.

Site enabling and early works commenced on 2MQ on 15 January 2018.

Lendlease anticipates a 2022 completion date for the entire Melbourne Quarter development.
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The current state of play at Lendlease's Melbourne Quarter 

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Likened in some quarters as a miniature Federation Square, construction works began last week on a Prahran project that will rank as one of 2018's most progressive and important.

Kane Constructions has the job of transforming 30-40 Izett Street under a $60+ million urban renewal initiative prompted by Stonnington City Council. On the outer is the surface car park; it will be replaced by 10,000 square metres of multifunctional urban parkland.

Similar to what is intended for the Queen Victoria Market car park, all vehicles will be directed underground in order to create a more environmentally and pedestrian friendly outcome. 500 plus vehicles will be accommodated over the project's underground levels.

Council states that "When completed in 2019, Cato Square as it has been dubbed will create urgently needed open space for recreation, events, festivals and markets and a 20 per cent increase on the current car park for shoppers and retailers in the surrounding Chapel Street and Greville Street precincts. Cato Square will become an iconic cultural and recreational destination for residents, businesses, shoppers and visitors to Stonnington, with spaces for quiet contemplation or vibrant community events."

<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/image48_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Cato Square internal open space. Image: Lyons"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="368" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image48_9.jpg?itok=MeRP61po" title="Cato Square internal open space. Image: Lyons" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Cato Square internal open space. Image: Lyons</figcaption></figure>In a press release earlier this month City of Stonnington Mayor Cr Steve Stefanopoulos stated “We want to continue to enhance the vibrancy of our iconic Chapel Street precinct. Our vision is for this site to be recognised as a world-class public space that can be enjoyed by everyone.

We will achieve this by transforming the existing car park into an active, vibrant, safe and exciting public open space. Cato Square is a working name, and next year we’ll engage with our community about what to call the site once constructed, and also how to activate it with events and activities."

Lyons is the architectural force behind the project with ASPECT Studios accounting for Cato Square's landscape design.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image47_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Active spaces feature to all frontages. Image: Lyons"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="347" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image47_6.jpg?itok=SqqEmqzF" title="Active spaces feature to all frontages. Image: Lyons" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Active spaces feature to all frontages. Image: Lyons</figcaption></figure>Bound by Cato Street, Izett Street, Wattle Street and Chatham Street, the project is slated for a staged completion over 2019. By mid next year two levels of underground car parking will be available for public use with Cato Square set to open fully by October 2019.

Cato Square's major features include:

<ul>
<li>A central square with water feature</li>
	<li>Feature seating including terraced seating</li>
	<li>Themed green zones with different shading and landscaping, incorporating ESD features</li>
	<li>Free public WiFi</li>
	<li>Ability to hold events such as festivals, live performances and outdoor cinema</li>
	<li>Safe and improved pedestrian environment around the site</li>
	<li>Recognition of the site’s history</li>
	<li>Two retail/hospitality opportunity spaces</li>
	<li>Integrated public art</li>
</ul>
Invariably Stonnington City Council will hope that Cato Square will in time mirror the successful nature of Federation Square in attracting major crowds and significant public events.
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Construction commences on one of 2018's most significant projects

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The City of Melbourne earlier this week agreed to provide conditional support for MAB Corporation's NewQuay West Development Plan via its Future Melbourne (Planning) Committee. The revised development plan prepared by DKO Architecture and Aspect Studios was driven by the development of the Ron Barassi Senior Park which necessitated a revisiting of the precinct layout and urban structure.

The area identified as NewQuay West is located to the west of the recently completed Marina Tower and encompasses Ron Barassi Snr Park while being bordered by Docklands Drive and the Docklands FIlm Studios to the north, Bolte Bridge to the west and Victoria Harbour to the south.

