<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/coronation-property">Coronation Property</a> has received development approval for Archer &amp; Albert, a 32-storey, mixed-use residential development in the heart of Chatswood.

Located at 57–61 Archer Street and 34 Albert Avenue, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/archer-albert-chatswood-57-61-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Archer &amp; Albert</a> will deliver 150 new homes, including affordable housing, alongside ground-floor and podium retail, commercial space, a heritage house activated as a café, additional ground-level activation, and a landscaped publicly accessible park designed for community use.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/archer-albert-chatswood-57-61-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Archer &amp; Albert</a> is one of the few large-scale residential developments in the heart of Chatswood City to progress through a council-led architectural design competition and secure development approval, positioning it at the forefront of design led housing.&nbsp;

<img alt="Archer" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33cb754a-1493-4203-bd16-096d320597f6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/A%2BA_C03_EXT_StreetScape_ID1.jpg?VersionId=oLUPFVAMxuRUTH1Bwki16R48cEo.vLeB" />

Designed by global architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, long-term collaborators of the Coronation team, the project draws inspiration from the Sydney Blue Gum High Forest and the leafy character of the South Chatswood Heritage Conservation Area. The design integrates a restored heritage-listed home and establishes a landscaped connection between Chatswood’s urban centre and its surrounding residential neighbourhoods.&nbsp;

“This is an important project for us and our first entry into the North Shore,” said Joe Nahas, Managing Director of &nbsp;Coronation Property.&nbsp;

“We are deliberate about where we invest and build, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chatswood-nsw-2067">Chatswood</a> stands out because the fundamentals are already strong. Transport, employment, education, retail and health are all in place. Archer &amp; Albert is about adding new housing into a centre that already works and building on what exists.”&nbsp;

<img alt="Chatswood" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="620fcd78-00be-489b-823a-ca353387b91b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/A%2BA_C04_EXT_PARK_HA_ID2.jpg?VersionId=NxSl04Zl1rzt94xlXNA6CNzSR9XMyLgP" />

Aras Labutis, Head of Urban Transformation at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/coronation-property">Coronation Property</a>, said the project reflects a disciplined, collaborative approach to city shaping.&nbsp;

“Chatswood sits at an important junction between high-density commercial activity and established residential &nbsp;neighbourhoods," Labutis said.

"Our focus for Archer &amp; Albert was to manage that transition carefully, respecting what’s already there &nbsp;while contributing something new that feels deliberate and enduring."

The approved scheme delivers:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>A 32-storey mixed-use tower comprising 150 homes, including 41 affordable housing dwellings • 530sqm of ground-floor retail, dining and commercial offerings&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A 760sqm wellness tenancy integrated within the podium&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A restored heritage building, thoughtfully reimagined as a café overlooking the park&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A landscaped public park, designed as a calm green retreat in the heart of Chatswood&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Resident amenities include a premium gym, golf simulator, mahjong room, dedicated wellness areas, private &nbsp;dining facilities and a curated wine room&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Deep private balconies designed to capture outlooks and northern light&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A refined material palette of natural stone, timber and terracotta&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=29796]

Joel Robinson

Coronation receives green light for Archer & Albert apartments in Chatswood

Leading Sydney developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/deicorp">Deicorp</a>, in partnership with Metrics Credit Partners, has officially broken ground on its landmark $1.8 billion Kings Bay Village project in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/five-dock-nsw-2046">Five Dock</a>, marking the beginning of construction on one of the most significant urban renewal precincts within the Parramatta Road Corridor.

A sod-turning ceremony was held at the project site on Parramatta Road, with NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully joining Deicorp Chairman Fouad Deiri OAM and Metrics CEO and Managing Partner Andrew Lockhart, to mark the significant milestone.

