<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/draycon">Draycon Building</a> is nearing completion of Boutique Chevron Island, a 42-apartment development on the northern end of Chevron Island at 17–19 Parneno Street, with a limited-time offer of fully furnished apartments available.

Now more than 90 per cent complete, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/boutique-chevron-island-17-19-parneno-chevron-island-qld-4217">Boutique</a> has been shaped by one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held island addresses, where riverfront outlooks and walkable access to Surfers Paradise converge.

For Draycon Building Managing Director Howard Dabit, the appeal of the site was immediate.

“I knew it was a good site as soon as I saw it,” Dabit said.

“The position and location on the north end of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chevron-island-qld-4217">Chevron Island</a>, the way the river swirls around the site basically from the north to the east, it feels like the site is surrounded by the water. The height that we’ve got and the aspect looking north is beautiful. Eighty per cent of the apartments are looking north so they get that drenching sunlight coming in.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89709 project_image_fid=360922]

That northern orientation places the development within a stretch of Chevron Island defined by open river aspects and skyline views, while remaining embedded in the suburb’s established village setting.

Chevron Island has increasingly drawn owner-occupiers seeking centrality without the intensity of high-rise beachfront living. Positioned at the geographical centre of the Gold Coast, the island offers direct access to both the beach and key cultural infrastructure while retaining a neighbourhood-scale character.

Connected by bridge to Surfers Paradise, Chevron Island offers walkable access to beaches, riverfront parklands and a revitalised foreshore boulevard animated by walkers and cyclists throughout the day. The Pacific Ocean is only minutes away, reinforcing the suburb’s dual river-and-surf identity.

At the same time, Thomas Drive forms the spine of the island’s village life, delivering cafés, wine bars, casual dining and everyday services within easy reach. Independent grocers, wellness operators and neighbourhood retailers contribute to a community atmosphere that remains distinct from the vertical scale of the beachfront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89709 project_image_fid=360915]

In the opposite direction, the Green Bridge links directly to HOTA – Home of the Arts – placing galleries, performance venues and parklands within walking distance. Weekly markets and major exhibitions draw visitors from across the region, while residents return to a quieter residential pocket at day’s end.

Public transport, including nearby bus routes and the G:link light rail corridor along the coastal spine, strengthens connectivity north and south. Griffith University, the Gold Coast University Hospital precinct and established private schools such as The Southport School are all within a short drive.

Ongoing investment across Surfers Paradise, HOTA and the broader Southport corridor has elevated amenity while preserving Chevron Island’s comparatively low-rise residential character. It is this balance, walkable village atmosphere paired with metropolitan-scale infrastructure, that continues to differentiate the suburb from higher-density beachfront precincts.

Boutique comprises just 42 residences, designed to maximise river and skyline outlooks within this tightly held island setting.

Boutique Chevron Island is slated for completion in April 2026, with prices starting from $1,220,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=89709]

Joel Robinson

Draycon Building’s Boutique Chevron Island places 42 residences at the heart of the Gold Coast

Sydney developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/deicorp">Deicorp</a> has secured planning approval for a $300 million residential development in Lindfield, marking the company’s second project on Sydney’s North Shore and its first on the Upper North Shore.

Located on Beaconsfield Parade and designed by DKO Architecture, the state significant development comprises three buildings of up to 10 storeys and will include 399 residences, including 59 affordable homes and 40 adaptable homes.

Residences will range in size from one, two and three bedrooms, with two-bedroom apartments accounting for over 60 per cent of the product make-up. Residents will have access to a broad suite of amenities, including a wellness area, indoor and outdoor recreational spaces, a pool, a gym, a community room and a golf simulator.

In line with Deicorp’s long-standing focus on creating transit-oriented communities, the project is located just 260 metres from the Lindfield Train Station, reinforcing its role in delivering well-connected housing close to established infrastructure, retail and local services.

The inclusion of affordable and adaptable housing supports greater diversity within the local market, while the mix of apartment types responds to demand from downsizers, young professionals and families seeking access to the Upper North Shore.

Deicorp Founder Fouad Deiri OAM said the approval represents an important milestone for both the company and the suburb

“This approval allows us to deliver well-designed homes in a location that is already supported by strong transport and community infrastructure," Deiri said.

"Our focus is on creating places that integrate into their surroundings and provide long-term value for residents, and the broader Lindfield community. Being within walking distance of the station ensures this project supports sustainable growth in the right locations."

Across its portfolio, Deicorp currently has 4,703 apartments under construction, playing a leading role in shaping connected, liveable communities across Sydney.

Its expanding portfolio of Metro-linked developments includes Tallawong Village, <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> in Five Dock, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/hyde-metropolitan-sydney-133-141-liverpool-street-sydney-nsw-2000">Hyde Metropolitan</a> in Sydney CBD, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/falcon-alexander-crows-nest-8-alexander-street-crows-nest-nsw-2065">Falcon &amp; Alexander</a> in Crows Nest and Showground Village, Castle Hill.

Deicorp purchased the Beaconsfield Paradise site last year. Construction is scheduled to commence in Q2 of 2026 and will be completed in 2029.

Deicorp expands portfolio to nearly 5,000 apartments with Lindfield project

In a joint venture with The Trump Organization, Australia developer Altus Property Group has announced plans to bring a Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower to the Gold Coast, marking the first Trump-branded project in Australia.

