The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

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]

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 40-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 40-storey tower, which has just shy of 230 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

Hamton

The team behind Melbourne’s $2 billion transformation of the Moonee Valley Racecourse has unveiled the project’s most anticipated residential release to date; Trackside House – the first residential offering in Moonee Valley Park to boast track frontage, and the only one with uninterrupted views of the racetrack’s future finishing straight.

Trackside House will feature 205 residences including some high-end apartment stock, which come with a twist. The project will include three and four-bedroom penthouse product on each level, as opposed to stacking all of the penthouses on the top level. The clever design will accomodate those who want the larger apartment while also being closer to the track.

Joint venture partners, developer Hamton and superannuation fund Hostplus, who are working in partnership with Moonee Valley Racing Club, had renowned architecture firm Rothelowman collaborate with interiors house Carr on the designs.

Prices at Trackside House will start from $470,000 for the one-bedroom apartments, and range in price through the two, three and four-bedroom offerings to over $5 million.

The unobstructed views across the racecourse, which extend across Ascot Vale and Brunswick to the Melbourne city skyline, will offer residents unparalleled vision of iconic race days like the Cox Plate alongside the future infield of the track – which will be transformed into a lush, green landscape of walking tracks, parklands and integrated community amenities.

<img alt="The tower overlooking the race course" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="04f4c647-7aef-4f5c-a22a-5e73296029aa" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-19%20at%203.54.53%20pm.png?VersionId=vH.k0ZF5I1Gm9VPaqLphjemZhjX1hNGa" />

Trackside House will be the fourth stage released within Moonee Valley Park. Its designs by Rothelowman maintains&nbsp;the precinct’s strong connection to nature and biophilic design, fostering a unique urban sanctuary surrounded by greenery – just only six kilometres.

Inspired by the composure and calm of a refined hotel, the Trackside House lobby will welcome residents with a tree-lined landscape that leads to a private drop off area and concierge – complete with a number of services that can be booked via smartphone on the Residents’ App.

Trackside House will also be serviced by a number of exclusive resident amenities including a rooftop pool, residents’ lounge, business lounge and state of the art Wellness Sanctuary – equipped with glass-walled yoga room, meditation space and sauna and fully equipped gym.

Hamton Property Group Executive Chairman Paul Hameister said Trackside House’s uninterrupted views of both the Moonee Valley Racecourse and the city set it apart, adding to the project’s botanical design, community amenities and 20ha of green open space and parklands.

“Residents at Trackside House will be able to soak up the fun atmosphere of Moonee Valley Racing Club’s race days, events and activities, in person or from the privacy of their balcony or the rooftop entertaining areas, while enjoying uninterrupted views of the city skyline," Hameister said.

“Trackside House is the first racetrack-fronting stage within Moonee Valley Park – we have a large database of buyers who have been waiting for a track-fronting apartment, so we are excited to be bringing these unique homes to market.

<img alt="Trackside House" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="75be6960-6c20-438a-bc32-f5b24bf9215c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-19%20at%203.54.49%20pm.png?VersionId=gPWhWRBO5kbNbPQ3LbuwLzepTg9MLOYO" />

“We are once again, offering purchasers of our Penthouse apartments the opportunity to collaborate with Rothelowman and Carr to design a customised home tailored personally to their needs and believe this will resonate strongly with the local owner occupier market."

Rothelowan Principal Chris Hayton says the opportunity for purchasers to customise their future home is reflective of the Moonee Valley Park design ethos, which brings together unique residences and premium amenities that complement its natural surrounds, location and landscape.

“We are thrilled at the prospect of being able to work with future residents of Trackside House to tune the building and apartments to perfectly match their lifestyles," Hayton says.

"The underlying design philosophy for the building has always been to deliver a living experience of enviable generosity by leveraging its truly unique setting. Collaborating with residents of the building further amplifies the opportunities to provide one-of-a-kind residences."

The $2 billion redevelopment of Moonee Valley Racecourse will transform the 40 hectare site into a botanic-inspired residential landmark, and the new premium neighbourhood of Melbourne’s inner north.

Once complete, Moonee Valley Park – which is designed to be a neighbourhood within a park – will encompass around 2,000 dwellings across eight village-style precincts, complete with resident amenities, retailers, cafes, restaurants, playgrounds, sporting fields, running and walking tracks, set among 20 hectares of abundant green open space.

Moonee Valley Park launched to the market in August 2019, and has since delivered its first completed stage – as well as amenities including Tote Park and TOTE Bar &amp; Dining – with the first residents moving into their new homes in 2022. Two further stages are under construction with completion in 2023.

