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

Joel Robinson

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

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

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

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

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

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

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<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/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<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/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Concept

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CBRE in recent weeks has begun marketing a development site at 118 City Road in Southbank which has been branded as 'Flagship'.

The 6,191sqm site is currently home to a BMW dealership and showroom, and has significant potential to add to what is set to become on of the densest city blocks in Melbourne, boasting towers of 200m through to over 300m.

The site is located close ro both the 297m Eureka Tower and the under construction 319m Australia 108, and is on the same block as One Queensbridge which holds approval at 323m .

<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/flagship_01_edit-01.png" rel="gallery-all" title="The Southbank and site in question at 118 City Road."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="514" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/flagship_01_edit-01.png?itok=auonJ9Br" title="The Southbank and site in question at 118 City Road." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Southbank and site in question at 118 City Road.</figcaption></figure>For the purposes of marketing the site's potential, CBRE have engaged Fender Katsalidis to produce an indicative concept for dual towers of varied heights. The concept looks to be loosely based on Fender Katsalidis' other twin tower design for 308 Exhibition Street.

This is illustrated in the night montage below which shows the towers linked by a skybridge.

Applying the planning scheme's plot ratio of 18:1 yields a GFA of 111,438sqm, with the conceptual scheme seeking a GFA of 148,127 sqm or a plot ratio of 24:1.

<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/image3_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="One possible scenario as marketed by CBRE. Image: CBRE"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image3_6.jpg?itok=0aq_OaDb" title="One possible scenario as marketed by CBRE. Image: CBRE" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>One possible scenario as marketed by CBRE. Image: CBRE</figcaption></figure>Any prospective purchaser is not obligated to proceed with the scheme as indicated above. As such I've decided to produce a couple of quick test scenarios in 3D for your viewing pleasure beginning with the Fender Katsalidis option (or one that is very similar).

<div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper"><iframe allowfullscreen="" allowvr="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="true" onmousewheel="" src="https://sketchfab.com/models/0325ca7c349a4506a06cb796da599e3d/embed" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="640"></iframe></div>

The alternate scenario shown below sees 118 City Road and 158 City Road consolidated into a mega site similar to what Crown and Schiavello achieved with One Queensbridge. This roughly 7,062sqm site would be able to accommodate a 127,116sqm GFA development at an 18:1 ratio. 

This scenario is a bit more complicated because it deals with Floor Area Uplift, but essentially uses the provision of public open space and commercial space both classified as public benefits under the planning scheme to achieve another 300m tower.

With the block being as dense as it is and projected to become even denser, I believe a better outcome for both 118 City Road and 158 City Road is to consolidate 3 towers into one larger tower, with a second mid-rise office building in tow. This layout addresses the issues of privacy and adjacency between existing and proposed towers, whilst also providing better access to natural light and ventilation simply by having a taller tower located more centrally on the site.

<div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" allowvr="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="true" onmousewheel="" src="https://sketchfab.com/models/22ca95ba02a5471d8fe9b2ca0d1be0f9/embed" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="640"></iframe>

All up the scheme would deliver 136,000 sqm GFA at a plot ratio of 19.25:1, plus a new pocket park which would connect to the City of Melbourne's Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street Renewal project. A new retail laneway bisecting the site with opportunity to eventually connect through to Freshwater Place would also be considered beneficial to Southbank.

Applying a plot ratio of 24:1 as per the Fender Katsalidis scheme would result in Melbourne's tallest building.

Interesting times ahead for the site that has been billed as 'Flagship'.
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</body></html>

Laurence Dragomir

Southbank's densest block to become even denser?

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With a sizeable amount of development activity expected to occur in the immediate area over the next few years, it's an appropriate time to have a look at one of Melbourne's eyesores. Collins Square, Melbourne Quarter, North Wharf (not shown in model) and the former Convention Centre site are at varying stages of development, Crowne Plaza to my thinking should be next in line.

Keep in mind these concepts are very high level and have been developed in a matter of a few hours; unfortunately I'm a bit too time poor at the moment to dedicate more time and brain cells.

In addition to the Crowne Plaza building I've also looked at the parking structure along Flinders Street within the former WTC complex. With the news that Victoria Police will likely vacate the complex in favour of new digs on Spencer Street, this would provide a perfect opportunity to reassess the complex of buildings completely. I'll leave the concept for a complete overhaul for another time.

<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/wtc_crowne_plaza.png" rel="gallery-all" title="WTC Northbank and Cronwe Plaza."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="227" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/wtc_crowne_plaza.png?itok=LRzQMJ0c" title="WTC Northbank and Cronwe Plaza." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>WTC Northbank and Crowne Plaza.</figcaption></figure>These two sites were considered for the various opportunities they present. The car park's footprint could be maximised further with the addition of additional office space above, while also allowing for stronger links to the Mission to Seafarers building via the introduction of open space.

Similarly one of the great criticisms of the Crowne Plaza building is it's relationship (or lack thereof) to the Yarra River and how it forms a visual and physical barrier between the city and the river. To address this I looked at separating the existing structure into what would effectively be two separate buildings.