<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/20170721_135715_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The view from Ron Barassi Snr Park towards Marina Tower will change with the development of NewQuay West."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="437" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20170721_135715_1.jpg?itok=c27W2i_w" title="The view from Ron Barassi Snr Park towards Marina Tower will change with the development of NewQuay West." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The view from Ron Barassi Snr Park towards Marina Tower will change with the development of NewQuay West.</figcaption></figure>The 2017 Development Plan has been reconfigured to address Ron Barassi Snr Park, with a series of design principles developed which provide clear direction to ensure a considered approach to the interface of built form to the public realm including the waterfront promenade. 

One of the biggest alterations to the Development Plan has been the layout and type of future built form within the precinct.  Initially proposed as a mix of low-rise linear buildings along the waterfront and high-rise to the rear along Docklands Drive, the new plan proposes five mid to high-rise apartment buildings atop podiums positioned either side of a proposed linear park and an extension of Docklands Drive.

The layout and location of public realm including public open space provision and the southern pedestrian promenade have also been amended with the linear park acting as an extension of the existing park delivered as part of The Merchant and Townhouse developments.

<blockquote>
The NewQuay West Development Plan will deliver an urban waterfront precinct that, while being an extension of existing development further to the east, will create a new and diverse character in the remaining parts of the NewQuay precinct.

The urban structure has been underpinned by the creation of public open space networks extending through the length of the precinct. The open space network is largely defined by the waterfront promenade and marinas and the Ron Barassi Senior Park and Linear Park corridor.

Subsequently, the built form typology, siting and design will be in a large part driven by ensuring an appropriate response to these public spaces and in particular the amenity of Ron Barassi Senior Park and Linear Park. 

- Urban Design Statement, NewQuay West Development Plan 2017
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/nov17_fmc2_agenda_item_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Indicative render of NewQuay West. Image: Development Plan 2017"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="247" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nov17_fmc2_agenda_item_6.jpg?itok=c-mfAigI" title="Indicative render of NewQuay West. Image: Development Plan 2017" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Indicative render of NewQuay West. Image: Development Plan 2017</figcaption></figure>The revised Development Plan establishes a series of parameters for tower and podium heights which are listed below.

<ul>
<li>Lot B 120m</li>
	<li>Lot C 120m</li>
	<li>Lot D 95m</li>
	<li>Lot G 75m</li>
	<li>Lot H 75m</li>
</ul>
Podium Heights:

<ul>
<li>Linear Park 20m (4-6 Levels)</li>
	<li>Ron Barassi Senior Park 25m (6-8 Levels)</li>
	<li>Promenade 23m (5-7 Levels)</li>
	<li>Docklands Drive 25m (6-8 Levels)</li>
</ul>
In addition to the information above, the Development Plan also suggests potential options for tower footprints and forms to encourage and facilitate diversity in built form outcomes rather than a generic approach. Similar to DKO's master plan for NewQuay Central, the NewQuay West Development Plan suggests different architects for each building to further provide a visual distinction between each building.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/tower_types_nqw.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Suggested tower form options within NewQuay West. Image: Development Plan 2017"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="504" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/tower_types_nqw.png?itok=uQL0tFd6" title="Suggested tower form options within NewQuay West. Image: Development Plan 2017" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Suggested tower form options within NewQuay West. Image: Development Plan 2017</figcaption></figure>Pending Ministerial approval MAB Corporation will likely turn its attention to NewQuay West following completion of Elm and Stone, and the Six Degrees-designed Lot 5 at 375-381 Docklands Drive.

This will essentially complete the NewQuay precinct, save for a wedge of land which has not been included within the NewQuay West Development Plan, but is the likely landing area for a future bridge connection to Victoria Harbour.

 
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MAB Corporation's NewQuay West a step closer

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The proposed new Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM) on Sturt Street is shaping to become much more than a cutting edge venue. While the project has been given coverage to date across a range of mediums, very little has been said regarding the project playing an integral part in the wider push to enliven the Arts Precinct and Southbank as a whole.

