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

Staff Writer

Aqualand unveils penthouse collection at AURA By Aqualand in North Sydney

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

Joel Robinson

First look: Old Burleigh Road apartment development wave continues

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

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

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

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

The Melbourne-based HLA Group is the latest developer to expand into South East Queensland, lodging plans for a unique mixed-use short-term accomodation and apartment building in Taringa, with the building design inspired by the Glasswing Butterfly.

The development application for 10 Morrow Street seeks approval for a total of 232 dwellings, comprising 116 residential apartments and 116 short-stay accommodation units. The build-to-sell residential component is made up of 31 one-bedroom apartments, 67 two-bedroom apartments, 17 three-bedroom apartments, and a single four-bedroom apartment, offering a diverse mix aimed at singles, couples, families, and downsizers.

<img alt="Taringa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33913cd4-9839-4456-b325-d35b3f8b4694" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.40.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=sLvc7jUrYzDwqPDZBPrXTosKHDSp.qrt" />

Designed by Ellivo Architects, the tower takes strong inspiration from nature, with the architectural language driven by one of Queensland’s most delicate species. As described in the planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council, Ellivo Architects state the design is “inspired by the elegance of the Glasswing butterfly," and mirrors the graceful sweep of its wings, a form that feels light, fluid, and alive.

“Lush subtropical greenery is throughtfull woven throughout, transforming the building into a sanctuary in the heart of the city.”

The proposal positions the building as more than a conventional residential tower, with Ellivo Architects describing 10 Morrow Street as “an urban oasis that blends short term accomodation with residential living. A destination for rest, relaxation, and renewal.”

<img alt="Taringa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84e9a0ff-464e-4973-bffe-5d5a8fe9f087" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.40.32%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dhX9eVgUaQE2TvCzJPhF8N8_hzYSKpyK" />

Formally, the building’s massing and floorplate are directly shaped by its butterfly inspiration. Ellivo explain that, “adopting the wings of the Glasswing Butterfly, the tower's plan is divided into four distinct quadrants, each shaped to mirror the wing's segmented geometry and taking the slender ‘veins’ up the facade of the tower.”

"This approach results in a sculpted tower form with articulated façades and a strong vertical expression."

<img alt="Taringa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5947011d-ff6c-4a57-bdc1-9072a472a79c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.40.29%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=nnGqd4WCZM8AOJZY.c3u49BO4LurKRhb" />

The Assessment Report by Human Habitats said the 19-storey tower capitalises on its strategic connectivity and prominence at the entrance of Taringa Village and adjoining the Taringa Station.

"The proposal offers a significant revitalisation of the subject site that integrates architectural excellence, innovation, and sustainable design to directly address long-standing connectivity and safety challenges, housing supply , and diversity together with enhanced streetscape activation and convenient access to major transport corridors."

HLA Group Australia is registered to South Yarra and is currently delivering Adamson No.5, just 15 luxury apartments that start from around $2 million.&nbsp;

The Butterfly Effect: Glasswing butterfly inspires Taringa apartment development

Fieldwork

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Here at Apartments.com.au, we love to track developments from the moment they are lodged for town planning consideration to construction, and through to completion. 122 Roseneath Street represents one such project that we have been fortunate enough to follow over the course of its life cycle, having first been profiled on Apartments.com.au way back in <a href="/news/in-detail-122-138-roseneath-street-clifton-hill">October 2015</a> and being added to our database in August of the same year.

This almost four year journey came to a close last month with the first residents moving into the progressive development in Clifton Hill. With community engagement and social connectivity as two of its greatest drivers, 122 Roseneath Street has been delivered by a collective of socially engaged and design oriented joint development partners comprising ICON Developments, Wulff Projects and Assemble.

Designed by Fieldwork, 122 Roseneath St. comprises 65 homes with a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments, and two and three bedroom townhouses, in addition to a retail space and resident workshop space within three buildings.

Holistically the development is characterised by its raised landscaped spines or laneways, which provide circulation and access for residents but also adequate building separation for privacy while also ensuring a green aspect. The three buildings are arranged around these green spines with a taller central apartment building in between and two rows of townhouses along the east and west boundaries transitioning down in scale to respond to neighbours. 