Located at 129-154 Parramatta Road, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> will transform more than three hectares of underutilised land into a highly connected new neighbourhood comprising 1,185 homes, including 218 affordable dwellings for essential workers, alongside new retail, commercial, and community spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146120 project_image_fid=356895]

Designed by award-winning architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/turner-studio">TURNER</a>, the precinct blends crafted brick architecture with a pedestrian-focused urban layout across six buildings of varying scale. The project will deliver 14,700sqm of retail and commercial space, 6,500sqm of public open space, and a new 2,290sqm landscaped park and civic plaza that will form the social heart of the community.

Kings Bay Village is positioned minutes from the future Five Dock Metro Station, supporting the NSW Government and City of Canada Bay Council’s shared ambition for a more connected, liveable and revitalised Parramatta Road Corridor. Deicorp will also contribute more than $80 million towards new and upgraded local infrastructure, including pedestrian laneways, an activated streetscape and significant public domain works.

Fouad Deiri OAM, Chairman of Deicorp, said Kings Bay Village represents a defining opportunity for Sydney’s Inner West.

&nbsp;“Today marks the beginning of a precinct that will deliver lasting benefits for the Five Dock community - new homes, new open spaces, and a vibrant mixed-use environment that brings people closer to transport, services and amenities,"&nbsp;Deiri says.

“We are proud to be delivering much-needed housing, including affordable homes for essential workers, in partnership with the NSW Government and the City of Canada Bay. Kings Bay Village is urban renewal at its best - thoughtful, connected and community-focused.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146120 project_image_fid=356894]

Metrics CEO and Managing Partner Andrew Lockhart said the company is proud to support more housing and infrastructure in a key Sydney corridor. 
&nbsp; 
“Metrics and Deicorp share a proven track record of delivering high-impact projects that align closely with the NSW Government’s housing and infrastructure priorities. Kings Bay Village marks our most significant Sydney development to date, offering quality homes, essential infrastructure, and dynamic public spaces.” 
&nbsp; 
“This project reflects our ongoing commitment to creating value by supporting economic growth, job creation, and delivering excellent outcomes for our investors,” he said.

With Kings Bay Village now underway, Deicorp’s pipeline of apartments under construction across Sydney has increased to 5,102. Kings Bay Village is scheduled for completion in Q2 of 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146120]

NSW Premier and Planning Minister join Deicorp and Metrics to break ground on $1.8 billion Kings Bay Village precinct

When Antoinette Chan and her architect husband, Peter began casually searching for an investment property, they weren’t expecting it to evolve into a life-changing family decision.

But one visit to the display suite of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen-group">Abadeen</a>’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/koyo-crows-nest-1-11-rodborough-avenue-crows-nest-nsw-2065">KOYO</a> development in Crows Nest changed everything, and sparked a remarkable story of three generations choosing to live side by side in one of the suburb's most architecturally-striking new developments.

Antoinette, her mother Janet Khoo, and her sister, who is currently living in Singapore, each purchased an apartment in the same building, creating a rare and meaningful multi-generational living arrangement underpinned by modern design, community values, and premium convenience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=356083]

“It wasn’t planned,” says Antoinette, who purchased a three-bedroom garden apartment with her husband and teenage daughter. “Peter came across KOYO and encouraged me to visit because he had a lot of respect for Abadeen’s previous work. As soon as we saw it, we knew it wasn’t just an investment, this was a home.”

Shortly after, Antoinette suggested her mother, Janet Khoo, take a look at the same development. A long-time inner-city resident who had recently sold her property in The Rocks, Janet had experienced some health setbacks and was contemplating a move closer to her daughter.

“I walked into the display apartment, and it just felt right,” says Janet. “I didn’t look anywhere else. The space, the simplicity of the design, the light, everything gave me a sense of peace. It’s a new beginning, but it also feels like home.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=356093]

In a stroke of serendipity, Janet selected the two-bedroom apartment next door to her daughter, completely unaware of Antoinette’s purchase. Around the same time, Antoinette’s sister, who resides in Singapore, viewed the property via a virtual tour and chose to buy the apartment directly above Janet’s.

