One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

Luxury Melbourne apartments

Melbourne&rsquo;s Carter family and luxury property developer Orchard Piper have entered into a partnership to undertake a $300m redevelopment of 448 St Kilda Road, one of the last remaining parcels of land on the coveted boulevard.

Spanning 2,400 sqm, the submitted plans will include a contemporary 5-star hotel, along with Orchard Piper residences which will see residents set to benefit from hotel services and amenities. The project will also comprise a 500 sqm day spa, mezzanine restaurant and bar, street level caf&eacute;, and exceptional health and wellness amenities with conferencing and event facilities.

Orchard Piper has appointed world-renowned Kerry Hill Architects (KHA) to deliver what will be its first project in Melbourne.

Orchard Piper Director Luke McKie says&nbsp;

&quot;This property is in the most premium residential section of St Kilda Road, between Toorak and Commercial Roads - with Fawkner Park, Albert Park and the Botanic Gardens all within walking distance,&rdquo; says Orchard Piper Director Luke McKie.

&ldquo;We are proud to welcome Kerry Hill Architects to Melbourne, a firm we&rsquo;ve long admired for its design integrity and rigour. This building will be a streetscape asset and beautiful addition to Melbourne&rsquo;s rich architectural lineage.&rdquo;

<a href="/new-apartments/the-carter-building-st-kilda-road-448-st-kilda-road-melbourne-vic-3000"><img alt="" height="1084" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-06-24_at_9.09.11_am_0.png" width="878" /></a>

Fellow director Rick Gronow says Orchard Piper and the Carter family has a&nbsp;shared vision for the site and are looking forward to delivering an outstanding building on this long-held land.

Situated in the epicentre of Melbourne&rsquo;s sporting and entertainment heartland, the project will specifically aim to service the myriad of world-class events that Melbourne hosts and will act as an added drawcard for those looking to experience premium hospitality and spa offerings.

KHA, known for designing international 5-star luxury hotels for over 40 years, including global luxury chain Aman Hotels, will showcase its expertise with a design that pays homage to quintessential Melbourne characteristics.

A central component of the design will centre around bluestone, with the building&rsquo;s exterior set to be derived from locally sourced, sawcut bluestone - a nod to St Kilda Road&rsquo;s earliest and most notable buildings including the Victoria Barracks, Melbourne Grammar School and the National Gallery of Victoria.

The Carter family is no stranger to the hotel game, with the family&rsquo;s 60-year long property history including, amongst other projects, the development of luxury boutique hotels Tingirana and Seahaven in Noosa, as well as the landmark residential project, Albert Tower in Melbourne.

Signalling its confidence in the project, Orchard Piper and the Carter family intend to co-own the hotel, restaurants, and spa as long-term assets. The Carter family says they&nbsp;have formed a strong relationship with Orchard Piper for over 15 years.

&quot;We have a joint appreciation for Melbourne as a city, as well as the architecture and buildings that define it, and we look forward to delivering a diverse mixed-use offering that will service locals and the broader market,&rdquo; the&nbsp;family adds.

Permit applications for 448 St Kilda Road are slated to be secured later this year, with construction planning to commence in Q1 of 2024.

Orchard Piper recently secured the Mercedes Benz dealership in Toorak for&nbsp;$67 million, with a view to create a new mixed-use precinct.

The sprawling 3,600 sqm&nbsp;site at 7-11A and&nbsp;17-19 Carters Avenue, in the heart of Toorak&#39;s retail and commercial precinct, will see&nbsp;$150 million worth of luxury apartments developed, as well as offices and shops, to revamp the village as a vibrant and modern-day high street.

Orchard Piper has appointed world-renowned Kerry Hill Architects (KHA) to deliver what will be its first project in Melbourne.

Orchard Piper and Carter Group set for $300 million St Kilda Rd hotel and apartments

Last year EcoWorld completed their second&nbsp;Australian apartment development, Yarra One, offering&nbsp;a high end point of difference in Melbourne's South Yarra.

There are a limited selection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments still for sale in the Claremont Street development, which was designed&nbsp;by the award-winning Fender Katsalidis team.

They took inspiration for the tower from the surrounding areas,&nbsp;focusing&nbsp;on pure geometry throughout their design.

There was a higher level of finish at Yarra One compared with other high-rise towers, from&nbsp;the fine grain of the chevron timber floors to the custom-designed pendant lights.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3127 project_image_fid=181268]

Orientated to take in the maximum possible views through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the living spaces of each apartment have been created as open plan as possible, with the kitchen, dining and living spaces&nbsp;ordered to take in the views.

