Killara is set for one of its densest ever new development with a new project approval set to bring 55 new apartments to the affluent Upper North Shore suburb.

The development,&nbsp;at 23-25 Lorne Avenue, near Killara Golf Club,&nbsp;is being led by by BWSLD Killara Pty Ltd, an entity with ties to Bridgewell Capital, which has an association with Bridgehill Group - the developer behind a series of projects in Roseville, Castle Hill, and Kogarah.

The approved scheme will deliver a mix of one to four-bedroom configurations, with a higher proportion of two- and three-bedroom layouts. Ten of the apartments are allocated to affordable housing under the NSW Government’s Housing SEPP framework.

Located just 300 metres from Killara train station, the proposal takes advantage of new Transport Oriented Development and Infill Affordable Housing controls.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bka-architecture">BKA Architecture</a>, the design lead on the project, noted that the scheme “offers an increase in high-quality housing for singles, couples and families within a green urban context, while responding to Killara’s shift toward higher-density housing."

The design achieves a minimum 7-star NatHERS rating, with photovoltaic solar panels planned to supplement energy use. More than 70 per cent of apartments achieve both solar access and cross-ventilation, limiting reliance on artificial cooling.

BKA Architecture emphasised the project’s landscape-led approach.

“The proposal has worked to retain mature existing trees, both on the subject site and neighbouring sites, while increasing the amount of native planting. The proposed development sits comfortably within a dense urban tree canopy and 3–6 metre wide deep soil zones."

Aesthetically, the building is articulated with a defined base, body and top, featuring a material palette of brick, aerated concrete, fibre cement panels, and non-combustible timber-look battens. Bronze-toned awnings and operable privacy screens provide additional detailing.

The site sits opposite the Killara Heritage Conservation Area.

The practice also acknowledged the site’s deeper cultural setting. “The site is located on the traditional country of the Dharug and Guringai peoples, who are the traditional custodians of the land. All new canopy trees proposed are native, linking the site with their natural ecology”

&nbsp;

Urban Editorial

Bridgewell secures approval for 55-apartment project in Killara

A new mixed-use development has been proposed for a prominent corner of Anzac Avenue in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/redcliffe-qld-4020">Redcliffe</a>.

There are plans for a new seven-level building across four amalgamated lots totalling 3,423 sqm. Under the scheme, the would be 70 new apartments delivered, above street-level retail between 23-27 Anzac Avenue, opposite Bluewater Square shopping centre and a short walk to Settlement Cove Lagoon.

The proposed development sits within the Redcliffe Seaside Village Precinct of the Moreton Bay Regional Council’s Centre Zone and will be code assessable under the MBRC Planning Scheme 2016.

<img alt="25 and 27 Anzac Avenue Redcliffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ced915e4-1d4a-4100-8405-a0b3ab0da6f9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Anzac%20Avenue%20Redcliffe.png?VersionId=9gUh6ca8K3PJs.1ZjJexmZt6FYfkIUq6" />

Designed to activate the street and contribute to the local urban fabric, the proposal features a mix of apartment types: 15 three-bedroom, 50 two-bedroom, and five one-bedroom units arranged across five residential levels above a podium.&nbsp;

Ground-level retail tenancies and parking will be complemented by a first-floor parking level, delivering a total of 106 on-site car spaces.

“The proposed building has been designed to activate the street frontage through a built form that provides connectivity with the footpath area at street level,” noted IB Town Planning in their documentation submitted as part of the application. They added that the design "aligns with the desired streetscape outcomes for centre areas under the MBRC Planning Scheme”.

Each floor will have 14 apartments, and all residences will feature private balconies, with areas ranging from seven sqm to over 250 sqm for the terrace-style units on the podium level. A 105 sqm communal recreation area is also proposed on the second level.

Most of the land is cleared, apart from an old office building.

Redcliffe rarely sees new development opportunities. South East Queensland developer Gardner Vaughan Group is over 60 per cent sold of the first stage of its Redcliffe Parade development, One Redcliffe.

