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

Melbourne Apartment

The design driven inner city Melbourne developer, Neometro, has secured a site in Fitzroy for a new residential project.

As one of the last remaining development sites in Melbourne&rsquo;s Fitzroy, Neometro paid more than $9.3 million for the 450 Gore Street site, after having recently snapped up a St Kilda site for almost $22 million, which has a lease to Fitness First until 2024.

Fitzroy&rsquo;s Chris James and Chris Kombi sold 450 Gore Street, at the corner of Leicester Street on behalf of a private family, attracting strong interest from buyers, with the campaign generating more than 130 enquiries.

Chris James said they had seen prudent, highly qualified developers compete strongly for the few recent offerings in the area and as expected, 450 Gore St was no different.

&ldquo;Developers looked past inflationary pressures and growing construction costs, recognising this was an unrivalled opportunity to deliver a project in the heart of one of Australia&rsquo;s most liveable locations,&rdquo; James said.

&ldquo;Inner-city locations with excellent lifestyle qualities are particularly popular with Melburnians as flexible working arrangements become commonplace. The market&rsquo;s seen overwhelming evidence for demand in the immediate area across multiple projects.&rdquo;

The significant triple-fronted 900 sqm site is located on the tree-lined Gore Street, just behind the buzzing Smith Street, which was named the coolest street in the world by Time Out.

Fitzroy itself has recently ranked as Melbourne&rsquo;s most liveable suburb by CoreLogic, taking into consideration the abundant and accessible park, health, shopping, public transport and educational amenity.

Sitting within the Fitzroy East and Johnston Street North planning precinct, the site has favourable Mixed-Use zoning, which promotes significant density and development.

Kombi commented on the site&rsquo;s walkability, sitting within walking distance to every possible amenity, including parks, public transport, renowned bars and eateries, as well as Fitzroy swimming pool.

Along with Smith Street, the site is also close by to the Brunswick Street and Johnston Street precincts, as well as the iconic Edinburgh Gardens, and just 1.5 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD.

Neometro&rsquo;s project will be the latest development in Fitzroy, which attracts local, interstate and international guests to the precinct given its world-class offering of retailers, restaurant, cafes and bars.

The suburb is soon to be home to boutique hotel group, The Standard nearby on Rose Street, where a 126-room hotel is set to be opened in 2023.

Piccolo has recently been granted a permit for their $120 million apartment project at 385 Gore Street and sold out its 71-75 Argyle Street project, while the Victorian Government is redeveloping the Fitzroy Gasworks site into a new residential, sports and community precinct.

Nearby is also the rapidly developing Collingwood office market with multiple projects recently completed and underway, including the $111 million Aesop headquarters by Impact Investment Group, global investment group Hines&rsquo; $200 million timber tower, and projects at 51 Langridge Street and 71 Gipps Street.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=114139]

The campaign generated more than 130 enquiries with multiple qualified underbidders competing for the property, with high-end boutique developers, Neometro snapping up the site for $9,305,500.



alisonwarters@gmail.com

Neometro add Gore Street, Fitzroy site to residential apartment development pipeline

ID_Land’s collaboration with Rothelowman blends rough and smooth materiality and culminates into a beautiful expression of modern architecture.

Delivering 62 residences in one, two and three-bedroom configurations, Canvas pays homage to Brunswick’s industrial past.

The project’s sculptural façade fits perfectly into Barkly Street; its industrial form framed by geometric concrete grids that reinterprets the industrial regeneration of Brunswick.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29358 project_image_fid=85966]

Urban recently sat down with Rothelowman’s Kylie Caruana, who has worked in the architectural studio for 12 years, to discuss the Melbourne development.

MK: How many multi-residential projects has Rothelowman been contracted on within Victoria?&nbsp;

KC: During my 12 years at Rothelowman, we’ve been contracted on countless multi-residential projects (so I had some help to run the numbers). Rothelowman currently has 222 Active projects nationally with 132 Projects in Victoria alone, of these 81 are in planning and 45 have gained planning and are in various stages of construction. 92 of these are residential or have residential components. Historically Rothelowman has completed over 800 projects in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, ACT and Western Australia.

