One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

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It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

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Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

YarraBend

YarraBend stands as both a monument to history and&nbsp;a lens for the future of the Melbourne suburb of Alphington.

The masterplan,&nbsp;a reincarnation of the former Alphington Paper Mill site, has been identified as the&nbsp;World's Most Liveable suburb by 2025 by The Future Lab’s 2018 global liveability report.

It's the development by the&nbsp;Australian property group Glenvill, who are transforming the 16.5 hectare site.

They're keeping heritage features throughout the development, adapting and retaining building's such as the Alphington Paper Mill. Its red-brick foundations and towering smokestacks which defined the area for nearly a century are incorporated into Fourdrinier House, YarraBend's first release, set within the original paper mill building.

The most recent release, following&nbsp;Parkview Apartments, The Mills and&nbsp;Camber Lofts, is Cubic House, a contemporary apartment building of 89 apartments designed by DKO&nbsp;and&nbsp;Technē Architecture.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170762]

Cubic House will comprise primarily one and two-bedroom apartments. Its completion will be toward the final stages of YarraBend. Some residential components, including Parkview Apartments, are nearing completion as are parts of the Artisan Precinct.

Glenvill Group has been progressively rolling out various stages of the 16.5 hectare block of land,&nbsp;spread across the six precincts; Mills, Parkview, Artisan, Heritage, River Quarter and Outer Circle.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170761]

Cubic House&nbsp;is part of the&nbsp;Artisan precinct which draws on the character of neighbouring Melbourne suburbs like the&nbsp;well-established refinement of Kew and Ivanhoe, the multicultural charm of Fairfield and the eclectic offering of Melbourne’s inner-north.&nbsp;

Apartments at Cubic House are warm and light-filled from floor-to-ceiling doors and windows that connect living spaces to the&nbsp;private balcony on offer in every individual apartment.

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The mix of one and two-bedroom apartments comes with a choice in colour scheme and design, with a focus on either light or dark tones.

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YarraBend stands as both a monument to history as well as a lens for the future of Alphington

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How YarraBend's Cubic House pays homage to the heritage in Alphington

YarraBend in Melbourne&#39;s Alphington was named as the future&nbsp;&quot;world&rsquo;s most liveable suburb,&rdquo; by The Future Lab,&nbsp;one of the world&#39;s most renowned futures consultancies, in 2018.

They expect it to become the world&#39;s most liveable suburb by 2025, topping cities around the world such as San Francisco, Stockholm, Seattle and Toronto.

&quot;Suburbs of the future will generate their own energy, contain their own innovation hubs, monitor our health levels, check our wellbeing, even crowdsource civic engagement at the tap of a screen,&quot; Future Lab advised.

&quot;Developments such as YarraBend are at the forefront of profound cultural shifts in which people &ndash; and buildings &ndash; are optimising everything, which is why we&rsquo;ve identified that it will become the World&rsquo;s Most Liveable Suburb in the future.&quot;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170760]

Since it was dubbed to be the world&#39;s most liveable suburb three years ago, the developer Glenvill, doubled down on factors like&nbsp;communities being optimised through technology and design, supporting convenience, wellbeing, connectedness, collaboration and sustainability.

Glenvill partnered with the renowned&nbsp;teams at DKO Architecture, Multiple, Technē Architecture + Interior Design to create YarraBend,&nbsp;complete with four parks,&nbsp;a state of the art health and wellness centre, complete with an indoor spa, yoga and spin rooms with virtual reality and real life classes, massage rooms, Technogym equipment and an indoor pool.

They also focused on community initiatives like a gallery space, art installations and an annual art prize for local artists valued at $50,000 over five years.

There is also an indoor and&nbsp;outdoor cinema bookable via the YarraBend app, as well as many a rooftop terrace, home to&nbsp;lounges, barbeque facilities and more.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170767]

Another facility available to all residents&nbsp;across the six precincts; Mills, Parkview, Artisan, Heritage, River Quarter and Outer Circle, is the WorkLab, an innovative co-working space convenient&nbsp;especially for those who dread&nbsp;commuting.

Located a short stroll from anywhere in YarraBend, residents can book a space any time at one of the multiple workstations, the meeting room or lounge area.

