National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<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/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<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/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

OPENWORK PTY LTD

<html><body>
As Melbourne's population continues to skyrocket, Australia’s top architects are coming up with environmentally conscious solutions to meet demand, while maintaining the city’s famously high standard of living.

<blockquote>
“Sustainability is the basis of all Future Melbourne goals. It requires current generations to choose how they meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to also meet their needs,” 
</blockquote>

- City of Melbourne 

From 2017 to date, here are 5 new-build highlights which have been designed with a green initiative for a more sustainable future.

#1 COLLINS ARCH

<figure><a href="/buildings/collins-arch-447-collins-street-melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="387" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/collinsarch_0.jpg?itok=alE1N5rJ" title="Collins Arch, Melbourne CBD. Credit: Cbus Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Collins Arch, Melbourne CBD. Credit: Cbus Property</figcaption></figure>With construction well underway, Cbus Property have worked closely with Woods Bagot &amp; SHoP Architects to produce a world-class sustainable skyscraper due for completion this year. The dual 41-floor buildings will comprise of 202 residences, 294 resort-style hotel rooms, 50,000 square metres of premium grade office space and state-of-the-art communal spaces, including a tiered amphitheatre.

<a href="/buildings/collins-arch-447-collins-street-melbourne">Collins Arch</a> is the third development to receive a platinum level WELL Precertification, where nutrition, fitness, mood, sleep patterns and cognitive performance of occupants are highlighted as key considerations in the overall design. This has been accomplished through indoor air quality monitoring, superior natural lighting and ventilation, an emphasis on bicycle access, and more. To round off Collins Arch’s sustainability endorsement, the building has also been submitted for 6-star Greenstar accreditation and 5.5 star NABERS energy rating.

#2 SOUTHBANK BOULEVARD

<figure><a href="/news/stage-1-of-transforming-southbank-boulevard-and-dodds-street-commencing-this-month" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="387" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbankbvld.jpg?itok=lIXFJhv7" title="Southbank Boulevard and Dobbs Street. Credit: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southbank Boulevard and Dobbs Street. Credit: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>The transformation of <a href="/news/stage-1-of-transforming-southbank-boulevard-and-dodds-street-commencing-this-month">Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street</a> is taking shape, and due for completion late 2019. As the gateway to Melbourne’s Arts Precinct, the plan is to create a Melbourne Experience for Southbank by constructing 2.5 hectares of new public space, including a new civic square for the precinct, more neighbourhood parks and the aim of prioritising pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. The project will also see 300 new trees planted (predominantly the Platanus X acerifolia), which will meet the City of Melbourne’s biodiversity and urban forest targets. 

#3 435 BOURKE STREET

<figure><a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="387" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/435bourke.jpg?itok=FFWzySUA" title="435 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD. Credit: Cbus Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>435 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD. Credit: Cbus Property</figcaption></figure>The 55-level commercial tower designed by Bates Smart in association with Cbus Property will add a striking new icon to Melbourne’s urban skyline by 2023. Located on the corner of Queen and Bourke Streets, <a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">435 Bourke Street</a> boasts environmentally friendly features and is targeting a 5.5 Star NABERS Energy rating, a minimum 5 Star ‘Green Star’ Office Design and WELL Platinum Certification.

Cbus Property aims to invest in new technologies and materials to maintain its notable eco-conscious reputation for both new and existing buildings. With a sustainable focus in mind, the sculptural design will fit seamlessly into the city landscape, with six different landscaped terraces throughout for occupants to enjoy.

<blockquote>
“The building’s design references the neighbouring streetscape and is crafted to be more organic in form, aspiring to enliven the precinct and create a more people-friendly environment that stimulates the senses and imagination.”
</blockquote>

- Cian Davis, Director of Bates Smart

#4 LITTLE MILLER 

<figure><a href="/buildings/neighbourhood-10-16-little-miller-street-brunswick-east"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="387" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/littlemiller.jpg?itok=MosoOmoR" title="55-63 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East. Credit: Castran" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>55-63 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East. Credit: Castran</figcaption></figure>Developer Lucent teamed up with design trio ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects, Breathe Architecture and Openwork Landscaping to put Brunswick East’s ‘<a href="/buildings/neighbourhood-10-16-little-miller-street-brunswick-east">Little Miller</a>’ on the map as one of Melbourne’s most sustainable residential developments to date. The sold-out apartment building has been awarded a 7.5 star average NatHERS thermal performance rating, and has been designed as a 100% fossil fuel free building. From induction cooktops and energy-saving LED light fittings, to rainwater tanks for irrigation and solar power, the environmentally conscious design makes use of natural resources without compromising luxurious living. Venture up to the rooftop and you’ll find a multi-functional garden featuring all kinds of plants and greenery, communal al fresco dining and even a ‘gin and tonic’ room surrounded by edible plants to make your own cocktails. 

<blockquote>
“What is labelled sustainable, is often just common sense. While we do design responsibly, we also design robust homes that just feel right.”
</blockquote>

- Toby Lauchlan, ClarkeHopkinsClarke

#5 THE GENERAL

<figure><a href="/buildings/the-general-421-high-street-northcote" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="387" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/thegeneral.jpg?itok=y6QNTC9S" title="421 High Street, Northcote. Credit: C.Kairouz &amp; Associates" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>421 High Street, Northcote. Credit: C.Kairouz &amp; Associates</figcaption></figure>What was once a small family butcher on Northcote’s High Street, has now become the site for '<a href="/buildings/the-general-421-high-street-northcote">The General</a>',  arguably one of Melbourne’s most exciting technological advancements in structural design to date. Architect Chahid Kairouz had a goal to transform the site of his family’s business into not only a sophisticated mid-rise apartment, but use the opportunity as a means to pioneer new technology with a sustainable focus in his late father’s honour.