<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/image13_10.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ideas diagram for Crowne Plaza's rebirth"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="321" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image13_10.jpg?itok=QfI_fYy2" title="Ideas diagram for Crowne Plaza's rebirth" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ideas diagram for Crowne Plaza's rebirth</figcaption></figure>Separating the building would allow sunlight through to the promenade and reduce the visual bulk when viewed from Southbank, while opening up new views to the developments beyond. Further to this the provision of a north facing park is suggested, with retail interfaces and access to sunlight during midday.

This would most likely have to be raised public space which would terrace down to the Northbank promenade to allow for vehicular circulation and entry, and to accommodate a porte cochere and parking below.

The 'new' towers would be reskinned with a modular facade system which creates serrated edges to the tower forms maximising views to the bay and city. Tower 1 would accommodate hotel rooms and facilities with a consistent vertically static expression across up the facade, an extrusion of the floor plate the full height of the tower.

This would be capped with a green roof and rooftop hotel facilities and amenities such as infinity pool, bar, function space, etc.

<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/diagrams_wtc_page_3.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Crowne Plaza diagrams"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/diagrams_wtc_page_3.png?itok=r0MdU19K" title="Crowne Plaza diagrams" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Crowne Plaza diagrams</figcaption></figure>Tower 2 is more mixed use with a combination of residential apartments and hotel which employs a similar facade strategy, but with a sense of movement applied to it drawing on the movement and currents of the Yarra River. Hotel rooms would be located in the lower levels with apartments above. New circulation and services and VT cores would be built to the north.

For the expansive WTC car park, the addition of 10 new office floors would result in a structure with an overall height of 98 metres which would not provide any additional overshadowing to the Northbank promenade. Locating the core to the west where the existing car park core also resides deals with the intense western sun particularly in summer.

A greenwall treatment, envisaged as a vertical extension of the new neighbouring park between the car park and the Mission to Seafarers, would give the elevation depth and soften an otherwise sheer concrete wall.

<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/diagrams_wtc_page_2.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Office tower diagrams"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/diagrams_wtc_page_2.png?itok=wzQ0BcQy" title="Office tower diagrams" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Office tower diagrams</figcaption></figure>A "shadow gap" between the car park and new office levels helps reinforce the idea of a podium or base with tower on top. Providing a wrap of office and ground floor retail to Siddeley Street would go some way to helping activate the street beyond being just a thoroughfare for vehicular traffic passing through the WTC Complex.

These ideas for redevelopment are merely that, but my hope is they provoke some thought. With surrounding areas undergoing a development renaissance, Crowne Plaza will soon enough become an even worse blight on Northbank's evolving landscape. It a prospect worth avoiding.

To finish off I shall leave you with an aerial render of the two sites in context.

<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/wtc_cp_finish.png" rel="gallery-all" title="In-situ with Melbourne Quarter, 7-23 Spencer St and Collins Square"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="325" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/wtc_cp_finish.png?itok=q51jGzCw" title="In-situ with Melbourne Quarter, 7-23 Spencer St and Collins Square" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>In-situ with Melbourne Quarter, 7-23 Spencer Street and Collins Square</figcaption></figure>
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A new Jewel in the Crowne along Northbank?

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It's been a long time coming (15 months in fact!) but finally here's part two of <a href="/news/addressing-elizabeth-street-melbourne-central-part-one">my earlier piece</a> on addressing Melbourne Central's corner to Elizabeth Street.

The introduction of more stringent controls via Amendment C270 - the successor to Amendment C262's interim planning controls - has impacted on my earlier concept. With the new controls in place the maximum height possible falls into line with the rest of the retail core outlined in DD02.

For the corner of Elizabeth Street and La Trobe Street that means a maximum height of 40 metres or the height of the podium as initially proposed in part one.

<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/mc_diagram_crop.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Existing condition vs potential 40 metre podium diagram"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="267" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mc_diagram_crop.png?itok=J1Qztkg8" title="Existing condition vs Potential 40 metre podium diagram" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Existing condition vs Potential 40 metre podium diagram</figcaption></figure>Despite there no longer being the ability to develop another tower of height on the site, there would still be opportunity to redevelop the corner and maximise its potential through a new podium building which would allow access to the Melbourne Central tower and through again to the Station.

A new north facing internal courtyard to La Trobe Street with trees and softscaping would provide a sunny but sheltered area for workers and visitors to sit during lunch, with new commercial office space above generating additional rental income for owners GPT and further adding value to the centre.

The internal courtyard is a slight nod to the old Melbourne Central entry at the Swanston Street end, but would also tie into the existing arcades and new bisecting arcades at street level. These arcades are visible in the axonometric below which also illustrates how few of the vast array of high-rise developments provide a podium or rooftop area, due largely to the constraints of their respective sites and poor setback from other developments.