Dubbed as the world&rsquo;s first Tesla Town, the suburb will also feature Telsa Powerwalls in select residences to reduce energy costs and offer electric car charging points.

YarraBend will also play home to an artisanal food district, curated by one of Australia&rsquo;s top chefs, Scott Pickett, boasting popular restaurants, cafes and bars.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107514 project_image_fid=170768]

Cubic House, part of the reincarnation of the former Alphington Paper Mill site, is one of a number of residential components of YarraBend.

The contemporary apartment building of 89 apartments, designed by&nbsp;DKO&nbsp;and&nbsp;Technē Architecture, is slated for completion in 2024, toward the final stages of the whole of YarraBend.

Cubic House will comprise primarily one and two-bedroom apartments. Its completion will be toward the final stages of YarraBend.

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Cubic House, part of the reincarnation of the former Alphington Paper Mill site, is one of a number of residential components of YarraBend

Why Glenvill's YarraBend in Melbourne was dubbed the world's future most liveable suburb

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YarraBend is an exclusive new development, comprising of 6 precincts situated within the heart of Alphington. Just 6.5 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, the precinct also borders the city’s famous Yarra trail, giving residents the perfect lifestyle balance. The masterplan has been designed with a strong focus on gastronomy, technology, wellness and sustainability, in pursuit of creating one of Melbourne’s most exciting new developments to date.

<h2>What's on offer for residents</h2>

Health + Wellness

From spa facilities to smart gym technology including real and on-demand virtual yoga and spin classes, YarraBend's focus on resident wellness is a core aspect of the development. Whether you're looking to relax and meditate after a busy week, or train for a marathon, at YarraBend there will be something for everyone. 

Nature

In addition to the 21 parks within a 1km radius of YarraBend, the suburb will also be home to 4 parks as well as situated with direct access to 300m of the Yarra River. 

Sustainability

Green rooftops and solar panels will be installed wherever possible throughout YarraBend, providing reduced utility bills and a significantly reduced carbon footprint for residents. The Scandinavian-inspired roads prioritise the comfort of cyclists and pedestrians, encouraging a more environmentally conscious way of navigating the precinct. 

Dining

A carefully curated dining precinct by one of Melbourne's best chefs Scott Pickett will provide residents with a fantastic selection of cafes, restaurants, delis and providores, just minutes from their homes. 

Education

YarraBend is located within close proximity to some of Australia's most prestigious universities and schools, and the precinct's Hub building will be home to WorkLab, a coworking space which will offer a great lifestyle for both workers and students alike. 

Community

Residents of YarraBend will be invited to enjoy art installations and creative workshops, as well as the use of an exclusive residents' app to create an interconnected community.

<h2>Precincts now selling</h2>

<h2>Artisan Precinct</h2>

<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/artisan_residences.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artisan Residences. Credit: Glenvill"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="331" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/artisan_residences.jpg?itok=py2MkNdo" title="Artisan Residences. Credit: Glenvill" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artisan Residences. Credit: Glenvill</figcaption></figure>The Artisan Precinct is set to become a thriving hub of activity with an array of bars, restaurants, providores and delis on offer.

Within this precinct sits Artisan Residences, a boutique collection of 28 apartments, with 1, 2 and 3-bedroom configurations. Each property has been exceptionally designed with ample space for entertaining, premium fixtures and finishes, with a select few apartments boasting private rooftop terraces.

<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/culinaryhouse.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Culinary House. Credit: Glenvill"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="331" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/culinaryhouse.jpg?itok=qrDz9nry" title="Culinary House. Credit: Glenvill" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Culinary House. Credit: Glenvill</figcaption></figure>Also situated within the Artisan Precinct is Culinary House Apartments. On offer is 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments which celebrate craftsmanship, by fusing urban design elements.

<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/thehub.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Hub. Credit: Glenvill"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/thehub.jpg?itok=Tf3p5_KD" title="The Hub. Credit: Glenvill" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Hub. Credit: Glenvill</figcaption></figure>The Hub is a three-story building situated right in the heart of the Artisan Precinct. The Hub welcomes guests with two private dining areas, complete with chef-quality kitchens. The building also features a recreation lounge complete with a pool table, poker room and bar. For those who would like to work from home, there is also an on-site coworking facility featuring the latest technology and ergonomically designed work stations.

