Article summary

<ul data-end="785" data-start="311">
	<li data-end="459" data-section-id="5hbcyr" data-start="311">Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at Skye Kangaroo Point, headlined by a two-storey sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm.</li>
	<li data-end="561" data-section-id="1p7lq8n" data-start="460">Early buyer interest suggests the residences could set a new Queensland apartment price record.</li>
	<li data-end="667" data-section-id="1y70z0l" data-start="562">The collection includes four move-in ready penthouses and the highly customised Skye One residence.</li>
	<li data-end="785" data-section-id="yvm0y1" data-start="668">The release caps one of Bri​sbane's most ambitious luxury apartment developments overlooking the Brisbane River.</li>
</ul>

<hr data-end="790" data-start="787" />
Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/skye-residences-by-pikos-kangaroo-point-8-river-terrace-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Skye by Pikos</a> development in Kangaroo Point, with early buyer interest indicating the flagship residences could eclipse every apartment sale previously recorded in Queensland.

The collection crowns the luxury riverfront development with five residences, including four completed penthouses and Skye One, a two-level sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm that will be tailored to its eventual owner.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374075]

Wanting to offer a fully customisable home, Pikos is offering Skye One as a blank canvas, allowing the buyer to work alongside the developer's design team to customise the home's layout, finishes and internal spaces.

The residence will feature a 247 sqm private rooftop terrace with its own swimming pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor kitchen and multiple entertaining areas overlooking the Brisbane River and CBD skyline.

The remaining four penthouses have been completed and are ready for immediate occupation, each offering four bedrooms, expansive open-plan living areas, soaring ceilings and private lift access.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374059]

One of the defining features throughout the project is its use of Roman Classic Travertine, with more than 20,000 sqm of the natural stone imported from Italy after being personally selected by Pikos Group Founder and Executive Director Pedro Pikos, interior designer Julie Williamson and third-generation stone specialist Mario Caucci.

Pikos said the penthouse collection represented the culmination of the company's long-term vision for Skye.

"True legacy isn't measured by what we build today, but by what endures tomorrow," Pikos said.

"Our ambition is to create places that become more valuable with time, enrich the lives of generations, and stand as timeless landmarks long after we've stepped away."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374060]

Williamson said the interiors were inspired by the natural character of Kangaroo Point and the Brisbane River rather than international design trends.

"Materiality tells the story of a place," Williamson said.

"We looked to the movement of the Brisbane River, the texture of the cliff face and the warmth of the surrounding landscape to create interiors that feel understated, enduring and unmistakably Brisbane."

Positioned above the Kangaroo Point cliffs, Skye places residents within walking distance of Howard Smith Wharves, South Bank and James Street while offering uninterrupted river and city views.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=90059]

Joel Robinson

Brisbane's next apartment price record? Pikos unveils Skye's exclusive penthouse collection

Article summary

<ul data-end="888" data-start="289">
	<li data-end="442" data-section-id="8tsh6o" data-start="289">DVB Projects is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway at 137 Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach.</li>
	<li data-end="573" data-section-id="1nyxl3e" data-start="443">The 34-level tower will comprise just 49 ultra-luxury residences, including half-floor, full-floor and penthouse apartments.</li>
	<li data-end="717" data-section-id="oiyimj" data-start="574">The launch follows strong demand at DVB's nearby Sea Glass project, which is more than 50 per cent sold and currently under construction.</li>
	<li data-end="888" data-section-id="epk9o9" data-start="718">The development adds to the transformation of Old Burleigh Road, with premium beachfront apartment projects continuing to reshape the tightly held Broadbeach strip.</li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dvb-projects">DVB Projects</a> is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway on the Broadbeach site as the Sydney developer moves closer to bringing the ultra-luxury project to market.