Some apartments feature a butler's pantry, island benches, and premium Miele appliances

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3127 project_image_fid=31089]

The amenity has been designed as an extension of the apartments, with soaring double-height ceilings across&nbsp;a resident dining room, library and wine cellar.

Residents also have exclusive access to a wellness precinct that homes&nbsp;a gym, outdoor spa, dance studio and yoga room.

Luxuries continue down to the car parking, with Yarra One offering a Tesla car-share service, and pet wash facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3127 project_image_fid=181270]

Fender Katsalidis wanted to create a striking entry from Claremont Street. The atrium design is&nbsp;reminiscent of&nbsp;the bustling&nbsp;laneways that Melbourne is famous for.

“The timber look trellis enclosing the atrium is a signature feature that acts to create a sense of retreat and allows light to filter within the space throughout the day resulting in an ever-changing environment,”&nbsp;Fender Katsalidis&nbsp;Director Nicky Drobis said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3127 project_image_fid=31093]

EcoWorld recently&nbsp;has launched Lifestyle One, a 24/7&nbsp;all-round app which allows residents to do everything from making massage appointments to hiring a butler.

Apartments at YarraOne start from $455,000.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=3127]

Fender Katsalidis took inspiration for the tower from the surrounding areas, focusing on pure geometry throughout their design.



Inside EcoWorld's Yarra One, South Yarra apartment development

The high-end Melbourne developer, PB &amp; Co., has secured approval from the City of Melbourne Council to convert the historic East Melbourne home Eblana in to a $35 million luxury residential apartment development.

Eblana, the former home of the Young &amp; Jackson publican, Thomas Jackson, will become three full floor apartments and a double-storey penthouse designed by Inhaus Design, who will be retaining and restoring its original built form.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108801]

The Italianate-style terrace at&nbsp;140-142 Jolimont Road was built in the 1800s and was used as the head office for the postmaster general, after the Commonwealth bought it in 1925.

PB &amp; Co., headed by developer Michael Pesochinsky and Edward Bun, has been working with&nbsp;the Melbourne City Council and local objectors to put together an appropriate development.

"The core origins and fabric of Eblana speak to Melbourne's grand era in the late 1800s, which is complemented by rich history and exquisite colonial architecture of James Gall," Bragilevsky&nbsp;said.

"We have consulted closely with the East Melbourne Group, Melbourne City Council and key objector groups to reach a commercial outcome, and appreciate the constructive&nbsp;nature of these discussions.

"Being able to restore this spectacular building to its former glory, and then to delivery a world class 'ultra-luxe' development to the Melbourne elite is gratifying and in line with PB &amp; Co.'s vision.

<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="675" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/pb_co_east_melbourne_elevated.jpg" width="1200" />

"We have worked tirelessly with architects Bayley Ward to delivery five spectacular full floor residences which will enjoy remarkable views of Melbourne's CBD precinct.

"Being able to restore this spectacular building to its former glory, and then to delivery a world class 'ultra-luxe' development to the Melbourne elite is gratifying and in line with PB &amp; Co.'s vision."

The ground floor apartment&nbsp;will be housed within the existing structure, with historic elements such as the grand double-height ceilings and the original tiling brought back to life.

Four new apartments, in keeping with the original design, will be built above.

Each apartment will have three bedrooms, multiple living zones, winter gardens and study retreats, as well as a fully automated car parking system likened to a James Bond-style of parking.

The 315 sqm penthouse, expected to sell for over $10 million,&nbsp;will have views over Fitzroy Gardens and Melbourne's skyline. It will feature a private rooftop terrace and infinity pool.

"We are very much looking forward to continuing the trend of our signature branded residences and unveilings the next global collaboration in the coming months,"&nbsp;Bragilevsky added.

The development is set to launch early next year, with construction commencement expected shortly after.

PB &amp; Co. now have over&nbsp;$350 million across Melbourne and Sydney’s prestigious wealth belts, having recently spent $60 million on a site in Sydney's Kurraba Point. That could see between eight and 12 luxury residences built on the 4,200 sqm block.

One of their latest Melbourne projects, Fifty Two Black, in Brighton, is kitted out in Restoration Hardware.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106713 project_image_fid=171917]

The development is set to launch early next year, with construction commencement expected shortly after

PB & Co. to convert historic East Melbourne terrace, Eblana, in to five luxury apartments

Developer 3L Alliance&#39;s recently completed $1 billion twin-tower development, Queens Place, takes centre stage as one of&nbsp;Melbourne&#39;s tallest residential developments.