<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/parkview.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Parkview apartments. Credit: Glenvill"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="294" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/parkview.jpg?itok=z2msjzrA" title="Parkview apartments. Credit: Glenvill" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Parkview apartments. Credit: Glenvill</figcaption></figure><h2>Parkview</h2>

The Parkview Precinct is set amongst nature and offers a mix of townhouses, apartments and house and land packages.

The Parkview Townhouses boast magnificent vistas overlooking YarraBend and lush greenery. The perfectly balanced interior design palettes feature elegant interiors with natural finishes including timber floors and stone bench-tops. Each home welcomes warm natural light, and plenty of space for residents to entertain guests.

Parkview’s apartments offer 1, 2 and 3-bedroom luxury residences inspired by the beauty of the Alphington Park and surrounds and architecture lead by renowned firm DKO. The apartments have been designed to maximise views of the Yarra River corridor and the beauty of the neighbouring parklands.

<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/themills.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Mills. Credit: Glenvill"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/themills.jpg?itok=bP3adfVb" title="The Mills. Credit: Glenvill" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Mills. Credit: Glenvill</figcaption></figure><h2>The Mills</h2>

The Mills Precinct has been designed by DKO Architecture and features a combination of townhouses and lofts. In traditional Melbourne fashion, the structures are linked with laneways and tree-lined walkways leading to a central courtyard where neighbours can connect.

The refined industrial townhouses comprise of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom configurations, offering ample space, and low-maintenance living. The first two releases of townhouses have already sold out, with the third stage on sale now. Each townhouse has been designed with generous 2.7 metre high ceilings in living areas, as well as offering ample storage capacity, and modern Smeg kitchen appliances.

Buyers are also offered a choice of two interior schemes – Manhattan or Brooklyn, both of which feature textured, natural materials which create a modern, industrial aesthetic. 

Interested to learn more about YarraBend? Reach out to the sales team today.
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Olivia Round

Discover YarraBend: A new benchmark for urban liveability

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In keeping with Apartments.com.au's continued focus over the last few months on the proliferation of co-working spaces across Melbourne, today we take a look at The Hub - an exclusive recreational building comprising a dedicated co-working space and high-end entertainment facilities across three levels with a rooftop terrace, located within Glenvill's YarraBend master planned development on the banks of the Yarra in Alphington. 

The development of a co-working 'hub' at YarraBend is in response to an increasing number of entrepreneurs seeking collaborative workspaces that foster creativity and networking, along with anyone working flexible hours or from home.

<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/glen2004_hub_interiors_v04_roof_top.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Hub's rooftop terrace. Image: Glenvill"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="414" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/glen2004_hub_interiors_v04_roof_top.jpg?itok=FKG33SWY" title="The Hub's rooftop terrace. Image: Glenvill" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Hub's rooftop terrace. Image: Glenvill</figcaption></figure>The provision of co-working space at YarraBend also reinforces the increasing demand for this type of office environment, and the strength of the Melbourne co-working sector which currently accounts for 50% of all co-working space in Australia. The Hub would join the likes of The Commons in Collingwood and South Melbourne, Dream Factory in Footscray, and the recently profiled <a href="/news/clik-collective-brings-co-warehousing-to-moorabbins-morris-moor">CLIK Collective Moorabbin</a> and Hub Australia's <a href="/news/hub-australia-launches-2nd-melbourne-coworking-space-on-collins-street">Hub Collins Street</a>.

CLIK Collective Moorabbin represents 6,000 sqm of co-warehousing and co-working space within Up Property's Morris Moor development in Moorabbin, while Hub Collins Street has a variety of workspaces to cater for up to 600 members including bespoke offices, private offices and open plan dedicated and flexible desks within The Georges Building  at 162 Collins Street.

