Fresh off completing Pienza Neutral Bay, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-element">Central Element</a> is preparing its next move in the coveted Lower North Shore suburb.&nbsp;

Central Element (CE) has lodged plans for an eight-storey apartment building at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/54-64-barry-street-neutral-bay-nsw-2089">54–64 Barry Street</a>, a 1,659 sqm site just south of Military Road and the Neutral Bay town centre.

The $52 million development will involve the demolition of four detached homes across four lots to deliver 45 apartments, including eight affordable housing units to be managed by Bridge Housing. The mix will comprise six one-bedroom apartments, 24 two-beds, and 15 three-beds. The apartments will sit above three basement levels with 62 car parking spaces and 50 bicycle spaces.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mhn-design-union">MHN Design Union</a> (MHNDU) has returned as architect following its work on Pienza, again shaping a mid-rise form with a clear street presence. The design features a lower four-storey podium element that responds to surrounding context, with upper levels recessed to reduce perceived bulk. Communal open space is proposed both at ground level and on the rooftop, the latter including an outdoor kitchen and swimming pool.

“The building has been designed with a lower four-storey element and with building materials commensurate with the character of the area,” Beam Planning noted in its submission to the North Sydney Council.

<img alt="Barry Street, Neutral Bay Nsw 2089" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a28ab3a-b8ba-4476-81cd-e4a8bb84f3a7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Barry-Street-Neutral-Bay-1327x742.png?VersionId=hlgvxszAWXIHgHtdR5HiwIKiSli2lLZV" />

Bridge Housing will manage the affordable units for a period of 15 years, as required under the Housing SEPP’s incentive provisions.

MHNDU’s design report further highlights the site's strategic location just 250 metres from key bus stops and 1.3 kilometres from North Sydney CBD, positioning it for transit-accessible housing supply. In their planning justification, the design team emphasised the site’s compatibility with emerging local character and scale.

Central Element has a solid apartment pipeline spread all over Sydney. They recently completed&nbsp;Pienza, 37 apartments just 500 metres away from the new project, and are currently building Ethos Chatswood, Ballamac House in Coogee, and Bianca on the harbour in Drummoyne.

They have plans for future projects in Mosman, Bondi Beach, Greenwich, Lavender Bay, along with a tower on the edge of Hyde Park.

Joel Robinson

First look: Central Element unveils second Neutral Bay apartment project

Real estate investment fund Wentworth Wentworth Equities is soon to launch a "Los Angeles-inspired" residential, leisure and lifestyle precinct in Brisbane’s Hamilton riverside ahead of the predicted Olympic-led population explosion for the city.

Drawing its style inspiration and name from Los Angeles’ renowned The Grove, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/hamilton-grove-19-hercules-street-hamilton-qld-4007">Hamilton Grove</a> will feature three residential towers and a vibrant street-level public precinct with curated luxury lifestyle, retail and dining offerings.

The first of the three towers, to launch in March 2026, will comprise 61 apartments, in the same building as a premium hotel.<img alt="Hamilton Grove" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d227fe61-8392-45b7-b386-9133f29a249f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-19%20at%209.10.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=HTCV35HZ4h84jQCmHwhsdIPN0ctO5d7Z" />

Wentworth Equities Executive Chairman Sameh Ibrahim said the precinct will be unique in its appeal to both residents and the wider community.

“Hamilton is already one of Brisbane’s most sought-after riverside suburbs and for good reason,” Ibrahim said.

“Where else in the world can you walk out of your front door and have everything you could possibly need at your fingertips? The city is just around the corner, the airport is only ten minutes away, you have the river and green spaces right there and premium retail and dining on your doorstep."

Wentworth Equities acquired the 7637 sqm Hercules St site in 2014, when Ibrahim said he had a "very clear vision" for the precinct, but ultimately it wasn't the right time to develop. He said Hamilton was still very much an "emerging precinct."