&nbsp;

"Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower, Gold Coast is our first official project in Australia and reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering world-class luxury experiences in iconic locations around the world," Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, said.

"This development exemplifies the Trump brand’s dedication to quality, sophistication, and unmatched service, and we are thrilled to bring this vision to the vibrant Gold Coast community."

The 91-storey building, which will become the tallest in Australia at 335 metres, will feature a&nbsp;285-room luxury hotel bearing the trademark Trump logo. It will also include 272 luxury residential apartments, a three-level podium with an exclusive Beach Club, and over 3,400 sqm of premium commercial, retail, and dining space, revitalizing the central Surfers Paradise precinct.

“Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower, Gold Coast will be a truly unique offering in the Australian market, bringing the prestige and allure of a world-class luxury brand,"&nbsp;Altus founder and chief executive David Young said.

"Altus Property Group is proud of its track record in delivering landmark developments across Australia, and our expertise ensures this project will be an outstanding success."

Trump Hotel heads for the Gold Coast to become Australia's tallest building

More than a century after the Corrimal Coke Works first opened in 1912, the industrial landmark that helped shape the suburb is being reinterpreted as a walkable residential neighbourhood, with Stage One of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-works-stage-one-27-railway-street-corrimal-nsw-2518">The Works</a> now underway at 27 Railway Street.

For 102 years, the site was central to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/corrimal-nsw-2518">Corrimal</a>’s economic and social identity before operations ceased in 2014. Rather than erasing that legacy, developer Legacy Property has embedded it into the masterplan, retaining and reinterpreting elements such as the iconic 1912 brick chimney and sections of the original C1 Coke Oven Battery, alongside the adaptive reuse of the former powerhouse building.

Stage One will introduce 181 apartments across low-rise buildings, offering predominantly two and three-bedroom residences with completion targeted for mid-2027. The scale and configuration reflect a deliberate focus on owner-occupiers, targeting those seeking a lower-maintenance home in a prime location within the northern suburbs of Wollongong.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143415 project_image_fid=359833]

Apartments have been designed to maximise natural light and cross-ventilation, with floor-to-ceiling glazing extending living areas onto generous balconies. Engineered timber flooring, induction cooktops and 900mm ovens in larger residences support everyday functionality, while two interior palettes allow buyers to tailor finishes to their preferences. The material selection draws on a restrained coastal language, intended to connect homes to their surroundings rather than compete with them.

The Works forms part of a broader 18-hectare masterplan that will ultimately deliver around 550 dwellings, new parks, and a heritage precinct celebrating the site’s past. More than seven hectares are dedicated to open space, including Southern Park and a Village Green with community gardens and recreation areas. The creek corridor is being rehabilitated with 150,000 native plantings, restoring biodiversity to the site and softening landscape.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143415 project_image_fid=359841]

Positioned adjacent to Corrimal Station and within walking distance of Corrimal Town Centre, the precinct places daily essentials, rail connections and local retail within easy reach. Wollongong CBD, including the hospital, university and entertainment venues, sits approximately 6.5 kilometres to the south.

For buyers more familiar with North Wollongong, Corrimal offers a different proposition: a well-established coastal suburb framed by beaches to the east and the escarpment to the west, with a strong sense of local identity shaped in part by the former Coke Works. The Works seeks to reinforce that identity by creating a connected, walkable neighbourhood between coast and escarpment, rather than a standalone apartment complex.

Sustainability underpins the development approach. The Works is targeting Wollongong’s first 5-Star Green Star-rated community, with water-sensitive urban design, recycled materials and energy-efficient buildings integrated across the masterplan. For residents, these measures provide not only environmental benefits but also reduced operational costs and future resilience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143415 project_image_fid=359842]

With construction commenced and display materials available to view, prospective buyers can now engage more directly with the project’s vision, reviewing floorplans, material selections and the broader masterplan in detail. For many local homeowners weighing a move, the opportunity to experience how heritage, landscape and contemporary design intersect may help bridge the gap between familiarity and the next chapter.

As Stage One progresses toward its mid-2027 completion, The Works represents a significant chapter in Corrimal’s evolution, transforming a site that once powered local industry into a walkable residential precinct designed for its next generation of residents.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=143415]

Legacy Property’s The Works reimagines Corrimal’s century-old Coke Works

When it comes to developing in Melb​ourne's Bayside region, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lowe-living">Lowe Living</a> knows exactly what buyers want.

With a longstanding presence in the area and a string of sell-out projects, Lowe Living consistently delivers developments that are as sought-after as their predecessors.

Their latest instalment is in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hampton-vic-3188">Hampton</a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hampton-east-vic-3188">&nbsp;East,</a> the same postcode where they have previously delivered Hampton Hill and Oceano. The developer-builder recently commenced construction on its newest project,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marella-hampton-31-35-alicia-street-hampton-east-vic-3188">Marella</a>, a collection of 32 apartments just five minutes from the beach.

Site acquisition is paramount to success. Lowe Living rarely brings a building to market that isn’t within walking distance of essential amenities, whether it be the beach, a prominent retail strip, or a train station. Marella is no exception, located at its Alicia Street address, less than a kilometre from the retail heart of Hampton Street and Hampton Station.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358495]

Equally important to Lowe Living is the architecture.