<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/mc-aerial.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Aerial of a redeveloped Elizabeth/La Trobe corner building for Melbourne Central"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="258" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mc-aerial.png?itok=kaxLZwun" title="Aerial of a redeveloped Elizabeth/La Trobe corner building for Melbourne Central" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Aerial of a redeveloped Elizabeth/La Trobe corner building for Melbourne Central</figcaption></figure>To reduce impact on station operations and to ensure an efficient and speedy construction process, the use of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) would be employed. Timber construction is lightweight compared to concrete and can be erected fairly quickly relative to the form and pour process.

The timber structure would provide a contrast to the otherwise robust and impermeable exterior of the existing shopping centre, but would also act as a bookend to the timber used on the facade of the Swanston Street/La Trobe intersection frontage.

Planter boxes could be integrated into the timber structure, and a green roof for workers is in the spirit of the CIty of Melbourne's Urban Forest Strategy. 

<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/mc-03_final.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Looking towards the intersection of La Trobe and Elizabeth Streets"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="301" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mc-03_final.png?itok=M9GPXAgX" title="Looking towards the intersection of La Trobe and Elizabeth Streets" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Looking towards the intersection of La Trobe and Elizabeth Streets</figcaption></figure>Whether or not this is the best outcome for the site is debatable, but the intent of building up the street wall and providing a stronger built form to anchor the corner is not without merit as is the potential to reorganise the circulation to and from the station and the office building.

Another site that could potentially accommodate increased commercial development and streetscape improvements is Collins Place which will be the subject of a future article.
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Addressing Elizabeth Street: Melbourne Central (part two)

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11 years after the ARM designed refurbishment works for centre owners GPT / Lend Lease were completed, the landscape of the northern quadrant of the Melbourne CBD has changed significantly. Cranes and construction currently dominate the northern reaches of Elizabeth Street as a number of skyscrapers begin their skyward ascent.

<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/north_cbd.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Forest of towers to come"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="350" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/north_cbd.png?itok=vOsxWI9P" title="Forest of towers to come" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Forest of towers to come</figcaption></figure>One element of the refurbished Melbourne Central that bothered me when it reopened and continues to do so is the Elizabeth / La Trobe Street corner. This has always been a prominent corner site but has become even moreso as the city evolves. I consider it to be an underwhelming entry to the centre and station environment below and believe it could offer more.

With that in mind, I've done a quick study at what a reconfigured corner might look like, taking into account the C262 planning controls.

Following a quick analysis of the site area and applying a plot ratio of 24:1 as per the interim controls we are left with 262,940sqm which can be developed. This 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/mc_diagrams.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Site area and plot ratio diagram"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="153" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mc_diagrams.png?itok=IperSpDM" title="Site area and plot ratio diagram" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Site area and plot ratio diagram</figcaption></figure>Any additional high-rise development of considerable size on the Melbourne Central site should be located away from Swanston and closer to Elizabeth Street. Doing so reduces the potential for overshadowing to the State Library forecourt.

Additionally locating it along the northern edge allows for generous exposure to natural daylight to apartments. Adding apartments to the mix of programme also further develops the concept of Melbourne Central as a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) which forms part of a much broader discussion relating to what shopping centres are and the potential for what they could be.

I believe they can work harder and function as more than just retail destinations but thriving neighbourhoods in their own right.

In investigating the concept of the potential for a residential tower on the site I was interested in the opportunities it may present in also helping to facilitate an improved street condition and corner address for the centre. As the suite of diagrams below illustrates, the first move was to provide a 40 metre high podium for the existing Melbourne Central Office Tower and the new residential tower.

I wanted to retain the internal laneway condition and further develop it so it slices through the full height of the podium and would have various uses interfacing with it.

<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/mc_diagrams_02.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Process diagram"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="314" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mc_diagrams_02.png?itok=N34lKmdZ" title="Process diagram" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Process diagram</figcaption></figure>The rationale behind the tower foot print and core location was to draw on the geometry of the office tower to maximise northern exposure, minimise southern outlook. Further to this, due to the floorplate geometry, views are directed away from the office tower and vice-versa. Locating the core to the south ensures no overlooking from the office tower into any apartments.

The tower would rise 160 metres above the 40 metre podium with a tapered roof form which creates a series of terraces to the east but also ensures no overshadowing of the State Library forecourt. The angle of the slope matches that of the Melbourne Central Office tower drawing on the form and geometry - a shared DNA.

The podium would be expressed as two elements of a consistent and coherent volume but would be articulated differently, reflecting the difference in programme but also the two different conditions that they interface with.

Atop this podium is green open space shared by both towers and the centre. The office tower would be reconfigured so that further food and beverage would spill out onto this space. The loss of office space would be replaced within the podium which would increase the overall floor area of the tower.

Stay tuned as I'll be looking to <a href="/news/addressing-elizabeth-street-melbourne-central-part-two">develop this a bit more</a> in the coming weeks beyond just some simple massing and into something resembling an architectural proposition.
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Addressing Elizabeth Street: Melbourne Central (part one)

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Always a point of conjecture amongst many a Melburnian, Docklands has become the area of interest for a group of students from RMIT University’s Master of Arts (Art in Public Space) program who have launched an eBook that showcases visions that were conceived and designed to activate open spaces around Docklands' Harbour Esplanade spine.