“Since then, Hamilton and surrounding suburbs like Ascot and Albion have significantly grown and matured into a precinct that aligns with our vision for Hamilton Grove. Brisbane as a whole has so much to offer in the way of lifestyle appeal, but as it stands it is so widespread – you go to Howard Smith Wharves for fine dining, you go to James Street for shopping, you go to West End to walk along the river – but what if you could go to Hamilton Grove for everything?

“Our vision is a precinct that brings together the best of Brisbane into one central space abundant with culture, class and culinary experience – a place that a lucky few will get to call home, but the rest of Brisbane still get to explore and experience at their leisure.”

<img alt="Hamilton Grove" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="46550990-8aeb-44d4-bb47-150cdca96529" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-19%20at%209.10.50%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=bmCkApPKY_Bj3z02Q8vI7Kyo_caJXOnv" />

Experienced civil engineering contractor Mainland Civil has been appointed to commence early works for the project, adding Hamilton Grove to their extensive portfolio where it will join other iconic Brisbane developments including Queens Wharf, 300 George Street, Infinity Tower and 1 William Street.

Construction on Tower One is scheduled to commence in early 2026 with completion expected in late 2028.

Fast Facts 
 
• Three residential towers and a vibrant street-level public precinct with curated luxury lifestyle, retail and dining offerings. 
• Construction on Tower One is expected to commence in Quarter One 2026, with completion expected in late 2028. 
• 7,637 square metre site at 19 Hercules St, Hamilton (part of Economic Development Queensland’s 304 hectare Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area). 
• 61 waterfront residences and skyhomes in the first tower, ranging from two to five bedrooms. 
• Hamiton Grove will be officially launched in March 2026.

"LA-inspired" Hamilton Grove to launch on Brisbane riverside

There’s a quiet patch of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hawthorn-vic-3122">Hawthorn</a>, between the bustle of Glenferrie Road and the curve of the Yarra, that rarely sees change, and even more rarely, new apartments. But that’s exactly where <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pomeroy-pacific-quattro-corp">PQD</a> is planting Kooyongkoot: a deliberate, 18-residence answer to the question of what downsizers actually want.

“This is something this pocket of Hawthorn has never seen before,” says Fil Gacesa, head of sales at PQD. “<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a> will deliver just 18 large-scale apartments in the heart of Hawthorn. It is the true definition of resort-style living.”

<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/59D7VxzltmM?si=1iCzRD7FRneKryfv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

That scale is central to the story. It’s what allows for two dedicated lift cores, short corridors, and a generous lightcourt that draws natural ventilation and sunlight into every residence. It’s also what makes room for the sort of amenity usually confined to high-density towers: a fully equipped wellness centre with infrared and traditional saunas, yoga and pilates studio, cold therapy shower, and treatment room. There’s a golf simulator, car and dog wash stations, and extensive storage too, not bolted on, but baked in from the start.

But more than the checklist, it’s the design intent that carries weight. “This project has been many years in the making,” says Mark Pomeroy, Director of PQD. “Not just in planning, but in listening, to what our buyers and the local community are looking for”.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355289]

That listening shows up in the materials, oak floors, natural stone, V-ZUG appliances, and in how space is handled. Penthouses feature private rooftop terraces with pools. Terraces and garden residences embrace outdoor connection. Inside, the layouts skew large and open, geared for hosting, not just housing.

Architecturally, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>’s approach is grounded. There’s no reaching for spectacle here. Instead, the building offers a sculptural calm, anchored by landscaping from Eckersley Garden Architecture.&nbsp;

“We wanted to create spaces that feel expansive, serene, and meaningfully connected to daily life,” said founding partner Chris Stribley elsewhere.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

That sentiment, calm, connection, echoes in the location itself. Kooyongkoot sits just a short stroll from Central Gardens, Fairview Park, and the Rivoli Cinema. Tram lines and schools are close, but the street is tucked, quiet, and leaf-lined.&nbsp;

“Residents of Kooyongkoot will be a short stroll from Fairview Park, Central Gardens, and the Glenferrie Road retail strip," Gacesa notes, "but you're also cocooned in this peaceful pocket behind extensive landscaping by Eckersley Garden Architecture.”