The glass-swathed, 80-storey towers have been collaboratively designed by renowned architecture firms&nbsp;Fender Katsalidis and COX Architecture, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie.

The towers share the first five levels, a podium which homes the joint residential amenity including a&nbsp;pool, private dining rooms, multiple games rooms including Mahjong and poker, a karaoke suite&nbsp;and a private resident&rsquo;s concierge, as well as business centre.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2806 project_image_fid=175431]

It&#39;s the upper levels however that get that extra level of luxury.

The apartments from level 53 and up are dubbed High Rise apartments, and offer realised spaces with greater emphasis on style, comfort and luxury including Miele appliances, feature wall lighting, concealed heating and cooling with individual wall controllers and more. Levels 69-78 home the tower&#39;s penthouses and sub-penthouses, known as Queens Residences.

Both High Rise and Queens Residence residents enjoy their own exclusive amenities on levels 51 and 52.

They&#39;ll have access to their own swimming pool, with sauna and steam rooms. Also just for High Rise and Queens Residence buyers is a private bar and lounge, and a bookable dining room, complete with a commercial-size kitchen.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2806 project_image_fid=175433]

Prices for High Rise apartments start from just $497,000, one of the best luxury offerings currently on the Melbourne market.

Queens Place, at 157 A&rsquo;Beckett Street and 370 Queen Street&nbsp;on the edge of Flagstaff Hill, is located in the heart of a&nbsp;network of laneways, offering access to retail and commercial office suites, and a public plaza with its own laneway shopping precinct.

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Collaboratively designed by renowned architects from Fender Katsalidis Architects and COX Architecture, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie, top floor residents have access to a suite of premium amenities

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What exclusive amenities are available to High Rise buyers at Melbourne's Queens Place

Orchard Piper has secured a 1000 square metre Toorak Road, Toorak development site.

Its plans to build a complex with apartments, offices and retail.

The amalgamated site sits at the corner of 424-426 Toorak Road and 109 Mathoura Road.

Orchard Piper, founded by Rick Gronow and Luke McKie, reportedly spent two years negotiating with the Butler and Mendleson families to amalgamate the six properties.

One has been run as a cosmetic surgery clinic.

Orchard Piper has commissioned Jolson Architecture &amp; Interiors to design a seven-storey building with the apartments fronting Mathoura Road.

&quot;This site, being the most prominent, north-facing corner of [Toorak] village, presents an opportunity for us to invest in the area in a really tangible, long-term way,&quot; Mr McKie told The Australian Financial Review.

Plans have yet to be lodged with Stonnington Council with construction expected to begin in late 2022.

Orchard Piper secured the suburb&#39;s first double-digit sale in 2018 when the penthouse at 29 Washington Street sold for $14 million. The 1000sq m third-floor space boasted a pool, yoga room, sauna and 1300-bottle wine cellar, plus a lift from its four-car garage.&nbsp;

The 29 Washington Street penthouse sale almost doubled the previous record of $8.26 million at The Springfield, 19 apartments on the corner of Springfield Avenue and Orrong Road designed by K2LD Architects&rsquo; Tisha Lee for Chapter Group.&nbsp;

Before that, in 2015, there was a $6.15 million sale on the third floor of the Douglas Street Art Deco-inspired Le Nouveau.

Mathoura Road has seen pricey apartment projects in recent years including Palais Toorak, conceived by Craig Easton of Easton Projects, with collaboration from architect Rob Mills, the SJB Interiors director Andrew Parr and garden designer Paul Bangay.

It is a four storey block of seven residences at 86 Mathoura Road.

Local pharmacist C. Wallis &amp; Son, which has occupied the corner store at 426 Toorak Road since 1981 opposite the Tok H Centre, has signed a pre-lease agreement t stay on at the location after construction.

Orchard Piper have commissioned Jolson Architecture & Interiors to work on the design

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Orchard Piper propose luxury Toorak Road, Toorak corner apartment project

OSK Property developed the precinct and won two Asia Pacific Property Awards <a href="/news/osk-property-s-double-win-for-melbourne-square-at-asia-pacific-property-awards">in 2020</a> for the best mixed-use development and the best residential high-rise architecture.&nbsp;

Melbourne Square will deliver 1054 premium apartments with seven unique floor plans, exceptional private amenities, lush rooftop gardens and an expansive 3,700sqm park featuring Australian native, exotic and sub-tropical plants. The precinct provides an abundance of lifestyle amenities, including bars, a childcare centre, a Hilton Hotel, restaurants, retail stores, and a two-level supermarket.