The 34-level tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/137-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">137 Old Burleigh Road</a> will comprise just 49 residences, ranging from half-floor apartments through to full-floor homes and a penthouse. The launch follows the strong sales performance of DVB's nearby Sea Glass development. More than half of the apartments at Sea Glass, on the other side of Broadbeach, have been snapped up, well ahead of its late 2027 completion

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2944b4be-c84e-4b54-8dc1-c712e76704c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E02_Exterior_Street%20Level%20Entrance.jpg?VersionId=YoNig7pRdrE3HCue7sUj78LzJteeQf3H" />

The start of demolition at 137 Old Burleigh Road signals DVB Projects’ underlying confidence in the Gold Coast’s luxury beachside apartment sector.

“We see the Gold Coast as one of the most compelling lifestyle markets in Australia, particularly at the premium end where demand continues to deepen,” said Dean Brown, Managing Director of DVB.&nbsp;

“This project has been carefully designed to respond to that demand - delivering large-format residences with a level of quality, privacy and amenity that is still relatively rare in the apartment market on the beachside."

Brown says the site itself is "exceptional."

"Old Burleigh Road is one of the most tightly held beachfront strips, and opportunities to deliver a project of this scale and calibre in this location are extremely limited.”

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="398f377a-c037-455e-9250-0c5e0d84c35b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/I12_FF%20Balcony.jpg?VersionId=NwOiRWGMubR1c8wthuEfggklcja7al9." />

The project will comprise 40 half-floor residences of approximately 260 sqm, alongside eight full-floor residences spanning around 524 sqm.

A single penthouse will crown the building, featuring a private pool, barbecue area, indoor gym and dedicated entertaining spaces.

Residents will have access to a resort-style suite of amenities, including a 20-metre pool with daybeds, a gymnasium, hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, and private residents’ lounge and dining facilities.

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1642bb0-9a66-4427-a022-dfc0988c6287" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/A02_Pool%20to%20View.jpg?VersionId=c0IXPyn_Gp_Kn3XCwzMrqIVkAdCEwVXP" />

Sales agent Todd Matheson, of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/pezet-matheson">Pezet Matheson</a>, which is marketing both 137 Old Burleigh Road and Sea Glass, said 137 Old Burleigh Road would address a clear gap in the market for genuine luxury products.

“There are very few opportunities on the Gold Coast where buyers can secure a residence of this size and quality in a new building,” Matheson said.

“What we’re seeing is a growing cohort of downsizers and interstate buyers who still want space - they’re not willing to compromise on living area, entertaining or finishes.

“This project has been designed with that buyer in mind. It offers the scale of a home, combined with the convenience and security of apartment living, in one of the coast’s most desirable positions.”

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="59aae0ca-5639-4320-8aca-d0bf60f48e43" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E01_Exterior%20Hero.jpg?VersionId=DS8Zfy2WtgUEtdfe0TEUuf1W1GfcZq8S" />

Located on a 1,156 sqm site one block from the beachfront, the development will replace an ageing walk-up building and is expected to contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Old Burleigh Road strip into one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious residential corridors.

With the development moving into the delivery phase, 137 Old Burleigh Road is slated to hit the market later this year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145141]

DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

A proposal to redevelop one of North Sydney's ageing commercial buildings has taken another step forward, with plans for a 38-storey mixed-use tower adding momentum to the long-awaited transformation of the Alfred Street precinct.

Now on public exhibition through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority-led State Significant Development pathway, the proposal for 271-273 Alfred Street would replace an underutilised commercial building with 95 apartments, ground-floor retail, commercial space and affordable housing. The proposal was submitted by&nbsp;Tara Shore Pty Ltd, acting for the John Taylor Family Trust.

While the project will deliver much-needed housing on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, it also represents another piece of a broader precinct that has spent years in planning limbo.

<img alt="First look: New public domain vision underpins 95-apartment North Sydney tower on Alfred Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e1ce1b4-38df-48ab-992f-386814d86308" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Alfred%20St%20da%20podium.png?VersionId=sC_h6w.A9VEoB98qsqowPlIoz__sBZBt" />

Despite its proximity to both North Sydney Station and the Victoria Cross Metro, redevelopment of Alfred Street has progressed slowly over the past decade as broader planning controls, zoning and building heights remained unresolved. The introduction of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway has provided a new avenue for projects to progress, allowing rezoning and development assessment to occur concurrently and unlocking sites that have long been earmarked for renewal.