The $2 billion redevelopment of Moonee Valley Racecourse will transform the 40 hectare site into a botanic-inspired residential landmark, and the new premium neighbourhood of Melbourne’s inner north.

Hamton reveal Trackside House at $2 billion Moonee Valley Racecourse redevelopment

Thomas Street is the first apartment building within the $2 billion Moonee Valley Park master-plan, currently underway by property developer Hamton and financier HostPlus.

Rising six storeys, Thomas Street was designed by the award-winning Rothelowman, who partnered with Hamton for much of the residential work across the project, including Feehan Row, the terrace and house development in the master-plan&rsquo;s first release.

Rothelowman worked alongside interior design firm Mim Design and Tract Landscape Architects to unify the building&rsquo;s contemporary form and biophilic design elements to increase resident&rsquo;s connectivity to the natural environment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=103179 project_image_fid=167492]

Thomas Street comprises 69 one, two and three bedroom residences.&nbsp;

All of the one-bedroom apartments have already been snapped up. The two-bedroom apartments start from $645,000 and three-bedroom apartments are priced from $1.05 million.

Thomas Street is situated in the heart of Moonee Ponds, a sought-after inner-city locale in Melbourne&rsquo;s north-west.

Apartments at Thomas Street offer large entertainer&rsquo;s kitchens with butler&rsquo;s pantries, private home office spaces and walk-in-robes in some apartments.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=103179 project_image_fid=167465]

The building also overlooks the leafy greenery of the peaceful Residents Garden. There&rsquo;s a lush vertical garden facade and green-laden outdoor areas perfect for entertaining and dining alfresco.

Form and finishes are united through contemporary detailing. A palette of ochre, merlot and pumice tones flow throughout and will blend with the future surrounding parkland.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=103179 project_image_fid=167465]

Thomas Street residents will have access to plenty of amenities and services including car charging stations and a dog wash station inside. Plus, within the nearby sister building, there is a lobby, concierge and delivery services on offer.

Residents and visitors will have access to Stonepine Square, a Mediterranean style piazza, as well as Cox Place, a dynamic village designed to fulfill convenience and lifestyle needs, from caf&eacute; culture to a social hot spot, business heart and wellness hub.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=103179 project_image_fid=167494]

The nearby Puckle Street offers an established lifestyle destination with abundant boutiques, eateries, and the shopping heart of Moonee Ponds Central.

Delivered in the stages following Thomas Street and Feehan Row, Hamton have kept mental health in mind with an optional wellness membership to access the future Wellness Sanctuary and gymnasium, as well as the sky pool with city and racetrack views.

The crowning Jewel of the Moonee Valley Park master-plan, the racing club known as The Valley. With a new grandstand, the Moonee Valley Racing Club aims to be the premier night racing venue and is already home to major races&nbsp;like the Cox Plate.

Thomas Street comprises 69 one, two and three bedroom residences

jordan_55689

Thomas Street, Moonee Valley Park’s first apartment development, designed to connect to nature

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Australia’s first convertible apartment spaces have been revealed, designed by architecture practice ROTHELOWMAN and developed by Hamton.

The multifunctional spaces are prime examples of the innovation that can be achieved in small apartments despite current debate surrounding the implementation of minimum size standards.

Currently under construction, the spaces form part of the final stage in the master-planned Sanctuary on the River development, located in Abbotsford.

The apartments include moveable walls, pull down beds and integrated joinery, offering residents the flexibility to extend and define their living space as necessary.

The multifunctional capabilities of the compact design include cupboards that move to create a divider between a separate kitchen and bedroom, or removed for a studio-style apartment feel.

A bed folds out from the wall and an extra room can be created through a separate divider.

Australia’s first convertible spaces illustrate the exciting possibilities for flexible thinking around the way we perceive small living spaces.

<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/image61.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A convertible apartment in action"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="220" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image61.jpg?itok=JBOwDaXp" title="A convertible apartment in action" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A convertible apartment in action</figcaption></figure><h2>A case for innovation</h2>

Convinced of the benefits a convertible space can offer, ROTHELOWMAN went on to test potential mechanisms for creating maximum spatial flexibility.

In an Australian first, ROTHELOWMAN were able to hone the living space down to the essentials.

They have created the apartment design from the ground up, incorporating multiple space-saving solutions to present a holistic, cohesive layout.

"Intelligently designed with meticulous attention to detail, the convertible spaces allow you to make the most of your space,” says ROTHELOWMAN principal Chris Hayton.