Joel Robinson

First look: 70 apartments above retail heads for Redcliffe's Anzac Avenue

The developer behind the three-tower, $1 billion Brisbane Quarter precinct, is looking at its next mega development in the heart of the capital.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/shayher-group">Shayher Group</a> has filed plans with the Brisbane City Council for a new two-tower development at 309 North Quay, a 6,436 sqm site almost at the foot of the&nbsp;William Jolly Bridge.

Under the scheme, they would deliver two 56 and 51-level towers with over 1,100 one to four-bedroom apartments, including a mix of build-to-sell and branded short-term accomodation.

<img alt="309 North Quay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ed38014a-6045-4ac3-b52f-0d0147f4a94b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Shayher%20pers.png?VersionId=_suNf_vp0xH1CPpftB0m_UxEzSeBbxxN" />

The towers, designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/blight-rayner">Blight Rayner</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a>,&nbsp;will sit atop a layered podium incorporating publicly accessible retail, a cross-block pedestrian link, and an expansive plaza, with 852 basement car spaces planned across both stages.

According to the Town Planning Report prepared by Urbis, the proposal seeks to “create vibrant and permeable public spaces” and offer “functional public spaces with a richly landscaped plaza and a cross-block pedestrian link that enhances walkability across the precinct."

Design features include a “cliff garden” podium, extensive subtropical landscaping, and sculptural forms that reflect Brisbane’s subtropical identity.&nbsp;

“The development showcases high-quality subtropical architecture that aligns with Brisbane’s identity,” noted the report, adding that the towers incorporate “dynamic faceted glazing” and slender profiles that contribute positively to the city’s skyline.

<img alt="309 North Quay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bef7fe88-ca5e-43fb-942d-2291fe058745" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Shayher%20podium.png?VersionId=UXOe2zRQNy8CkMmQRRwyFf69iR1thjfF" />

The project is positioned adjacent to the Roma Street Priority Development Area (PDA), placing it within close proximity to the new Cross River Rail station and the upcoming Brisbane Metro hub.&nbsp;

The proposal has been framed in the context of Brisbane’s Inner City Strategy and the Roma Street Precinct Renewal Strategy, both of which identify the area as primed for high-density, transit-oriented renewal.

The site, currently vacant, formerly housed a commercial building used for office and broadcasting. Its strategic location affords direct access to major transport corridors, including Coronation Drive, the Inner City Bypass, and the William Jolly Bridge, with Roma Street Station just 150 metres away.

Shayher has several projects they are working through, the most notable the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-shayher-group-file-for-first-stage-of-bulimba-barracks">redevelopment of the Bulimba Barracks</a>. They revealed the plans for the first stage last year, for a 6,382 sqm parcel of the 20.73-hectare block.

Having demolished the majority of the buildings that were part of the barracks from World War II to the 1980s, they will work with the fabrication workshop which was a barge building shop in the war, which will form one of three buildings in the stage. Two will be residential, with just under 70 apartments planned.

Shayher Group plots 1,100 apartments in two new Brisbane CBD towers

A bold new infill development has been proposed for a key stretch of Pacific Highway in North Sydney, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/legacy-property">Legacy Property</a> lodging plans for a mixed-use project that would integrate affordable housing and retain a locally listed heritage building.

The proposal, prepared in collaboration with architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/nettletontribe">Nettletontribe</a>, seeks to transform a strategic site near the Victoria Cross Metro Station with a part 10, part 13-level building.&nbsp;

A two-level commercial podium will activate the Pacific Highway frontage, while four basement levels will accommodate car parking and servicing.

The residential tower includes a mix of market and affordable apartments, with the latter fulfilling the requirements of the Housing SEPP’s infill affordable housing provisions.&nbsp;These units are to be delivered in collaboration with Cubic Real Estate, a registered community housing provider.

The site includes a locally listed heritage building at 265 Pacific Highway, which will be retained and adaptively reused. The design seeks to respect the heritage significance of the item while integrating it into the broader scheme.&nbsp;

The podium reflects the scale of the adjacent heritage building (The Cloisters Antique Store) and allows for “restoration and meaningful re-purposing” of the structure,&nbsp;Nettletontribe noted in its Design Report.