“We were all drawn to KOYO individually, and it just happened that our homes ended up vertically stacked, ground, first, and second floor,” Antoinette laughs. “It was a coincidence, but also a sign. This is where we’re meant to be.”

Designed by celebrated architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/koichi-takada-architects">Koichi Takada</a>, KOYO delivered on all fronts for the Chan-Khoo family.

“Our garden apartment gives us the feel of a standalone home but with none of the maintenance,” says Antoinette. “All three bedrooms open onto a generous private garden, which is perfect for our dog Archie, and for entertaining. The open-plan layout and high ceilings make it feel airy, calm and luxurious.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=356092]

For Janet, security and accessibility were top priorities, and KOYO offered the ideal balance.

“At my age, I didn’t want to be climbing stairs,” she explains. “The first-floor apartment opens directly to the garden, and the building is small, which gives it a more personal, village-like feel. Yet I’m just steps away from my daughter and granddaughter. That gives me so much peace of mind.”

The family also appreciated the thoughtful amenities that avoided the excesses of some larger developments.

“We didn’t want a complex with too many facilities we wouldn’t use,” explains Antoinette. “KOYO has everything we need, generous storage, secure parking, beautifully landscaped walkways, and a stunning rooftop terrace with BBQ facilities that feels serene rather than busy.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=355428]

The location was another critical factor in the family’s decision. Though they had always lived closer to Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Antoinette says the transformation of Crows Nest was a revelation.

“When we returned from living overseas, we discovered Crows Nest had become this vibrant, walkable hub,” she says. “We love being able to stroll to cafés, restaurants, and shops on Willoughby Road. The new Metro makes the commute into the CBD effortless, and our daughter can walk to her school, it’s just next door."

Janet agree. “I was worried about giving up my inner-city lifestyle, but I’ve fallen in love with this area. It has everything I need, supermarkets, quiet streets, friendly faces, and it’s all a short walk away. I feel safe, independent, and connected.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=356085]

While design and location were important, the family also credits their decision to Abadeen’s reputation and responsiveness. With decades of experience delivering high-quality residential projects, Abadeen’s track record helped build trust during a volatile market period.

“The waiting game was tough, especially after selling my old apartment,” says Janet. “But the Abadeen team kept me updated every step of the way. They were professional, courteous, and transparent.”

Antoinette said Peter works in property and had already heard of Abadeen. "The quality of their work really impressed us, and as the project neared completion, they went above and beyond to keep us informed and supported. That level of communication is rare.”

Only a handful of three-bedroom residences remain for sale, priced from $3.5 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108800]

Three generations, one address: How a family found sanctuary and connection at Abadeen's KOYO in Crows Nest

Sydney-based developer Gold Partners Australia is making its move on the Gold Coast, launching what is one of the most affordable towers to the booming Broadbeach market.

Its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harmony-on-broadbeach-2797-gold-coast-highway-broadbeach-qld-4218">Harmony on Broadbeach</a> project, just 400m from the beach, has prices starting from $975,000 for its two-bedroom apartments that measure nearly 90 sqm internally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113098 project_image_fid=355607]

There will be 113 two- and three-bedroom apartments spread out across the 33-storey tower on the 1,201 sqm site that will front First Avenue. Gold Partners Australia, which has delivered several major projects in Sydney's Norwest and has an active pipeline with projects in Hornsby and Carlingford, secured the block vacant, and want to start preliminary site works early next year through their in-house construction capability.

DBI Architects designed the tower with a four-level podium which will have an open-air swimming pool, sun deck, outdoor lounges, alfresco dining spaces, and a gym with adjoining yoga lawn. A hospitality venue will anchor the building at street level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113098 project_image_fid=355611]

Olympus Property Group is selling Harmony on Broadbeach on behalf of Gold Partners Australia. Olympus Director Deanna Lockett says the project is resonating with everyone from locals, investors, those moving from interstate, and second home buyers from Brisbane.