The raised landscape spaces allow for parking below while also creating a quasi-public space - there are no gates preventing access to the public but by raising the space and providing access via a series of stars there is some delinieation between public and private use.

<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/fieldwork_roseneath_ctatjana_plitt_57a8844.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The spines provide a green buffer and outlook between buildings. Image: Tatjana Plitt"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fieldwork_roseneath_ctatjana_plitt_57a8844.jpg?itok=9oN03ntU" title="The spines provide a green buffer and outlook between buildings. Image: Tatjana Plitt" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The spines provide a green buffer and outlook between buildings. Image: Tatjana Plitt</figcaption></figure>According to the joint development partners, the approach employed for 122 Roseneath St. project represents a growing trend in Australia’s apartment market,  which incorporates human-centred design driven by shared values and psychographics of residents and the local community.

The joint development partners say that by adopting a community-led approach, they were able to attract a diverse yet like-minded group of purchasers, resulting in a housing typology that reflects the community’s needs and aspirations for the neighbourhood.

The development team, undertook a comprehensive community engagement process throughout key moments along the project's life cycle, including early engagement with local residents during town planning and organising presentations which sought feedback from prospective purchasers prior to sales and again during construction. 

Prior to the finalisation of the building’s design, the developers conducted 12 stage one design presentations which were attended by 450 people, and a further 7 stage two design presentations which were attended by 280 people.

Feedback received during these sessions informed the inclusion of a communal room for flexible uses (e.g. yoga and kids play during the day and entertaining at night), a laundry, a workshop space for bike repairs and dog washing, and edible herb garden, external operable shutters and a rooftop deck for townhouses.

This early engagement with local residents and the greater community ensured that the project earned the support of the majority of the community, avoiding VCAT and generating a positive result for locals, residents, and the development team.

<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/fieldwork_roseneath_ctatjana_plitt_57a8769.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The communal landscaped laneways. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="450" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fieldwork_roseneath_ctatjana_plitt_57a8769.jpg?itok=CUAGUvYq" title="The communal landscaped laneways. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The communal landscaped laneways not only provide access but dwell spaces. Image: Tatjana Plitt</figcaption></figure>You can track 122 Roseneath Street's four-year journey on  Urban/Apartments.com.au via the links below:

<ul>
<li><a href="/news/in-detail-122-138-roseneath-street-clifton-hill">In detail: 122-138 Roseneath Street, Clifton Hill</a></li>
	<li>
	<a href="/news/assemble-papers-and-open-house-present-the-brutalist-block-party">Assemble Papers and Open House present the Brutalist Block Party</a>
	</li>
	<li>
	<a href="/news/social-connectivity-is-at-the-heart-of-122-roseneath-street">Social connectivity is at the heart of 122 Roseneath Street</a>
	</li>
	<li>
	<a href="/news/love-me-tender-projects-currently-at-tender-that-will-begin-in-2017">Love me tender: projects currently at tender that will begin in 2017</a>
	</li>
	<li>
	<a href="/news/on-site-with-wulff-projects-part-02-122-roseneath-street-clifton-hill">On site with Wulff Projects (Part 02) : 122 Roseneath Street, Clifton Hill</a>
	</li>
</ul>
We've also uploaded a number of photos from my site visit with Kyle on the <a href="/buildings/122-roseneath-st-122-roseneath-street-clifton-hill">122 Roseneath Street project page</a>. Be sure to check them out. 

<h2>ICON Development's Kyle Reeves:</h2>

<blockquote>
“By speaking directly to our audience, we have created homes that truly reflect purchasers’ preferences and have fostered a genuine sense of community. 122 Roseneath St. demonstrates how a thoughtful, community-led approach to design can achieve strong social, cultural and commercial outcomes,” said Kyle Reeve, senior development manager at ICON Developments.

The success of the approach, which resulted in sales of over 80 per cent on the first day of launch and the remaining homes sold out within 8 weeks, meant that the developers saved $1 million on sales and marketing costs, which was then reinvested back into the building.

