In a move that aligns with NSW's accelerated planning incentives for affordable housing, developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/the-one-collection">One Collection</a> has revised its Hills District apartment plans, and taken it to the NSW Government, to secure approval.

The developer, which is currently delivering Horizon Hurstville, is seeking to add 80 more apartments to its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-castle-hill-16-dawes-avenue-nsw-2154">Castle Hill development</a> near Castle Towers. They already have approval for 280 apartments across eight six-storey buildings.

<img alt="One Collection" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b3c298ba-1cc5-4db7-9872-607c75f8ceca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-10-13%20at%2010.19.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=wN9KpFIu5ENSGZLLsaZgXQHrXcwEO3Vd" />

Now on the desks of the NSW Department of Planning is 360 apartments, 48 of which will be dedicated to affordable housing.&nbsp;Affordable housing is to be “fully integrated within the building and visually indistinguishable,” according to the planning submission.

The 15,697 sqm block, an amalgamation of 16 sites, spans across Dawes Avenue, Hughes Avenue, and Camdan Crescent, sits 550m from Hills Showground Metro Station.&nbsp;

"The existing context is quickly changing from free-standing homes into residential flat buildings in line with the Hills Showground Precinct planning framework," Place Studio noted.

<img alt="Castle Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3ec24948-c185-48fa-af8b-ed25adf302bf" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-10-13%20at%2010.19.04%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zNDX.IeRROX1RlDeYcS38xn8w_dqgU2t" />

They said the design was informed by the site's unique condition of having three street frontages and was developed to to respond sensitively to iots surrounding context.

"The design adopted a conventional perpendicular alignment to the primary street frontage. The massing of the development was carefully modulated to align with the evolving character of the neighbourhood. The design ensured that the scale was not excessive or out of context, but instead contributed to a cohesive urban form consistent with emerging developments in the area."

<img alt="Castle Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f83ffdaa-f960-469d-b6fe-abcece57c9ef" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-10-13%20at%2010.19.09%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4oKlCyfaKes7jLi1_EMoqa46w2h_YvDZ" />

The apartment mix will be 46 one-beds, 168 two-bed apartments, and 146 three-bedroom units, with 631 parking spaces proposed.

Along the street frontages, the building heights are four storeys with a 7.5 metre setback, and eight storeys with an 11.5 metre setback. It should cost about $150 million to build.

One Collection works hand-in-hand with the respected development and construction firm Masscon, which has built a reputation for leveraging its expertise in the built environment to take on developments others can't. That's what they're achieving at Horizon Hurstville, having taken over the project to deliver it.

Joel Robinson

First look: One Collection advances plans for Castle Hill apartments

At Yarra’s Edge, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mirvac">Mirvac</a>’s newest tower under construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/trielle-at-yarra-s-edge-docklands-16-point-park-crescent-docklands-vic-3008">Trielle</a>, sets a new benchmark for elevated living. Rising 45 storeys, 12.5 metres from the Yarra River, the landmark building offers residents access to a private wellness retreat and spa, a resident-only golf simulator, and an elegant lounge, dining and bar complete with a self-playing piano, all without ever having to leave home.

Now, that sense of elevation has reached new heights with the Aerus Sub-Penthouses, a limited release of half-floor riverfront residences on the Collins St axis where the sought-after street meets the Yarra River.

Each Aerus Sub-Penthouse, located across levels 42 and 43, represents the most expansive offering within Trielle, aside from the yet-to-be-revealed crowning penthouses. Spanning between 269 and 301 sqm, these residences are designed to capture natural light and uninterrupted views of the city skyline, Yarra River, and Port Phillip Bay.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114216 project_image_fid=3784]

Among the collection are three-bedroom sub penthouses, complemented by a media room, and expansive four-bedroom layouts. All include panoramic living areas and oversized master suites with luxury ensuites reminiscent of a five-star hotel, complemented by dedicated dressing rooms finished in timber and natural stone.

The interiors have been crafted by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mirvac-design">Mirvac Design</a>, the developer’s award-winning in-house architecture and design team. Every material has been chosen for quality and longevity, from sculpted stone island benches with feature soft wash LED lighting to bespoke joinery and chevron timber oak flooring.

Kitchens are fitted with a BORA induction cooktop with integrated downdraft extractor, alongside Gaggenau appliances, including a fridge, freezer, and wine fridge. The adjoining butler’s pantry incorporates the exclusive Gaggenau Minimalistic Series including oven, steam oven, microwave, coffee machine and warming drawer, all concealed behind handleless glass panels for a clean, integrated presentation. Bathrooms feature custom Apaisar freestanding baths and basins and natural stone benchtops, continuing Mirvac’s design emphasis on tactile, timeless materials.&nbsp;

<img alt="Trielle at Yarra's Edge, Docklands" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c00be724-b0f1-47c0-afed-54f829870704" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Aerus%20sub-penthouse.png?VersionId=Uktd61kpLSqNjwJeDFs7IaZ3xgLlDQmu" />

Michael Wiener, Design Director at Mirvac, says The Aerus Sub-Penthouse embodies the apex of Mirvac’s design ethos.

“Moving through your home is like walking on air - a private sanctuary where the craftsmanship is refined, the proportions generous, and the flow so effortless, you feel completely at ease in the sky,” Wiener says.

“In Aerus, we wanted to create a sense of weightlessness - a home that feels suspended in the skyline, full of light, grounded in luxury.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114216 project_image_fid=3777]

The Aerus Sub-Penthouses are expected to attract a mix of local and international buyers seeking a long-term residence of scale and quality in a riverfront setting, from returning expats to established families and business owners who value privacy, craftsmanship, and convenience within walking distance of the CBD.

With an unmatched suite of amenities, Trielle is the most extensively appointed development Mirvac has created to date at Yarra’s Edge. Within the tower will be The Oasis, a 900 sqm podium rooftop wellness retreat designed in collaboration with spa expert Naomi Gregory. Located seven storeys above the Yarra River promenade, it features a 25-metre lap pool, spa and sauna, hot magnesium spa, biophilic gym, yoga and Pilates studio, cold-pail contrast treatment, and day spa treatment rooms. Further amenities include a piano lounge, bookable dining room, cinema room, golf simulator studio, games room, teppanyaki bar, dog wash bay, and two flexible work hubs, The Biblioteca library and Mills Place office space, catering to residents’ evolving lifestyle needs.

Construction of the $350 million tower is underway through Mirvac’s in-house construction arm, with completion anticipated for mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=114216]

Sky-high sanctuaries: Mirvac unveils The Aerus sub-penthouses at Trielle

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/jwland-development">JWLand</a>’s De Burgh, the final residential release within the Northbourne Village precinct in Lyneham, is nearing completion just as the Federal Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme prepares for its most significant expansion to date.&nbsp;

From October 2025, the scheme will allow first home buyers to enter the market with just a five per cent deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), removing some of the most common barriers to ownership.