For Marella, they appointed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>, who explains that the architectural vision was to create a contemporary reinterpretation of the Californian bungalow, a style that’s iconic to Hampton’s heritage.

"By borrowing, abstracting, and reinterpreting elements of this quintessential style, such as strong datum lines, articulated columns, exposed structures, and roof tiles, our design strikes a balance between modernity and familiarity," says Cera Stribley.

"This approach ensures that the development is not only visually appealing but also contextually sensitive, resonating with Hampton's existing architectural landscape."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358499]

The building features terracotta brick, soft cream masonry, and exposed metal detailing, giving it a tactile presence that is intended to weather gently over time.

Internally, the focus on lasting quality continues, with two and three-bedroom residences anchored by sculptural stone kitchen islands, natural light, and clearly defined transitions between living, dining, and outdoor spaces.

The layouts have been carefully designed. Open-plan zones extend to private balconies, with light-filled interiors and generous kitchen proportions, supported by Miele wall ovens, induction cooktops, and integrated fridge-freezers. These are not small apartments rebranded as luxury; they have been designed at scale, with ample storage, hotel-style entry access, and secure basement parking provided as standard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358492]

At the uppermost level, Marella’s Signature Collection penthouses offer city or bay views, large entertaining terraces (some with outdoor spas), and elevated finishes, including fully wrapped stone kitchen benches and a Liebherr wine fridge.

Flexible room arrangements allow for a fourth bedroom or secondary living space, sought-after by both empty nesters who want the space when family visits and families with older children.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358498]

A residents’ lounge on the ground floor reinforces the project’s small-community feel. With a fireplace, private dining area, and adjoining terrace, it’s one of several shared spaces that balance amenity with privacy and scale.

Construction has commenced, with completion expected in early 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146197]

Lowe Living continues Bayside legacy as Marella rises in Hampton

Technology

The state’s second CBD is now home to the first robotic car park system in the southern hemisphere.&nbsp;

Taking Aoyuan International's luxury Parramatta high-rise The Lennox to another level,&nbsp; Lödige Industries have delivered a fully autonomous car park utilising their Cubile technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;

With a total of 46 floors and 6,300 sqm of space, The Lennox is home to 414 apartments, curated from a collaboration between Aoyuan, building contractors EQ Construction, and leading architects, Marchese Partners.&nbsp;

President of Aoyuan International and Head of Development Australia, Adrian Liaw said Sydney is one of the world’s most desirable place to live, with the group notching up a rather impressive portfolio here, including One30 Hyde Park, Esplanade Norwest, Woolooware Bay and now The Lennox Parramatta.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=82402]

“World leading architecture, innovative design and superior finishes are important in all our projects,” Liaw said.

“For The Lennox we wanted both a modern functionality and timeless aesthetic combined with our customary meticulous quality and craftsmanship. The automated parking technology from Lödige Industries offers both the innovative functionality and luxurious user experience we were keen to create and the performance we needed to see.”

Lödige started work on the site back in 2020, the completion of the carpark comes at a welcomed time as the gentrification and development of Parramatta only continues.&nbsp;

During planning and construction, the global specialist was able to draw on the experience of numerous projects worldwide, including Europe’s largest automated parking system with close to one thousand spaces.

The building's nine-level basement combines three levels of conventional parking with six additional levels for the automated parking system, with capacity for 327 vehicles. Thanks to efficient use of space, the automated parking levels required less than 15 metres of excavation, which, given the sedimentary rock in the area, allowed for significant cost savings in the excavation and reduced building impact.&nbsp;

EQ Constructions Bill Farrell said building anywhere in the Sydney market comes with its own challenges in terms of rock excavation and space limitations.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=82401]

“For ‘The Lennox’ we wanted to offer residents the very best in terms of comfort and space as well as luxury living experience in the heart of Parramatta. To do that we needed an experienced partner that could deliver the ultimate user experience we wanted, with the space-saving solution that we needed,” Farrell said.&nbsp;

“In Lödige Industries we found that partner. Their experience with close to 2 million vehicles parked in Europe’s largest automated parking system made us want to bring this technology to Sydney as well.”

In addition to the reduced footprint below the surface, the facility relieves pressure on the urban living space of its popular neighbouring shopping and restaurant district by ensuring residents can make use of a sufficient number of parking spaces inside the building at all times.

Completed in November 2021, the 149-metre building is one of Australia's most modern Skyscrapers, with residents now set to use a modern and intuitive smartphone app developed by Lödige Industries to retrieve their cars.&nbsp;

With a payload of up to 2.5 tonnes per vehicle, the system can handle all common cars and SUVs, with users only needing to drop off their vehicle at one of a total of five transfer cabins.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=82407]

From this point everything is automatic. The transfer cabin’s gate closes, and the car is transported to the parking level, where it is moved by flat robots, the 'Lödige Shifter' onto a horizontal transfer vehicle and delivered to a free parking space. Up to 60 percent more cars can be placed in the same space in comparison to conventional parking structures, with approximately 90 vehicles parked or retrieved per hour.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

With a total of 46 floors and 6,300 sqm of space, The Lennox is home to 414 apartments, curated from a collaboration between Aoyuan, building contractors EQ Construction, and leading architects, Marchese Partners. 



alisonwarters@gmail.com

First robotic car park in the Southern Hemisphere completed in Parramatta high-rise, The Lennox 

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<h2>Australian tech matters</h2>

Tech and innovation represents so much more than internet search engines, live streaming, and handheld electronic devices, spanning widely across manufacturing, energy, resources, agriculture, and much more besides.