Melbourne Square&rsquo;s one-bedroom apartments are selling for $487,000, with residents to enjoy breathtaking views, exceptional architecture and interior design, some of the city&rsquo;s best amenities and the best of Melbourne&rsquo;s CBD and Southbank to explore. What more could you ask for?

<h2>A Look at the Design of Melbourne Square&rsquo;s Residences</h2>

Melbourne Square was architecturally designed by international award-winner Cox Architecture and was influenced by the cultural heritage, greenery and grandeur of the city. Sue Carr&rsquo;s team designed the interior of the residences and was inspired by the building&#39;s architectural form and its garden landscapes. Both designers collaborated to help create intelligent spacious apartments that showcase spectacular views of the city.&nbsp;

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As a part of the Life &amp; Style edition curated by Coco Republic, Melbourne Square apartments include four fresh and unique design themes including; The Bondi with coastal decor, The Manhattan with mature dark aesthetics, The Paris flaunting everlasting luxury and The Soho with an industrial chic theme.

All Kitchens feature an opulent marble block island with Kohler tapware and state-of-the-art Miele appliances creating a luxurious space to prepare meals and a secondary area to dine at. Bathrooms come with dual vanities equipped with modern tapware, generous spaces for storage, large mirrored cabinets and a semi-frameless shower.&nbsp;

All bedrooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with homes positioned to enjoy natural light and the breathtaking views of the city, an integrated heating and cooling system, and spacious wardrobes. Master suites include automated block-out blinds that extend and retract with the flick of a switch. Plus, if you need the flexibility to work from home, custom-made study nooks are available and walk-in wardrobes will give you plenty of room to store all of your clothing items.

<a href="/buildings/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank"><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_fill,w_629,h_420,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank-9dd974c26116f96637977bf800cf6f84.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 401px;" /></a>

Melbourne Square&rsquo;s penthouses known as &lsquo;The Couture Series&rsquo; feature luxurious residences with either 3 to 5 bedrooms and the unique opportunity to personalise its interior in collaboration with iconic firms including Carr Design, Cox Architects and HUB Furniture. Currently, new purchases of selected two and three bedroom apartments can secure you a Life &amp; Style package worth $30,000, which includes stunning Coco Republic furniture, integrated wellness technology by Delos that controls air and water quality and smart lighting, Samsung white goods and a voucher to The Plant Society.

<h2>What Amenities Does Melbourne Square Offer?</h2>

Melbourne Square has two levels entirely dedicated to relaxation, which are filled with luxurious resort-style amenities, these are level 54 also known as The Skye Club and level 8 known as The Podium. 

<a href="/buildings/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank"><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch//https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank-d34984a3517972c6ed4da85b10c14909.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 366px;" /></a>

The Skye Club provides residents with a breathtaking panoramic outlook of the Melbourne city skyline and boasts a 25 metre indoor pool with a spa. The Skye Club also features a gym, a premium lounge bar, a series of private meeting and dining rooms with catering kitchens and a games room too. The Skye Club is exclusive and is only accessible to residents who live on the 54th level or above.

The Podium spreads across two full floors of both towers and is highlighted by a rooftop garden with a sub-tropical theme. The Podium offers a demonstration kitchen, a lounge bar and three private dining rooms that can be reserved. Residents will be entertained by the cinema and games room and will thoroughly enjoy the golfing simulator and the music room. To relax residents can enjoy an expansive outdoor pool equipped with sun lounges, a gym, two saunas, and yoga studio. The Podium provides a peaceful atmosphere that all residents can access and enjoy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="/buildings/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank"><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch//https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank-21e35fc6091b859162646eb4eb734f75.jpg" style="height: 286px; width: 600px;" /></a>

Melbourne Square also offers residents personal care options including a car service that can drive you anywhere in Melbourne, housekeeping available to take care of your laundry needs, a welcome desk with a concierge and private spaces can be reserved to host functions.