MK: What spoke to you about Canvas in particular?&nbsp;

KC: Canvas was yet another highly collaborative project between ID Land and Rothelowman, to realise their first multi residential apartment building with an exceptional site in the epicentre of Brunswick. This was an opportunity for urban reconsolidation, in a well-connected precinct around existing culture. Having lived in Brunswick for many years and residing in neighbouring Northern suburbs my entire life, this was an opening to bring my community’s ideals to the table.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29358 project_image_fid=85960]

MK: What was the design brief from ID_Land for the project's architectural design?&nbsp;

KC: The design brief from day dot was open and progressive. Our special relationship with ID Land, based on high levels of trust and collaboration, meant the brief didn’t need to talk to specifics. We were to take an urban regeneration site and come up with a design concept for the future, whilst paying homage to the granular nature of the past. We framed our thinking - to embed our thirst for sustainability, balanced living, and to establish new links to the existing community.

MK: Where did you take your inspiration from?

KC: Primarily our inspiration came from the beauty and the eclectic and diverse culture we see, feel and experience within Brunswick. Tucked in a site with an industrial past and an artistic present, Canvas draws links from its surrounding tactile materiality, fluid forms, creative culture and lifestyle.

MK: How did you harmonise Canvas into the Barkly Streetscape?

KC: Very early in the piece, we brought together ideas on what we envisaged for the future urban topography of the area and what we would build upon for the future Brunswick community. Although there are three parts to our streetscape, the lines between our retail, commercial office and residential are blurred behind our façade grid. Our entry is complex, yet holistic whereby it invites patrons, employees, residents and visitors through the one naturally lit entrance.

These elements were then stitched together to create a Canvas. The development provides a sustainable living experience that culminates into a home for families, couples, and individuals.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29358 project_image_fid=85965]

MK: Were there any challenges during the design process that you had to overcome?&nbsp;

KC: What are maybe typically seen as challenges became opportunities to engage and have an honest and open dialogue with the planning authorities, taking them on the journey and together forming a collective example that exemplifies future-proofed planning outcomes and creates a precedent for future developments.

MK: How important are communal amenities in new developments, and why?

KC: Now more than ever the importance of communal amenity has come to the fore; people have never spent as much time in their apartments before and now they’re receiving a real education in design – seeing how the sun enters the rooms during the day, how much fresh air they receive and how they use outdoor space.&nbsp;

This is changing people’s attitudes and cementing what’s important to them. There’ll be a definite permanent mark left and we’ll be living differently in the future, with more flexible working, both from home and from the office. As a result, people will want greater liveable outdoor space and more personal space. People like the idea of having an escape and this kind of design will become even more popular because of what we’ve been through.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29358 project_image_fid=85959]

Though designed pre-COVID, Canvas has all the prerequisites for a post-pandemic world and the intrinsic changes it has brought to the way we live, work and play. With an extensive rooftop resident’s amenity floor, Canvas has the answer. Our communal rooftop includes internal and external spaces, work from home places, comfortable lounge areas, kitchen with entertainment dining, north and south facing open air terraces with spectacular views and shared gardens, all sustainably delivered.

MK: What have you tried to do in the design that the average homebuyer may not notice straight away?&nbsp;

KC: A project, be it commercial, residential or retail, isn’t about selling space; it’s about selling the intangibles – the opportunities, the lifestyle and the economic prospects these spaces can provide.

By managing spaces, sharing resources and hosting activities together, residents are empowered to contribute to the surrounding community and the world at large, creating greater connections and happier lives.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=29358]

Urban recently sat down with Rothelowman’s Kylie Caruana, who has worked in the architectural studio for 12 years, to discuss the Melbourne development

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Designed by a Brunswick local: Rothelowman’s Kylie Caruana discusses the design influences behind Canvas, Brunswick apartments

St Boulevard, located at the intersection of the grand St. Kilda Boulevard and the Melbourne CBD, is home to three towers, Magnolia, Anaca and Ginko, named after the trees that serve as a garden centerpiece that links the three buildings.

Recently completed to a design by the renowned architecture firm Elenberg Fraser,&nbsp;the biophilic towers rise as high as 21&nbsp;storeys and home 419&nbsp;one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Apartments start from $410,000.

Urban has taken a closer look at St Boulevard and picked out its top selling points.