"There's been nothing new come to the market in Broadbeach at this price point for nearly a year," Lockett recalls. "It hits the sweet spot of affordability, good sized apartments, in a great location."

Construction will commence in Q2 2026, and wrap up, all going well, by the end of 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113098]

Harmony on Broadbeach launches to booming Gold Coast suburb

Display apartments play a crucial role in helping buyers imagine how a space will look and feel once complete.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-albertine-by-mirvac-melbourne-31-queens-lane-melbourne-vic-3004">The Albertine</a> in Melbourne, development giant Mirvac has partnered with furniture maker and retailer MCM House to create a fully furnished, full-scale prototype that showcases the proportions, finishes, and design intent of the project’s three-bedroom residences.

As an added incentive, purchasers of any two- or three-bedroom apartment can receive up to $50,000 worth of MCM House furniture, allowing them to curate their new home with the same craftsmanship, contemporary design, and aesthetic showcased in the display apartment.

<a data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ae2e947b-2d51-4288-88fa-a35638e3be0f" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-albertine-by-mirvac-melbourne-31-queens-lane-melbourne-vic-3004"><img alt="Albertine" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-25%20at%209.27.26%E2%80%AFAM_1.png?VersionId=T5uSwgtTFwd1m5EdQF1inB.tBDgxqbtZ" /></a>

Oversized sofas, solid timber dining tables, and relaxed, low-profile seating demonstrate how the space accommodates real furniture, helping buyers clearly visualise how their new apartment could look, complete with pieces that genuinely suit the scale and design of the home.

The styling is simple but deliberate, with materials that pick up on the apartment’s natural light and neutral tones, creating cohesion without crowding the space.

<a data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="355f10d8-ee75-4546-a42e-4a54abcc806e" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-albertine-by-mirvac-melbourne-31-queens-lane-melbourne-vic-3004"><img alt="Albertine" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3e0b920b-3f17-47f0-8885-f67697a5f842" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-25%20at%201.17.07%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=tPcmBls5kt_SLqE2ONXrxgk5SnC1xERs" /></a>

Mirvac is now welcoming buyers through the display at The Albertine. Quietly yet conveniently positioned just off St Kilda Road on Queens Road, the development has attracted strong interest from inner-Melbourne and Bayside downsizers, professional couples seeking luxurious low-maintenance living, and design-focused buyers who want proximity to the CBD.

Apartments have been designed by Mirvac's inhouse design team with owner-occupiers at the forefront.&nbsp;The living and dining areas open directly onto a balcony, reinforcing the project’s emphasis on indoor-outdoor flow, while kitchens feature integrated appliances and soft-curve cabinetry which mirror the larger architectural themes at play throughout the building.

<a data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8f9b371-17e1-4122-a615-074113096135" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-albertine-by-mirvac-melbourne-31-queens-lane-melbourne-vic-3004"><img alt="Albertine" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-25%20at%209.30.16%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NCYvtMavnE1_YDhX6slAr7g84MWP0Ymp" /></a>

The Albertine offers one to four-bedroom residences complemented by exclusive resident-only amenity, including The Circadian Club, a wellness centre with an indoor pool and spa, gym, yoga and Pilates studio, and sauna, as well as The Elysian Room, a private dining space on level 10 with sweeping views across Melbourne.

Mirvac will welcome residents to The Albertine in 2026, having recently celebrated topping out the&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mirvac">Mirvac</a>&nbsp;recently topped out&nbsp; the topping out of The Albertine, with completion expected in 2026.

To find out more about the generous furniture offer with MCM House, enquire below.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=138659]

Mirvac unveils The Albertine display, offering up to $50k in MCM House furniture

South Melbourne Primary School

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Construction work on the new Montague Community Park at 2-4 Buckhurst Street located within the Montague precinct is progressing, with an anticipated completion date of spring this year.

The site of the park once carried with it an application for dual residential towers designed by JCB Architects, fronting onto a linear park that would have been provided via the closure of Kerr Street.