Designed by Office of Cortese &amp; Gilder, the proposal seeks to do more than replace an ageing office building. The architects have positioned the project as the first stage of a wider public domain vision that would improve pedestrian connectivity and create a more cohesive mixed-use precinct as neighbouring sites are redeveloped over time.

The proposal includes a widened Alfred Street setback, new street trees, landscaping and outdoor seating, along with a landscaped through-site pedestrian link connecting Alfred Street with Little Alfred Street. The connection is intended to become the first section of a future east-west pedestrian network extending across the precinct.

<img alt="First look: New public domain vision underpins 95-apartment North Sydney tower on Alfred Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ea39ac3-46ad-4562-b4a0-b862e91c2dda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Alfred%20St%20da%20site.png?VersionId=K7umCd21KpetEFuVfsPlnJKhUOsmTTdV" />

The mixed-use tower would comprise retail space at ground level, commercial uses on level two and apartments from level three upwards.

In total, the development would deliver 95 apartments, including nine one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom, 56 three-bedroom and two four-bedroom residences. Twenty-one apartments, representing 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area, would be secured as affordable housing and managed by a registered community housing provider for at least 15 years.

Nine basement levels would provide 133 resident car spaces, seven motorcycle spaces and 111 bicycle spaces.

According to the Architecture and Urban Design Report, the public domain strategy is designed to transform what is currently an inward-facing commercial edge into a more active and connected pedestrian environment, creating a stronger relationship between the commercial core and surrounding residential neighbourhoods.

Office of Cortese &amp; Gilder has also prepared a broader public domain framework spanning neighbouring properties between 263 and 283 Alfred Street, arguing that a coordinated approach to redevelopment will deliver better public spaces, improved tower separation and a more connected streetscape as the precinct evolves.

The proposal comes at a time where North Sydney is slated for future residential growth. Commercial developer FiveX has residential plans for the neighbouring site at 275 Alfred Street. They've proposed a 39-storey mixed-use tower with 184 apartments, while Freecity was recently approved for nearly 300 apartments across a 51-storey building on Walker Street.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-freecity-gets-green-light-for-mixed-use-apartment-and-hotel-tower-in-north-sydney">First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-plans-39-storey-residential-tower-in-booming-north-sydney">First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower in booming North Sydney</a>

&nbsp;

Alfred Street the latest North Sydney pocket to be transformed by residential development

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

&nbsp;

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

Workplace

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<h2>OPINION:</h2>

The current climate has ushered in a seismic shift in work culture, as many employees transition into a work from home set-up. 

At Hub Australia, we are already seeing an increased demand for space from companies who may have previously favoured a long-term commercial office model. As many workers, and more importantly their managers, adapt to working from home, the need for the same quantity of space at headquarters will reduce. The importance of having a place for businesses and their teams to connect, learn and innovate will not go away. The culture of professional co-working spaces is well suited to meet this demand.

Along with this, offices will have to shift their focus from real estate providers to a more experience-centric model in order to attract people to come to the office. Traditional working as we know it is being flipped on its head at a rapid pace.

<h2>Goodbye to the traditional office lease</h2>

As we see it, the traditional office lease will be less relevant to companies post-COVID-19. There was already a movement by corporates to have part of their office requirements met by flexible workspace operators, Covid-19 will serve to quicken the pace of this movement, but also to enlarge it. Organisations will need to offer work from home flexibility, as well as provide access to a ‘work base’, which could be suburban work hubs and CBD coworking spaces.

<h2>A move to distributed working</h2>

A single headquarters with high densities in an open plan environment no longer seems like the best idea post-COVID-19. We’re predicting that employers will need to cater for a distributed workforce and provide multiple working environments, that could be a company HQ, home and third spaces. Work-life balance, commute times and the rising cost of living means that working closer to home has long been a priority for many employees. But not everybody’s home is going to be an appropriate work environment, and many employees crave the social and community aspects of the workplace, so the blending of the two will be essential.