With <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/de-burgh-at-northbourne-village-40-de-burgh-street-lyneham-act-2602">De Burgh</a> on track for residents to move in by late spring 2025, the timing creates a strong opportunity for first home buyers seeking brand-new apartments in Canberra’s sought-after Inner North.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=212888]

The project delivers 350 residences across two buildings, with layouts ranging from compact studios through to one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.

JWLand has tailored the development for long-term liveability, integrating natural light, privacy and outdoor space into each home. Ground-floor residences feature private courtyards, while upper levels benefit from generous balconies.

Kitchens are fitted with Fisher &amp; Paykel appliances, and all apartments include ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning with smartphone app control for lighting and climate.&nbsp;

Shared resident facilities include a rooftop garden, gym, lounge and parcel lockers, alongside landscaped green space within the precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=267376]

For buyers, the expanded Home Guarantee Scheme removes income caps and introduces unlimited places, making it more accessible than ever. With most De Burgh apartments priced under $1 million, they fall well within the updated eligibility thresholds.

The policy changes provide first home buyers with greater certainty and a smoother path to finance. Combined with the quality and location of De Burgh, the expanded scheme is expected to draw a new wave of buyers to Canberra’s Inner North.

Residents will benefit from the project’s central setting, just 600 metres from the light rail and three kilometres from Canberra’s CBD. The precinct is bordered by the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/lyneham-act-2602">Lyneham</a> wetlands and sits within easy reach of cafes, restaurants, schools and the ANU.

With completion scheduled for late 2025, De Burgh is set to be among the first major apartment projects to meet the expanded scheme head-on, offering first-time buyers a realistic pathway to ownership in one of Canberra’s most connected neighbourhoods.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139989]

JWLand’s De Burgh aligns with expanded Homebuyer Scheme, opening doors for first home buyers in Canberra’s Inner North

A subtropical pair of residential towers are in planning for a key South Brisbane site neighbouring the iconic Expo ’88 Skyneedle, with new documents revealing a vertically layered vision designed to respond to the precinct’s evolving high-density character.

The proposal has been lodged by&nbsp;Darveniza Group, which is also is behind the 400-apartment Station Quarter precinct in Alderley.

Darveniza Group, led by Jane Darveniza, the Brisbane-based investor and Queensland rich-lister and widow of the late property magnate Bojan Darveniza, is seeking approval for a mixed-use project encompassing 204 apartments, ground-level retail, food and drink tenancies, and office space across two architecturally integrated towers at 37–39 Manning Street.

Occupying an 1,822 sqm site, the proposed towers would rise above a sculptural podium base, with a recessed landscaped centre, rooftop communal areas, and a total of 220 car parks and 256 bicycle bays. The apartment mix spans one- to five-bedroom dwellings, with a design emphasis on generous balconies, cross-ventilation, and climate-responsive materials.

<img alt="First look: Twin towers proposed for Manning Street site beside Skyneedle" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="42c1f501-2afd-440b-af49-67c257123ea7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Manning%20podium.png?VersionId=KFlksfWzmDRD.VIYxd_1q3VAel.nN3TH" />

“The development is conceived as two slender twin buildings that meet at a lushly landscaped central recess,” the Finegrain design report states. “The façade is highly articulated with the plan form stepping back and forth to reduce visual bulk and maximise internal occupants’ access to natural light and air”.

A hallmark of the proposal is its integration of greenery, both visually and functionally. Around 77 per cent of the site’s green plot ratio is delivered through vertical planting spines, a green podium wall, and rooftop amenity. Ground-level deep planting and landscaped communal zones aim to create a shaded, walkable interface along Manning Street.

“The stepped plan form introduces variation in balcony setbacks and enclosed apartment areas, enriching both the façade expression and the resident experience,” the design team notes. “At ground and podium levels, this stepping also enhances permeability, maximising pedestrian view lines to the neighbouring Skyneedle and reinforcing a strong sense of local identity”.

<img alt="First look: Twin towers proposed for Manning Street site beside Skyneedle" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b3f26dfc-6b93-465c-9ffb-0a2530372a23" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Manning%20site.png?VersionId=JflvKdqDxcaHTFbb9HL5TwoiRgeQ2LqA" />

The site directly adjoins the heritage-listed Skyneedle at 35 Manning Street, an enduring legacy of World Expo ’88. The accompanying heritage impact report by Pendergast Architects contends that the proposal has been carefully conceived to protect the cultural significance and landmark visibility of the structure.

“The design provides setbacks, tower separation and podium articulation to maintain the visibility and landmark role of the adjoining Skyneedle,” the report states. “The significance of the Skyneedle lies principally in its landmark visibility and cultural symbolism, rather than in detailed fabric or architectural setting”.

The proposal sits within the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct, under Brisbane’s TLPI 02/2023, where revised planning controls support high-density, mixed-use development integrated with subtropical design and increased public realm contributions.

Finegrain’s design reflects this intent, drawing cues from the site's adjacency to Musgrave Park, the subtropical landscape of South Brisbane, and cultural landmarks such as QPAC and South Bank.

Twin green towers proposed for Manning Street, South Brisbane site beside Skyneedle

A first-of-its-kind culinary precinct is coming to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a>, inspired by global street-food flavours and best-in-class restaurants and entertainment.

Deicorp’s emerging mid-city precinct, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/melrose-central-melrose-park-33-hope-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Central</a>, will become the go-to precinct within the wider Melrose Park community, and at its heart, a first-of-its-kind culinary precinct that brings the buzz of Asia’s most iconic food streets to life.

Spanning more than 4,700 sqm, Melrose Central street food precinct is inspired by the energy and vibrant flavours of street-food neighbourhoods from Hong Kong and Tokyo to Seoul and Singapore.

This new destination will be over three times the size of existing offerings like Burwood Chinatown or Westfield Chatswood’s Hawker Lane, positioning Melrose Central as a must-visit dining hub for all of Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134220 project_image_fid=289878]

Designed by Anthony Ho of Basalt Studio, this street food concept blurs the lines between culinary theatre, art, and entertainment, offering an immersive experience. Neon-lit laneways thread between open kitchens and live grill stations, while murals, interactive displays, and light installations will bring the precinct to life, trading until late, a first for the area.

“We’ve imagined our street food concept as a graduated evolution of everything people love about Burwood Chinatown, East Village and Regent Place, elevated by the immersive artistry creating a city-style dining offer,” said Bilinda Turner, Head of Retail at Deicorp.

“By curating the very best tenants from across Australia, we’re creating a fit-for-purpose town centre for 2025 and beyond. It’s something that people truly haven’t seen before."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134220 project_image_fid=352610]

Melrose Central is far more than a food precinct. Spanning 30,000 sqm across four levels, the shopping centre will be home to approximately 100 retailers, providing a total lifestyle offering from morning until late evening.