<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/107_exterior_landscape_02.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The unbuilt residential scheme for 2-4 Buckhurst Street. Image: JCB Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="338" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/107_exterior_landscape_02.jpg?itok=nDk0H7f4" title="The unbuilt residential scheme for 2-4 Buckhurst Street. Image: JCB Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The unbuilt residential scheme for 2-4 Buckhurst Street. Image: JCB Architects</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
As part of the revitalization of Fisherman’s Bend JCB were invited to design an apartment tower that would deliver a diverse range of high density inner city living opportunities, targeting both owner occupiers and investors, including a portion of premium three bedroom family living apartments.

Its form responds to the Local Precinct Plan and to the scale and grain of the surrounding neighbourhood. The towers feature a controlled pattern of expressed structure with vertical blades, providing framed views and solar protection. A generous podium provides communal facilities on the upper level, and a stepped modulating landscape on the lower levels, designed to moderate the impact of the towers on the streetscape.

- JCB Architects
</blockquote>

Montague Community Park - which will eventually be christened with a new name - will be the first delivered within the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area and forms part of the Ferrars Street Education and Community Precinct.

The Ferrars Street Education and Community Precinct comprises:

<ul>
<li>The new South Melbourne Primary School (SMPS), Victoria’s first vertical government school with integrated community facilities at 129 Ferrars Street, Southbank.</li>
	<li>An upgraded 126 tram stop on Route 96 to the east of the school. Public Transport Victoria and Yarra Trams upgraded the tram stop platforms and provided an accessible ramp and stairs to Railway Place.</li>
	<li>An upgraded City Road and Ferrars Street intersection to provide easier access to the precinct for all road users. This was delivered by VicRoads.</li>
	<li>Upgrades to local streetscapes and the development of Montague Community Park led by the City of Port Phillip.</li>
</ul>
Jointly funded by Council and the Victorian Government, the new 8,000 sqm park design will be located directly across from the SMPS and will include a paved entrance and forecourt area, terraced lawn areas, LED lighting, seating, footpaths and native garden beds designed by Hayball and Tract.

Construction of the park has been facilitated by the permanent closures of Ferrars Street (between Gladstone Street and Douglas Street) and Gladstone Street (between Kerr Street and Ferrars Street). Additionally, Kerr Street has been narrowed and on-street parking has been removed during the duration of construction.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UjSSQQeTI0c" width="560"></iframe>

In the interim as the Montague precinct develops over time, the Montague Community Park will serve the existing residents in addition to those set to be injected in the next 3-5 years as developments such as the tri-tower Fifteen85 (currently at sales and marketing) and 6-78 Buckhurst Street - which carries with it a permit for four residential towers - are potentially realised.

While the exact intentions of Little Lane Child Care for 6-78 Buckhurst are unknown, having acquired the site late last year, there have been suggestions of a world-leading early learning centre potentially being developed along with apartments.

<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/image3_10.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Fifteen85 and 6-78 Buckhurst Street. "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="244" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image3_10.jpg?itok=Y5RkOgb0" title="Fifteen85 and 6-78 Buckhurst Street. " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Fifteen85 and 6-78 Buckhurst Street.</figcaption></figure>The Ferrars Street Education and Community Facility opened in January 2018 and combines South Melbourne Primary School with community facilities. 

Delivered by the Victorian School Building Authority, the early delivery of a catalyst project for Fishermans Bend was critical for supporting the emerging community within Montague and allowing the precinct to develop around a community 'heart'.