<blockquote>
“It was extremely important to reflect my father’s values in the design of the general; not only for sentimental value but to stand the test of time in its design and its use of cutting-edge sustainable technology on the facade; a combination makes the building and the apartments be relevant for longer." 
</blockquote>

the general is Australia’s first ever residential building to use Onyx Solar photovoltaic glazing which works as both a balustrade and power source. The sustainable design also contains a 25,000 litre rainwater tank for flushing toilets, 137 bicycle parks and a green rooftop terrace.

THE  FUTURE

With temperatures on the rise and an endeavour to achieve a more sustainable society, the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects have called for increased investment in green infrastructure. <a href="/news/victorian-election-2018-aila-victoria-calls-for-increased-investment-in-green-infrastructure">Read the full article</a>. 

<blockquote>
“There is the need to prioritise landscapes and green infrastructure in the planning scheme to build a healthy, liveable city as Melbourne’s population grows steadily.”
</blockquote>

- Adrian Gray, Victorian Chapter president

<figure><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="312" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/tallest-timber-tower-tokyo-japan-dezeen-col4.jpg?itok=SEiw0U5-" title="Timber high rise proposed for Tokyo. Credit: Dezeen" width="580"><figcaption>Timber high rise proposed for Tokyo. Credit: Dezeen</figcaption></figure>Could timber high-rises be a way forward? Following Japan’s proposal to build the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper, there has been discussion of the environmental benefits and low carbon footprint of building with wood. <a href="/news/the-cost-efficiency-of-mid-rise-timber-structures">Have your say here</a>.

 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/verticalgardens.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="Futuristic vertical gardens. Credit: MAD Architects" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/verticalgardens.jpg?itok=OvEWziKr" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Futuristic vertical gardens. Credit: MAD Architects</figcaption></figure>What happens when you plant 150 trees and plants haphazardly across the face of an apartment complex? You get 150,000 litres of oxygen each hour, and 200,000 litres of carbon dioxide is absorbed per hour by night. Are we likely to see more vertical gardens on the rise in Melbourne? <a href="/news/exploring-the-merits-of-a-vertical-forest-has-it-a-lasting-place-in-melbourne">Learn more</a>.

<h2>Some sustainable Melbourne properties on the market right now:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29358]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22699]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22803]
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Olivia Round

5 of Melbourne’s environmentally conscious new-development highlights

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The first tangible building that heralds the start of the Queen Victoria Market's (QVM) renewal is now at <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/building-and-development/property-information/planning-building-registers/Pages/town-planning-permits-register-search-results.aspx?appid=268732">advertising</a>.

Breathe Architecture has designed a new structure, which will act as a temporary market facility whilst the QVM undergoes its comprehensive overhaul. Absorbing a tract of land adjacent to Queen Street, Market Garden as it has been dubbed will cater for traders that are currently spread over airsheds A, B, C and D.

In line with a lengthy construction timeline for the overall QVM precinct redevelopment, market-goers and traders can expect Market Garden to operate for a period of five years.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image35_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Aerial perspective of the Market Garden. Image: OPENWORK Pty Ltd"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="203" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image35_9.jpg?itok=sUJxvCKo" title="Aerial perspective of the Market Garden. Image: OPENWORK Pty Ltd" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Aerial perspective of the Market Garden. Image: OPENWORK Pty Ltd</figcaption></figure>The two storey modular structure will include an open air trading hall at ground level, with a market garden situated above.

Running from Victoria Street to Franklin Street, Market Garden will span 264 metres in length, and encompass 4,100sqm of ground floor trading area. The green spaces across Level 1 will add another 2,250sqm of useable area, with amphitheatre steps at the northern end of the structure for the purposes of event and gallery use.

Whilst the first floor is earmarked as an ‘urban greenhouse’, planning documents also flag the space being used conjointly as an educational facility. 

Breathe Architecture have conceived Market Garden as a lightweight structure, built primarily of steel and Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene plastic (think Southern Cross Station), with clear glass capping the 13m high form. A degree of design flair comes by way of Market Garden's flanking forms which consist of white bird netting. 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/tile-3-qvm-new-market-pavilion668.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Perspective view of temporary pavillion from Victoria Street. Image: City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/tile-3-qvm-new-market-pavilion668.jpg?itok=3GLMF4Ye" title="Perspective view of temporary pavillion from Victoria Street. Image: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Perspective view of temporary pavilion from Victoria Street. Image: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>Openwork Pty Ltd has chimed in with landscape concept for the project.

Existing street trees onsite will be enclosed with the Market Garden structure, supplemented by new mounded turf and rejuvenated park space at the southern end of the site. Adjacent storage containers in support of Market Garden will also see receive succulent planters atop.

Current timelines for QVM's overhaul has demolition works commencing on the existing market sheds at the turn of 2018, with Market Garden set to be operational by October of this year. Once works are completed for the QVM's $250 million overhaul, Market Garden's prefabricated design will allow it to be potentially relocated and re-used elsewhere.
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