Fresh food offerings span a brand new Coles Supermarket, Local Grocer, Korean Supermarket, Bakery and boutique fresh food, as well as a Dan Murphy's, while health needs are covered from a pharmacy, medical centre and allied health. Fitness and wellbeing take centre stage from a dedicated wellbeing hub that includes pilates, recovery, Infrared saunas and a gym, to name a few.

Variety stores will feature throughout, as well as personal care offerings from nail salons to hairdressers, as well as a dedicated early-learning centre on level 1.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134220 project_image_fid=289888]

Situated above the retail precinct will be 495 Turner Studio-designed apartments that open onto 6,000 sqm of lush podium gardens and rooftop terraces.

Located just six kilometres east of Parramatta’s CBD and 15km from Sydney CBD, Melrose Central forms the retail and lifestyle heart of Melrose Park, an urban-renewal precinct that is set to deliver more than 11,000 homes, 22,000 new residents, and 50,000 sqm of park and open space.

A dedicated stop on Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will arrive at the precinct’s Hope Street entrance, and the forthcoming Parramatta Gateway Bridge will link directly to Sydney Olympic Park and Wentworth Point.&nbsp;

Supported by a 10-minute drive, this growing catchment of 200,000 people, which is projected to grow to 279,000 by 2026, and an average household income above the Greater Sydney average, Melrose Central embodies Deicorp’s vision for transport-oriented, community-focused placemaking.&nbsp;

Melrose Central street food precinct and the wider Melrose Central retail town centre are both slated to open in mid-2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134220]

Melrose Central: First-of-its-kind culinary precinct coming to Sydney’s West

Heritage

Due to its proximity to the CBD, Darlinghurst has long been a popular hub, with its streets lined with a colourful array of characters over its time.&nbsp;

Darlinghurst's transformation over the last decade has resulted in a coveted postcode that is genuine in style with a sophisticated edge.&nbsp;

Kings Cross projected the suburb into the spotlight, becoming a home to Sydney’s night-life, and while much of the Cross’ night-life has been replaced, the boutique shopping and day time dining that fills the streets still holds Darlinghurst as enviable place to live.&nbsp;

<img alt="Image of the surrounding Darlinghurst landscape." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dec47375-10ec-4ecd-a570-eee688422c75" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-06%20at%2010.56.31%20am.png?VersionId=DTvy.fB6J_khIJ2C.0OvkjVbx7qQadIr" />

Whilst the Cross's character has been somewhat lost; Darlinghurst still is visibly a place of character and ideas, and increasingly is home to the next generation of personalities.&nbsp;

Persona and character are still ingrained in the original buildings that line the leafy streets with 349 Liverpool Street set to be the stage for the next influx of characters.&nbsp;

Sydney-developers Toohey Miller has lodged a development application for the 685 sqm site, with plans to demolish the existing residential building for a new seven-storey apartment building.&nbsp;

Designed by renowned architects, Woods Bagot, the residences will stay sympathetic to the site’s history and heritage, with plans to craft a modern interpretation of an art deco building, delivering 14 two and three-bedroom.

Two apartments will sit across each floorplate, spanning from 95 sqm to 150 sqm, with the level six apartments benefiting from a private rooftop terrace with a plunge pool and seating.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In keeping with surrounding roof terraces, the proposal celebrates the crowning space with a communal resident’s space as well, complete with dining and seating space in addition to the covered amenity space across the ground level.&nbsp;

The building palette is derived from the site through native planting, sandstone materiality, and detailing reminiscent of the original buildings that surround it.&nbsp;

Whilst the glimmer of The Cross has diminished, a resilient sparkle remains through natural metals, the most polished of which adorns the entrances of the buildings.

<img alt="Render of the proposed Liverpool building. " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d6168837-3921-435f-b3ac-8756064c67f5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-06%20at%2011.06.37%20am.png?VersionId=.fJls1JT0hU5e6l3__v4EpvIXarzJPW1" />

The 1970's was a particularly hedonistic period of Darlinghurst's history; filled with the character's that have become urban legends and colourful stories of questionable behaviour.

It was during this period that the terrace houses that once occupied the site succumbed to a particularly damaging fire, destroying all structure.&nbsp;

Remnants of these houses and the fire itself are traced through the contrast in brickwork of the adjoining apartment buildings, while a clear outline is preserved and made visible through the open balconies that flank the proposal.&nbsp;

The other remnant of the original terrace houses is the raised ground level that the terrace houses once sat upon which has to been preserved to create a dialog with the surrounding terrace houses.

In a nod to the original rhythm of Liverpool Street, a continuation of the sandstone fence that marks the boundary and entrance alignment is continued at the face of the new proposal.&nbsp;

“From the first glimpses of the site, this sits the building within the cadence of Liverpool Street at a human scale,” the development application says.&nbsp;

As an interpretation of the apartment buildings that surround, 349 Liverpool Street marks its entrance with a strong vertical element.&nbsp;

“Seen as a continuation of the sandstone materiality, this is an opportunity to identify the building through interpretive art or by overlaying the stories of the characters that once resided in the area.”

The proposed design maintains the original ground plane to preserve this visible link to the terrace houses that once occupied the site while the open breezeway also allows for natural light and air through the length of the building.

In collaboration with Dangar Barin Smith, the landscape design and plant selection for the proposal not only contributes to the liveability of the residences, but also speaks to the origins of the site pre-settlement.

alisonwarters@gmail.com

Toohey Miller to build art-deco apartments on Darlinghurst heritage-conservation site

The national property developer RG Property have lodged plans for a 15-storey residential tower in the heart of the buzzing Fortitude Valley.

The base of the tower, proposed for&nbsp;36 Warry Street, is weaved into the existing heritage fabric that occupies the site, blending in between the buildings of Keating’s Bread Factory, which was established back in 1879 before becoming one of the major bread making companies in Brisbane.

Designed by Blight Rayner, the Warry St development will comprise a total 118 apartments, with a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences.

<a href="/new-apartments/36-warry-street-fortitude-valley"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1210" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-25_at_10.55.42_am.png" width="1266" /></a> 
View of the proposed development from Kennigo Street. Credit: Blight Rayner

The ground level concept is to integrate the heritage buildings with the new built environment by linking them into a pedestrian laneway activated by food and retail outlets, forming the heart of the development.

“Initially, the historic buildings are intended to retain their predominantly office uses but over time, they may gradually change to retail and dining uses once the laneway gains a reputation as a hub of day and night life in Spring Hill,” said Blight Rayner in their development documents.&nbsp;

“The strategy for integrating new and old is twofold. One, by way of matching podium scale and two, by using a contemporary version of the heritage material palette, seeking not to imitate but add a new complimentary layer to the old,” they added.

Level one will home a yoga/pilates terrace along with a gym, which will overlook the bustling streetscape, in addition to three apartments that open out on to surrounding gardens.