The Ferrars Street Education and Community Facility features:

<ul>
<li>South Melbourne Primary School</li>
	<li>Out of Hours School Car</li>
	<li>Barring Djinang Kindergarten (a long day care kindergarten for children three years and above)</li>
	<li>Maternal Child Health Service (consulting room one)</li>
	<li>Consulting room for community services (consulting room two)</li>
	<li>Two multipurpose rooms for community use during school hours on weekdays, some evenings and all day on weekends (an out of school hours care provider will use the rooms for before and after school care).</li>
</ul>
<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/cmp_8609-1024x523.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="South Melbourne Primary School's ‘civic plaza’. Image: Chris Matterson via foreground.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="296" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/cmp_8609-1024x523.jpg?itok=B6rdfUCP" title="South Melbourne Primary School's ‘civic plaza’. Image: Chris Matterson via foreground.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>South Melbourne Primary School's ‘civic plaza’. Image: Chris Matterson via foreground.com.au</figcaption></figure>
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Laurence Dragomir

Montague Community Park on track for Spring completion

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This week Laurence sits down with Richard Leonard from Hayball where they talk South Melbourne Primary School, education in denser urban areas and the intersection of mathematics and architecture (true story!).

You might also like to read the text Q&amp;A with Richard from earlier in the week <a href="/news/hayballs-richard-leonard-provides-insight-into-the-south-melbourne-primary-school">here</a>.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/urban-melbournes-weekly-podcast/id1356864009?mt=2">iTunes</a>.

<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/421626834&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true&amp;visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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Alastair Taylor

Weekly Podcast: Episode 8 - Special guest Richard Leonard from Hayball

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Earlier this month Apartments.com.au <a href="/news/a-first-look-inside-hayballs-south-melbourne-primary-school">highlighted the recent completion</a> of the South Melbourne Primary School, located on Ferrars Street within the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area. Designed by Hayball, the new vertical school is the first to be constructed in Victoria and forms part of a wider community hub being developed in the Montague precinct, which will also include the now under construction Montague Park.

Apartments.com.au asked Hayball Director Richard Leonard to provide further insight on the practice's design methodology and process for designing South Melbourne Primary School (SMPS). 

With over 30 years’ experience in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, Richard provides expertise in helping schools integrate modern education philosophies into the design of new educational facilities. Providing design leadership to support contemporary models of learning, Richard champions collaborative and research-driven design, and regularly collaborates with leading education design specialists

Richard will also be Apartments.com.au's guest on this week's podcast where we'll be continuing the conversation on the evolving design of schools and the vertical learning model. In the meantime see below for our Q&amp;A focusing on South Melbourne Primary School.

<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/smps_diannasnape_print_02_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The design features plenty of light and sweeping views back to the city. Image : Dianna Snape"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/smps_diannasnape_print_02_0.jpg?itok=VapyNSeZ" title="The design features plenty of light and sweeping views back to the city. Image : Dianna Snape" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The design features plenty of light and sweeping views back to the city. Image: Dianna Snape</figcaption></figure>Apartments.com.au: South Melbourne Primary School has the distinction of being both the first vertical school completed in Victoria but also the first public building constructed within the Fishermans Bend Precinct. Was the idea of legacy in terms of the vertical learning model and SMPS as an exemplar of this typology a key consideration?

Richard Leonard: As the first public vertical model school in Victoria and the first public building in Fishermans Bend Precinct, Hayball’s design of South Melbourne Primary School rethinks the education model for densifying urban environments and how a school operates in its community. These were, however, deliberate design decisions informed by extensive consultation, research and years of architecture experience in education – the concept of “firsts” didn’t play into our approach. For example, extensive consultation with the public and school community informed the amenity mix for the six-level building.

UM: How do you design for an area which is mooted for significant change? When the surrounding context is set to evolve what qualities of the area do you draw upon and what opportunity was there to potentially influence the identity and character of the Montague Precinct?

RL: In a precinct that is one of Australia’s largest urban renewal areas and expected to swell to a community of 80,000 over the next 40 years, future proofing educational facilities was a critical factor in ensuring the suburb can evolve and behave according to the needs of its residents. 

South Melbourne Primary School incorporates 21st Century learning spaces for students to learn and grow in their evolving and dense inner-urban environment. For example, students have the opportunity to learn in a series of vertical spaces that embrace contemporary education thinking, while maintaining elements essential to typical schools like active play spaces, natural light, interconnected areas and pick-up/drop-off zones.

