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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=5829]

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

Audience Survey

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Australia’s housing stock traditionally has been dominated by single detached houses. In the 2006 census data it is recorded that detached dwellings constituted 74% of all Australian homes. With continued population growth and the sensible restriction of the urban growth boundary this dominance of the detached house will continue to be reduced by the increased construction of higher density options.

As Australia becomes increasingly urban it will be imperative that our new higher density building stock meets the needs and wants of the community. High quality design will be crucial to this process.

Architects Atelier Red+Black have been undertaking an innovative research project looking at the state of Australia's current building stock. The research project involves a data collection website <a href="http://ratemybuilding.com.au/">ratemybuilding.com.au</a> which commenced in October 2014.

<figure><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="294" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image15_1.jpg?itok=e_jxw2SK" title="ratemybuilding.com.au" width="580"></figure>It is a common argument put forward that due to apartment buildings being typically located near centres of urban activity, apartment dwellers do not want or require substantial living or kitchen spaces. This argument suggests that apartment residents would instead prefer to entertain guests in restaurants, pubs, cafes or public spaces.

This relatively straight forward assumption about how people want to live, is the first to be tested by the Rate My Building research project.

The hypothesis tested is as follows: is being able to entertain guests at home is as important to apartment dwellers as it is to those who live in detached houses?

<h2>Was there sufficient data?</h2>

There was sufficient data, despite the moderate sample size of 217 responses, for our independent mathematician to be highly confident that the two separate groups, house dwellers and apartment dwellers, were statistically no different in their response to this question.

We can point to the diversity of the responses as an indication of it being representative of the greater population. Responses were received from postcodes in the ACT, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. The most common postcodes were in Victoria. Within the apartment survey, there was generally a diverse spread of apartment types in the responses both in terms of number of bedrooms and in the estimated age of the building.

A limiting factor in this test however was the low number of respondents living in studio apartments.

<h2>Results</h2>

A Chi Square test was undertaken on the data which determined to a 95% confidence level that people living in houses and people living in apartments think the same way about entertaining guests in their home. Note this result may or may not apply to people living in studio apartments. More research would need to be undertaken to verify for this apartment type.

Figure 1. How important to your lifestyle is being able to entertain guests in your home?

<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/image25_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Results for lifestyle and entertaining questions"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="113" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image25_1.jpg?itok=mbeb1n1K" title="Results for lifestyle and entertaining questions" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Results for lifestyle and entertaining questions</figcaption></figure>For more information on our results, see our data sheet available for download at <a href="http://ratemybuilding.com.au/">ratemybuilding.com.au</a>.

This research shows that Australians want to entertain guests in their home, regardless of whether that home is a single bedroom apartment or four bedroom house. Architects, property developers and local councils need to ensure that the dwellings that they are creating are genuinely suitable for entertaining guests.

<h2>What does this mean for the design of apartment buildings in Australia?</h2>

This research shows that people living within Australian apartments consider entertaining guests in their home is no less important to them than those living in detached houses. This has important ramifications for developers who commission apartments, Architects who design them and Councils who approve them. Whilst the free market may apply significant pressure on the reduction of apartment sizes, Australians will not be satisfied with apartments where the kitchen and living spaces are so small that they cannot accommodate guests.

As Architects we would contend that best practice would allow for at least 6 people to occupy the living spaces within an apartment dwelling whilst also offering a communal entertaining area available for larger gatherings. This research also gives significant weight to the argument for minimum apartment standards to safeguard living standards in apartments.

Commenting on the debate around minimum design Standards Australian Institute of Architects Victorian President Peter Malatt strongly reiterated the position of the AIA that apartment standards, similar to SEPP 65 NSW are needed in all jurisdictions.

<blockquote>
It is not a question of whether we do or do not need these standards, the need is clear and urgent. The protection of the rights of the Australian public is our principle concern. All housing in Australia should provide for a dignified and sustainable way of life, and that includes apartment housing.
<cite>Peter Malatt</cite>
</blockquote>

The Office of the Victorian Government Architect (OVGA) has been working on the minimum apartment standards for some time. This process however has been hindered by the previous government's reduction in funding and refusal to appoint a Victorian Government Architect. This apparent apathy towards the OVGA may have been removed along with the Liberal Government last November, however we are still yet to see real changes by Labor. We need minimum standards urgently and for that we need a strong and fully funded OVGA.
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redblackarchitect

Do apartment dwellers want to entertain guests at home?

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How would you rate the quality of your apartment? What about the quality of your office? Architects Atelier Red + Black together with media partner Apartments.com.au want you to tell us!