<h2>Set-up for virtual success</h2>

Not only will flexible working become the new norm, but coworking providers will need to innovate their offering. At Hub Australia, we are launching a virtual offering at the start of May that offers members the ability to join the community virtually, with access to mailing packages, software discounts, video conferencing and the ability to work flexibly from Hub Australia locations when they need to. Setting members up for success virtually will become the norm.
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Why a distributed model is the future of the workplace

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Creating a flexible workplace is the key to motivating employees according to CBRE.
CBRE's recent presentation, ‘How to Create a Workplace that Connects Your People and Anchors Your Brand’, discussed the future of office space and the importance of authentic placemaking.
Nicole Fitzgerald, CBRE’s Director of Workplace Strategies said flexible working and mobility was predicted to be the biggest disruptor for how businesses operate leading up to 2020.
“Flexibility is resonating with staff and this is impacting how and where people choose to work. We need our talent to choose our office because they know they will perform better, form better relationships and can influence decisions,” she said.
Rhian Windridge, of CBRE’s APAC Project Management team noted that what companies are doing in their workplace has become part of their corporate identity and vital to attracting and retaining top industry talent.
“When a group of executives were surveyed, the top source of competitive advantage was attraction and retention of top talent, and what we have found is that retention is higher in areas with strong placemaking elements,” she said.
“As a result, we have seen a major shift towards companies utilising brand storytelling through place, as it allows staff to relate and connect meaningfully with their workplace.
"Placemaking elements have the ability to express to people what the brand’s identity means and allows staff to experience what the company is achieving.
“Connecting staff through food and hospitality facilities, creative and collaborative areas, embedding wellness into the company’s culture using space and incorporating green space are all strategies that enable staff to respond positively to their workplace.
“Offices facilitate the coming together of different businesses lines to be inspired and reenergised.
"People do their best work when they come together – so there will always be a need.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

The future of offices lies in the power of placemaking

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The majority of respondents to a JLL survey at TEDxSydney rate face to face contact very high in the workplace of the future (88 percent) and 59 percent still want a physical workplace but wouldn't create a CBD if they could.
Some, 81 percent liked the idea of an eco-campus where individuals could live, work and play, 57 percent wouldn’t create a CBD and 78 percent of people wanted to create small self-sufficient communities.
Results from the survey were used to create a new white paper from JLL titled ‘Is humanity the future architect?’.
Rajiv Nagrath, JLL’s Australian head of corporate account management said the research found that, despite technological advancements and the potential impacts of robotics and artificial intelligence, there was a desire for a future dependent on people, not machines.
"Even though it was acknowledged that future technology would allow work to be done anywhere, 88 percent of respondents still placed high value on face-to-face interaction in the workplace of the future," he said.
“While technology continues to evolve at a rapid rate, our basic needs and wants of human connection remain consistent with what they were 100 years ago.
“There will still be a desire for continued human engagement, connected communities and workplaces that foster co-working and entrepreneurship."
Richard Fennell, JLL’s Australian head of property and asset management said the results unanimously focused on human connections and a desire to be closer to nature.
"Some 92 percent of respondents wanted to create a responsive workplace that adapts to enhance the health and wellbeing of its inhabitants," he said.
"It seems that amongst our condensed and densely populated skylines, the people living and working within them are craving more open spaces, more air, and more natural materials and environments.
“Buildings in 2050 will respond and adapt to the people within it. For example, when you enter a lobby, the building will receive a biometric reading of your heart rate, general health and even your age. 
"This information will be used to enhance your experience within the building, such as temperature, sound, smell and visual adjustments via implanted devices or wearable technology."
 