<a href="/new-apartments/36-warry-street-fortitude-valley"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1216" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-25_at_10.56.03_am.png" width="2018" /></a> 
Elevated view above Warry St. Credit: Blight Rayner

Four vertical gardens, one on each side, are planned to enable vines to drape down each level and to grow laterally onto adjoining screens on the street-facing elevations.

Designed with the owner-occupier in mind, apartments offer a variety of layouts and floorplans, catering to differing living and lifestyles.

Large balconies are provided to all apartments and depending upon their orientation, balconies are variously open or screened.

The balconies provide depth to the three-dimensional form creating articulation around all sides, generally positioned on the corners of the building, giving two-way views as well as softening the built form.

“The typical apartment floors are accessed by an L-shaped corridor that opens up to gardens at each end and is naturally ventilated. The layout enables the majority of apartment balconies to occupy corners to optimise both outlook and aspect."

<a href="/new-apartments/36-warry-street-fortitude-valley"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1208" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-05-25_at_10.56.13_am.png" width="2010" /></a> 
Elevated view above the existing heritage building. Credit: Blight Rayner

Two penthouse levels provide larger apartments on the southern side of the tower, while creating a distinctive top to the built form.

Crowning the tower will be an expansive roof garden and swimming pool, with the intent that plants will drape over each edge and be highly visible from the streets and afar. The gardens will also screen the plant enclosure and surround a large barbecue plaza for its solar protection, reinforced by a lightweight, open pergola structure

The site has relatively good access to buses and Fortitude Valley Train Station, while sitting within walking distance of the Brisbane CBD, the new Fortitude Valley State Secondary College, and a host of other convenient amenities.

“The 36 Warry Street Project represents an exciting opportunity to enhance Spring Hill as a lifestyle precinct and inner-city destination."

Designed by Blight Rayner, the Warry St development will comprise a total 118 apartments, with a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences.



RG Property to redevelop historic Fortitude Valley Bread Factory

The Trenerry Consortium has announced the acquisition of the historic, Burnham Beeches in Melbourne&rsquo;s Yarra Ranges. The transaction was managed directly with the former owners who will hand over the reins of the site&rsquo;s regeneration.

The consortium intends to engage early with the close-knit community of the Dandenong Ranges as an important first step in a holistic review of the master plan.

Placemaking agency Village Well has been appointed to assist with this process, leaning on their extensive experience with both public and private development projects.

&ldquo; We are pleased to be embarking on this regenerative journey with the local community and to be working on such a significant and unique site which is both locally loved and globally distinctive. Burnham Beeches is truly a one time one place offering,&rdquo; says Gilbert Rochecouste, Founder &amp; Managing Director of Village Well.

The property was sold with a permit in place for stage one of the redevelopment, which the consortium intends to proceed with, however it will be seeking input into the amenity and functioning of Burnham Beeches as part of the early community consultation process.

The immediate priority will be to work with Heritage Victoria and Council on a number of building orders to be urgently addressed across the site.

The Consortium has appointed Hamilton Marino, who are also the builders of The Continental Hotel, to complete the works.

The 56-acre site is home to a number of heritage buildings which are set to be restored as part of extensive works to breathe new life into the property, including one of Victoria&rsquo;s most significant art deco buildings, the renowned Alfred Nichols heritage mansion.

Investing in the experience economy is familiar territory for Trenerry, as it works to create a legacy of bringing Victorian heritage icons back to life.

The group recently acquired South Yarra&rsquo;s Poolman House with plans to convert it to a hotel and private members&rsquo; club, while also preparing to open Sorrento&rsquo;s $135 million Continental Hotel later this month.

On this latest venture, Trenerry Director Robert DiCintio said the opportunity to purchase Burnham Beeches was unpassable given its rich history and proximity to the centre of Melbourne.

&ldquo; We know there&rsquo;s a really strong community sentiment around Burnham Beeches and we want to work with Council and the community together with Heritage Victoria and Parks Victoria to ensure this is a place to be enjoyed for generations to come,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo; There&rsquo;s a lot to work through even in this initial stage, and years of work ahead. We are both respectful and excited, if not somewhat daunted, by the journey ahead but I believe with the support of Burnham&rsquo;s passionate stakeholders together with our proven track record, we can see it operating in some capacity later this year.&rdquo;

The Consortium is made up of The Victor Smorgon Group, The Kanat Group and Trenerry Property. As well as South Yarra&rsquo;s Poolman House and The Continental in Sorrento, these proudly Victorian groups have been responsible for several other landmark projects - such as the West End Project in West Melbourne, Ebony at 347 Camberwell Road Camberwell and 88 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford.

The consortium intends to engage early with the close-knit community of the Dandenong Ranges as an important first step in a holistic review of the master plan.

Trenerry Consortium acquires historic Burnham Beeches 

<html><body>
Billbergia alongside Melbourne-based developer Golden Age Group have thrown forward separate development applications that stand to add 500 plus rooms to Sydney's hotel development pipeline.

The respective applications were both lodged earlier this month with North Sydney Council and City of Sydney and have a cumulative estimated cost just shy of $200 million. Both towers also intend to absorb and repurpose existing heritage buildings into their facade

The sustained surge in hotel developments across Sydney is seeing a flourish of hotel project proposals, although in Billbergia's case the hotel rooms share the proposed tower with commercial office space.

<h2>86-88 Walker Street, North Sydney</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/image92_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Walker Street is in line for a new addition. Planning image: Fitzpatrick+Partners"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="671" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image92_4.jpg?itok=amUeEhiD" title="Walker Street is in line for a new addition. Planning image: Fitzpatrick+Partners" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Walker Street is in line for a new addition. Planning image: Fitzpatrick+Partners</figcaption></figure>Entertainment venue Firehouse Hotel is set to gain a hulking addition to its rear with Billbergia pushing to add the 123 metre tower above the historic building. This will be achieved bay way of a cantilevered support structure that enables the tower to maximise its footprint.

The tower's new podium addition will compliment the Firehouse Hotel in both scale and composition. Flexible work spaces an executive lounge and gym plus reception and a restaurant account for the podium space.

Thereafter the Fitzpatrick + Partners-designed tower is a mix of 224 hotel rooms across the lower portion of the tower, chased by approximately 4,500 square metres of office space at the peak of the building. The office space is situated across levels 24 to 31.

86-88 Walker Street sits next door to what will become one of North Sydney's commercial developments; in excess of 40,000 square metres of office space is being delivered by builder Laing O’Rourke for Dexus Property Group. The new 38 level tower has progressed to see its floorplate move beyond 20 levels.

<h2>47-53 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney </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/image93_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The time and the place for 47 Wentworth Avenue. Planning image: Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="871" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image93_6.jpg?itok=DGmLkwe0" title="The time and the place for 47 Wentworth Avenue. Planning image: Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The time and the place for 47 Wentworth Avenue. Planning image: Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>A further 287 hotel rooms are on the agenda within Sydney's CBD as Golden Age Group project partner Time &amp; Place heads a planning effort to push through with an adaptive heritage development of 47-53 Wentworth Avenue. All in all the new buildings is slated to span 19 levels with Bates Smart tasked with incorporating the dated facade into the development.