With plans for the $105 million complex now on display, it's an apt time to explore the projects intentions for Southbank at large.

Covering a site area of 5,100sqm, project lead John Wardle Architects have been joined by landscape architects ASPECT Studios in conceiving a site-specific response, with the aim of encouraging activity across the site and the wider area. Tying in with initiatives such as City of Melbourne's <a href="/news/transforming-southbank-boulevard-and-dodds-street">Transforming Southbank Boulevard</a> project, MCM will create a new active linear axis between Sturt Street and Dodds Street.

Dodds Street has been earmarked by the City Of Melbourne as a prime candidate for conversion to a pedestrian thoroughfare, providing Southbank with additional public space.

Located across from the West Block of the Melbourne University's adjoining campus, this new connector will see the reconfiguration of a number of existing onsite buildings in order to deliver plazas, lawns, more intimate parks and courtyards, set around a common pedestrian pathway. It's expected that when these outdoor spaces (including performance areas) are not utilised by university students, they will be made available to outside organisations.

<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/image38_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Exterior perspective. Image: Image: John Wardle"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="267" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image38_5.jpg?itok=lWdk-YlY" title="Exterior perspective. Image: Image: John Wardle" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Exterior perspective. Image: Image: John Wardle</figcaption></figure>According to the advertised documents, the MCM's design is in part based upon four key themes held within the wider ranging <a href="http://archive.creative.vic.gov.au/files/ea1c6732-f4f6-4c04-b8c0-a2d0012231f0/Melbourne_Arts_Precinct_Blueprint.pdf">Melbourne Arts Precinct Blueprint</a>. They are:

<ul>
<li>Bring life to the streets</li>
	<li>Create a ‘Melbourne’ experience</li>
	<li>More to see and do</li>
	<li>Make connections</li>
</ul>
Further, the following design principles have been instilled within the MCM design:

<ul>
<li>Green Spine: Green infrastructure such as semi-advanced tree planting and water sensitive urban design. Rain gardens will tie the open space together as a green spine</li>
	<li>Landscape Structure: The East and West ends of the open space will be designed as urban anchors. Materials and landscape form will be responsive to the design and/or strategic objectives of Sturt Street and Dodds Street</li>
	<li>Landscape Character: The open space will be comprised of three segments responding uniquely to their surrounding context such as street and buildings interface</li>
	<li>Intimate Spaces: Provide a series of small-scale spaces that provide comfortable locations for individual comfortable spaces for day to day use such as lunch, having coffee, studying and reading</li>
	<li>Performance Fields: The design will incorporate a level of spatial flexibility</li>
	<li>Pedestrian Movement: The open space will provide a strong connection between Sturt Street and Dodds Street for pedestrians. Secondary linkages into the adjacent VCA campus will provided. The plans for building 877 will provide a future food or beverage outlet and bicycle storage</li>
	<li>Frontages &amp; Sight Lines: The interfaces with both Sturt Street and Dodds Street will have considered design responds. Critically the interface with Dodds Street will be designed in coordination with the City of Melbourne</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/image36_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Landscape plan for the project. Image: John Wardle/ASPECT Studios"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="352" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image36_3.jpg?itok=VbkcEiXx" title="Landscape plan for the project. Image: John Wardle/ASPECT Studios" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Landscape plan for the project. Image: John Wardle/ASPECT Studios</figcaption></figure>To facilitate the above principles, demolition will be required across two sensitive and historic buildings.

Building 877 fronting Sturt Street will be partly demolished, while building 878 is set for full demolition. This demolition will allow for an expanded public realm and the activation of the site's edges with a cafe and end of trip facilities earmarked for the overhauled spaces. Both buildings are partially included under heritage overlay (HO389).

Heritage aside, the new MCM looks to have squared away both its tertiary and public intentions, while also adding itself to the growing list of remedies designed to bring Southbank's somewhat flailing public realm up to scratch.

Construction expected to commence during 2017.
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