Residents, which consist of 85 per cent owner-occupiers, have now moved into the development of 47 apartments and 18 townhouses and represent a mix of downsizers, families, single people, and first home buyers.

The tailored approach resonated with purchasers and resulted in a high owner-occupier rate. By focusing on the role of psychographics, we were able to attract all types of buyers, from downsizers, young families, single people, first home buyers, many with children and pets, to create a community of like-minded residents. 122 Roseneath St. is an affirmation in the true value of upfront community engagement.

Lots of buyers are sceptical about buying off the plan, and I think this is rooted in the traditional lack of communication between developers and purchasers. What this model really did was open up the doors and facilitate this two-way conversation.

The model wasn’t necessarily about driving profit but testing a new approach which could assist with managing risk and delivering a better quality end product. The ability to bring potential purchasers along on the planning and design journey meant that when the time came to sell the apartments, we were very confident we had a product that purchasers wanted, at a price they were willing to pay".
</blockquote>
</body></html>

Laurence Dragomir

A 4-year journey comes to a close - 122 Roseneath Street, a retrospective

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In response to escalating property prices and a lack of quality housing options, <a href="/architects/make-architecture">Make Ventures (MAKE)</a> and <a href="/developers/assemble">Assemble</a> have partnered to launch the Assemble Model, which aims to offer stability on rent, certainty on price, financial coaching and community services to support residents on their path to home ownership

The proponents argue that the conventional off-the-plan development model is largely failing to address people’s expectations of quality and aspirations for the community. 

To combat this, the team at MAKE have spent the past three years working on a proprietary development model to improve housing affordability. This follows the successful delivery of over $2 billion worth of development over the last 15 years and complements their current portfolio of over $1.5 billion of urban renewal projects.

MAKE undertook research of build-to-rent markets and operators in North America and Europe, before engaging KPMG and Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) to help refine a financial model that delivers sufficient long-run annualised investment returns to ultimately attract direct investment from superannuation funds into the Australian housing market.

The model is an adaptation of the built-to-rent model with one of the key distinctions being that the liquidity event is via a sale to residents individually, rather than selling the asset in one line to an institutional investor.

Following refinement of the model, MAKE identified the need for a deep community and service offering to enhance the proprietary nature of the model and underpin equity in the brand.

Enter Assemble, a residential developer focused on small footprint projects and the culture of living closer together, who over the last six years via its Assemble Papers publication, has explored the culture of living closer together a wide spectrum of fields, and in turn developed a large community of passionate and loyal followers.

More recently, Assemble put these ideas into practice through its first development in partnership with <a href="/developers/wulff-projects">Wulff Projects</a> and <a href="/developers/icon-developments">Icon Developments</a> in Roseneath Street, <a href="/new-apartments/clifton-hill-vic-3068">Clifton Hill</a>, comprising 48 apartments and 18 townhouses. Assemble led the community engagement, design presentations and sales process contributing towards a record result with 80% of homes sold on the first day of sales, 95% of which to owner-occupiers and 60% of which were from the Assemble Papers reader community.

The project received the 2016 Victorian Premier’s Design Award for excellence in Service Design and construction for the project is on track for completion in August 2018.

Once it was determined that the two brands shared common goals, values and provided complementary skills, MAKE restructured and took a majority interest in Assemble. This provided it with the capital and infrastructure to become an end-to-end property developer and community manager, and as a result, the brand for the new development model will fall under the Assemble banner.

With the first project underway and site acquisitions pending, the medium to long-term plan for Assemble is to develop and manage a portfolio of up to 40 residential assets totalling approximately 4,000 homes across major capital cities, providing a platform for institutional investment into residential housing and a pathway to home ownership for those currently locked out of the inner-city housing market.