The students spent weeks researching the design, construction and formation of Docklands and analysing the ways in which the public experienced and inhabited its public spaces. The research then informed the creation of a series of site-specific propositions for these public spaces.

Nine propositions feature in "A Proposition for the Docklands", with visions striving to capture the quirky, the colourful and sublime elements of open space activation.

Public art 'propositions' vary from formal 'proposals' as they provide artists with the opportunity to imagine things that are not possible or have not been created.

The propositions varied from large-scale interactive and immersive installations, and roller coasters, to canopies of indigenous flora.

One proposition is the absence of domestic daily tasks being undertaken in Docklands locations and wondering why we don’t see people cleaning their belongings, washing dishes in public spaces as we do in other cities around the world.

<blockquote>
The RMIT public art students’ enthusiasm, research and creative propositions for the Docklands reveal how vibrant Melbourne’s urban planning may become if artists collaborated with urban and town planners to develop and realize their visions for Melbourne.
<cite>Rebecca West, Urbis Director of Planning and 2014-2015 Future Focus Group participant</cite>
</blockquote>

The students also launched their propositions as a series of postcards and led a group of 30 people on a walking tour of the Docklands to showcase and explain their creative work earlier this month.

My personal favourites are propositions one and two, which are both interactive installations embedded into the pavement and which engage with the pedestrian and provide a kinetic quality to an otherwise static strip of pavement. Combined, the two ideas could add a sense of playfulness to the waterfront turning Habour Esplanade into a interactive playground for all ages.

<h2>Proposition one: Connecting to Disconnect &gt; Disconnecting to Connect</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/prop02.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Proposition one. Image courtesy of Urbis."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="477" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/prop02.png?itok=vnNI51Ob" title="Proposition one. Image courtesy of Urbis." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Proposition one. Image courtesy of Urbis.</figcaption></figure>Conceived by Molly Braddon, this proposition is intended to play with the idea of disconnection. During the day, the work is designed to interrupt the linear path of pedestrians.

Every time a foot falls one one section of the work another section in the distance becomes animated with flashes of light, movement and sound turning an otherwise sterile journey into an interactive game, that allows the pedestrian to engage with other pedestrians in the distance and influence their movement through the site based on their own.

At night when pedestrians become more sparse the installation mimics the movements of the day's earlier visual orchestra.

<h2>Proposition two: Coil</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/coil_-_proposition_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Proposition two. Image courtesy of Urbis."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="497" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/coil_-_proposition_2.jpg?itok=3vm9LnBM" title="Proposition two. Image courtesy of Urbis." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Proposition two. Image courtesy of Urbis.</figcaption></figure>Shu Jie Jia's response to the site contextualises itself by tapping into the transport and shipping history associated with the site's former life. Dubbed 'Coil' the proposition manifests as an industrial arbour in the form of a coiled train line.

Embedded within the tracks are a series of LED screens illuminating the harbour at night and filling it with colour during the day. The screens will display abstract patterns of shipping containers moving along the arbour, referencing the movement of goods through Docklands; connecting the pedestrian with the history of the site and providing a sense of protection from the elements.

The RMIT project was supported by leading independent property consultancy Urbis, in conjunction with Pop Up Melbourne, a Future Focus Group project. Future Focus Group is the Committee for Melbourne’s two year business leadership program.

The Pop Up Melbourne initiative brings people and places together to work with the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, activating spaces that may otherwise go unloved.

To download a copy of the "A Proposition for the Docklands" ebook and view all nine propositions visit the <a href="http://www.urbis.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/APropositionfortheDocklandsEBook.pdf">Urbis website</a>.
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RMIT students propose pop-up activation for Docklands

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With the recent announcement of a final shortlist for the Munro site development within the Queen Victoria Market (QVM) precinct, it is an opportune time to revisit the development potential of both sites and how they fit within the larger scope of development within CBD North <a href="/news/city-of-melbourne-releases-draft-guidelines-and-buys-munro-site">one year after the City of Melbourne purchased the site</a>.

<blockquote>
Melbourne-based developer PDG Group has emerged as the final short-listed bidder vying for the right to develop a 200m-high apartment tower on a site in the Queen Victoria Market precinct of the Melbourne CBD. The City of Melbourne council last month announced it had short-listed five parties to tender for the development rights on the 6000sqm site in the heart of the city. The names of bidding parties were kept confidential.

The four other parties bidding for the QVM project are <a href="/developers/cbus-property">Cbus Property</a>, <a href="/developers/grocon">Grocon</a>, <a href="/developers/mirvac">Mirvac</a> and Lang Walker’s Walker Corporation.
<cite><a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/index?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&amp;mode=premium&amp;dest=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/pdg-bid-completes-final-five-in-queen-victoria-market-race/story-fn9656lz-1227577583453&amp;memtype=anonymous">The Australian, 21 October 2015</a></cite>
</blockquote>

Here is my take on what can be achieved for both the Munro site and the associated Franklin Street development site, which to this point has been expected to occupy two new towers.

