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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> has unveiled the fifth and final stage of its $1 billion Norwest community, The Orchards.

The final stage, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/zeste-at-the-orchards-norwest-104-fairway-drive-norwest-nsw-2153">Zeste</a>, will deliver 209 apartments across two distinctive buildings, Essence and Eden. The 135 apartments in Essence will be the first to be released to the market, which will bring to an end the decade-long vision to create a&nbsp;neighbourhood defined by design excellence, sustainability, and community engagement.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150510 project_image_fid=351878]

David Lee, Sales Manager at Sekisui House Australia said, Zeste's oversized living spaces and diverse apartment mix, which includes the introduction of&nbsp;Breezeway Sky Homes for the first time, deliver a unique lifestyle offering.

Early purchasers will benefit from exclusive VIP pricing as well as the choice of one premium upgrade, which Lee says is a "thank you" for their commitment to the project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150510 project_image_fid=351876]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, Zeste embodies Sekisui House’s global design philosophy of creating harmony between people, homes and nature. Principal Ben Pomroy explained that Zeste is about living within the landscape.

“With two large courtyards, the lagoon pool precinct for the wider community and a central courtyard with pavilion exclusively for Zeste residents, the architecture frames an experience of living in a park," Pomroy said.

“Over 50 per cent of the site is landscaped, ensuring a deep connection to nature at every stage of daily life. The buildings are designed as a collection of smaller, finer-grain forms, with over 85% of apartments enjoying dual aspects.

“The focus on natural ventilation, generous layouts and communal interaction creates a residential environment that is both sustainable and socially connected.”

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150510 project_image_fid=351886]

Natalie Shalala, a member of Rothelowman’s interiors team said they reimagined the former site’s Orchard homestead with a contemporary twist. &nbsp;

“The design draws on the nostalgia of the past orchard – timber floors, the warmth of a fireplace, the rituals of the homestead and reinvents them for modern apartment living,"&nbsp;Shalala said.

“We have created two tonal palettes, one with pale honey undertones and another with a soft blush inspired by nectar. A highlight feature is the cathedral glass light box, a bespoke design element that re-interprets the classic lantern. It is both beautiful and functional, tying kitchen and bathroom spaces together in a way that feels entirely unique."

Shalala said the&nbsp;day-to-day liveability has been carefully considered, with abundant storage solutions, butler’s pantries, bike storage and joinery designed to simplify routines and enhance comfort.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150510 project_image_fid=352090]

Apartments in Zeste start from $715,000 for one-bedrooms and extend through to expansive three-bedroom Sky Homes priced from $2.25 million. Floorplans range from 59 sqm to 144sqm.

The mix in Essence comprises 41 one-bedroom, seven one-bedroom + Max space, 39 two-bedroom, 40 two-bedroom Breezeway Sky Homes (24 of which include additional Max spaces), and eight three-bedroom residences.&nbsp;

Max spaces are integrated into select residences, offering a flexible room that can be tailored to individual needs, ideal as a home office, children’s play area, or additional storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150510 project_image_fid=351881]

Zeste continues Sekisui House Australia’s partnership with Altogether Group, providing sustainable water, power and data services to residents. Passive design strategies include cross-ventilation, deep landscaping and water features that encourage evaporative cooling, aligning with The Orchards long-term environmental goals.&nbsp;

Construction is set to commence on the Zeste buildings in early 2026, with completion anticipated in late 2027 to early 2028.&nbsp;

More than 850 apartments have been sold across the masterplan, contributing to The Orchards community of 1,300 apartments when complete.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150510]

Sekisui House Australia launches Zeste, the final stage of its $1 billion Norwest masterplan

A significant addition to the Bella Vista Station Precinct is in the pipeline, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/landen-property">Landen</a> formally lodging a State Significant Development Application for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-memorial-avenue-bella-vista-40-memorial-avenue-nsw-2153">new apartment community on Memorial Avenue</a>.

Positioned beside the Elizabeth Macarthur Creek corridor, the project is among the first major transit-oriented residential proposals within the Metro precinct.

The masterplan, designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/turner-studio">Turner Architects</a>,&nbsp;outlines a four-stage delivery, comprising four buildings between four and fifteen storeys, and includes a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a limited selection of four-bedroom penthouses and terraces.

The project places a strong emphasis on housing diversity and liveability, with apartment sizes ranging from 50 to 180 sqm. The first stage will deliver 213 dwellings, followed by 231 in the second stage. Construction is expected to commence in 2026, pending approvals.