Equity has been secured for the first three projects and discussions are progressing with superannuation funds to become the medium to longer-term capital partner for the business

<h2>393 Macaulay Road, Kensington </h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8415]

The first project to be delivered under the Assemble Model will be <a href="/buildings/38-albermarle-st-393-macaulay-road-kensington">393 Macaulay Road, Kensington</a>. Located three kilometres north-west of <a href="/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne’s CBD</a> in the wide, tree-lined streets of the industrial suburb, the building is sited between <a href="/new-apartments/moonee-ponds-vic-3039">Moonee Ponds</a> Creek to the east and the <a href="/new-apartments/maribyrnong-vic-3032">Maribyrnong</a> River to the west and has been designed to encourage and foster a new community.

Identified as one of Resilient Melbourne’s Resilient Communities (an initiative of 100 Resilient Cities – pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation), 393 Macaulay Rd will encourage greater understanding of how to create more connected communities that are both sustainable and financially viable

Following extensive consultation with the City of Melbourne, a town planning application has been submitted for the Fieldwork-designed building, which will upon completion comprise 73 apartments over 8 levels. ANZ has approved its first development and investment facility for the Kensington project, whereby it will provide construction funding without the usual pre-sale requirements.

The design is centred around a landscaped, open-air walkway that will provide apartments with cross-flow ventilation and dual aspect natural light. The entire community will be connected through communal spaces on the upper and ground floors which include places for work, eating and leisure.

Additionally, the design team at Fieldwork has adopted a "less-is-more approach with the design, where quality is the defining factor." The aim is for the building to improve with age through durable materials, flexible spaces, good access to natural light, cross-flow ventilation, strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, high-quality fixtures and fittings, robust energy systems and integrated landscaping.

At its core, 393 Macaulay Road is about implementing a clear set of standards that promote a better quality of life, while also allowing residents a greater degree of customisation than the market currently offers.

The original heritage building, designed by art deco architect Harry A. Norris will be restored and the facade retained, embedding the design within its industrial context.

<figure><a href="/buildings/38-albermarle-st-393-macaulay-road-kensington"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="383" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/macaulay_rd_slider_1-2.jpg?itok=HQesSiu7" title="393 Macaulay Road will be the first project delivered under the Assemble model. Image: Assemble" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>393 Macaulay Road will be the first project delivered under the Assemble model. Image: Assemble</figcaption></figure><h2>The Assemble Model</h2>

<ul>
<li>Prior to construction, residents sign a 5-year lease with the option to purchase their home for a fixed price at the end of the term.</li>
	<li>The purchase price is agreed up front and is calculated as today’s price with fixed 1.75% increases per year until you buy in approximately 7 years (i.e. 2 years of building and 5 years of leasing).</li>
	<li>Rent is agreed up front for the term of the lease and is calculated at a market rate with fixed 2.5% increases per year over the 5-year lease.</li>
	<li>The lease and option to purchase is secured by paying a refundable amount of 1% of the purchase price prior to the start of construction (e.g. $5k for a $500k apartment).</li>
	<li>Over the 5-year lease period, Assemble will support residents on their pathway to ownership via not-for-profit financial coaching services and bulk-buying initiatives to leverage economies of scale (e.g. internet, utilities, farm-direct groceries, insurance), Assemble will also have an on-site team to help with the day-to-day chores (e.g. parcel pick-up and drop-off, dry-cleaning, dog walking and apartment cleaning) and community building initiatives.</li>
	<li>After 5 years, residents can exercise the option to purchase the property at the fixed price, with the 1% refundable amount contributing towards the purchase price.</li>
</ul>
<figure><a href="/buildings/38-albermarle-st-393-macaulay-road-kensington"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="527" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/macaulay_rd_slider_2-1.png?itok=Gbxj1p5x" title="393 Macaulay Road, Kensington. Image: Assemble" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>393 Macaulay Road, Kensington. Image: Assemble</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
The Assemble Model is the culmination of three years of research, both locally and overseas - and applying these learnings to the Australian context. The model aims to address the fundamental desire for the majority of Australians to own their own home – and is a direct response to multi-level government policies on housing affordability.