Bates Smart prevailed in an Competitive Design Competition held during 2016; the managed to surpass fellow design firms SJB, Tribe Studio and Koichi Takada Architecture by way of a design which is "capable of achieving Design Excellence as required by the City’s provisions."

In addition to the 287 guest rooms, a restaurant/cafe and bar are present at lower levels, with a rooftop bar and terrace crowning the building.

Lodged this month, the Bates Smart proposal includes revisions which sees residential apartments dropped in favour of increasing the size of the hotel. Consequently all parking within the development has been removed.

Fairfax has <a href="http://www.afr.com/real-estate/golden-age-buys-michael-teplitskys-surry-hills-site-for-a-350-million-hotel-20180611-h118ha">reported</a> that Golden Age Group intend to dub the project The Treehouse, with it being a joint effort between the developer and Starwood Capital.
</body></html>

silvermb

Two fresh hotel applications enter the Sydney spotlight

<html><body>
Melbourne City Council earlier this week presided over a Melbourne Planning Scheme Amendment to apply an interim heritage overlay at 263-267 William Street. The move is in response to an application to develop a tower atop what is currently the Metropolitan Hotel.

During October last year an application covering the watering hole was lodged with the intentions of creating a commercial office tower atop the hotel. The application's status in now on hold, although plans for the tower may well proceed in time.

Mirroring a number of developments across the CBD in particular, the Metropolitan Hotel was identified as having individual heritage significance via City of Melbourne reviews, yet carries no heritage overlay.

Within the Report to the Future Melbourne (Heritage) Committee, heritage consultants Context cited the building as "having local historical and social significance to the City of Melbourne as ‘a representative example of a corner hotel building from the interwar period’ and in terms of use and typology is becoming rare in the central city."

Councillor Rohan Leppert noted that "Heritage Overlay" won't stop a tower, but could give the pub a lot more breathing space and some more dignity as a heritage building."

<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/image58_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Peddle Thorp's take on a reworked Metropolitan Hotel "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="676" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image58_6.jpg?itok=EyV5KQnC" title="Peddle Thorp's take on a reworked Metropolitan Hotel " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Peddle Thorp's take on a reworked Metropolitan Hotel</figcaption></figure>Architecture firm Peddle Thorp's initial design sought the partial demolition and construction of an office tower above the hotel. Spanning approximately 80 metres the tower holds 16 levels of dedicated commercial office space with a single basement level and a reinstated hotel at ground level.

Should the tower proceed it is possible that a setback to William Street will be included as part of a redesign.

The Metropolitan Hotel last changed hands in 2016 when CBRE City Sales were appointed to move the site; it subsequently <a href="https://www.cbre.com.au/about/media-center/04122016c">sold for $8.61 million to a local investor</a>. According to CBRE City Sales the sale reflected a yield of 2.38% - the strongest ever received for a Melbourne CBD pub.

The bid to redevelop the Metropolitan Hotel brings it into line with a number of historically significant buildings around the CBD and Southbank that are subject to development.

Urban.com.au recently covered the <a href="/news/russell-streets-theosophical-society-building-sees-new-hotel-application">intended demolition of the Melbourne Theosophical Society</a> at 124-130 Russell Street; another historic building that has no present heritage protection. Also last week Melbourne City council voted in favour of the <a href="/news/a-reworked-super-southbank-development-edges-closer-to-approval">partial demolition and subsequent tower</a> behind the Robur Tea Company building at 87-127 Queensbridge Street.

Other notably historic buildings subject to development include the former Great Western Hotel at 204 King Street and 244-248 Flinders Street which is awaiting a VCAT hearing.

Lead image: metropolitan.melbourne
</body></html>

Council moves to contour a tower bid atop the Metropolitan Hotel

<html><body>
Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA) have transformed the former Victoria Police Mounted Branch stables on Southbank into world-class teaching and learning facilities for students of the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Fine Arts and Music following an $18 million make-over.

The refurbishment is an exemplar of adaptive re-use and continues KTA's affinity with working with the fabric of heritage structures, since its inception in 1994. The stables were purpose-built in 1912 as part of the old Police Depot, which included a hospital, barracks and drill hall.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_stables_jg.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Stables within its Southbank context. Image: John Gollings"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_stables_jg.jpg?itok=3X75ARas" title="The Stables within its Southbank context. Image: John Gollings" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Stables within their Southbank context. Image: John Gollings</figcaption></figure>The Stables were officially open on Monday 14 May by Creative Industries Minister Martin Foley, who said the re-purposing and redevelopment of The Stables was part of a long-term plan to transform Southbank into "one of the world’s leading arts precincts."

The University of Melbourne’s acquisition of The Stables site was made possible through the significant support of the State Government, with the $18 million refurbishments undertaken through the significant support of generous philanthropists including The Ian Potter Foundation, The Myer Foundation and Martyn &amp; Louise Myer. 

The Stables feature a new visual arts wing with 170 studios and flexible exhibition spaces and the former riding school has been converted into a 260-seat multipurpose arts wing for theatre, dance, music theatre and music performances.

The heritage features of the former police stables had been maintained through the preservation of its bluestone mounting yards, red brick façade and iconic octagonal roof and skylight, formerly referred to by Mounted Branch staff as ‘The Dome’.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_stables_dome_tm.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The iconic 'dome' has been preserved within the 8m refurbishment. Image: Trevor Mein"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_stables_dome_tm.jpg?itok=Wh65a8_B" title="The iconic 'dome' has been preserved within the 8m refurbishment. Image: Trevor Mein" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The iconic 'dome' has been preserved within the 8m refurbishment. Image: Trevor Mein</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
The Former Mounted Police Stables and Former Riding School have been transformed to VCA’s School of Art. Once home of the horse is now home of 150 under- and post-graduate students. One of the largest metropolitan stables, this heritage-listed building is significant for its police use and distinguished by cellular organisation of its stalls, sublime repetition of structure and light-filled volumes by way of clerestory windows. Its bones formed an ideal fit with the university’s need for studios and a performing arts space.

An urban cornerstone of the university’s Southbank campus, the distinctive form of the octagon marks the intersection of Dodds and Grant Streets. It hinges the two wings of the facility into a v-formation to create the southern end of the central courtyard. The Dodd Street wing – former stables – is dedicated to studios and the Grant Street wing – former riding school – to performing arts space. It’s linked with the existing Grant Street theatre via a new steel canopy. The ground floor of the octagon forms the ceremonial entry and access to both wings and the campus courtyard. Exploiting its geometry, it can be divided into seminar, exhibition and event spaces as required through a series of sliding panels.