Kooyongkoot is set for completion in late 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Staff Writer

The project that said no to compromise: Inside Kooyongkoot, Hawthorn

When long-time Ivanhoe locals Graeme and Catherine, decided it was time to downsize, they weren’t necessarily in a rush.&nbsp;

Like many in their stage of life, they had started thinking about apartment living, but anticipated making the shift in two to three years.

That timeline changed when they visited <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe">Candela</a>, a new boutique development by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>. The project ticked all the boxes they were looking for: location, quality design, and long-term lifestyle benefits, which prompted them to bring their decision forward.

“It was the right place at the right time,” they said. “We knew immediately it ticked all the boxes, and we didn’t want to wait.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=358855]

Their decision to downsize was driven by a combination of practical needs and lifestyle considerations. Their existing home, while much loved, had become increasingly difficult to maintain. It spanned multiple levels, included extensive front and back gardens, and was starting to show the wear that comes with age.&nbsp;

They were looking for a more manageable lifestyle, one with less upkeep and more freedom. A brand-new apartment with no maintenance requirements and the ability to simply “lock up and leave” gave them peace of mind and a greater sense of control over their future.

Financially, the purchase made sense as well. The available stamp duty savings, strong price-to-value offering, and timing of the settlement suited their plans, making the transition smoother and more cost-effective. The apartment's design and inclusions further supported their choice.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357493]

The layout was both functional and flexible: three bedrooms, a butler’s pantry, a separate laundry, and a large open-plan living area. It gave them the freedom to host a family, accommodate guests, or set up a home office. The expansive balcony and elevated views added to the appeal, providing a sense of openness and connection to the outdoors.

“It just had a really good flow,” Catherine noted, something they found lacking in many other apartments they’d considered, particularly in the established market.

Candela’s boutique scale was another deciding factor. With a smaller number of residences and a top-floor penthouse position, the couple felt the development offered the privacy and space they were looking for, without feeling isolated.

“We liked that it wasn’t a huge development. It felt well-balanced, modern but still with a sense of community, not overwhelming,” they said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357508]

Equally important was the ability to remain in Ivanhoe, a suburb they know well and have deep roots in. After 46 years in the area, proximity to local parks, shops, and familiar faces mattered just as much as the apartment itself.

“We didn’t want to give up the community we’ve known for decades. Candela allowed us to upgrade our lifestyle while staying in the place we call home.”

With a Walk Score of 90, the village location supports a convenient, connected lifestyle. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/ivanhoe-vic-3079">Ivanhoe</a> Station is just a eight-minute walk away, and the neighbourhood offers access to parks, cafes, restaurants, and schools along Upper Heidelberg Road, all within easy reach.

Beyond the apartment, the couple also saw value in the broader vision for Candela, one that integrates residential living with public spaces and local amenities.&nbsp;

The development introduces 58 new apartments as well as a mix of commercial and social spaces that integrate contemporary architecture with the suburb’s existing character.&nbsp;

At ground level, residents will find a charming café and a lifestyle wellness centre, perfect for unwinding and rejuvenating. Meanwhile, the rooftop garden offers a stunning vantage point for residents to enjoy breathtaking sunsets, host gatherings, or enjoy barbecues with family and friends. It's not just a place to live; it's a vibrant community where every moment is an opportunity to connect and create lasting memories.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

Why Ivanhoe locals are choosing to downsize to Candela

Mark and Roy Makari are expanding their presence in Sydney’s South West with a second major proposal for Leppington, this time envisioning a 900-dwelling mixed-use development just 850 metres from their previously lodged tower trio on Fifth Avenue.

Project management and construction management firm Creative Vision filed the plans for the&nbsp;multi-building project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/230-rickard-road-leppington-nsw-2179">230 Rickard Road, Leppington</a>. The proposal seeks to establish a new focal point for the precinct through a high-density, transit-oriented development supported by diverse land uses.