By locking in the price today, you are protected from rapid property price increases. You have seven years to save towards your deposit and five years to see if your home lives up to your expectations. Get to know your home, your neighbours and community before you decide to buy, and you can exit the lease or not proceed with the purchase at any time 
Any increase in the market value of your home above the fixed price, is to your benefit. It’s about giving people an opportunity to get a foothold in tomorrow’s housing market today.

- Kris Daff, Managing Director, Assemble and MAKE
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
What excites me in particular about the Assemble Model is a greater alignment of interest between the developer and resident compared to the off-the-plan model. We have to deliver high quality buildings that age gracefully and foster a genuine community. Design will be at the forefront of the Assemble Model to create homes that are functional and beautiful and that we’d genuinely want to live in ourselves.

Having designed many high quality apartment projects over the last 17 years, I’ve been frustrated that a lot of my team members can’t afford to buy into the projects they’re working on. I’m excited that the Assemble Model will provide them with the opportunity to do so in a supported and flexible way.

- Quino Holland, Design Director, Assemble and Director, Fieldwork
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
A tight-knit community doesn’t just grow overnight. We believe that with the right community infrastructure in place - we can support our residents to build strong relationships with their neighbours.

- Abbie Freestone, Head of Community, Assemble
</blockquote>
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Introducing the Assemble Model: A new pathway to apartment buying and ownership

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Developer Milieu Property has stepped up in scale with their latest residential project.

Specialising in small scale developments to date with a slant toward progressive urban design, the firm has now taken 121 Lygon Street on the western side of Lygon Street to planning. Larger than the developer's previous projects, the development would be inserted into an evolving Lygon Street streetscape which over recent years has seen the completion of numerous apartment buildings.

Along for the ride is regular cohort Fieldwork who have created a design outcome very much in line with their signature look.

<h2>121 Lygon Street application 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/image81_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Lygon Street hero perspective. Image: Fieldwork"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="513" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image81_0.jpg?itok=dj_If0G-" title="Lygon Street hero perspective. Image: Fieldwork" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Lygon Street hero perspective. Image: Fieldwork</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>Site area: 1,382 square metres</li>
	<li>Apartments to Lygon Street, townhouses to secondary Edward Street frontage</li>
	<li>56 dwellings: 5 x 1BR, 39 x 2BR, 4 x 3BR, 8 x TH</li>
	<li>Ground floor retail/cafe: 163 square metres</li>
	<li>3 basement levels: 71 vehicles and 76 private/visitor bicycle bays</li>
	<li>152 square metre rooftop terrace</li>
</ul>
<h2>Designing for Brunswick East</h2>

<blockquote>
119A - 121 Lygon Street proposes a bold, considered residential project which responds to the evolving context of East Brunswick. The design speaks to the site’s dual interface: the active, bustling and developing Lygon Street and the finer grain residential character of Edward Street.

Through formal articulation, a considered material palette and sensitive treatment of the ground floor interface, the proposal mediates these two conditions and that speaks to both future and existing contexts.

It sets a strong, contextually responsive precedent for future development of the area which positively embraces growth.
<cite>Fieldwork design report</cite>
</blockquote>

In a broader sense 121 Lygon Street is a continuation of Fieldwork's trademark look that has seen the firm shoot to prominence.

The townhouse component fronting Edward Street takes design cues, particularly in the brick work presentation, from other Fieldwork projects such as <a href="http://www.fieldworkprojects.com.au/projects/ruskin-st-elwood">Ruskin Street</a>, <a href="http://www.fieldworkprojects.com.au/projects/clyde-st">Clyde Street</a> and <a href="http://www.fieldworkprojects.com.au/projects/armadale-townhouses">Armadale</a>. The taller structure fronting Lygon Street is also typical of a mid-rise Fieldwork project.

In this regard 121 Lygon Street is straight out of the Fieldword playbook, and features vertically ribbed concrete panels akin to their other designs such as <a href="http://www.fieldworkprojects.com.au/projects/patch-apartments">Patch Apartments</a> and <a href="/developments/fitzroy-north-vic-3068">249 Queens Parade</a>.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image80_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Townhouses fronting Edward Street. Image: Fieldwork"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="356" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image80_3.jpg?itok=w74rlWCQ" title="Townhouses fronting Edward Street. Image: Fieldwork" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Townhouses fronting Edward Street. Image: Fieldwork</figcaption></figure>The Lygon Street application reinforces Milieu Property's liking for Melbourne's inner northern suburbs.