<h2>The site</h2>

The diagram below highlights the key development areas of the QVM precinct, including the Munro site and the current at grade car park that will eventually be bisected by a realigned Franklin Street, allowing for a public open space and creation of a new development site. City of Melbourne acquired the 6,500sqm Munro site for $76 million in October of 2014 and proceeded to incorporate it into the scope of the Queen Victoria Market Masterplan.

<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/existing_diagram-01.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Existing site diagram."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="325" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/existing_diagram-01.png?itok=bhFaiHWT" title="Existing site diagram." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Existing site diagram.</figcaption></figure><h2>Preferred outcomes: Munro site</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/munro_guidelines.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Guideline for heritage. Courtesy of City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="350" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/munro_guidelines.jpg?itok=Lo9nzua6" title="Guideline for heritage. Courtesy of City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Guideline for heritage. Courtesy of City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>City of Melbourne's preferred outcomes for the Munro site:

<ul>
<li>Develop new building(s) (except at the Mercat Cross Hotel) to create a podium or ‘street wall’ along the frontages to Therry and Queen Street, not less than 20 metres high and not more than 30 metres high.</li>
	<li>Create a pedestrian link between Franklin and Therry Streets by extending the existing laneway between 104-106 and 108 Franklin Street. This must provide for: a) Universal 24/7 public access. b) A high level of amenity including natural daylight and at least double-storey ceiling heights.</li>
	<li>Set back all building forms higher than 20 metres at least 10 metres from the street frontages, inclusive of any balconies or architectural features.</li>
	<li>Limit overall building heights so that there is no overshadowing of the proposed new open space (the existing QVM car park) after 11am-2pm, beyond whatever shadowing may result from a 30 metre high podium built to the street frontage.</li>
</ul>
Taking cues from the Munro site guidelines coupled with key elements of the QVM Masterplan, a scenario for development of the ground plane and a series of networks and connections is established. This carves up what would otherwise be large consolidated sites into smaller volumes of mass, responding more to the finer grain of the precinct; this is illustrated in the diagram below whereby the pink arrows define the new pedestrian network and the blue vehicular.

<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/site_network_connections_diagram-01.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Networks and connections."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="419" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/site_network_connections_diagram-01.png?itok=afMQleqs" title="Networks and connections." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Networks and connections.</figcaption></figure>As my <a href="/news/the-northern-heights-cbd-north-model-updated">earlier article suggests</a>, the site is likely to accommodate a 200 metre residential tower. I have decided to go with a 30 metre podium with a 171 metre tower sitting atop it, setback 10 metres from all boundaries. The existing facades of the buildings which form the streetscapes would remain.

The Mercat Hotel is retained in its entirety as well as <a href="http://fancyhanks.com/">Fancy Hank's</a>, which is a personal favourite venue of mine.

With solar access to the new public open space and wind mitigation key considerations and requirements for a comfortable walking environment a curved, tapering tower was developed with a deep recess running up its full height to allow the northern sun to penetrate through to the north-south public laneway.

The curved form addresses wind forces and provides a contrast to the rigid and rectilinear envelopes of the northern most towers under construction within the area, whilst also maximising views and natural light.

<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/munro_site_development-01.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Munro site development."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="241" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/munro_site_development-01.png?itok=15djOOvC" title="Munro site development." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Munro site development.</figcaption></figure><h2>Franklin Street development site</h2>

I consider this in tandem with the new public open space to be the centrepiece of the QVM Market precinct and the key focal point of CBD North, as such it has been conceived as dual shards which have been carved by the sun allowing for solar access to Flagstaff Gardens, supplemented by a 9-storey apartment building that responds, complements and acts as a bookend to Melbourne Terrace apartments.

Both towers are setback from their podia 15 metres, allowing for generous separation between both. The tallest and most slender tower rises 90-storeys and 300 metres while the shorter of the two rises 64-storeys and 215 metres, with a deep recess to the north to break down the mass while allowing natural light deep into its floorplate.

The tapering nature allows for outdoor terraces and winter gardens for apartments and unique roof silhouettes on the Melbourne skyline.

<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/aerial_qvm_precinct.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Franklin Street towers."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="425" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/aerial_qvm_precinct.png?itok=RBH353YN" title="Franklin Street towers." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Franklin Street towers.</figcaption></figure>The crystalline forms are in contrast to the curved form of the Munro development, with the likelihood that two different developers or consortia will develop either.

What the final outcome might be for both sites will not be known for some time with the successful proponent for the Munro site due to be announced mid-next year. Either way hopefully this article provided some food for thought and impetus in design originality; the QVM redevelopment provides the perfect opportunity for it.
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Development scenarios: Munro site and Queen Victoria Market

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Slightly over three years ago City of Melbourne revealed its ambitions for a 'High Line' based loosely on New York's highly successful and popular adaptive re-use of its High Line: an elevated community-run public park. At a cost of $6 million, City of Melbourne was to invest $3 million into the project with the remainder to come from the Australian Government's Liveable City's Program Fund.