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Employees still want a physical workplace in 2050: JLL

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Workplaces of the future could be inflatable. That's the vision to emerge from the “Tomorrow’s Workplace” design competition from Staples Business Advantage and Metropolis magazine.
The entries included a forecast that in 2021, the workplace may include inflatable pods set up in urban parks.
“The massive corporate office tower, usually a glass box with central air pumped in, is turning into the dinosaur from the 20th century,” said Susan S. Szenasy, publisher and editor in chief, Metropolis.
“Workplaces will become more multi-generational and multi-functional.
"One thing is sure—today's office is not your father's or mother’s office.”
Jie Zhang, is an architect and co-founder of OPT, celebrated the rapidly growing freelance economy.
Her FoAM was a combination of easily deployable inflatables that create personal mobile offices, which can be set up in a dense network of urban parks transformed from vacant parking infrastructure. The inflatables are collapsible and equipped with digital technology so workers can connect wherever they are.
<img src="/images/2016/12/07/Screen%20Shot%202016-12-07%20at%201.27.19%20PM.png" alt="" width="588" height="378">
She envisaged digital nomads, with inflatable offices that can be set up practically anywhere.
These collapsible structures are insulated, both thermally and acoustically
One of Zhang’s submitted diagrams shows a person carrying the inflatable in a shoulder bag.
The directions: “arrive,” “unroll” and “inflate.”
It was pointed out that the inflatable is actually not a new idea; it was already kind of an experimental architectural object from the ’60s by radical design groups from Italy and the University of California, Berkeley. 
The co-working trend has grown recently to total 27 million square feet of office space, which 0.7% of the total U.S. office market, but substantial for a niche that barely existed just years ago, <a href="https://www.us.jll.com/united-states/en-us/research/office/coworking-space-the-landlord-perspective" target="_blank">according to a Jones Lang LaSalle report.</a>
Companies like Regus and WeWork dominate the industry.
But WeWork didn’t exist before 2010, and now they occupy 5 million square feet, said Julia Georgules, director of research for the office sector at Jones Lang LaSalle.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Inflatable offices of the future for digital nomads