Of late all of the developer's pursuits have been confined to Fitzroy, Collingwood, Brunswick and surrounding suburbs. On the tail end of Collingwood's Peel Street reaching completion, the developer's pipeline includes another Collingwood project dubbed Bedford By Milieu and Breese Street in Brunswick.

According to Milieu Property the latter project is a joint design effort between DKO Architecture and Breathe Architecture, and will include 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments with a targeted 7.5-star sustainability rating outcome.

<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/image79_7.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Previous Milieu and Fieldwork collaborations. Images: Fieldwork"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="272" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image79_7.jpg?itok=tuiKST0L" title="Previous Milieu and Fieldwork collaborations. Images: Fieldwork" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Previous Milieu and Fieldwork collaborations. Images: Fieldwork</figcaption></figure>
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silvermb

Milieu Property moves on Lygon Street's established apartment strip

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Following on from <a href="/news/on-site-with-wulff-projects-part-01-newry-street-richmond">Part 01</a> of Apartments.com.au's site tour with Adam Wulff of Wulff Projects, comes Part 02 - 122 Roseneath Street. Developed in partnership with Icon Development and Assemble Projects, the small footprint development is progressing on site at a rapid pace, and like Wulff's Newry Street project is targeting an early Q3 2018 completion date.

<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/160809_assemble-projects_project-slider_011-1050x460.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="122 Roseneath Street upon completion. Image : Assemble Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="254" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/160809_assemble-projects_project-slider_011-1050x460.jpg?itok=o5Sh9gpg" title="122 Roseneath Street upon completion. Image : Assemble Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>122 Roseneath Street upon completion. Image : Assemble Projects</figcaption></figure>Roseneath Street follows a suite of other developments by Wulff Projects in Clifton Hill, successfully acquiring the site off-market in 2014. A town planning permit was obtained outside of VCAT in April 2016 for 49 apartments, 18 townhouses, and one retail tenancy.

Designed by Fieldwork, the design possesses a strong sustainability and community design focus, and comprises three main forms aligned north-south along the site, with two raised landscaped terraces which provide separation, access, and outlook.

These green spines or 'linear parks' are achieved by rising above the ground level car park beneath, removing the need for underground parking and costly basement excavation.

The linear parks are accessed via two cascading stairs from Roseneath Street which are accessible 24/7 - there are no gates, but the change in levels provides a threshold of sorts between the public and private domains.

To the street, the car park is concealed behind a retail tenancy and workshop space with 3-storey townhouses located either side, with a central 6-storey apartment building, that terraces down to Roseneath Street.

<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/20180209_082132.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The central apartment building's staggered form responds to the lower scale of the streetscape."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="353" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20180209_082132.jpg?itok=-VpHv8mM" title="The central apartment building's staggered form responds to the lower scale of the streetscape." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The central apartment building's staggered form responds to the lower scale of the streetscape.</figcaption></figure>A portion of an existing Brutalist office building on the site has been retained, which provided inspiration and was a key driver in the choice of materiality for the project.  

According to Wulff, its retention was not without its challenges, particularly in how the existing floor levels and structure were integrated into the rest of the development, but says it was ultimately worth it, providing the team with an opportunity to celebrate a key element of the site's existing fabric.   

A redbrick wall along the western boundary has also been retained providing the development with another layer of existing grain and local context.

The building is a highly site-responsive design with strong sustainability, quality, and community focus with extensive Council, community and purchaser consultation which assisted the team in refining the design to sit comfortably within its context and provide a product that was appealing to the local market. .

<blockquote>
The outcome is driven by fundamental principles including an emphasis on internal amenity, privacy, light and air access, equitable view lines, and communal facilities. The project is conceived as an exemplar of contextually sensitive, high-quality design and sustainable, small footprint living.