- Kerstin Thompson Architects
</blockquote>

KTA's transformation of the stables involved a series of interventions to the heritage fabric which required a delicate balancing act of careful conservation and restorative works to existing floor surfaces and stall fronts, and significantly more transformative changes in the sectional qualities of the space in order to accommodate new programme.

Staff offices, seminar rooms and a central conference room characterised by the now-revealed original steel trusses, are located at the first floor, with an oculus framing the structure from the entry below.

The original double-storey central void was partly in-filled to accommodate upper level studio spaces, utilising the higher ceilings and natural light afforded via the clerestory windows with circulation moved to the perimeter. 

New studio partitions provide the school with adaptable spaces which enable flexibility of use as exhibition space, for example outside of their everyday use as studio space.

According to the architects, one of the most significant challenges was the integration of building services. The adopted solution worked two-fold - it ensured minimal impact on the original heritage fabric and provided place-making opportunities for the courtyard by locating much of the plant within a series of brick-faced panel 'urban blocks'

Other key projects in the Southbank campus redevelopment include the recently-opened Buxton Contemporary, and a new state-of-the-art nine-storey building for the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music – The Ian Potter Southbank Centre – which will open in 2019.

<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/kerstin-thompson-banner-19tlnj5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Kerstin Thompson within the refurbished Stables. Image: Giulia McGauran"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="290" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/kerstin-thompson-banner-19tlnj5.jpg?itok=ynI2EPT4" title="Kerstin Thompson within the refurbished Stables. Image: Giulia McGauran" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Kerstin Thompson within the refurbished Stables. Image: Giulia McGauran</figcaption></figure><a href="http://precinct.finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/2018/05/11/welcome-to-the-stables-a-new-world-class-arts-facility-in-melbournes-arts-precinct/">Click here</a> for an in depth tour of the building by KTA Principal, Kerstin Thompson.

Lead image: Trevor Mein
</body></html>

Laurence Dragomir

KTA lends its design nous to 'The Stables'

<html><body>
The winners of the City of Port Phillip Design &amp; Development Awards 2018 were announced on Tuesday 20 March at the NGV International, as a part of the programme for Melbourne Design Week 2018.

Hosted by Tim Ross and Mayor Cr Bernadene Voss, and presented by jurors Professor Donald Bates, Shelley Penn, Deputy Mayor Cr Dick Gross, Cr Katherine Copsey and Cr David Brand, the event brought together community, industry and Council to celebrate and promote design excellence in the municipality.

<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/20180321_234958.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The evening was hosted by Tim Ross and Mayor Cr Bernadene Voss with awards presented by jurors"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="412" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20180321_234958.jpg?itok=vQJ_CaKm" title="The evening was hosted by Tim Ross and Mayor Cr Bernadene Voss with awards presented by jurors" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The evening was hosted by Tim Ross and Mayor Cr Bernadene Voss with awards presented by jurors</figcaption></figure>This year's list of winners included a community park for all ages, the renewal of the iconic Palais Theatre, the restoration of a Victorian timber worker’s cottage and the conversion of Port Melbourne’s first post office.

<blockquote>
This year’s Design Week theme, Design Effects, recognises the importance of design excellence and thoughtful development in balancing growth and maintaining the unique character of diverse and distinctive neighbourhoods.

I can’t think of a more relevant theme for Port Phillip as we are very proud of our much-loved neighbourhoods and have pledged in our long-term vision to do our utmost to keep our City’s character as Port Phillip continues to grow.

- Bernadene Voss, Mayor City of Port Phillip
</blockquote>

The winners of each category and commendations are listed below:

Mayor's Choice Award

<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/maritime_oculus.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Maritime Cove Community Park. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="389" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/maritime_oculus.jpg?itok=kJoPa--O" title="The Maritime Cove Community Park. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Maritime Cove Community Park. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Winner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>The Maritime Cove Community Park - OCULUS Landscape Architecture &amp; Urban Design with Port of Melbourne</li>
</ul>
Residential dwelling - alteration or new build

<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/acute_st_kilda_mixed.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Acute House and St Kilda Mixed Use House. Images : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="213" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/acute_st_kilda_mixed.jpg?itok=9FNBy6z1" title="Acute House and St Kilda Mixed Use House. Images : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Acute House and St Kilda Mixed Use House. Images : Supplied</figcaption></figure>WInner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>Acute House – OOF! Architecture with Mitty Price, and;</li>
	<li>St Kilda Mixed Use House – DDB Design Development &amp; Building with Matt Gibson Architecture &amp; Design</li>
</ul>
Commendation(s) :

<ul>
<li>Baffle House - Clare Cousins Architects</li>
	<li>Myrtle Tree House - MAKE Architecture</li>
</ul>
Multi-unit and mixed use development

<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/elwood_house_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Elwood House. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="359" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/elwood_house_0.jpg?itok=gAMsN9aV" title="Elwood House. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Elwood House. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>WInner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>Elwood House – Piccolo with Hecker Guthrie &amp; Woods Bagot</li>
</ul>
Commendation(s) :

<ul>
<li>House and a half - Three C Architects</li>
</ul>
Place making

Winner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>The Maritime Cove Community Park - OCULUS Landscape Architecture &amp; Urban Design with Port of Melbourne</li>
</ul>
Non-residential development

<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/albert_park_6degrees.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="304" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/albert_park_6degrees.jpg?itok=tZiGLSM8" title="Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Winner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub – Six Degrees Architects</li>
</ul>
Commendation(s) :

<ul>
<li>The Gipson Commons, St Michael's Grammar School - Architectus</li>
	<li>Point Ormond Amenities Block - Garner Davis Architects</li>
</ul>
Interior fit out

<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/dogs_bar_st_kilda.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Dog’s Bar St Kilda. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="773" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/dogs_bar_st_kilda.jpg?itok=X6Y2jocx" title="Dog’s Bar St Kilda. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Dog’s Bar St Kilda. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Winner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>Dog’s Bar St Kilda with Colin Sheppard &amp; Grant Amon Architects</li>
</ul>
Commendation(s) :

<ul>
<li>MeatworksCo, South Melbourne</li>
</ul>
Heritage Conservation

<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/palais_copp.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Palais Theatre restoration. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="366" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/palais_copp.jpg?itok=ji3QU_y2" title="The Palais Theatre restoration. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Palais Theatre restoration. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Winner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub – Six Degrees Architects</li>
	<li>Palais Theatre – Development Victoria with DELWP and City of Port Phillip</li>
</ul>
Commendation(s) :

<ul>
<li>Acute House - OOF! Architecture</li>
	<li>Beetson-Reid House -  RBA Architects &amp; Conservation Consultants</li>
</ul>
Out of Bounds Citation

<ul>
<li>Icon, St Kilda - Pace Development Group</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

Winners of 2018 City of Port Phillip Design & Development Awards announced

<html><body>
The City of Port Phillip has announced the shortlisted entries in its Design &amp; Development Awards for 2018. The jury panel and staff were impressed with the quantity and high quality of entries across all categories creating a welcome challenge during the shortlisting process for all involved. 