For decades Australia has lagged far behind the U.S. and elsewhere in terms of its risk-taking, technological innovation, and entrepreneurship, but it’s crucial that Aussies now look to seize the initiative to move forward with confidence.

The sheer scale of the opportunities lying ahead in the sector shouldn’t be underestimated.

With tech employment growth comfortably outpacing that of the wider economy the number of technology workers in Australia looks set to increase from around 750,000 to more than 1 million by 2027, while the contribution to the Aussie economy has the potential to grow from a pre-COVID $122 billion (about 6½% of GDP) to more than $200 billion over the course of this critical decade.

<h2>Strawberry Hills, forever…</h2>

While tech centres could theoretically be located anywhere (I co-founded a PropTech startup wherefrom all three of the founders are now based at Gold Coast, for example), Sydney is forging ahead to become the beating heart of tech and innovation in Australia.

Although Google has taken up substantial commercial space at Pyrmont – and adjacent Ultimo also serves as a home for budding tech entrepreneurs – lately Surry Hills has become the base of many key players, from Blackbird Ventures and Startmate, to tech unicorns Canva and SafetyCulture, as well as Dovetail and numerous others.

There are more than 160,000 STEM graduates in New South Wales, and being a location both attractive to new migrant talent and in close proximity to several of Australia’s eminent Universities, Sydney’s Strawberry Hills district will continue to be a strong drawcard.

The NSW government’s announcement of the $2.5 billion ‘Tech Central’ in the Central Precinct at the southern end of Sydney’s CBD has effectively cemented the trend, at a stroke aiming to add 250,000 square metres of net lettable floor space and an estimated 25,000 tech, STEM, and innovation jobs, including across a hundred new scaleup companies.

Sydney’s tech giant Atlassian has been announced as an anchor tenant and will be headquartered at an environmentally friendly giant timber tower to be constructed at a Railway Square site, creating sustainable space for up to 4,000 employees.

<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/atlassian.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="World’s tallest hybrid timber tower design (Atlassian)"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="322" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/atlassian.jpg?itok=RcjMXULi" title="World’s tallest hybrid timber tower design (Atlassian)" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>World’s tallest hybrid timber tower design (Atlassian)</figcaption></figure><h2>Busting the bros club</h2>

The original Silicon Valley long held the reputation of being a ‘bros club’, but for Sydney’s tech centre cultural vibrancy, diversity, and inclusion will each be stated government benchmarks.

The consummate tech superstar Melanie Perkins, founder of the design unicorn Canva, has already amply demonstrated with her personable Perthite flair that the future for Sydney’s tech community needn’t be a male-dominated affair.

If Australia is to triumph in the forthcoming global war for talent, Sydney’s nascent tech precinct ideally needs an internationally recognisable moniker.

It could do worse than playfully channelling Jose Antonio Samaranch’s announcement of “Syddie” as the winning host of the 2000 Olympics, being one of the Emerald city’s most memorable modern moments.

‘Sydicon Valley’ – or perhaps a wittier variation thereof! – can be Australia’s major, world-class innovation hub, and should aim to position the harbour city as one of the world’s leading technology metropolises.

<h2>A vision for Sydney’s Silicon Valley</h2>

The NSW Government has already mapped out the State Significant Precinct (SSP) area running from Pitt Street at its north end, past Central Station, and down to Cleveland Street on the edge of Surry Hills and Redfern.

<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/ssp-area.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Central Precinct SSP Area (Planning NSW)"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="583" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ssp-area.jpg?itok=BXLJhlAH" title="Central Precinct SSP Area (Planning NSW)" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Central Precinct SSP Area (Planning NSW)</figcaption></figure>For years it’s been debated how best to regenerate the tired tramsheds and redundant railyards of Central Sydney.

Behold, the birth of Sydney’s very own Silicon Valley!

<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/urban-growth-nsw-artists-impression.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist’s impression (Urban Growth NSW)"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="378" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/urban-growth-nsw-artists-impression.jpg?itok=5m60CXJ4" title="Artist’s impression (Urban Growth NSW)" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist’s impression (Urban Growth NSW)</figcaption></figure>Suburbs set to directly benefit from this mega-project will include Chippendale and Camperdown to the inner west, Surry Hills and Redfern to the east, and Erskineville and Alexandria to the south.
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Behold, the birth of Sydney’s very own Silicon Valley!