<img alt="Bella Vista Apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bb3d84b1-d2df-4e26-915a-31b27faf9b1a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/View02_01-scaled.jpg?VersionId=Gb0AUtZ3VXsLxrqUaw_AwT_vcBwQ_FJu" />

As the first transit-oriented development (TOD) in the precinct, Landen’s Bella Vista community has been designed to align closely with the surrounding Metro infrastructure. The proposal integrates new pedestrian and cycling paths, a new bridge over Elizabeth Macarthur Creek, and direct access to Bella Vista Metro Station.

Lush communal amenities are also central to the design. 'The Grove' and the 'Garden Link' will create landscaped community areas that reflect the area's agricultural heritage and provide direct access to the creekside.&nbsp;

The ‘Garden Patio’ is conceived as a multi-use indoor-outdoor facility offering a gym, study nooks, and communal lounge spaces.&nbsp;Rooftop terraces across the buildings will offer views to the Blue Mountains and Parramatta skyline.

<img alt="Bella Vista Apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="778da409-d5cf-4e7d-9ba9-0c36990bf0b4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/landen-bella-property-image.jpg?VersionId=ukPpmVcHF71xRc7U3MUT5rtGwOsntMMz" />

Landen’s Head of Property, Shane Harding, said the proposal highlights the developer’s precinct-scale ambition.

“As the first TOD proposal in Bella Vista, it highlights Landen’s ability to pioneer precinct-scale projects, integrate housing with infrastructure, and deliver outcomes that align with government priorities,” Harding told the Daily Telegraph.

The project arrives at a time of rapid growth in Western Sydney, with Bella Vista alone forecast to more than double in population by 2046. The development’s location, between the Bella Vista and Kellyville Metro stations, positions it as a connected lifestyle hub for families, professionals and downsizers seeking access to transport, schools, and employment centres.

Pending approval, the development is slated for completion in 2028.

Landen plans 444-apartment community in Bella Vista Metro zone

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/equicentia">Equicentia</a>, together with joint venture partners Wingala Capital and Monark Property Partners, has become the first in Manly to secure Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance.

The trio has recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/de-ville-manly-11-victoria-parade-manly-nsw-2095">De Ville</a>, a new luxury project on a long-dormant yet prime site at 9–11 Victoria Parade, positioned between East Esplanade and South Steyne.

<img alt="De Ville" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b2639bb1-d72c-4f28-b4dc-33190655e147" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-10-12%20at%209.38.37%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=orUAk2m2tTKAAasLvZg0IaGQyDaZcKYI" />

The site was originally earmarked for a 26-apartment scheme, but following its $25 million acquisition of the near-1,200 sqm parcel, the development team opted for a more refined approach, reducing the yield to just 12 two- and three-bedroom residences across a six-level building.

Among them will be three full-floor penthouses boasting panoramic views across Manly Beach, North Harbour, and the city skyline. The apartments will sit above four ground-floor retail and commercial tenancies, designed to help activate Victoria Parade, an area long defined by its beachside character and interwar brick architecture.

<img alt="De Ville" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d6922f4a-21fb-4a07-8e40-241d594c2538" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/int3.jpg?VersionId=7U1Qw79_YT3bOZKr7.H03JHOFm3QVYlE" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/platform-architects">Platform Architects</a>, De Ville’s sculpted form takes cues from the ebb and flow of Manly’s dual waterfronts, the ocean to one side and the harbour to the other.&nbsp;

The architecture’s soft curvature and rhythmic vertical brickwork reflect the natural patterns of the tide, while a refined palette of Lohas brick, sandy render and glass detailing allows the building to harmonise with its coastal context.&nbsp; Cascading greenery and deep balconies bring texture and shadow to the facade, reinforcing the building’s connection to nature and the street.

Buyers have a choice of two different colour palettes, Taj Mahal and Brescia Green, each layering soft tones and organic finishes to capture the coastal light.

<img alt="De Ville" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="be78b114-88ed-4d33-a4ef-50e14d2f9064" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/int6a.jpg?VersionId=hBrZPvs1L2LwThSatcNMXTg0tltfEn4a" />

De Ville is the first development in Manly to fully protect its buyers with 10-year Latent Defects Insurance offered by Resilience Insurance.

The policy covers buyers for 10-years post-completion of the building, a first-resort cover again&nbsp;major structural or waterproofing defects.&nbsp;

Unlike traditional statutory warranties, which often require complex and lengthy claims processes, LDI ensures that if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds immediately - without the need to prove fault or pursue the builder or developer.

This new model of protection has been gaining traction among forward-thinking developers and financiers alike. For buyers, it offers tangible assurance of quality and accountability; for lenders and insurers, it reflects a measurable reduction in long-term risk.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/what-is-latent-defects-insurance-and-is-it-bringing-confidence-to-the-off-the-plan-apartment-market">What is Latent Defects Insurance and is it bringing confidence to the off the plan apartment market?</a>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151559]

Equicentia launches Manly's first new development with 10-year Latent Defects Insurance

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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