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
In the past two weeks I’ve met two people who introduced themselves as global nomads.
By “nomads” they mean someone who moves from place to place with no fixed address, other than their email address. They consult wherever they go, and are enabled through technology to live and work from anywhere.
This new thinking about what and where work is performed is starting to influence thinking on where we live, offering an entirely new take on work-life balance.
Earlier generations had a job for life and lived close to the factory or office; work and life supported each other symbiotically. Today, while many people still co-locate near their primary employer, for others the “office” is anywhere with a reliable internet connection.
Working differently allows us to live differently. This thinking is what’s behind the “co-living” trend. Combined work and residential space is aimed at the flexible worker, the itinerant entrepreneur, the tech-fuelled millennial.
<h2>How it works</h2>
The idea is simple enough. A network of residential offerings provides semi-independent living across multiple locations; be it in one country or across many. Members pay a subscription and register in advance to secure a place, usually for at least a month at a time. In the early days, many operators are also allowing more short-term access of a few days at a time.
BASE, operating in Melbourne, Australia, aims to bring together young creatives in a co-living experiment. It incorporates a co-working space and regular events.
There are plenty of other co-living examples across the US in particular. Many appear to be driven by millennials eager to find new ways of bringing their work and life together. There is a theme of purpose-driven living that most if not all share.
While the majority of these offerings are centred on bringing together smaller communities, the emerging larger operators in this space include roam.co (previously Caravanserai). It has offerings in the US, Spain and Bali, with the UK and Argentina imminent. Nomadhouse.io boasts 18 locations across Europe, Morocco, Southeast Asia, the US and Colombia.
<h2>A new way of living</h2>
Recently, the world’s largest co-working space operator, WeWork (last year valued at US$10 billion), launched a new co-living spinoff, WeLive. It has two spaces in New York and Washington DC co-located above existing WeWork sites.
WeLive operates on a monthly subscription basis. It provides everything that you would expect from an Airbnb, with a dose of community that co-working members come to expect from WeWork, including its famous “unlimited beer and coffee”.
WeWork is betting big that its co-living model will be a hit. Leaked financials late last year reveal WeWork was expecting demand for WeLive to coincide with increasing co-working membership demand. In fact, WeWork expects income from WeLive memberships to increase to more than US$600 million in 2018, representing 21% of the company’s total revenue.
WeWork is opening its doors in two locations in Sydney shortly, but we don’t yet know if it has plans for WeLive in Australia. In an increasingly saturated local co-working market, the first challenge will be for it to gain traction in co-working.
<h2>Working alone together</h2>
Australia has seen rapid growth in co-working spaces, with more than 160 now operating. These cater to growing numbers of entrepreneurs, small business owners and, increasingly, corporate commuters looking for a change from the standard office environment.
Increasingly, too, these spaces are being recognised for their innovative potential by corporations interested in and working with emerging startups, such as Fin-tech hub Stone &amp; Chalk in Sydney, or in building deeper relationships with customers, like The Village by NAB in Melbourne.
<h2>Seeking a tribe? Enquire within</h2>
Living in share communities is nothing new. We’ve been co-living in various forms for a long time.
Many of the communes of the 1960s and 70s are still with us, albeit segregated from mainstream society. Kibbutzim have formed an important part of modern Jewish history. Share houses, dorms and fraternities have been rites of passage for many through university and early professional life. And the final co-living destination for many is the retirement village.
Are recent co-living “experiments” only for millennials who want to live an Airbnb lifestyle, or is this the start of a bigger shift in the way we live and work, and the continued blurring of any remaining line between them?
If recent research on the impact of co-working spaces is anything to go by, being part of a co-living community appears to have clear benefits. One recent global co-working survey found 70 percent of co-workers felt they had become physically healthier as a result of their membership; 70 percent strongly felt a sense of belonging and 74 percent experienced greater productivity in their work life.
It is this last statistic that may reveal the dark side of co-living projects such as WeLive, warning that the line between life and work may be all but gone for younger generations who pursue “efficiency in life” at all costs.
In a world where life and work continue to dance around each other, our need for purpose and belonging remains. Co-living ventures like WeLive may inspire us to rethink our relationship with work, and refocus on becoming a part of our local community. Or, perhaps, the gloss of the startup and entrepreneur life will start to fade, and we’ll realise there really is no place like home.
Tim Mahlberg is PhD Candidate, University of Sydney and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tim-mahlberg-272846" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Co-living is demolishing the line between work and life