A defining element of the proposal is the stepped massing from north to south, responding to the site’s topography and the lower-scale residential character of Church Lane. Setbacks increase above the podium to reduce visual bulk and improve privacy and solar access to surrounding properties. Communal open spaces are provided at ground level and the rooftop, supporting amenity for future residents.

Architecturally, the design adopts principles of the NSW Better Placed policy, incorporating sustainable features such as full electrification, EV charging provision, and deep soil landscaping.&nbsp;

Nettletontribe’s report also details the landscape strategy, which incorporates native and culturally significant plants, with a focus on edible bush foods in recognition of the site’s location on Gamaraigal Country.

The proposal builds on an approved plan from 2023 that uplifted controls on height and FSR for the site, reflecting its proximity to major transport infrastructure and alignment with North Sydney’s strategic housing targets.

The new application has been submitted as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) through the NSW Government.

First look: Legacy Property proposes shop-top housing for key North Sydney site

The Minns Labor Government and the Inner West Council will partner on rezoning along the Parramatta Road corridor that could deliver around 8,000 new homes close to the CBD.

The proposed rezoning would cover the section of Parramatta Road within the Inner West Local Government Area, complementing work already underway with Inner West Council, Burwood and Canada Bay Council.

This transport corridor which is serviced by a significant number of bus, light rail and train routes is close to the Sydney CBD with direct access to major hospitals including Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, a number of local public schools with existing capacity and green space.

Throughout the rezoning process affordable housing, active transport connections, new open space, retail and commercial opportunities, as well as improvements to the public domain will all be examined.

Sydney is the second least affordable city in the world, with house prices having significantly outstripped wage growth over the last two decades and a NSW Productivity Commission report warning that Sydney is at risk of becoming a city without grandchildren as NSW is losing twice as many young people as it gains each year.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns says&nbsp;Parramatta Road has been talked about for decades with little result.

"It’s time to stop talking and start building. &nbsp;What will transform this major corridor is more homes for people to revitalise this area. That’s what’s needed to deliver more vibrancy to one of our city’s most important corridors.

“We know Sydney is facing a housing crisis. That’s why my Government is working with councils like the Inner West to get homes built faster, and in places with existing services and infrastructure.

“We’re not just planning for more homes, we’re planning for better communities, with more affordable housing, better streetscapes and public spaces, and access to jobs and transport.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully says&nbsp;Parramatta Road needs more homes and jobs in vibrant communities.

"It’s a major transport corridor that connects so many communities to the city but it can be so much than a tired thoroughfare. By working closely with Inner West Council, we’ll make sure planning reflects the needs of local communities while providing the new homes Sydney so desperately needs.”

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will work with council and the relevant State government agencies to progress the rezoning. There are no compulsory acquisitions proposed as part of this plan.

The Minns Labor Government has been leading the way with bold plans to deliver more housing for young people and families who have been locked out of desperately needed new homes

This builds on previous work from the Minns Government to increase homes along the Parramatta Road transport corridor including:

<ul>
	<li>8 projects along Parramatta Road that have been declared State Significant through the Housing Delivery Authority and the Infill Affordable Housing Bonus which could deliver 3,968 homes, including affordable housing.</li>
	<li>Three sites from the government land audit, which will deliver around 800 homes, including social and key worker housing.</li>
	<li>A Transport Oriented Development Accelerated Precinct and state-led rezoning at Homebush and North Burwood which combined will deliver up to 33,000 homes.</li>
	<li>And 11 Low and Mid-Rise sites along the length of the corridor.</li>
</ul>

This has been further supported by once in a generation reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government to build more well-located homes for young people and families including the largest rezoning in NSW history and delivering the largest investment in social and affordable housing in the state’s history at $6.6 billion.

&nbsp;

Up to 8,000 new homes planned for Parramatta Road corridor

<html><body>
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 

<div class="intrinsic">
<div class="intrinsic-inner">
<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="370" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1573710549547_74" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/312440113?app_id=122963&amp;wmode=opaque" width="650"></iframe>
</div>
</div>

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>
</ol>
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.

<div class="intrinsic">
<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1573710532178_74" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/355499775?app_id=122963&amp;wmode=opaque" title="Convene VR" width="736"></iframe>
</div>

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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</body></html>

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