According to the Scoping Report prepared for the Department of Planning, the scheme includes around 900 apartments across multiple towers, including 135 dwellings designated for affordable housing. A mix of market and subsidised apartments will be supported by ground-level activation through retail and office space, a childcare centre, and a hotel, forming a comprehensive urban precinct.

<img alt="Mixed Use Development 230 Rickard Rd Leppington" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="34797362-f3dc-4d84-8235-2657fc5f3bde" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Plan.png?VersionId=Uzckrz9tUpDQl5lX1_WMhjnv16bsr8wG" />

The Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/studiosc-0">Studio SC</a> notes that the project “intends to deliver a high-quality, high-density built form that supports the vision for the Leppington Town Centre, integrating mixed-use outcomes and public domain upgrades.” The development is expected to be delivered in stages, although a precise timeline is yet to be confirmed.

The project will be assessed through a future State Significant Development Application, with the Scoping Report indicating the team will seek design excellence via a competitive process or through an expert design review panel. Early massing diagrams suggest a series of mid- to high-rise buildings framing a central landscaped spine, with emphasis on pedestrian permeability and public space.

The planning documentation flags a strong sustainability agenda, stating that the development will “respond to the urban heat island effect, incorporate water sensitive urban design, and prioritise active transport”.

<img alt="Mixed Use Development 230 Rickard Rd Leppington" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="369d7b54-1279-4cde-88ec-dcb215594414" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Podium_1.png?VersionId=QArL7B2kkLt63vl5xvL0FNV_ardAlez4" />

The proposal follows in the footsteps of the Makaris’ nearby Fifth Avenue site, where they’ve submitted plans for three towers comprising nearly 500 apartments, with 10 per cent dedicated to affordable housing. That project features commercial podiums, a childcare centre, and a new public park that would occupy more than a third of the site.

Both developments are situated within walking distance of Leppington Train Station and fall under strategic precinct plans promoting higher density housing. The town centre is undergoing substantial transformation, driven by state government planning reforms aimed at fast-tracking housing delivery.

Together, the two projects represent a combined ambition of nearly 1,400 new homes across just under two kilometres of central Leppington.

First look: 900-home mixed-use precinct planned for Leppington

AZX Group

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Burgeoning developer AZX Group's Melbourne presence continues to evolve with their latest project before State planning officers subject to recent revisions. The last parcel of land to be offered for sale surrounding Etihad Stadium, 685 La Trobe Street's reworked April 2016 plans show heavily activated frontages with two residential towers set above.

After securing the vacant site for a <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/property/azx-buys-docklands-site-20150728-gimakw">reported $31.1 million</a>, AZX Group are pursuing 629 apartments for the 4,411sqm site with Peddle Thorp Architects entrusted with the design.

AZX Group are expecting that the revised residential towers will replace an approved office scheme for the site. Designed by Bates Smart for then owner Charter Hall, the facility was to have offered <a href="http://www.flagshipgroup.com.au/projects/another-development/">35,000sqm of office accommodation in a project valued at $220 million.</a>

<h2>685 La Trobe Street development summary</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/image17_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="685 La Trobe Street's northern elevation. Planning image: Peddle Thorp"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image17_4.jpg?itok=O1SHsSMk" title="685 La Trobe Street's northern elevation. Planning image: Peddle Thorp" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>685 La Trobe Street's northern elevation. Planning image: Peddle Thorp</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>Vacant site of 4,411sqm</li>
	<li>Dual towers with the taller at 74.5 metres</li>
	<li>629 apartments in total</li>
	<li>Tower 1: 140 x 1BR, 176 x 2BR, 3 x BR</li>
	<li>Tower 2: 59 x 1BR, 247 x 2BR, 4 x 3B </li>
	<li>Total retail NSA: 1,035sqm</li>
	<li>Provision for 373 bicycle bays and 103 car parking bays</li>
	<li>Project GFA: 62,614sqm</li>
</ul>
<h2>Public interface</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/image18_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Concourse level. Planning image: Peddle Thorp"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="448" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image18_8.jpg?itok=mlvMciP8" title="Concourse level. Planning image: Peddle Thorp" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Concourse level. Planning image: Peddle Thorp</figcaption></figure>685 La Trobe Street is heavily activated with retail to three frontages over multiple levels, owing to the sloping nature of the site and Etihad Stadium's elevated concourse. 