<h2>1. Developed by The Shakespeare Group</h2>

On each of its projects, The Shakespeare Group team begins with the careful selection of a location that will offer an exceptional level of amenity, as seen in St Boulevard.

The group then collaborates with industry experts like those at Elenberg Fraser, combining&nbsp;research, deep metrics and complex analyses to make&nbsp;decisions.

&quot;Unique, innovative and future-focused, The Shakespeare Group creates liveable spaces and lifestyle-driven communities to be enjoyed now and for years to come,&quot; the group said.

Other projects by The Shakespeare Group include, Habitat, Twin Waters in Queensland,&nbsp;Pullman Cairns and more commercial Melbourne developments on Collins and Bourke Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1260 project_image_fid=173489]

<h2>2. Designed by the award-winning experts at Elenberg Fraser</h2>

Elenberg Fraser is an expert in multi-residential architecture and interior design, currently delivering around 42% of the apartments nearing completion and under construction in Melbourne.&nbsp;

The global practice has won a number of awards for its local projects in Melbourne, such as&nbsp;&nbsp;Fifty Albert in South Melbourne, Luna in St Kilda and A&rsquo;Beckett Tower on Melbourne&rsquo;s A&rsquo;Beckett Street.

&ldquo;We create flexible spaces that can be adapted to a range needs, with practical yet individual approaches to interior design,&quot; the architecture firm say.

&ldquo;Elenberg Fraser residential projects have demonstrated their potential to improve returns and work within strict floorplan and cost considerations, but also provide truly inhabitable environments that excite and engage their owners and tenants.&rdquo;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1260 project_image_fid=175274]

<h2>3. Location,&nbsp;Location, Location</h2>

Located at&nbsp;601 St Kilda Road,&nbsp;St. Boulevard provides residents with a green&nbsp;lifestyle within walking distance to Albert Park to the West and the Royal Botanic Gardens to the East.

St. Kilda is one of Melbourne&rsquo;s most eclectic suburbs brimming with creativity, talent, innovation and entertainment.

The Shakespeare Group said St. Boulevard is placed between a concrete jungle and a bohemian hub with some of the quirkiest boutiques and restaurants lining Fitzroy and Acland Streets, just a few tram stops from home.

Some of Melbourne&rsquo;s best cultural and entertainment venues are close by as it&#39;s not far from the heart of&nbsp;Melbourne&rsquo;s Arts Precinct.

St. Boulevard&nbsp;is within walking distance to some of the best public and private schools in Melbourne. Take a short tram ride into the city, and residents are close to some of Australia&#39;s top-ranking universities.

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<h2>4. Over 2,000 sqm of resident amenity</h2>

St. Boulevard offers a multitude of exclusive facilities for residents, set in the natural leafy surroundings.

Private kitchens and dining rooms can be booked by residents, with space available in the climate-controlled wine storage racks. There&#39;s a library room that features an open fireplace, as well as a health club with spa, sauna and steam rooms.

A state-of-the-art gym is also on site, complete with&nbsp;a heated lagoon and lap pool. Outdoors there&#39;s resort-style outdoor pavilions, BBQ pods, garden seating areas and a children&#39;s play area.

The centerpiece of the development is the garden, home to large tree&#39;s after which the buildings are named, Magnolia, Ginko and Anaca.

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<h2>5. Apartment and building design</h2>

There are a number of different floorplans and configurations at&nbsp;St Boulevard.

Each kitchen features&nbsp;stone island benches, natural stone finishes and raw and polished textures, which compliment the surrounding natural landscape.

Living and kitchen areas open to balconies with views over the surrounding green areas and to the Melbourne CBD.

The floor plans are optimised with efficiency and maximise&nbsp;storage for convenient living and the exposure of natural light and city panoramic views due to the curved and sloping design of the towers, centred around a&nbsp;green&nbsp;park.

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St Boulevard, located at the intersection of the grand St. Kilda Boulevard and the Melbourne CBD, is home to three towers, Magnolia, Anaca and Ginko

jordan_55689

Why St Boulevard apartments on the fringe of Melbourne's CBD should be on a buyers shortlist

As the return to the office stalls due to ongoing lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne, discerning apartment developers are pivoting their approach to apartment design.

If not already as standard, a number of developers are going hard on the work-from-home office space, whether it&#39;s part of the wider development or within the apartments.