“By day you can have a studio apartment and by night you can maximise your entertainment capacity by increasing your living areas."
</body></html>

Amelia Barnes

Inside Australia’s first convertible apartment

<html><body>
Melbourne International Design Week is upon us again, showcasing the best of international design excellence coupled with numerous presentations from forward thinking industry participants. The event seeks to "Give everyone the opportunity to be inspired by the benefits of outstanding design for our lives and our economy."

Highlighting the role of design as a catalyst for innovation, Melbourne International Design Week provides the most accessible means for the general public to engage with business and industry participants.

<blockquote>
Melbourne International Design Week is a series of landmark events presented in partnership with Ideas on Design and provides a platform to support and promote other presenters from the local and international community. We encourage programs and activities that showcase design excellence, build collaboration between, design disciplines, industry sectors and the local and international community.
<cite><a href="http://www.designmattersvictoria.com/design-week/">Design Matters: Melbourne International Design Week 2015</a></cite>
</blockquote>

Here's a chosen quartet of Apartments.com.au's most notable events during the course of this week:

<h2>Curbing the Urban Sprawl</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/rothelowman_02.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Living upon the Yarra. Image courtesy Rothelowman"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/rothelowman_02.jpg?itok=K1kp0bkN" title="Living upon the Yarra. Image courtesy Rothelowman" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Living upon the Yarra. Image courtesy Rothelowman</figcaption></figure>Billed as an event that will discuss the failings of suburbs and their ability to deliver a sustainable model for the Australian city, Curbing the Urban Sprawl will feature discussion lead by ROTHELOWMAN principal Chris Hayton and Hamton Development Director Matt Malseed. Covering issues relating to architecture, landscape architecture and planning, the event will present ideas based upon innovative and intelligent design, sustainability and higher density cities.

<dl>
<dt>When</dt>
	<dd>Saturday 16 May: Discussion 12:30pm - 1.30pm, followed by tours of the Haven development between 2pm to 4pm (no bookings necessary)</dd>
	<dt>Where</dt>
	<dd>Acacia Place - 677-679 Victoria Street, Abbotsford</dd>
</dl>
<h2>Urban Tomorrows, Urban Todays: Dan Hill public talk</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/x-dan_hill-700x467.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image courtesy futureeverything.org"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/x-dan_hill-700x467.jpg?itok=oFAvUa8e" title="Image courtesy futureeverything.org" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image courtesy futureeverything.org</figcaption></figure>Executive Director of Futures at the UK’s Future Cities Catapult and Adjunct Professor with the School of Media and Communication at RMIT. Impressive qualifications associated with designer and urbanist Dan Hill as he spearheads a discussion on key urban challenges for our future, with an eye toward creating a more sustainable and desirable future.

A regular for publications such as Dezeen, Domus and Volume, Dan Hill is excessively well versed in contemporary urban issues.

<dl>
<dt>When</dt>
	<dd>Wednesday 13 May: 6.30 PM to 8:00 PM (free entry)</dd>
	<dt>Where</dt>
	<dd>Level 4 Lecture Theatre, RMIT Swanston Academic Building (80.04.011) 445 Swanston Street</dd>
</dl>
<h2>Victorian Design Exhibition</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/image172.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Imagew courtesy designmattersvictoria.com"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="344" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image172.jpg?itok=YxRCYX79" title="Imagew courtesy designmattersvictoria.com" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image courtesy designmattersvictoria.com</figcaption></figure>The best of what Victoria can offer in terms of design will be on display this week. Free to the public, Victorian Design Exhibition will showcase in excess of 100 award winning designs. Chosen by industry leading bodies such as The Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Graphic Design Association, Design Institute of Australia and Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, the is the best of the best on display.

<dl>
<dt>When</dt>
	<dd>Sunday 10 May to Saturday 16 May</dd>
	<dt>Where</dt>
	<dd>City Square, Corner Swanston &amp; Collins Streets</dd>
</dl>
<h2>No Risk! A Century of Dense Living in South Yarra - Walking Tour</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/image173.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image courtesy architours.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="172" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image173.jpg?itok=_8Y2MpV1" title="Image courtesy architours.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image courtesy architours.com.au</figcaption></figure>Join the Melbourne Architours team who know the architecture and design of Melbourne's inner suburbs inside out. South Yarra is on the radar this week with an informative walking tour on the agenda

<blockquote>
South Yarra offers a physical laboratory for Melbourne’s renewed interest in density, providing a convenient cross section of built examples from maisonettes to walk-up flats and recent high end towers. Walking a meandering path from 1920 to today offers an opportunity to compare a range of dense building types, and observe changes in development activity, successive waves of architectural movements and the ever-present effects of urban governance.