<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/dezeen_high-line-section-2-by-diller-scofidio-and-renfro-6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="New York High Line. © Iwan Baan"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="740" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/dezeen_high-line-section-2-by-diller-scofidio-and-renfro-6.jpg?itok=u3ColEth" title="New York High Line. © Iwan Baan" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>New York High Line. © Iwan Baan</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
It would create a unique public place like no other in Melbourne and bolster an important connection between our city’s north and south banks over the Yarra. This is what makes Melbourne one of the best cities in the world, we are always looking to enhance these unused spaces in our city to bring them back to life, that is why Melbourne is so liveable.

This project compliments all of our sustainability programs and will again build on the number of capital works projects undertaken by the city that champion green and sustainable design in Melbourne. This project would embrace our Urban Forest and Open Space Strategies and our Southbank Structure plan whilst complement and respect the design and heritage significance of the bridge.
<cite>Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, February 2012</cite>
</blockquote>

Fast forward to 2015 and little has been heard of the project since, or any of the City of Melbourne's short term ambitions for the western section of Sandridge Bridge for that matter.

<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/com_highline.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="City of Melbourne concepts for Sandridge Bridge High Line."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="383" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/com_highline.jpg?itok=NgndoJAn" title="City of Melbourne concepts for Sandridge Bridge High Line." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>City of Melbourne concepts for Sandridge Bridge High Line.</figcaption></figure>As a result I decided to have a (very high level) crack at what a Melbourne High Line might look like. Keeping in mind this was a series of ideas thrown together over the course of an afternoon, I may one day revisit with a greater degree of rigor in future when time permits.

Drawing on the bridge's history as a rail viaduct it made sense in my mind at least to include an old Comeng train: stripped and converted into cafes, restaurants and bars, not unlike the <a href="/news/easey-does-it-end-to-end-gains-its-train-set">End to End</a> project in Collingwood. The idea is also a nod to an early concept for Sandridge Bridge from over a decade ago which had a replica of the Spirit of Progress sited on top housing a restaurant.

The western section would be more of a meandaring informal path with greater opportunity to dwell than the eastern section's Traveller's installation.

<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/01_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="High Line concept at Sandridge Bridge. © Urban.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="370" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/01_4.jpg?itok=liPSzOnp" title="High Line concept at Sandridge Bridge. © Urban.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>High Line concept at Sandridge Bridge. © Apartments.com.au</figcaption></figure>Additionally a 'lantern' structure housing lifts and stairs sits at on the Southbank side where numerous temporary structures have been erected over the years for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival amongst others. It would provide a southern counterpoint to the signal box on the north bank of the river and bookend Sandridge Bridge.

<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/02_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="High Line concept at Sandridge Bridge. © Urban.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="399" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/02_5.jpg?itok=6ii7HYMM" title="High Line concept at Sandridge Bridge. © Urban.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>High Line concept at Sandridge Bridge. © Apartments.com.au</figcaption></figure>With a mix of soft and hard landscape the linear park would provide an urban oasis above one of Melbourne's key natural assets while adding to Melbourne's open space.

<h2>The Arbory as a point of reference</h2>

You don't have to look too far for inspiration or to get a sense of what's possible for such a long linear space. ​It's worth noting that The Arbory, the outdoor bar designed by Jackson Clements Burrows and occupying the site of the former Sandridge Line next to Platform 13 has taken four years to come to fruition.

The 150m bar which only opened its doors last month features a large container accommodating a kitchen, bathrooms and two bars that runs half the length of the site. For comparison sake the Sandridge Bridge High Line would span a length of 178m.

<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/the_arbory_broadsheet.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Arbory. © Broadsheet"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="405" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_arbory_broadsheet.jpg?itok=JV7wzkqJ" title="The Arbory. © Broadsheet" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Arbory. © Broadsheet</figcaption></figure><h2>Conclusion</h2>

I'm generally not one to champion copying other cities' concepts but when something as successful and popular as New York's High Line provides a perfect framework and point of reference, it's hard to look past the benefits to the city. First and foremost it's critical that any proposal for a Melbourne High Line addresses its context and the history of Sandridge Bridge and the role it played in the growth of the city.

It must be of its time and place while providing an opportunity to build a park in the centre of the city linking Northbank with Southbank, and building on the work City of Melbourne and the State Government have undertaken to improve the city's relationship/interface with its river.
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Has Melbourne's High Line gone off the rails?

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Apartments.com.au celebrated its second birthday this month. This is an opportune time to reflect on the past two years and look to the future.

With that in mind, let's take a trip down memory lane with some of my concept designs for various sites around Melbourne.

Following this, I will open the floor to our readers to suggest ideas or concepts they'd like to see for a site or building; for example, Central Pier or development over the railyards at Southern Cross.