Services to the development will for the most be confined to the westerly aspect which fronts a service lane, whilst an obligatory art installation will wrap the south-west corner of the development. In total 9 retail spaces wrap the development; a far stronger level of activation than a handful of neighbouring project that front Etihad Stadium.

The space separating both towers is expected to be finished with paving and areas of lawn which is a far cry from the barren concourse that currently surrounds Etihad Stadium.

685 La Trobe Street 's emphasis on interacting with its surrounds follows on from the <a href="http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-29/ambitious-plan-underway-to-upgrade-etihad-stadium">AFL's mooted plans to redevelop Etihad Stadium</a>'s environs should it gain control of the stadium earlier than the slated 2025 date. 

Incidentally the neighbouring site controlled by local developer Salta Properties has also headed back to planning post receiving approval for 383 apartments within a single tower. A new design for the prime corner site is expected.

<h2>AZX growing at pace</h2>

The developer has five apartment projects in play with a sixth looming in the shape of the balance of the former CUB site in Carlton, for which initial sketches show a very substantial tower in the works.

685 La Trobe Street's 600 plus apartments aside,our additional residential projects would swell the developer's pipeline by roughly 1,500 dwellings. The initial stage of <a href="/buildings/riverina-22-hopkins-street-footscray">Riverina</a> within Footscray's Joseph Road Precinct is under construction, leaving Bello on North Melbourne's Courtney Street as the project most likely to launch next.

AZX Group are very much indicative of the wave of Asian-backed property developers that have descended upon Melbourne in recent years.
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silvermb

AZX Group's Docklands development rounds out the Stadium Precinct

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Designed by The Buchan Group for burgeoning developer AZX Group, A'Beckett Residences as it has been dubbed seeks to occupy a 1,038sqm site at 183-189 A'Beckett Street in the rapidly growing CBD North Precinct. Rising 67-storeys for a height of 205.5 metres the proposed tower comprises 471 apartments with 102sqm of ground floor retail atop two basement levels.

The application like many other tall towers proposed for both Melbourne's CBD and Southbank was lodged prior to the introduction of Planning Scheme Amendment C262, and will therefore be considered under the previous rules.

<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/abeckett_residences_hero.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A'Beckett Residences. Image courtesy The Buchan Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="1007" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/abeckett_residences_hero.jpg?itok=nWl98SnX" title="A'Beckett Residences. Image courtesy The Buchan Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A'Beckett Residences. Image courtesy The Buchan Group</figcaption></figure><h2>Application summary</h2>

<ul>
<li>Application lodged June 2015.</li>
	<li>Existing building over the 1,038sqm site to be retained and incorporated.</li>
	<li>67-storeys, 205.5 metres to top of plant.</li>
	<li>471 apartments.</li>
	<li>203 x 1BR, 175 x 1BR+study, 92 x 2BR, 1 x 3BR.</li>
	<li>102 sqm of retail in one tenancy.</li>
	<li>Two basement levels with 168 resident storage cages, 36 storage lockers and 137 bike racks.</li>
	<li>44 car parks over five levels to the rear of the site.</li>
	<li>Resident amenity over levels 44 and 45.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Design basis</h2>

<blockquote>
During our design process, various forms were generated to explore potential envelopes for this site with an aim to create an iconic new tower for the City of Melbourne. The proposal is a direct response to the many constraints imposed on the site both inherent and desired.