This walking tour is intended to be highly interactive and seeks to provide a platform for positive debate about inner suburban Melbourne’s past, present and future.
<cite><a href="http://www.designmattersvictoria.com/design-week/melbourne-architours/">Design Matters: Melbourne Architours</a></cite>
</blockquote>

<dl>
<dt>When</dt>
	<dd>Thursday May 14: 9am-10.30am - <a href="http://www.designmattersvictoria.com/design-week/melbourne-architours/">more details</a>
</dd>
	<dt>Where</dt>
	<dd>Meet at 9-11 Claremont Street, South Yarra (bookings required)</dd>
</dl>
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silvermb

Melbourne International Design Week: Urban.com.au's choice events

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Choosing from the immense range and sheer number of apartments on the market for the uninitiated buyer may seem a daunting prospect, but Melbourne-based developer <a href="http://www.hamton.com.au/">Hamton</a> has launched a new apartment configuration they believe will give their current <a href="/buildings/sanctuary-abbotsford-681-victoria-street-abbotsford-vic-3067">Sanctuary on the River</a> apartment project a glowing point of difference.

Designed by <a href="http://www.rothelowman.com.au/">ROTHELOWMAN</a> and dubbed ‘Convertible Spaces,’ a select number of one bedroom apartments within Sanctuary will feature a bedroom space capable of being incorporated into living space as required, with functional areas such as corridors becoming usable space without compromising apartment access.

Based on a system of integrated joinery placed through the open plan layout, ‘Convertible Spaces’ allows for a highly flexible, multi positioning option for dining, bedroom and lounge areas that otherwise would be fixed in position. In turn, living area can increase by 70% at the owners whim. This is best illustrated via the below video:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/f2mVxRq6vHA" width="100%"></iframe>

<h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
We're constantly striving to innovate with our product and ‘Convertible Spaces’ is the result of much research both domestically and abroad. Locations such as New York, London and Tokyo were studied given their high population and multiple compact living options available.

‘Convertible Spaces’ essentially delivers bang for buck in terms of utilising a compact apartment to its full potential; creating one large living space and maximising functionality. We believe that ‘Convertible Spaces’ has stepped into a gap evident in the market and we have only now released the product once we've been fully satisfied with its merits.

Sanctuary will feature only five apartments with ‘Convertible Spaces’ - an option exists for twenty existing purchasers to upgrade if the desire, with an element of that cost worn by Hamton.

Although Sanctuary is scheduled to be completed by July 2015, we're pushing contractor LU Simon to a completed ‘Convertible Spaces’ apartment finished in the new year which will act as a display suite.
<cite>Paul Hameister, Hamton Joint Managing Director</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
'Convertible Spaces’ allows you to make the most of your space. By day you can have a studio apartment and by night you can maximise your entertainment capacity by increasing your living areas.

By including a fold-down bed and moveable wall we add several metres to the apartment and offer occupiers an enormous amount of flexibility. When the bed is hidden away and the wall moved across into the bedroom area, the result is a 70% increase in living area".

The movable walls that transforms the apartment is itself a joinery unit continuing the Scandinavian theme whilst importantly providing useful functionality with a pull out pantry, soft close drawers and ample additional storage accessible from both sides.
<cite>Chris Hayton, ROTHELOWMAN principal</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>Paul Hameister on 'Convertible Spaces' and the current marketplace</h2>

Asked by Apartments.com.au on the state of the current Melbourne apartment market from a developers perspective, Paul Hameister began by suggesting that the recent changes to zoning and certain councils' stance toward development has led to an imbalance in the marketplace.

<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/sanctuary_v09_hero_balcony-1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The right location can still sell itself. Image courtesy Hamton"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="423" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sanctuary_v09_hero_balcony-1.jpg?itok=ENRmBjNj" title="The right location can still sell itself. Image courtesy Hamton" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The right location can still sell itself. Image courtesy Hamton</figcaption></figure>Describing the current Melbourne CBD apartment market as "cooked", Paul Hameister asserts Hamton will continue to develop in inner city locations while avoiding the CBD. He elaborates that while certain areas are in or face a pending glut of generic apartments, other well positioned inner and middle-ring locations offering innovative, attentive living options are subject to under supply.

It's these locations that developers such as Hamton will continue to be drawn to, with 'Convertible Spaces' a likely key platform to future projects.
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