A new website <a href="http://ratemybuilding.com.au/">RateMyBuilding.com.au</a> has been set up as a portal for the general public to participate in research relating to the quality of our houses, townhouses, apartments and offices. Whilst these buildings are being designed for everyone to use and hopefully love, a large question remains over what people like and dislike about their current buildings. Are they the right size? Are they functional? What functions do they perform well and how can they be improved?

The Rate My Building project has already been operating for a few days and whilst it is far too early to draw specific conclusions about what the research will find, the initial data received raises some interesting questions that will hopefully be answered in time.

Over half of the respondents who have so far rated their house have indicated that their home size is either too big or small for their needs. By contrast a greater percentage of the initial respondents living in apartments were satisfied with the size of their dwelling.

<figure><a href="http://ratemybuilding.com.au/" title="Visit the Rate My Building website."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="167" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/stats2.jpg?itok=lLRdS2wD" width="580"></a></figure>In offices the initial responses suggest that there may be an issue with the percentage of workers who are unsure about the availability of important Health and Safety equipment such as first aid kits and defibrillators. Further responses will be required to determine if this is statistically significant, however the example highlights the value of undertaking such research.

<blockquote>
Architects are always concerned with how occupants will use their buildings. This research will shed further light on what is working and what isn’t. This can then enable us to design better performing buildings that actively respond to the end user requirements.
<cite>Sonia Sarangi, Co-Director of Atelier Red + Black</cite>
</blockquote>

Once sufficient responses are collected and the data analysed, Atelier Red + Black hope to share the insights of the project with Apartments.com.au and architects across Australia in a bid to improve future buildings and make them more responsive to the needs of the end user.

So go check out the website today! The more survey responses received, the better the picture we will have about the quality of our built environment.

<a href="http://ratemybuilding.com.au/">RateMyBuilding.com.au</a>
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Atelier Red + Black announce RateMyBuilding.com.au

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It appears the 'wrong side of the Yarra, right side of Maribyrnong' encompassing Fitzroy, Carlton, Brunswick, North Melbourne and Northcote has been chosen as the region where most Apartments.com.au readers would like to live or own a property.  The centre of the city and inner South round out the most popular regions of Melbourne respectively.  

That's the conclusion drawn from our ongoing <a href="http://www.effectivemeasure.com/" target="_blank">Effective Measure</a> reader surveys that are now in their third month.

The large amount of investment - both in infrastructure and residential construction - currently being funneled into Footscray does not appear to sway Apartments.com.au readers as only 15% of Apartments.com.au's audience selected inner West.  The inner East including Richmond - the suburb which lead the inner-city gentrification through the early 90s - appears to be off the boil with only 33% of the Apartments.com.au audience selecting it in the multi-choice question.

We did attempt to correlate any kind of relationship with the number of projects we're tracking on our database with the survey responses however we came up empty.

The total projects we're tracking in <a href="/developments/fitzroy-vic-3065">Fitzroy</a>, <a href="/developments/carlton-vic-3053">Carlton</a>, <a href="/developments/collingwood-vic-3066">Collingwood</a>, <a href="/developments/northcote-vic-3070">Northcote</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/brunswick-vic-3056">Brunswick</a> and <a href="/developments/brunswick-east-vic-3057">East Brunswick</a> rounds out to 46.  The inner South representing <a href="/developments/south-yarra-vic-3141">South Yarra</a>, <a href="/developments/prahran-vic-3181">Prahran</a>, <a href="/developments/st-kilda-vic-3182">St Kilda</a>, <a href="/developments/south-melbourne-vic-3205">South Melbourne</a> and <a href="/developments/port-melbourne-vic-3207">Port Melbourne</a> totals 59.  

The centre of the city -<a href="/developments/melbourne-vic" target="_blank"> Melbourne</a> (postcodes 3000 and 3004), <a href="/new-apartments/docklands-vic-3008">Docklands</a> and <a href="/new-apartments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a> - totals a mammoth 77 projects.

The data provided by Effective Measure breaks down the responses in to gender categories - Apartments.com.au's total audience gender breakdown is 75% male, 25% female.

Amongst males, the inner North again came out on top whilst female readers nominated the centre of the City as their most desirable place to live or own a property. 

It mightn't come as any surprise that the outer suburbs barely registered on the survey and it appears Apartments.com.au might have a small tree-changer following with 13% of audience share allocated to a rural area / other regional city in Victora.

So what is it that makes the inner North a favourite of Apartments.com.au readers?  

Truth be known, there was no specific purpose in asking the question on the survey - we thought we'd just throw it out there but it has given the editors some ideas for the next round of surveys which will be rolled out soon.

Perhaps this is a good time to disclaim that both Apartments.com.au editors currently live on 'the wrong side of the Yarra, but right side of the Maribyrnong' - one is a native of the region, the other a 'migrant' from the outer South East.  