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The road to ‘Syd-icon Valley’: Pete Wargent 

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We are moving away from 9-5 and Monday to Friday work to a "work when, where and how is appropriate model" according to Morris Miselowski of Business Futurist.
In this new world, he says many of us will have 6 careers and 14 jobs, work into our 80's and have a "work portfolio" rather than a "job".
The work portfolio means we can gain income from a range of activities as well as mix in a more cash flow stable 'salary' job. 
I totally agree with the idea of a work portfolio. Technology gives us the freedom to work anywhere, at any time. You no longer have to be tied to a desk working for one business to earn your money. 
In fact, you could be working several jobs at once to meet your needs. For instance, you may want to sell on the global market those unique items you make on Etsy, manage your various property investments and superannuation fund, do the odd task for money and also perhaps hold down a 2-3 day a week salary job.  
It's the hay day for entrepreneurs as crowd funding has become the norm and new businesses can be "incubated". This means being nurtured and supported in free office space with access to all the services required to get started on your new business journey. Wow, I wish this was around when I started out! 
File sharing systems like Dropbox allow us to access cloud based storage systems again from anywhere at any time and share information easily. 
I feel like a bit of an accidental pioneer as without knowing it, I've created a business working in this way. 
Even when I had my last "salary job" which was regional marketing manager for a major USA cosmetic brand, I worked from home and in the hours I needed to get my work done. My office was in New York but I lived in Sydney's beachside suburb of North Curl Curl. 
Property Bloom offers staff a flexible work environment where they can project manage our developments in their own time. This often means some after hours work but also gives them time out with their family, for sports and also importantly, other income producing activities. One of my project managers also owns a palates studio, another runs installations for outdoor signage in his spare time. My admin assistant has two small children to care for. So all their work for me is done in their own time. 
This way of working is flexible and puts less stress on us, so maybe we will continue working into our 80's, although I do hope I'll be at least semi retired by then!  There are health benefits for this flexible working arrangement, keeping our minds active and giving us a sense of contributing.
In all our customs designs for our property developments we are including home offices where tenants have a dedicated work space in case they also want to do enjoy a flexible 'work portfolio'.
Jo Chivers is Chief Executive Officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
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jochivers-wq5Bp59R5a

Create your own flexible 'work portfolio': Jo Chivers

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Real estate processes tend to be heavily paper-based. From financing and loan applications to sales contracts, most agents are used to swimming in paperwork and documentation.

Regulatory and legislative requirements are partially responsible for this, but it’s also an issue of mindset. Real estate attracts people of all ages and backgrounds, resulting in varying levels of comfort with technology and digital tools. An old adage instantly comes to mind: “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” Why should we change something that’s working perfectly? But is it? That philosophy probably seemed tenable until real estate – an industry driven by relationships and in-person interactions – came head-to-head with COVID-19.

Facing government-enforced social distancing restrictions, not to mention serious health risks, real estate professionals had little choice but to leverage digital tools and options. Online virtual tours, digital auctions and e-signing contracts kept real estate transactions ticking along, as many States eased red tape around the electronic execution of contracts. 

Real estate professionals who revert to paper-based processes after COVID-19 will be at a growing disadvantage.

<h2>The most significant risk of ignoring digital tools and approaches: missing out on data</h2>

Both now and in the future, real estate professionals who ignore digitisation face a variety of disadvantages. 

For starters, <a href="http://www.globalwebindex.com/hubfs/1.%20Coronavirus%20Research%20PDFs/GWI%20coronavirus%20findings%20July%202020%20-%20Multi-Market%20Research%20(Release%2011).pdf">research indicates</a> that many digital habits will persist after COVID-19, which means consumers will almost certainly have growing appetites for digital options and experiences. Extensive paperwork or a lack of virtual options might turn off potential customers and give your more digitally mature competitors a leg up. 

Digitisation can also offer major time and cost efficiencies. The more time you spend on paperwork, the less you have for higher-value tasks like relationship building. Working with digital partners, like DocuSign, simplifies the contract and agreements processes, allowing us to focus on more important tasks - like serving our customers.

But the biggest disadvantage of all may be the forfeiture of the data and insights that provide a competitive edge. As they say, without data, you’re just another person with an opinion – but this has new urgency as Australia looks toward a steep economic recovery. <a href="http://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-australia-s-housing-market">Experts are forecasting major impacts on housing markets for years to come</a>, which puts increased competitive pressure on real estate agencies. Those without data will no doubt have a harder time adapting to new circumstances and making evidence-based decisions.

<h2>Why is data so important in real estate and how can it be used?</h2>

As a member of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, real estate professionals have access to a wide range of high-quality data to aid them in their roles. But forward-thinking agents are always on the lookout for new data sources and new opportunities to drill into as many insights as possible. 

This is because property metrics are constantly in high-demand, and the ability to analyse data is a constantly moving target. For example, rental vacancy rates were once a monthly national figure, with a state and territory breakdown. However, today’s metrics allow us to investigate targeted regions and local government areas right through to individual suburbs and postcodes. 

In addition to leveraging property metrics, customer insights have also proved to be an invaluable tool. We’ve been able to leverage valuable customer data in a flexible, agile way, which in turn has empowered us to tailor solutions for the customer and keep us competitive during this unique economic period. One great example is a digital solution like DocuSign which provides real estate agents with the ability to complete contracts, approvals, and other agreements in minutes rather than days when generating contracts via our DocuSign enabled RealWorks platform. 

<h2>How digital is the future of real estate?</h2>

This isn’t to say old-school practices are gone for good. Real estate is very much about making connections with people during what’s likely to be the largest purchase of their lives. There’s no replacement for face-to-face rapport and relationship-building, meaning a post-COVID-19 setting will probably see a mix of digital and in-person practices.