- Fieldwork
</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/20180209_094623.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Making an impact on the Clifton Hill skyline."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="390" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20180209_094623.jpg?itok=jgkC0tvO" title="Making an impact on the Clifton Hill skyline." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Making an impact on the Clifton Hill skyline.</figcaption></figure>One of the more interesting aspects of the development and one which reinforces the project team's commitment and belief in the quality of the project is the fact that several members of the project team will call Roseneath home. In the realm of residential development, there's no stronger endorsement in a project than when its team commits to it.  

This particularly was reassuring for prospective purchasers who were involved in the consultation process, providing them with the confidence that this wasn't your typical run of the mill apartment project.

While the extensive consultation process with the community and interested buyers might not always be required or practical on every project, it proved beneficial in shaping the final design and mix of dwellings for Roseneath, says Wulff. 

Look out for Part 03 in the coming months which will focus on Wulff Projects' upcoming 210 Alexandra Parade development. In the meantime please enjoy the slideshow of construction photos below;
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On site with Wulff Projects (Part 02) : 122 Roseneath Street, Clifton Hill

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7,000 square metres of prime yet underutilised Brunswick real estate is heading down the path of urban regeneration.

342-348 Victoria Street had for generations been the home of Australian Licorice Company. Whilst production onsite may have ceased during 1985 the operation's redundant chimney takes pride of place over the site, so much so it is considered of "historic, social, architectural and scientific importance to the State of Victoria" by the Victorian Heritage Database.

With this in mind Fieldwork Architects have gone about creating a commercial, residential and retail precinct for the site that will see the chimney and associated firebox retained.

Carlton-based Australian Licorice Company Pty Ltd has instigated the site's redevelopment.

<h2>342-348 Victoria Street application 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/image32_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Commercial component. Image: Fieldwork Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="430" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image32_11.jpg?itok=_KyDd8WD" title="Commercial component. Image: Fieldwork Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Commercial component. Image: Fieldwork Architects</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>Submitted October 2017</li>
	<li>Cost of development: $82 million</li>
	<li>4 differing buildings from 3 to 11 levels in height or 36.7 metres</li>
	<li>Commercial space: 6,494 square metres</li>
	<li>177 dwellings: 67 x 1BR, 78 x 2BR, 6 x 3BR, 26 x townhouses</li>
	<li>8 retail tenancies covering 1,693 square metres</li>
	<li>2 basement levels: 10 motorbikes, 335 vehicles, 286 bicycles</li>
	<li>1,400 square metre public open plaza</li>
	<li>Communal areas</li>
</ul>
Accessibility to the adjoining Brunswick Railway Station will also be enhanced by way of new pedestrian links and expanded open space. The proposed development's demolition plans also requests the removal of kerb and street car parks along Rosser Street and Wilkinson Street, resulting in both streets becoming shared zones.

An expanded Upfield Bike Path also connects to the proposed development's public open plaza, promoting pedestrian traffic through the site to Victoria Street and Rosser Street. 

<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/image33_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Typical Fieldwork finishes on show. Image: Fieldwork Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="395" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image33_12.jpg?itok=mhizIoW9" title="Typical Fieldwork finishes on show. Image: Fieldwork Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Typical Fieldwork finishes on show. Image: Fieldwork Architects</figcaption></figure>Visually 342-348 Victoria Street looks to be the aggregation of a number of previous Fieldwork Architects projects.

Aspects of the development mirrors the practice's <a href="http://www.fieldworkprojects.com.au/projects/249-queens-parade">249 Queens Parade</a>, and to a lesser extent 808 Sydney Road and <a href="/buildings/patch-fitzroy-north-243-queens-parade-fitzroy-north">243 Queens Parade</a>. The uniform 'veil' finish of Fieldworks Architects' <a href="http://www.fieldworkprojects.com.au/projects/cremorne-offices">Cremorne office design</a> is also reprised over certain elevations within 342-348 Victoria Street.