More than one-10th of Melbourne&#39;s office floor space was untenanted in July, the Property Council of Australia&#39;s Office Market Report showed. The St Kilda Rd precinct had Melbourne highest vacancy rate at 16.3 per cent, followed by Southbank by 15.2 per cent.

Chris McCue, managing director at architecture and design firm Carr, says he has seen the&nbsp;demand for a tailored home office space continue right through the pandemic.

&quot;The multitude of workspaces within a single dwelling has definitely risen as we move to more longer-term workplace flexibility and adaptive environments,&quot; McCue said.

The customisable apartments at Riverlee&#39;s mixed-use Melbourne development Seafarers had a recent buyer re-jig&nbsp;the floorplan, taking out the laundry sink which was moved to the ensuite to accomodate a study nook large enough for two people, fitted with cabinetry and shelving.

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The developer Riverlee also focused on the home office boom by adding shared facilities in the 123-room development, located in the same Flinders Street building as&nbsp;Australia&#39;s first 1 Hotel.

Residents will have access to a number of meeting rooms and breakout areas, an 800-seat function space, a residents-only library and communal lounge. There&#39;s also onsite building support staff who can assist with printing.

The home office facilities, as well as the access of&nbsp;exclusive privileges when staying at a&nbsp;1 Hotel&nbsp;worldwide, has seen a big uptake in purchases by entrepreneurs and executives.

Seafarers was&nbsp;designed by Fender Katsalidis on the banks of the Yarra River. They were tasked with&nbsp;reimagining&nbsp;the heritage-protected Goods Shed 5, preserving&nbsp;the only intact remnants from the days before containerisation.

McCue said Seafarers&nbsp;faceted exterior does more than create a striking urban presence, it yields uniquely large floorplans.

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&quot;From the four-bedroom penthouses to two-bedroom residences, each interior is meticulously planned to maximise natural light, external views and connection to the textures and rhythms of its riverfront setting,&quot; McCue said.

&quot;Luxury can mean so much in terms of spatial and service amenity and is where Seafarers achieves luxury in many ways.

&quot;From a service inclusion and connection to 1 Hotels, to the kitchen joinery and fixtures inclusions, to the inclusion of generous and highly-functional storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728 project_image_fid=161089]

&quot;There was a lot of consideration around house-like storage amenity, as well as spatial amenity and flow through spaces and connection.

&quot;Our key spatial thinking and beliefs include connected indoor and outdoor living spaces, controlled and extended aspects, extended views that are aligned with internal planning.&quot;

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=27728]

Chris McCue, managing director at architecture and design firm Carr, says he has seen the demand for a tailored home office space continue right through the pandemic

How apartment customisation and adding a home office is driving off the plan sales

Chronicle Armadale is a collection of just 31 three-bedroom residences, located on the dress circle&nbsp;High Street and set&nbsp;in one of Melbourne&rsquo;s most established retail and lifestyle destinations.

Apartment 304 is the last remaining three-bedroom apartment available&nbsp;in the refined development, boasting an intelligent floorplan and flexible spaces.

Delivered by Bensons Property Group, Chronicle has a strong sense of composition, with flexibility and expression.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2845 project_image_fid=169729]

&ldquo;From the beginning, Chronicle has been inspired by movement. The same concepts which form classical dance &ndash; grace, poise, strength, tradition, beauty &ndash; have driven us to craft new homes of rare beauty&rdquo;, Bensons&rsquo; Rick Curtis said.

The apartment presents an elegant aesthetic, with the use of sliding panels for flexibility, energy efficient initiatives and stylishly appointed interiors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2845 project_image_fid=169324]

Set over a total area of 116sqm, the third-floor apartment includes two bathrooms, an open-plan living and kitchen, built-in robes and a balcony.

The carefully selected interior palette includes elegant materials and textures inspired by copper and herringbone.

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In the kitchen, integrated Miele appliances are complemented by stone benchtops, a beautiful splashback and fine, 2 pac gloss-finished cabinetry.

Although Melbourne&rsquo;s dining scene is internationally renowned, staying home at Chronicle is also an attractive option, thanks to considered residences, abundant light and a feeling of relaxation.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=2845]

Delivered by Bensons Property Group, Chronicle boasts a strong sense of composition, with flexibility and expression

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