We were fortunate too that the Department of Education &amp; Training and the City of Port Phillip decided to opt for a fully integrated school and community facility. The school will be a key community hub - remaining open after-hours to encourage community interaction and providing spaces that are both community-based and shared with the school.

<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/smps_diannasnape_print_17_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="South Melbourne Primary School's design sits within a very urban setting. Image : Dianna Snape"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/smps_diannasnape_print_17_0.jpg?itok=y2dIgTej" title="South Melbourne Primary School's design sits within a very urban setting. Image : Dianna Snape" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>South Melbourne Primary School's design sits within a very urban setting. Image: Dianna Snape</figcaption></figure>UM: Hayball was involved in some concept and feasibility work for a vertical school down at Docklands. How much of that work and learnings from that project were useful in informing the design of SMPS? 
RL: Hayball has been involved is several conceptual studies for vertical schools, including one for the Docklands area. This study considered a variety of inner-urban school models including a stand-alone vertical school and a dispersed model where the “home base” school facility could be supported by a series of satellite facilities spread around an urban precinct.  But in all cases, the central ideas of providing a school that responds to its urban context and community was consistent. In other words, the school would also act as a community hub.

UM: What examples did you look to both nationally and internationally when designing the school? 
RL: When designing South Melbourne Primary School, we looked at European models and particularly in Copenhagen where some of the most innovative vertical schools had been developed. Our site visits reinforced in our minds the need to define learning communities, to consider transparency and visibility between levels, and to creatively resolve the challenges of vertical circulation and external space. More broadly, we experienced how successfully vertical schools can work and how well education can, in fact, be delivered within them.

Translating those lessons into the Australian context was important as was embracing the nuances of our pedagogical approaches, physical locality and urban fabric.  In this sense, the South Melbourne school very much responds to locality and the philosophies of contemporary education promoted and supported by the Victorian Schools Building Authority.       

UM : We're only a few weeks into the 2018 school year but what has the feedback been from students and staff? Is there anything that surprised you in terms of how spaces are used that you may not have expected?

RL: It’s early days and, under the Department’s rolling program to enrol students over time, the school will not reach its full enrolment for several years – in fact, only about a quarter of its full student intake of 525 students is enrolled currently. However, I understand that the early learning centre is running at full capacity already.

The gradual expansion of the enrolments allows the school students and staff to settle in and for the leadership team to develop their management and professional development structures over time.  An important element in this process has been the school’s engagement of new teachers and staff specifically selected for their commitment to contemporary teaching and learning within the vertical facility. The matching of education pedagogy and practices is critical in contemporary environments such as South Melbourne and I am sure that the process of engaging committed staff will ensure the success of the school.    

UM: The SMPS is a great example of schools taking on a greater role in the community with its facilities available to community groups and members outside of school hours. How do you see the roles of schools within communities evolving in the future and the potential for what they can offer particularly in inner-city areas where land is sparse?

RL: The densification of cities and new urban developments is coinciding with the re-imagination of what schools are providing, what they deliver and how they work within the urban and the community context. School buildings are going to have to be more than just a school and with the need for cost effective social infrastructure, these are prime opportunities to develop different models. Whether it’s the school design itself, or how it fits in the community, what size or height it is, or the amenities offered – it’s all around reimagining a new model of school and community. It is vital to design facilities that can be used outside of school hours and have a greater use to the community.

UM: There was a figure quoted on Q&amp;A about the number of schools Victoria needs to build in the next 10 years to keep up with demand - about 220 - do you think the vertical school model can assist in providing greater opportunity in developing inner-city schools particularly with site identification and acquisition? 

RL: In dense inner urban areas there is a need to define the best use of budget and what that means in terms of both 21st century education and in making facilities accessible to the wider community. We should accept that high-density schools are going to be part of our landscape in inner, middle and outer ring suburbs. However, a school is basically a critical community facility that has learning happening in it – so locating it in the right place is much more important than how much land area it has.

 
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South Melbourne Primary School

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