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The workplace is in a state of evolution, with the rise of co-working space redefining the parameters of office markets across the country as shifts in demand create new opportunities for commercial property owners.
A new CBRE Viewpoint highlights the rapid transformation of global office markets over the past five years, with businesses and individuals adopting co-working space models such as serviced offices and flexible desk leasing arrangements.
Since 2010, there has been exponential growth in the number of co-working sites across Australia, with advances in technology underpinning a rise in mobile and freelance working.
Across Australia, there are currently more than 120 co-working sites, with the majority located in New South Wales (30%) and Victoria (25%).
CBRE Research Analyst Anne Flaherty said technological advances were creating new business opportunities, which was spawning a rise in the number of start-ups.
“For these businesses, serviced offices present an attractive option, offering flexibility, affordability and the opportunity to meet and work amongst other entrepreneurs,” Ms Flaherty said.
“For many small businesses and start-ups that may not be in a position to commit to the requirements of a formal lease agreement, co-working spaces offer significantly greater flexibility.”
CBRE Director, Workplace Strategy, Matt Strudwick said technology had liberated organisations from the traditional view of the office being the place to work.
“Organisations are using a mix of spaces to provide an attractive proposition to their employees, service their clients more effectively and drive out some of the fixed costs of traditional office space,” Strudwick explained.
“Employees have been empowered to work from client locations and from home in the past, but co-working spaces offer something more. Co-working spaces are conducive to fostering and enhancing an entrepreneurial culture and a sense of team.”
“While the co-working office offers an attractive work space for start-ups and small businesses, it is not just these companies that we are seeing demand from,” Strudwick explained.
“There is a growing trend whereby big corporates are leasing desk space in co-working hubs, so as to expose their employees to new ideas and innovative working environments.”
Evidencing the trend, a number of major corporations, including NAB, have taken to co-working to drive their business outcomes with the objective being to engage with the small business community and find opportunities to partner with, or buy their ideas.
“There has been a sharp increase in the number of financial institutions partnering with existing co-working hubs, as well as launching shared office spaces across most of Australia’s capital cities,” Flaherty said.
“Co-working spaces are also being set aside at the existing office premises of some banks, for the exclusive use of their business banking customers.”
Strudwick said in addition to the benefits of flexibility, affordability and networking, co-working style office arrangements also offered businesses the advantage of agility.
“Agility is one of the biggest drawcards associated with co-working space, with it giving businesses the ability to adjust their space as they grow, shrink, move and reconfigure, while not being locked into a restrictive lease,” Mr Strudwick explained.
CBRE Executive Managing Director, Capital Markets, Mark Granter said the growing trend also presented opportunities for office owners and landlords looking to reposition assets for higher and better use.
“As demand continues to strengthen for flexible office space, assets that have been converted to capture this budding market will be positioned for capital growth,” Granter said.
“Unlike traditional office space, income flow for a co-working space is less dependent on a few, or single, tenants. With demand for serviced offices growing, owners of currently underused commercial assets may look to unlock value by considering the potential viability of conversion to a shared office space.”
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Property 101: Office parameters changing amid rise of co-working phenomenon: CBRE

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Fund manager Impact Investment Group (IIG) has launched what it calls The Dream Factory at its Footscray building acquired from Lonely Planet with the objective of making it a shared workplace for startups and technology-driven companies in Melbourne.
Melbourne-based IIG acquired the property at 90 Maribyrnong Street, currently the global head office of Lonely Planet Publications, in 2015 for $13.5 million. Lonely Planet will vacate the property prior to the end of its lease in October this year.
Set by the Maribyrnong River, the four-storey fully refurbished woolshed with over 7,000 square metres of loft style office accommodation will become home to some of Australia’s most innovative and disruptive businesses, IIG said in a media release.
“We are extremely proud of this particular property and its iconic transformation. We feel it’s a bold representation of our investment mandate to deliver strong commercial returns with tangible social and environmental outcomes,” IIG chief executive Chris Lock said. 
IIG has $360 million in funds under management across property and renewable infrastructure, and is owned by Lock and Small Giants, the private investment firm of Daniel Almagor and Berry Liberman.
Featuring energy-efficient technologies, The Dream Factory will commission Australia’s first Tesla industrial batteries and cover the roof with one of the largest rooftop photovoltaic solar systems in Australia, producing approximately 230 MWh per annum – to be passed on at no cost to the tenants.
There will also be a large 1,000 sqm communal rooftop garden and kitchen area with views over the Melbourne CBD and Port of Melbourne. Other features include a gym and ground floor warehouse café.
The Dream Factory is to be anchored by Inspire9, a community-led co-working business servicing Melbourne’s start-ups, freelancers and creative entrepreneurs. Other tenants that have made commitments to the building include Engineers Without Borders Australia, multiple teachers’ associations including DATTA Vic and School Libraries Association of Victoria.
IIG has appointed Savills and Lemon Baxter to lease the remaining vacant areas of up to 1,600 sqm.
"We are Australia's startup capital and this new investment through The Dream Factory will further strengthen Victoria's reputation as the place to do business,” Victorian minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, Philip Dalidakis said.
By January 2017, more than 550 jobs will be relocated into the building, IIG said.
IIG is seeking expressions of interest from tenants for the remaining space available, ranging from 400 sum to 1,600 sqm.
Details can be found at <a href="https://www.dreamfactory.org.au" target="_blank">www.dreamfactory.org.au </a>
 
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