As principal designers of the A'Beckett Residences proposal, The Buchan Group has been able to ensure the seamless integration of pedestrian realm, public realm, retail, ground floor plane activation and the proposed iconic built form and tall-tower typology.
<cite>The Buchan Group</cite>
</blockquote>

According to the Design and Context Report which was submitted as part of the planning process, Buchan's design for the proposed tower draws on the scale, materiality and context of the surrounding streetscape with the tower employing a very ordered facade, simple and restrained yet equally impressive at this scale. This tower is in stark contrast to some of the other fully glazed towers going up in the area.

The existing building on site was designed by Edgar Fielder Billson (a former associate of Walter Burley Griffin) during 1937 as a factory and office in the 'Moderne Style' with its curved form and strong horizontal emphasis. The building is currently not graded by Council but is under consideration for a B Grade heritage listing.

Together with the vertical nature of the tower and articulation of its facade, the two building forms create an interesting visual juxtaposition and composition of elements.

The strategy for heritage conservation and readaptation seeks to retain more than just the building's facade: other elements of building fabric such as existing slabs, openings and columns are retained. This along with the genesis of the tower's massing and form is illustrated in the diagram below:

<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/abeckett_massing_diagram.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Massing diagram. Image courtesy of The Buchan Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="282" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/abeckett_massing_diagram.jpg?itok=R73v_TDW" title="Massing diagram. Image courtesy of The Buchan Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Massing diagram. Image courtesy of The Buchan Group</figcaption></figure>The proposal as such is composed of three elements: a lower podium comprising the existing building fabric, a tapered upper podium to a height of 40 metres setback 1.5 metres from the street, and the tower proper, setback a further five metres. Part of the rationale for an upper podium is to conceal the adjoining City Tempo building's nondescript facade.

<blockquote>
The design has been influenced by a number of design devices. The use of robust materials, with a depth of character and texture, forms a main element.

The use of multiple tones of light grey, blue and green reflective glass reflect the city's fabric at upper levels. A hierarchy of solid masonry, and lightweight envelopes, reflect the diverse, and irregular grain of the streetscape and create picture windows framing the city's views from within each apartment.
<cite>The Buchan Group</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/abeckett_residences_building_fabric.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A'Beckett Street frontage. Image courtesy of The Buchan Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="287" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/abeckett_residences_building_fabric.jpg?itok=CWO02kdQ" title="A'Beckett Street frontage. Image courtesy of The Buchan Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A'Beckett Street frontage. Image courtesy of The Buchan Group</figcaption></figure><h2>A lukewarm reception</h2>

Initial design advice offered by DELWP shows that in the proposals initial form it would struggle to gain support. Key issues identified include setbacks to the eastern and southern boundary, retention of more than the facade of the existing onsite building, how the existing building interacts with the new tower above, treatment to blank elevations and ground floor circulation. In this regard changes to the design seem certain.

On a wider note 183-189 A'Beckett Street forms one of AZX Group's stable of projects dotted around inner Melbourne. Also in their keep are two sites formerly held by Grocon on the CUB Carlton site, a 411sqm development site at 685 La Trobe Street and another in Villiers Street North Melbourne.

Riverina Footscray is in the formative stages of construction while a more modest development of 21 apartments is also on AZX Group's radar in Brighton.

<h2>Project team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer and Development Manager: AZX Group (Ausralia Xing Seven Development Pty Ltd)</li>
	<li>Architecture / Interiors: The Buchan Group</li>
	<li>Planning Consultant: Urbis</li>
	<li>Conservation / Heritage Consultant: Bryce Raworth</li>
	<li>Traffic Assessment: Traffix Group</li>
	<li>Structural, Civil, Services, Facade, Wind, ESD and Acoustic Engineers: Aurecon</li>
	<li>Waste Management: Leigh Design</li>
	<li>Building Surveyor and DDA: PLP Building Surveyors and Consultants</li>
</ul>
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Laurence Dragomir

AZX Group initiate A'Beckett Residences: 183-189 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne

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Recently Apartments.com.au <a href="/news/the-tannery-and-hopkins-street-launch-footscrays-joseph-road-precinct">broke the news</a> that <a href="/new-apartments/footscray-vic-3011">Footscray's</a> Joseph Road Precinct will begin its transformation into an inner-city residential enclave with the release of Riverina Apartments. Located less than five kilometres from Melbourne's CBD, Riverina Apartments also presents as developer AZX Group's vanguard Australian development, with further projects planned along the Eastern Seaboard.