For families, the Nido Early School offers premium early childhood education for children aged 6 weeks to school age, ensuring parents that all children will be well taken care of.&nbsp;

The grounds of Melbourne Square offer recreation and regeneration and include a lush 3,700 square metre park where residents can have a picnic or relax in the shade. The grounds also feature a collection of pocket gardens, a tree-lined boulevard, water features and walkways.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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<h2>Melbourne Square&rsquo;s Retail Offerings</h2>

Melbourne Square&rsquo;s collection of retailers were chosen to build on to the already impressive and established dining scene in Melbourne&rsquo;s CBD and surrounding Southbank area.&nbsp;

Melbourne Square accommodates Southbank&rsquo;s first major full-line supermarket and the first double-storey Woolworths&rsquo; in the state of Victoria. Whilst picking up the groceries at Woolies shoppers can also stock up their cellars at the BWS Bottle Shop.

<a href="/buildings/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank"><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch//https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/project-renders/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank-8c242f8bffafa667d836cdcd906314d8.jpg" style="height: 400px; width: 600px;" /></a>

The Melbourne Square precinct incorporates a coffee shop named the Espresso Bar which overlooks Melbourne Squares park and serves premium baked goods and barista made coffee. The precinct also includes four unique and buzzing restaurants including; Pizza Pantelleria an Sicilian pizzeria, Theo&rsquo;s Fish Bar which serves tasty grilled and fried seafood options, The Golden Bunny by Tho Tho a Vietnamese restaurant and Waku Waku an authentic Japanese eatery.

<h2>Melbourne Square&rsquo;s Commercial Tower</h2>

Melbourne Square&rsquo;s commercial tower offers a lucrative entrepreneurial opportunity for commercial interests because of its unparalleled connection to the Melbourne CBD. The commercial tower has over 38,000 square metres of commercial space available over its 29 floors and features world class end-of-trip facilities in two of the levels. The incentives to establish and grow any business exists at Melbourne Square.&nbsp;

<h2>The Hilton Hotel&nbsp;</h2>

The renowned accommodation brand Hilton Hotels is also establishing a luxury 600-room hotel at Melbourne Square, offering conference and dining facilities, state of the art accommodation and wellness amenities.

<h2>Melbourne Square&rsquo;s Prime Location</h2>

Melbourne Square is situated in the fantastic inner-city suburb of Southbank and is centrally positioned to enjoy the very best of Melbourne living including; the bustling streets of the CBD, the shimmering waters of the Yarra River, the tranquil Royal Botanic Gardens and the waterfront playgrounds of Docklands and St Kilda Beach.&nbsp;

There is something for everyone to do and see in the beautiful inner-city suburb of Southbank. Art lovers can enjoy the world famous National Gallery of Victoria which is the oldest, biggest and most visited art museum in Australia as well as the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art which displays exhibitions from national and international artists. Performance art enthusiasts will be entertained by the internationally acclaimed Melbourne Recital Centre and Melbourne Arts Centre which is Australia&rsquo;s largest and busiest performing arts centre with more than 4,000 performances being hosted each year including The Australian Ballet, Opera and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

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Southbank is home to the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere known as the Crown Melbourne, it includes the Crown Towers which is the go-to accommodation option for celebrities with Bill Gates, Beyonce and Jay Z, George Clooney and Elton John, all known to have stayed here. The Crown features a cinema, a spa, Kingpin bowling, Playtime arcade games, several bars and nightclubs, 29 restaurants, multiple luxury clothing stores, as well as hosting concerts and live theatre performances.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also found in Southbank is The Eureka Tower, which is Australia&rsquo;s second tallest building at a height of 975ft which boasts the highest public vantage point for any building in the Southern Hemisphere.&nbsp;

For residents who are looking to further their career or teach those who are Southbank&rsquo;s notable institutions include the Victorian Institute for Forensic Medicine which is Australia&rsquo;s largest multidisciplinary centre for forensic services and the Victorian College of the Arts which offers educational opportunities in Dance, Film, Musical Theatre, Production, Television, Visual Art and Writing.

<h2>Melbourne Square&rsquo;s Construction Process&nbsp;</h2>

Stage One in the construction process of Melbourne Square was completed on May the 26th which included the bottle store and supermarket, the cafe and four restaurants, the childcare centre, the landscaping including the 3,745 square metre park and the east and west residential towers.

The remaining stages of construction are yet to be finalised later this year, with the fully completed site to be home to six towers including the commercial tower, the Hilton Hotel and two more residential towers.&nbsp;

If you are interested to learn more about the Melbourne Square precinct, you can visit its <a href="/buildings/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank">Urban property listing here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Located in the inner-city area of Southbank the newly completed Melbourne Square, spans an entire inner-city block and stands at a height of 226 metres.

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