<h2>Station Pier concept</h2>

<blockquote>
The idea is the development would act as a gateway for visitors arriving via sea (standing out from a distance) while also activating what is an otherwise series of 'dead' spaces. The concept won't appeal to all but hopefully it serves its purpose in provoking thought for a complex that could be so much more.
</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/montage_01_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Station pier concept © Urban.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="353" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/montage_01_11.jpg?itok=AtchEiUw" title="Station pier concept © Urban.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Station pier concept © Apartments.com.au</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li><a href="/news/blockhead-concept-pier-ing-into-the-future">Blockhead concept: Pier-ing into the future</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>447 Collins Street concept</h2>

<blockquote>
The concept for Market Square, located at 447 Collins Street investigates the possibility of redeveloping the former National Mutual Plaza into a bustling urban oasis in the middle of the Melbourne CBD, that in part pays homage to the site's previous life as the Western Market.
</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/03_2_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="447 Collins Street concept © Urban.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="231" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/03_2_0.jpg?itok=odQlkJc1" title="447 Collins Street concept © Urban.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>447 Collins Street concept © Apartments.com.au</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li><a href="/news/blockhead-concept-447-collins-street-market-square">Blockhead concept: 447 Collins Street / Market Square</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>QVM Precinct concept</h2>

<blockquote>
Like most sequels, no-one really asked for it, but I went ahead and decided to produce one anyway. Without further ado here's the highly anticipated "This little piggy went to a different market", focusing on everyone's favourite, the Queen Victoria Market.
</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/qvm_04_0.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Queen Victoria Market concept © Urban.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="297" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/qvm_04_0.png?itok=nBzCN7ta" title="Queen Victoria Market concept © Urban.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Queen Victoria Market concept © Apartments.com.au</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li><a href="/news/this-little-piggy-went-to-a-different-market-probably-on-foot">This little piggy went to a different market (probably on foot)</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>What to do with Waterfront City</h2>

<blockquote>
From the moment of its conception, Waterfront City has struggled with an identity crisis of sorts; it's part entertainment precinct and part shopping precinct with no real unifying theme. Bearing that in mind today's piece constitutes the first part of a series of articles looking at ways of improving the look and usability of the precinct.
</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/waterfront_city_park.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Waterfront City concept © Urban.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="299" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/waterfront_city_park.jpg?itok=HDitirbc" title="Waterfront City concept © Urban.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Waterfront City concept © Apartments.com.au</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li><a href="/expert-insights/buying/what-to-do-with-waterfront-city-part-one">What to do with Waterfront City? (part one)</a></li>
	<li><a href="/expert-insights/buying/what-to-do-with-waterfront-city-part-two">What to do with Waterfront City? (part two)</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Brunswick Market concept</h2>

<blockquote>
The strategy behind the plan is simple: live local, grow local, buy local - a self sustained village of sorts. The market traders could live within any one of the 5 apartment buildings or shop top homes, the fruit and vegetables would be grown on-site and sold on site, with the Brunswick Market housed in a new building fronting Sydney Road, integrated with an urban farm to the rear that spills out onto Florence Lane (nee Street).
</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/03_laneway_01.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Brunswick Market concept © Urban.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="247" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/03_laneway_01.jpg?itok=k7PJkkjw" title="Brunswick Market concept © Urban.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Brunswick Market concept © Apartments.com.au</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li><a href="/news/blockhead-concept-this-little-piggy-went-to-market-on-his-fixie">Blockhead concept: this little piggy went to market (on his fixie)</a></li>
</ul>
​So which site should we devise a concept for next?
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Have your say: which site should Urban.com.au devise a concept for next?

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Peruse the <a href="http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/project/federation-square-east/">Federation Square East</a> website and the shutters have been put up in accordance with the caretaker conventions of the forthcoming State election. Expressions of interest for the 3.3 hectare site have been open for slightly over two months, and as is the case with such pursuits, public information is scant although the parameters for the EOI campaign are anything but.

We have covered a number of <a href="/news/federation-square-east-an-urban-ecologies-perspective">conceptual designs for the site</a> which acts more as a nexus between water and skyline, and another has been presented by Georgina Tiernan. Currently with New York-based SHoP Architects and formerly with Fender Katsalidis architects, Georgina has presented Apartments.com.au with her interpretation of Federation Square East with a heavy bias toward urban ecology.

<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/accamera_17aaa.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="An atypical proposal. Image courtesy Georgian Tiernan"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/accamera_17aaa.jpg?itok=Yozet-CI" title="An atypical proposal. Image courtesy Georgian Tiernan" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>An atypical proposal. Image courtesy Georgia Tiernan</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
This thesis project explores the increasing disconnection between urbanism and agriculture. The project aims to connect everyday urban life with agricultural food production and culture.

Bridging the Jolimont Railyards in Melbourne the project reconnects the city to the landscape by dissolving the hard urban edge of the city grid into the landscaped banks of the Yarra River and Birrarung Marr Park through new hybrids of agricultural/architectural form.

By morphing varying agricultural and urban program with architecture, the project explores a new productive architecture in which habitable space is placed in and amongst agricultural systems of food production to create environments that reveal the entire farm-to-table process to the city.
<cite><a href="http://georgina-tiernan.squarespace.com">georgina-tiernan.squarespace.com</a></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/tower-view-1a.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Tower view. Image courtesy Georgian Tiernan"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="452" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/tower-view-1a.jpg?itok=1CI7VJlK" title="Tower view. Image courtesy Georgian Tiernan" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Tower view. Image courtesy Georgian Tiernan</figcaption></figure>To see an extensive image set and further information on the Federation Square East proposal by Georgina Tiernan, visit her site at <a href="https://georgina-tiernan.squarespace.com/#/urban-ecologies-2/">georgina-tiernan.squarespace.com</a>.