<a href="http://www.cbresi.com.au/about/peopleDetails.aspx?ProfileID=29">Nic Cuni</a> as Director of CBRE's Residential Projects was on hand to guide Apartments.com.au through the now open display suite, providing an overview of <a href="/buildings/riverina-22-hopkins-street-footscray">Riverina Apartments</a> which has seen the project's first stage already garner strong sales.

<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/img_2627.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Riverina's display suite model up close"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_2627.jpg?itok=DX0kXXW_" title="Riverina's display suite model up close" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Riverina's display suite model up close</figcaption></figure>Within close proximity to the <a href="/new-apartments/maribyrnong-vic-3032">Maribyrnong</a> River, Nic Cuni explains that the <a href="/architects/peddle-thorp-architects">Peddle Thorp-designed</a> complex will be split into stages. Initially available for purchase are apartments within the podium and buildings D, C and E; all of which which front Hopkins Street.

Subsequent stages will see the dual 31 level residential towers delivered, creating a heightened level of living to Footscray with unfettered views to all directions. Overall Riverina Apartments will provide in excess of 950 new dwellings while also delivering Melbourne's inner West with a highly visible marker.

To date Riverina Apartments' strong early sales has seen a considerable number accounted for over the available buildings, with a mix of domestic and overseas buyers securing apartments at competitive prices. One, two and three bedroom apartments are available with an entry point of $255,000, while four bedroom penthouses crowning each tower as seen above are also available.

<blockquote>
CBRE have just released Riviera to our Victorian database, only to receive the biggest response ever fielded. So much so we expect to sell out of stage one soon after our grand opening during July.

The market has understood the value proposition that Riverina offers, with Melbourne's affordability issues in part addressed by releasing apartments from $255,000.
<cite>Nic Cuni</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image239.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Representative kitchen and bedroom finishes"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="256" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image239.jpg?itok=8SPhYOwO" title="Representative kitchen and bedroom finishes" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Representative kitchen and bedroom finishes</figcaption></figure>The display suite demonstrates the bright, open apartment format created by Peddle Thorp. Kitchens and bathrooms are simple, modern and convenient with an emphasis on functionality while bedrooms feature neutral tones.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive living areas point toward the desire of the development team to create apartments that capture the maximum amount of light possible.

<blockquote>
We have addressed quality by using well known appliances and showcasing interiors designed by Peddle Thorp. Buyers get a unique opportunity to buy an exceptional apartment within five kilometres to the CBD from $255,000.

It's an opportunity to enjoy a high yielding investment that has huge growth potential and Riverina's mix of apartments will appeal to first home buyers, downsizers and the local area investor!
<cite>Nic Cuni</cite>
</blockquote>

A feature of Riverina Apartments will be an expansive internal courtyard which opens to Warde Street. Surrounded by hanging greenery, the courtyard and garden area headline project amenities which include rooftop entertainment and barbecue areas, rooftop swimming pool, sauna and spa, private dining/entertaining rooms and a gymnasium.

An activated ground level will see a slew of retail and entertainment options with the project maintaining frontage to four separate streets. Specialty and large-scale retailers will constitute the mix with a supermarket expected to underpin retail activities which stretch across the 9,500sqm site.

<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/image237.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Riverina's penthouses with their distinctive exterior. Image courtesy CBRE"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="330" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image237.jpg?itok=UtzAGhvH" title="Riverina's penthouses with their distinctive exterior. Image courtesy CBRE" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Riverina's penthouses with their distinctive exterior. Image courtesy CBRE</figcaption></figure>
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