This mix should be symbiotic. Greater digital adoption and data analytics support relationships and elevate the advice you offer each party during each step of a transaction. Rather than replacing many of real estate’s most fundamental tenants, technology will help you off-load the manual work, build deeper relationships, enhance your success rate and strengthen your consultative skill set through more data-informed recommendations.

But this happy marriage between new and old won’t be possible if agents see digital practices as little more than interim fixes during the COVID-19 crisis. Successful real estate professionals will be weighing what works and what doesn’t, then incorporating the most valuable technology into their toolboxes for good. 

And the more successful your digital adoption, the easier it will be to access the insights that are increasingly necessary for navigating a new world of uncertainty.
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In a post-COVID 19 future, data insights will be agents’ biggest competitive edge

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<h2>OPINION:</h2>

Real Estate isn’t an industry renowned for its propensity for embracing new technologies and innovation. In fact, the industry has evolved very little in Australia and internationally over the last half a decade.

Now, however, the rumblings of change are being felt in real estate offices around the world, and Australia is no exception. With investment in real estate technology in 2017 reaching $7.65 billion — 36 times higher than it was five years previously — we’re seeing a seismic shift in attitudes towards progression in the sector.

In any other field, companies are having to learn to swim in the sea of new tech available on the market, because without learning fast, drowning is inevitable for any organisation. This is finally becoming the case for real estate agencies.

Research from Unissu explains that since 2013 there has been a huge 428% growth in the number of PropTech companies in existence in Australia, illustrating just how vastly intense the progression of this national industry upswell has been. Although it may be easy to claim causation of such a spurt to be the direct result of successful research and an international drive towards tech-focussed business models, the rising implementation these initiatives could also be a result of Australia’s positive residential property market growth, which has witnessed a price inflation of around 47% since 2012.

There are, however, numerous reasons for the industry’s history of hiccups when it comes to the adoption of new technology. For one, agents can resist adapting to the evolution of change and innovation within the industry. Often the needs of the agency are poorly understood and assessed, so the technologies are inadequately matched. This consistently results in programmes that are single purpose, siloed and lacking in cohesion — ultimately challenging the value of the intended results.

There are a few misconceptions standing in the way of the implementation of new technologies in the sector. Agents and managerial staff often believe that much of it is too hard to learn and use, discounting the huge upside of the use of digital software and innovative tech before trying it. There is also a misconstruction of cost, which is hugely outweighed by ROI. Some agents — used to a more traditional approach to real estate — also struggle with moving on from hard copy documents and writing things down, claiming reliance on ‘tried and tested’ methods, which are ultimately outdated and destined to prove costly for the sector in the long run.

Although change has been slow, many factors have necessitated its catalysation. The ubiquity of smartphones in modern life has meant that ease of access and speed of interaction are paramount for keeping clients engaged. The expectation of ‘now’ means that people don’t want to wait to see the layout of their <a href="/new-apartments">off-the-plan home</a>, they don’t want to wait for the inspection date to have a tour inside an open home, and they don’t want to be told to wait to have a sneak peek at the carefully curated fixtures of their dream kitchen.

Technology has and will continue to revolutionise the way people buy homes; we need to invest, pressure test and apply innovative technologies consistently. Innovation is progression, and it’s the only way forward in the new world, we must adapt or get left behind.

Overall, most people are sceptical of change and innovation, like with anything new, it takes time. The old adage of ‘if it ain't broke, don’t fix it’ holds true with many agencies, but with the pace of technology catching up with us all, there’s just no avoiding the inevitable. There is, however, a lot of noise in the tech space, with ‘innovative tech solutions’ cropping up in every direction. It really pays to be smart with all this competition, be open-minded and do your research — to stand out from all this noise you’ve got to be the loudest and boldest voice in the room.

I have always found off-the-plan developments a tricky one, you’re quite literally buying airspace. However, with the recent shift in technology, you get a feel for the design elements of the internal spaces; the views, height, aspect and you really get a solid idea of what you are buying even before it’s built. Elements such as display suite technology, signage prototypes, <a href="/guides/introducing-bvn-real-off-the-plan-virtual-reality-house-viewings-are-here">virtual reality</a> and custom projections allow for buyers to actually be placed in relevant rooms and spaces, which ultimately seals the deal for them.
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Olivia Round

How is digital tech disrupting real estate?

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Imagine being able to explore your new apartment, move your furniture around, and change the entire design palette at the click of a button. Thanks to the innovative technology of Virtual Reality (VR) and the talented team behind BVN REAL, apartment floorplans are being brought to life, with several buyers already trialing the product.

The cutting-edge new VR production studio named BVN REAL is a subsidiary business of <a href="/architects/bvn-architecture">award-winning architectural design firm BVN</a> and is led by creative director Barry Dineen and a team of highly skilled Game Developer Designers, 3D Visualisation Artists, VR Experience Developers, and Experience Designers. The product took four years to build and has already won the coveted 'Unreal Award' in 2018 (prior to the public launch) as well as receiving two other nominations in The AEC Excellence Awards.

<blockquote>
“Right now, people need to interpret, imagine, and visualise their future home using architectural drawings, plans, and 3D renders of the space. With VR they can actually step into their future for themselves and feel what it is like to be there. 