<h2>Comment</h2>

Apartments.com.au produces our fair share of concept designs, with towers featuring predominantly. Federation Square East on the other hand had the team leaning toward a different outcome; an outcome that is not necessarily tall but distinctive in its cutting edge, sustainable design; a showcase precinct if you will.

Does Melbourne really want or need another podium-tower typology to define this precinct? Let's hope those charged with selecting the successful consortium for Federation Square East do so in the knowledge that this site is like no other; it demands a unique statement that will further define Melbourne and provide a focal point much like the original Federation square did and continues to do. A concept such as Georgina Tiernan's fits the bill perfectly to our way of thinking!

Thinking outside the square. It's easier said than done!
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silvermb

Federation Square East: an Urban Ecologies perspective

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I once again delve into the Laurence Dragomir RMIT School of Architecture and Design archive today, this time focusing on a Punt Road oval rebirth from way back in 2008. Part of a design studio titled "Football, Meatpies and Holden Cars" it was run by RRR's The Architects very own Christine Phillips and centred around the redevelopment of Punt Road alongside the point where Suters Architects were developing their scheme which has since been built.

The schemes developed were to house the Richmond Football Club's administration, training, membership and merchandise facilities in addition to some provision of community shared space.

<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/punt_rd_montage_02.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Punt Road oval montage framing the Jack Dyer Stand."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="112" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/punt_rd_montage_02.jpg?itok=VI66Xb9V" title="Punt Road oval montage framing the Jack Dyer Stand." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Punt Road oval montage framing the Jack Dyer Stand.</figcaption></figure>Now this isn't a real scheme so certain liberties have obviously been taken - personally if I had my time again I'd likely reconsider the visual expression of the Punt Road elevations. More than anything I'm hoping this might encourage architecture students out there that read the site to get in touch and publish their projects on Urbam Melbourne.

Note this was during my McBride Charles Ryan-inspired origami phase which also appeared in <a href="/expert-insights/buying/fed-square-east-some-food-for-thought-part-one">last week's Fed Square East two part-icle</a>.

<h2>Project Synopsis</h2>

<blockquote>
The basis for our final design is the origami tiger as a means of generating form. The rationale behind this approach is origami which started as the Chinese art of paper folding. In Chinese there is a phrase, ‘zhi laohu’ which translates to ‘paper tiger’ in English.

The term refers to something which appears ferocious but in reality is as harmless as paper. We are of the belief that this is the view held by oppostion supporters and the Football world in general, with regard to the Richmond Football Club's premiership aspirations.

In recent times the Tigers have teased with glimpses, that time and time again have resulted in nothing more than a ninth placed finish. A gutsy, hard fought win is often followed by a battering from a top 8 side the following week and/or vice versa.

By scaling up the origami tiger and applying the wallpaper of the 5 Richmond ‘Immortals’ (Jack Dyer, Francis Bourke, Kevin Bartlett, Royce Hart &amp; Tom Hafey) in the form of brickwork, we are providing this ‘paper tiger’ with strength and an intimidating aura, as it dominates its site along Punt Rd like a fortified base. Its siting allows for the framing of the Jack Dyer Stand between the two larger volumes as Building 02’s roof cantilevers overhead.

This exposure of the Jack Dyer Stand from Punt Rd can be interpreted as being the heart and soul of the Richmond Football Club, a relic of the past, but also inspiration for future success. It is hoped this ‘vista’ will remind passersby of the Tigers of old... strong and bold. Oh we're from Tiger... YELLOW &amp; BLACK!!! - with Michael Topic
</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/jack_dyer_stand_montage.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Jack Dyer Stand montage."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="144" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/jack_dyer_stand_montage.jpg?itok=rvT3qAHO" title="Jack Dyer Stand montage." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Jack Dyer Stand montage.</figcaption></figure>From an site perspective the origami tiger has been employed as a large scale urban gesture that provides infill development to the awkward wedges that are the subsequent result of placing an oval on a largely rectangular site. The grassy knolls which become occupied are transferred to the roofs of the buildings providing another elevated viewing vantage point.

In doing this it also provides a visual connection to the Jack Dyer Stand from Punt Road oval while also creating a pedestrian link to Richmond Station by way of the tiger's tail which becomes a bridge over Brunton Avenue. The form of the tiger isn't immediately understood particularly at street level - this only really becomes apparent once the observer is elevated.

Please enjoy the slideshow below which illustrated the design development process via a series of diagrams. If nothing else I hope at the very least you come away from this with the knowledge and ability to make an origami tiger. Until next time.

If you're an aspiring student with a design to share, <a href="mailto:laurence@urbanmelbourne.info">send an email my way</a> and more likely than not you'll find yourself on Apartments.com.au.
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