342-348 Victoria Street is the most recent, and largest, of three current Brunswick projects for Fieldworks Architects. The aforementioned 808 Sydney Road for PACE Development Group is well into construction whilst <a href="/buildings/one-wilson-avenue">1-7 Wilson Avenue</a> is at planning and consists of 61 apartments across 8 levels for Neometro.

<h2>Comment</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/image34_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ground level expectations. Image: Fieldwork Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="234" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image34_12.jpg?itok=XaeRvBb4" title="Ground level expectations. Image: Fieldwork Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ground level expectations. Image: Fieldwork Architects</figcaption></figure>City of Moreland is not short on large former industrial sites that have over time been redeveloped for residential purposes. Apartments.com.au has in the past highlighted the Tip Top Brunswick East as a prime example of what a large site can achieve at street level.

Conversely Ettaro Apartments also in Brunswick East is at the other end of the scale, in terms of a less than ideal street level character and activation outcome.

As per the early renders, 342-348 Victoria Street may well insert itself at the very pointy in that it could provide an exponentially superior finer grain outcome relative to most projects across Moreland and greater Melbourne for that matter. Scale, greenery, earthy materials (particularly brick), green spaces, heritage retention for adaptive reuse, enhanced transport links and pedestrian permeability; it sounds like the quintessential contemporary Melbourne urban regeneration development.

If the renders are a true indication, Brunswick is in line for a benchmark project.
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Urban regeneration grips Brunswick's massive Licorice Factory site

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A daring design has emerged for one of Johnston Street's premier corners.

Developer Pirovich is proposing a unique 9 level building on Johnston and Nicholson Streets, complete with hanging greenery and a distinctive central staircase that may well define the design. Fieldwork have created 329 Johnston Street, which also holds secondary frontages to 236 Nicholson Street and 37 Hunter Street.

The cross laminated timer (CLT) proposal would follow in the steps of the pioneering 10-storey Forte residential building and Docklands Library, both of which utilised the CLT method and are located within Victoria Harbour.

<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/image10_10.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Nicholson Street perspective. Image: Fieldwork Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="296" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image10_10.jpg?itok=NxrSos64" title="Nicholson Street perspective. Image: Fieldwork Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Nicholson Street perspective. Image: Fieldwork Projects</figcaption></figure>Wall, floor and roof segments are fabricated offsite, with the building method's <a href="http://www.crosslamtimber.com.au/">official website</a> showing CLT can:

<ul>
<li>Provide a carbon-neutral construction method</li>
	<li>Allow for more economic foundations and shorter construction time frames</li>
	<li>Allow for immediate access and easy procedures for follow-on trades</li>
</ul>
For their part, Pirovich describes 329 Johnston Street in the following fashion:

<blockquote>
At 329 Johnston Street Abbotsford we are proposing a beautiful and sustainable new building - retail, offices, medical suites and a hotel. The building structure will be cross laminated timber, wrapped in a stunning expanded mesh.

The building fabric is seeking to achieve <a href="http://www.passivehouse.com.au/">Passive Haus</a>, giving future occupiers of the building a happier and healthier place to work, rest and play.

As part of the new development we are setting the building back at ground level and ceding over 200sqm of the site to the public realm.
</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/image12_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Project perspectives. Image: Fieldwork Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="286" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image12_6.jpg?itok=ooh5vn76" title="Project perspectives. Image: Fieldwork Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Project perspectives. Image: Fieldwork Projects</figcaption></figure>The particulars of the prospective development sees a retail mix including café's, a convenience store and shops across the ground floor, with medical suites and offices accounting for levels one and two.

Subsequent floors carry 41 serviced apartments, split between 8 x 1 bedroom, 26 x 2 bedroom and 7 x 3 bedroom options. At its tallest point 329 Johnston Street would be 30.1m above ground, which would see the project as one of Johnston Street's tallest, with the yellow open stairwell facing Johnston Street running the height of the building.

Three levels of basement parking include provisions for 157 car parking spaces, whilst 70 bicycle spaces are at ground level. With an estimated cost of development at $20 million, Pirovich's ground breaking Abbotsford project is currently at <a href="http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/list-planning-applications/view-application/?ApplicationID=3715">advertising</a>.
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