Our VR experiences give people the confidence to know that what they are seeing is exactly what they are going to get. It’s building trust and reducing the risk involved in one of the biggest purchases of buyers lives.”
</blockquote>

Barry Dineen, Creative Director at BVN REAL 

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BVN REAL creative director Barry Dineen humbly acknowledged that although previous iterations of the technology were not taken to immediately, perseverance and user research led the team to focus in on how people authentically engage with VR.

<blockquote>
“The result is a powerfully immersive experience designed expressly for human interaction. A lot of developers and sales teams have dismissed VR because they tried a VR experience that was not designed with human behaviour at its core. When they try BVN REAL’s experiences there is an “ah-ha” moment where they see the true potential for VR for themselves.”
</blockquote>

<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/bvn_real_immersive.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Users experiencing VR in the studio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/bvn_real_immersive.jpg?itok=1y6l8TwQ" title="Users experiencing VR in the studio" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Users experiencing VR in the studio</figcaption></figure>INTUITIVE FEATURES INTEGRATED WITHIN BVN REAL

<ol>
<li>Users can instantly move between different apartment configurations and floorplans to compare options on offer</li>
	<li>Users have the ability to configure the space in real-time
	<blockquote>
	“Our experiences allow them to try out different materials and finishes options, change out furniture and fittings to their taste, or even strip it back to the empty shell so that they can get a better feeling for the space itself.”
	</blockquote>

	Barry Dineen, Creative Director at BVN REAL
	</li>
	<li>A realistic sunlight system enables users to experience the property at all times of the day</li>
	<li>All elements of the apartments virtually function the way they would in real life
	<blockquote>
	“A major goal of any VR experience is presence – feeling like you are actually in that place. When a user tries to turn on a tap and the tap does nothing, they are reminded that they are in a virtual environment. 

	We want the technology to disappear so that they can truly appreciate the design of a space. At first adding running taps felt like a novelty but over time we have grown to realise the importance of reacting to people’s input.”
	</blockquote>

	Barry Dineen, Creative Director at BVN REAL

	<ol></ol>
</li>
	<li>BVN REAL experiences are often ‘multiplayer’ because people feel more relaxed and comfortable when sharing the virtual experience with another real person. Currently, an avatar is used to represent those in the VR simulation with you
	<blockquote>
	“Realistically not many people are buying apartments on their own so we are trying to replicate what would happen if the apartment already existed. People walk around together a discuss the features and amenities. What really amazes us in our VR experiences is how many important conversations happen in the bathroom - even when the VR is situated on the 83rd floor of Sydney’s highest residential building with amazing views over the city.”
	</blockquote>

	Barry Dineen, Creative Director at BVN REAL

	<ol></ol>
</li>
	<li>Sales agents can join in at any stage to answer any questions live from within the VR simulation</li>
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HOW VR CAN PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY IN THE OFF-THE-PLAN MARKET

In concurrence with Barry Dineen’s sentiment about VR giving buyers the ability to see a home before they buy it, BVN Co-CEO Neil Logan explains that it also helps provide more transparency and helps advocate for better built outcomes.

<blockquote>
“VR has radically changed the way we communicate design. What was once opaque to many is now transparent and easily digestible. It has facilitated better understanding of design intent and has provided the opportunity for better built outcomes. 

We are proud to make this service available to broader markets. In doing this we believe that we are contributing to the design of a better future”.
</blockquote>

BVN co-CEO Neil Logan

<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/penthouse_hero.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Penthouse apart VR "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="426" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/penthouse_hero.jpg?itok=GpWjXi6N" title="Penthouse apart VR " width="680"></a>

<figcaption>Penthouse apart VR</figcaption></figure>WHAT’S INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF A VIRTUAL WALKTHROUGH

A typical 3-bedroom apartment takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks to develop. Often architects will use BIM to build their designs in 3D, making it easier to prepare each design component for the gaming software used to create the virtual reality experience (BVN REAL use Unreal Engine from Epic Games).

Designers will also supply the BVN REAL team with imagery of the fixtures, finishes, and furniture, which will be used to populate the VR design.

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WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF BVN REAL LOOK LIKE?

Virtual Reality’s capabilities extend far beyond unbuilt architecture. Not only is BVN REAL exploring VR within our current reality, but also within purely virtual worlds that will never exist in our own. In the past, the team has created Makerspaces which allow school students to build and launch full-size rockets.

<div class="intrinsic">
<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1573710534038_74" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/343358323?app_id=122963&amp;wmode=opaque" title="MakerspaceX" width="736"></iframe>
</div>

Creative Director Barry has grand ideas for the future of BVN REAL, such as developing the world’s largest museum/gallery.

<blockquote>
“I really want to develop the worlds biggest museum/gallery as a virtual place that people can visit that allows us to do things and see things that we could never do or see in the real world – and it would be accessible to everyone.”
</blockquote>

Barry Dineen, Creative Director at BVN REAL 

We look forward to following the progress of BVN REAL’s exciting future developments with the VR architecture space.

 

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Introducing BVN REAL: Off-the-plan virtual reality house viewings are here

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Today's Atlassian CEO Scott Farquhar and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the NSW Government will partner with the software company to create a major new technology and innovation precinct in the Central-Eveleigh Corridor running through inner southern Sydney.