We're very much interested in having a discussion on why the inner North has come up trumps, so feel free to leave a comment in the box provided below.

 

The question asked:  Which of the following areas would you find most desirable to live, invest or own a property in (choose a maximum of 3)?

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>Region</td>
			<td>Audience Share</td>
			<td>Male</td>
			<td>Female</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner North (Fitzroy, Carlton, Brunswick, Northcote, North Melbourne)</td>
			<td>57%</td>
			<td>60%</td>
			<td>43%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Centre of the City (CBD, Southbank, Docklands)</td>
			<td>52%</td>
			<td>51%</td>
			<td>57%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner South (South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, South Yarra, St. Kilda, Fishermans Bend)</td>
			<td>45%</td>
			<td>46%</td>
			<td>43%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner East (Richmond, Hawthorn/Glenferrie)</td>
			<td>33%</td>
			<td>34%</td>
			<td>29%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner West (Footscray, Yarraville, Maribyrnong)</td>
			<td>15%</td>
			<td>15%</td>
			<td>14%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>A rural area / other regional city or town in Victoria</td>
			<td>13%</td>
			<td>11%</td>
			<td>21%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Middle ring of suburbs - North or West of the Yarra (Coburg, Thornbury, Moonee Ponds, Essendon, Heidelberg, Williamstown)</td>
			<td>11%</td>
			<td>12%</td>
			<td>8%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Middle ring of suburbs - South or East of the Yarra (Sandringham, Elsternwick, Moorabbin, Caulfield, Oakleigh, Camberwell, Doncaster)</td>
			<td>10%</td>
			<td>9%</td>
			<td>14%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>The urban heart of a regional city (Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong) </td>
			<td>7%</td>
			<td>6%</td>
			<td>7%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Outer ring of Suburbs - South or East of the Yarra</td>
			<td>4%</td>
			<td>4%</td>
			<td>1%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Outer ring of Suburbs - North or West of the Yarra</td>
			<td>1%</td>
			<td>1%</td>
			<td>1%</td>
		</tr>
</tbody></table>
To see the rest of our demographic data captured through the user surveys, you can view it on our recently published Media Kit located <a href="/contact">here</a>.

 
</body></html>

Alastair Taylor

The inner North: most favoured by Urban.com.au readers

<html><body>
For the past few weeks you may have noticed a small popup in the bottom right hand corner stating Apartments.com.au is looking to better understand its audience.  

<img alt="" class="image-article_half_width_351px" height="241" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_half_width_351px/public/pictures/article-images/share_feedback.jpg?itok=tq3_DJaN" title="Share Feedback button" width="351">

We have recently onboarded Melbourne-based global online measurement company <a href="http://www.effectivemeasure.com/" target="_blank">Effective Measure</a> to help us with this task.

The <a href="http://survey-b.effectivemeasure.net/launch/2WpsjiGs0nqv38ixax2wzukhyYrCqq3MEAflYoSrybVOjEHh5YDFZMLzcZn9HZO9/info" target="_blank">survey</a> has standard market research questions - age group, gender, profession, level of education and income brackets - however we have also added 3 custom questions to the survey more specific to Apartments.com.au.   And it's these Apartments.com.au questions along with the profession-based Market Research questions which will have an impact on the content we plan to publish in the new year - so we would greatly appreciate as many responses as possible.

All data is reported to us in aggregate form - meaning no personally identifiable information appears in the Effective Measure reports - and you have the choice of not answering specific questions.  Along with helping us plan our content for next year, the data collected during November and December will be used for a new media kit we will be producing in January 2014.

So on behalf of the Editors of Apartments.com.au we'd like to thank you for helping us out by you taking a few minutes out of your day to complete the survey.

You can directly access the survey via this <a href="http://survey-b.effectivemeasure.net/launch/2WpsjiGs0nqv38ixax2wzukhyYrCqq3MEAflYoSrybVOjEHh5YDFZMLzcZn9HZO9/info" target="_blank">link</a>. (Opens in New Window).

Our privacy policy can be viewed <a href="/content/privacy-policy">here</a>.  Effective Measure's privacy policy can be viewed <a href="http://www.effectivemeasure.com/privacy-policy" target="_blank">here</a>.

<a href="https://twitter.com/UrbanMelbourne" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrbanMelbourne" target="_blank">Like us on Facebook</a>

<a href="https://plus.google.com/b/114494234703455393105/+UrbanmelbourneInfo/" target="_blank">Follow us on Google+</a>

<a href="http://instagram.com/urbanmelbourneau" target="_blank">Follow us on Instagram</a>

<a href="http://urbanmelbourne.info/feed" target="_blank">Subscribe to our RSS feed</a> (News Articles only).

 

 
</body></html>

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