The Design &amp; Development Awards encourage and celebrate design excellence within the Port Phillip municipality, and intend to showcase exemplars in the fields of residential and non-residential architecture, urban design, heritage conservation, environmental and sustainable design, public art, interior design and placemaking.

The awards have generally been held biennially since 1998, with the last Awards event being held in 2014.

The shortlisted projects are as follows: 1. Residential dwelling: alteration or new build 

<ul>
<li>Acute House - OOF! Architecture</li>
	<li>Baffle House - <a href="/architects/clare-cousins-architects">Clare Cousins Architects</a>
</li>
	<li>Brooke Street Residence - Toby Earle</li>
	<li>Dreamcatcher - Fred Architecture</li>
	<li>Loch Street Residence - Matyas Architects</li>
	<li>Mills, The Toy Management House - Austin Maynard Architects</li>
	<li>Myrtle Tree House - <a href="/architects/make-architecture">MAKE Architecture</a>
</li>
	<li>St Kilda Mixed Use House - DDB Design Development + Building</li>
	<li>St Vincent Place House - <a href="/architects/nicholas-murray-architects">Nicholas Murray Architects</a>
</li>
	<li>The Corner House - <a href="/architects/poly-studio">POLYstudio</a>
</li>
</ul>
<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/baffle_house.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Baffle House, Clare Cousins Architects. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="358" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/baffle_house.jpg?itok=MPk_Kso1" title="Baffle House, Clare Cousins Architects. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Baffle House, Clare Cousins Architects. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure> 2. Multi-unit and mixed-use development

<ul>
<li>Art House - <a href="/architects/justin-architecture">Justin Architecture</a>
</li>
	<li>Elwood House - <a href="/developers/piccolo">Piccolo</a>
</li>
	<li>James Joyce - Bojan Simic Architecture</li>
	<li>St Kilda East Townhouses - <a href="/architects/jost-architects">Jost Architects</a>
</li>
	<li>West Beach Townhouses - <a href="/architects/grant-amon-architects">Grant Amon Architects</a>
</li>
</ul>
<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/elwood_house.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Elwood House, Piccolo + Woods Bagot + Hecker Guthrie. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="359" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/elwood_house.jpg?itok=elKqWAyO" title="Elwood House, Piccolo + Woods Bagot + Hecker Guthrie. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Elwood House, Piccolo + Woods Bagot + Hecker Guthrie. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>3. Place making

<ul>
<li>The Maritime Cove Community Park - OCULUS landscape Architecture &amp; Urban Design</li>
</ul>
<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/maritime_cove.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title=" Maritime Cove Community Park, OCULUS. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="389" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/maritime_cove.jpg?itok=nAkoWIKm" title=" Maritime Cove Community Park, OCULUS. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Maritime Cove Community Park, OCULUS. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>4. Non-residential development

<ul>
<li>Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub - <a href="/architects/six-degrees-architects">Six Degrees Architects</a>
</li>
	<li>Palais Theatre Project - <a href="/developers/development-victoria">Development Victoria</a>
</li>
	<li>Point Ormond Amenities Block - Garner Davis Architects</li>
	<li>The Gipson Commons, St Michael's Grammar School - <a href="/architects/architectus">Architectus</a>
</li>
</ul>
<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/albert_park_college.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub, Six Degrees Architects. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="304" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/albert_park_college.jpg?itok=LSDCeZbn" title="Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub, Six Degrees Architects. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub, Six Degrees Architects. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>5. Public Art

<ul>
<li>'Blue Wren' - ADA Consulting</li>
	<li>'Elwood House' - Piccolo</li>
	<li>'Ode' - <a href="/developers/pace-development-group">Pace Development Group</a>
</li>
</ul>
<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/blue_wren.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="'Blue Wren', ADA Consulting. Image : Supplied "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="712" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/blue_wren.jpg?itok=YDb14dqC" title="'Blue Wren', ADA Consulting. Image : Supplied " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>'Blue Wren', ADA Consulting. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>6. Interior fit out

<ul>
<li>Dog's Bar, <a href="/new-apartments/st-kilda-vic-3182">St Kilda</a>
</li>
	<li>MeatworksCo, <a href="/new-apartments/south-melbourne-vic-3205">South Melbourne</a>
</li>
</ul>
<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/meatworksco.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="MeatworksCo, South Melbourne. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="381" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/meatworksco.jpg?itok=GH4MEVMu" title="MeatworksCo, South Melbourne. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>MeatworksCo, South Melbourne. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>For the full set of images and project descriptions click <a href="http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/DDAWARDS2018_PROGRAM_A5__SHORTLIST_FINAL_PROOF_HIRES.pdf">here</a>.

The Awards presentation event will be hosted at the National Gallery of Victoria on 20 March 2018 as part of the NGV's Melbourne Design Week 2018 (15 - 25 March). 

The ticketed free public event will be hosted by comedian Tim Ross who has a long-standing passion for architecture and design. Register for tickets <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/city-of-port-phillip-design-development-awards-2018-registration-41987311178">here</a>.

The theme for this year's design week is 'Design Effects' "reflecting the view that it takes design excellence and thoughtful development to balance increasing growth and maintain the unique character of diverse and distinctive neighbourhoods." 

Lead Image: Cave Urban, 'Regenesis 2017.' Photo by p1xels
</body></html>

City of Port Phillip's Design & Development Awards 2018 shortlist revealed

<html><body>
The well documented surge in apartments within the CBD over recent years looks to be dissuading developers from the inner city residential apartment sector. Whilst the masses of apartments roaring toward completion have taken the steam out of the apartment market, hotel and student accommodation projects have, in the interim, attracted a proportionately larger slice of the planning pie.

City of Melbourne are handling three prime examples, all of which were submitted late last year, which point toward this trend.

Generally rolled into larger, mixed-use developments over recent years, the smaller stand-alone hotel is making a comeback. Two such examples are in the pipeline, with one potentially accounting for a historic Melbourne facade.

<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/image39_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A new Elizabeth Street perspective. Image: Kyriacou Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="340" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image39_5.jpg?itok=wO8Cwi4L" title="A new Elizabeth Street perspective. Image: Kyriacou Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A new Elizabeth Street perspective. Image: Kyriacou Architects</figcaption></figure>601-603 Elizabeth Street is an eye-catching proposal for a thin 15 level hotel tower encompassing 72 suites.

On little more than a 202sqm site, the design by Kyriacou Architects sees a 49m tower finished in intricate China white concrete panelling which splays above the entrance, forming a unique canopy. Local firm Nicson Property Group is behind the project and hopes to gain approval for the design which involves solely single bedroom suites ranging in size between 17sqm and 23sqm.

Approval of the project would further extend the mixed-use nature of City North, a designated development precinct which includes the Elizabeth Street stretch north of the CBD. Research, medical, commercial, student accommodation, apartment and affordable housing builds have all been delivered in recent years throughout the precinct.