The Premier’s announcement refocuses attention on development plans for government-owned railway land between Central and Eveleigh, and marks a strategic play to cement Sydney as Australia’s tech capital.  

In recent times technology firms have faced hurdles in securing new or additional space in Sydney. Atlassian’s 2015 bid to expand lost out to property developers whilst Google also shied away from plans to use the Rozelle Power Station as a new work space.

The announcement comes off the back of last year’s report by the Committee for Sydney and KPMG titled <a href="https://home.kpmg.com/au/en/home/insights/2017/08/scaling-fintech-opportunity-sydney-australia">Scaling the fintech opportunity for Sydney and Australia</a> which noted the number of FinTech firms in Australia had scaled from 100 in 2014 to more than 500 today, with 10,000 people directly employed.

Almost two thirds of those firms are based in Sydney.

This is a competitive strength in Sydney’s digital innovation economy and today’s announcement marks a step forward in the government’s commitment to back the growth of this vibrant economic sector. Essentially, government and industry together will deliver a new precinct as a focal point for the various tech ecosystems in Sydney and the wider Australian sector.

Up to 10,000 jobs will be located in the precinct and together with co-located firms, coworking spaces, and the Sydney University-UTS education cluster, there is potential for a globally significant tech cluster.

As outgoing Committee for Sydney CEO Tim Williams noted at the release of last year’s report, “Modern knowledge economies thrive on agglomeration, collaborative diversity and convergence and the innovation they collectively promote.”

<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/image176.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Indication of the urban environment in the area earmarked for transformation"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="278" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image176.jpg?itok=lIUi41ej" title="Indication of the urban environment in the area earmarked for transformation" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Indication of the urban environment in the area earmarked for transformation</figcaption></figure>Furthermore, the urban environment in this corridor is earmarked to be transformed. The railway corridor around Eveleigh, Redfern and Central essentially a neglected and piecemeal space which constitutes a forgettable entrance to the southern CBD.

The precinct is closely located to other large-scale urban renewal precincts at Waterloo, Green Square and Zetland. It’s possible this government-tech industry partnership will build off innovative renewal precedents in Sydney and overseas like the Toronto Smart City co-developed by Google and Sidewalk Labs.

Overall this is a promising announcement about the reinvigoration of a neglected part of Sydney’s urban environment and a potentially visionary step forward for our city’s economic vibrancy and competitiveness.

Jobs for NSW chair David Thodey will lead a design and development taskforce to guide the direction of the new precinct.
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ModernBradfield

Sydney's Central to Eveleigh set to become Australia’s Silicon Valley

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GUEST OBSERVER
Mega-trends such as urbanisation and technology are set to have a profound effect on our basic living habits and homes.
In this instalment of our ‘Homes of the Future’ series, we look into how our living rooms will need to adapt for the future. 
The look and feel of the space
With increasing urban populations, the spaces that we live in may become increasingly smaller. 
The design of the space may change, shifting to designs with less clutter and visual noise. Theo Richardson, an industrial designer and co-founder of Rich Brilliant Willing, believes we will see simpler lines, bold forms and bold solid colours.
Business Leader at IKEA Eja Tuominen explains that people want to slow down and relax, and therefore are focusing on living areas around the themes of growing, creation, harmony and compact living, ensuring calm spaces are present as part of the design. 
Multi-functionalism
Other changes we expect to see will be furniture that is more transformable and multi-functional. Future furniture should have integrated technology to make it more responsive both ergonomically and via bio-feedback. For example, a couch may adjust configuration depending on whether there are guests present or if you are relaxing by yourself.
Technology and entertainment
Looking at the future of living rooms, whilst the basic functions will remain the same, the increasing role of technology will change our traditional modes of communication and entertainment. For example, instead of sitting and chatting with friends in person or over the phone, you may instead be speaking to them via hologram. Instead of watching television or playing console games, you may be involved in virtual reality experiences.
Imagine a living room with complete integration between appliances and architecture. At the Consumer Electronics Show, Sony explored a conceptual living room where a mirror became a touchscreen panel, syncing to the wall which transformed into a giant screen, with overhead lighting that projected films. 
Immersive entertainment experiences are already being investigated by many brands, including Microsoft Research’s IllumiRoom video which brings to life the potential of film and game projections coming out of the TV, and Xbox One’s enhanced Kinnect sensor allowing participatory fitness and leisure products with personalised coaching in the home.
Another enhancement we may see in the near future is adding a fourth dimension (motion) to home entertainment – allowing our furniture to move and vibrate in conjunction with our entertainment to allow for a more immersive experience.
Ged Rockliff is the Head of Residential, Savills, and can be contacted <a href="https://www.savills.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

How will urbanisation and technology affect living rooms of the future? Ged Rockliff 

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Australian real estate agents prefer not to dazzle vendors with the latest and greatest technology and instead rely on paper as the primary information communication tool.
According to a recent report conducted by CoreLogic RP Data "<a href="/expert-insights/some-differences-between-the-sexes-corelogic-rp-data-estate-agent-satisfaction-survey-results">The 2015 Consumer Perceptions of Real Estate Agents</a>", the average agent is slow to embrace technology even when it can help demonstrate their own personal market knowledge.
The report found only 17% used an iPad or video to share market information, and 12% received market information in an email.  
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