601-603 Elizabeth Street potentially may add another use to City North.

<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/image51_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="244-248 Flinders and design references. Image: Armsby Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image51_6.jpg?itok=Fxp-SA-C" title="244-248 Flinders and design references. Image: Armsby Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>244-248 Flinders and design references. Image: Armsby Architects</figcaption></figure>Yooralla's former headquarters at 244-248 Flinders Street is also subject to a hotel-based planning application.

Moremas Land Pty Ltd is seeking to replace the historic building with a 13 storey complex which includes 215 hotel rooms, consisting of deluxe and standard room options. Also present across ground level is a walkway linking Flinders Street and Degraves Place; this will be the spine for a new retail arcade featuring 6 new leasable spaces and a restaurant fronting Flinders Street.

244-248 Flinders Street is hoping to drop into an area flush with hotel suites. Westin Melbourne, DoubleTree by Hilton, Rendezvous Hotel and Adelphi Hotel are all a short distance away, whilst Apartments.com.au last week noted <a href="/news/peppers-and-vibe-land-new-melbourne-addresses">Vibe Hotel as taking on branding rights for 1 Queen Street</a> nearby.

Originally, the Flinders Street site was home to a single storey shop built in the late 1800's. According to planning documents, "At the start of the 20th century a two storey building "Snows" menswear was built and was then significantly modified by Tattersalls in the late 1950's. The building has continued to undergo alterations internally and externally throughout the years, including major internal and facade works in the late 1990's."

How Melbourne City Council reacts to the proposed demolition of 244-248 Flinders Street in a sensitive strip of heritage buildings remains to be seen.

<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/image53_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The existing building. Image: Armsby Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="219" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image53_2.jpg?itok=k0KkYdii" title="The existing building. Image: Armsby Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The existing building. Image: Armsby Architects</figcaption></figure>Having no such heritage qualms is Zebra House at 303-305 Royal Parade, which will be University of Melbourne's (UoM) latest student accommodation project.

The well known Royal Parade commercial building will in time become another domicile for students, adding to the thousands of current student accommodation beds in development around the inner city. Breathe Architecture and Architectus will oversee the existing building's transformation into 332 student beds.

This will be achieved by repurposing the existing building, and adding a smaller 6 storey wing at the rear of the site.

UoM picked up the ageing building during 2014, reportedly for $25 million. Shortly thereafter UoM declared 303-305 Royal Parade to be an integral part of the institution's strategy of providing at least <a href="http://newsroom.melbourne.edu/news/student-accommodation-boosted-university-melbourne">2,000 new student beds by 2020</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/image40_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Zebra House. Planning image: Breathe ARchitecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="460" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image40_6.jpg?itok=rTs-vN05" title="Zebra House. Planning image: Breathe ARchitecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Zebra House. Planning image: Breathe Architecture</figcaption></figure>
</body></html>

Three Melbourne projects indicative of the times

<html><body>
Melbourne Heritage Action is less than impressed that a proposed student accommodation tower located at 42-50 La Trobe Street has been given the nod by City of Melbourne councillors, further eroding the limited heritage value that this particular stretch of La Trobe Street has managed to cling to.

Indeed, City of Melbourne resolved to issue a Notice of Decision to Grant Permit last Thursday evening for the project. In its most recent form which saw it land before City of Melbourne during April, 9 objectors were noted against the development which has a nominal value of $75 million.

Brisbane-based Blue Sky Funds is championing the project which would further add to the strong number of student accommodation projects currently in the Melbourne pipeline.

<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/13254940_1086649714714922_3072816795073643707_o.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Heritage Action's take on the project"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="278" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/13254940_1086649714714922_3072816795073643707_o.jpg?itok=9fLqRJhL" title="Melbourne Heritage Action's take on the project" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Heritage Action's take on the project</figcaption></figure>Melbourne Heritage Action's response to the decision was blunt:

<blockquote>
It’s arguably Melbourne City Council’s most shameful heritage failure in recent memory.

Councillors have variously sat on their own hands, ignored the advice of their own heritage experts, and ignored the pleas of their own constituents in allowing the demolition of the former Burton’s Livery building at 50 La Trobe Street, a gorgeous, recognised, C-graded 1868 Victorian former carriageworks, in a relatively unique (for the CBD) Italianate style.

The building was left unprotected when in 2011, Council decided to ignore the advice of THEIR OWN HERITAGE EXPERTS in allowing the demolition of its twin building at 40 La Trobe St for an apartment tower, and ignoring contemporaneous recommendations to protect the rest of the streetscape.
<cite><a href="https://melbourneheritage.org.au/2016/05/28/council-ignores-own-experts-and-constituents-burtons-livery-to-be-demolished/">Melbourne Heritage Action</a></cite>
</blockquote>

<a href="/news/melbournes-development-march-claims-another-victim">Appearing first on Urban.com.au</a> during 2015, 42-50 La Trobe Street was in the hands of DELWP. Subsequent redesigns to the project landed it below the 25,000sqm threshold, placing the project solely with City of Melbourne for the approvals process.

<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/image214_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hayball's depiction of a new La Trobe Street frontage"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="323" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image214_1.jpg?itok=P3Sjh1ow" title="Hayball's depiction of a new La Trobe Street frontage" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Hayball's depiction of a new La Trobe Street frontage</figcaption></figure>With a number of levels removed, the current scheme sees a tower of equal height to the nearby Conservatory apartment development; both will terminate at approximately 130 metres. 42-50 La Trobe Street is designed to accommodate 783 student beds in a number of configurations over 43 levels, with extensive amenities in tow.

Perhaps most salient to the article is the revamped ground level which is set to replace the 1868-era structure currently onsite.

Architects Hayball have sought to connect La Trobe Street with Bell Place which runs along the northern border of the site. The bluestone-paved laneway will be lined with active retail frontages and extensive external seating, catering for both students and the expanding population in the immediate area.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_4220.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="ADCO's Deakin Burwood student accommodation build"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4220.jpg?itok=A3rciLxN" title="ADCO's Deakin Burwood student accommodation build" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>ADCO's Deakin Burwood student accommodation build</figcaption></figure>The apparent approval of 42-50 La Trobe Street adds to the already robust student accommodation development sector which is experiencing heightened activity at the moment.

On the back of recent completions at RMIT Bundoora, VUT Footscray and Monash Clayton, further builds are in progress within Melbourne's CBD and at Deakin Burwood. Additionally, GSA Group are at the tail end of the construction tender process for 205-223 Pelham Street which is set to commence shortly.

Most recently South Africa-based Redefine <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/property/south-africans-buy-carlton-car-park-to-set-up-student-housing-20160404-gny1fz">secured 16-32 Leicester Street</a> on the doorstep of the CBD with intentions of bowling over the multi-level car park for another 700-bed student housing development.
</body></html>

Heritage

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Heritage

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.