Located within The Artisan Precinct, The Hub embodies YarraBend's six visionary pillars including health &amp; wellness, technology, food &amp; entertainment, sustainability, art &amp; design, and knowledge. Technē Architecture + Interior Design have designed The Hub around sound design principles of placemaking and user experience, with its multi-dimensional nature requiring a unique design approach that focused on creating versatility and functionality.

The Hub is composed of a selection of natural materials and exposed concrete, which draw on the site’s industrial heritage as a working paper mill. This palette is restrained and considered, responding to adjacent apartment building facades, with profiled vertical fins wrapping the glazed exterior, while internally exposed fittings, fixtures and elements create visual interest within the interiors, with a strong focus on tactility and craftsmanship.

<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/glen2004_hub_interiors_v02_work_lab.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Hub interiors have a strong focus on tactility and craftsmanship with internally exposed fittings, fixtures and elements. Image: Glenvill"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/glen2004_hub_interiors_v02_work_lab.jpg?itok=rCJ3s3Qx" title="The Hub interiors have a strong focus on tactility and craftsmanship with internally exposed fittings, fixtures and elements. Image: Glenvill" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Hub interiors have a strong focus on tactility and craftsmanship with internally exposed fittings, fixtures and elements. Image: Glenvill</figcaption></figure>According to Director of Sales and Marketing at Glenvill, Ashley Bramich, the 400 sqm building blends together premium recreational facilities with a contemporary work environment complete with all of the mod cons and is a reflection of YarraBend’s commitment to integrating technology, entertainment and considered design throughout the development. 

<blockquote>
The big question we asked ourselves at the beginning of the process was - how do we elevate this unique site? We had to ensure we designed the right product and provided the development with a diversity of product and architecture, while remaining at the forefront of sustainability. 

The design of The Hub is unique and timeless and aligns strongly with the YarraBend master plan which was developed with a strong focus on placemaking, sustainability and liveability. The Hub responds to growing trends such as working from home and the disruption occurring within the technology space, so it was important to provide a strong level of amenity within the development for residents.

- Ashley Bramich, Director of Sales and Marketing, Glenvill
</blockquote>

A chef-quality kitchen and two expansive dining areas are located on the ground floor, providing residents with the ability and space to host or entertain larger groups of friends and family. The Hub's WorkLab occupies an entire floor and includes a meeting room, desk-spaces and a lounge area complete with all the latest technology.

The Hub Lounge is located on the top floor and features a games room, pool table, TV and a bar, providing residents with a comfortable environment within walking distance of their homes. This is supported by the rooftop terrace which includes a barbeque and fire pit. There’s also an indoor cinema encased in glass which along with the dining room and rooftop terrace, will be available to book via a smart phone app which is exclusive to YarraBend residents.
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Laurence Dragomir

The Hub at YarraBend adds to Melbourne's growing co-working market

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<a href="/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne's</a> tag as the World’s Most Liveable city will have a companion, although the physical manifestation will not avail itself for a few more years yet.

YarraBend which is the reincarnation of the former Alphington Paper Mill site has been identified as the World’s Most Liveable suburb by 2025. The Liveable City Futures report compiled by international trend forecasters, The Future Laboratory, anointed YarraBend as the suburb of choice based upon current and future-facing factors.

These factors which "impact urban planning across the world to identify major trends that will shape the way we live, work and play to create optimised communities" are at the heart of the report. 

The Future Laboratory include standard benchmarks for measures of liveability such as education, infrastructure, crime rates, sustainability and affordability. Beyond these though the report includes indices that reflect further measures such as quality of life, convenience, connectivity, green spaces, wellbeing, innovation and culture.

With all the above factors considered, the United Kingdom-based Laboratory considered YarraBend the most worthy of all future suburban developments on a global scale.

<figure><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="529" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image38_10.jpg?itok=l3mYk85V" title="Mixed use and technologically advanced. Image: Glenvill Group" width="580"><figcaption>Mixed use and technologically advanced. Image: <a href="/developers/glenvill">Glenvill Group</a></figcaption></figure>On the announcement, Co-founder of The Future Laboratory Martin Raymond noted the following:

<blockquote>
Suburbs of the future will generate their own energy, contain their own innovation hubs, monitor our health levels, check our wellbeing, even crowdsource civic engagement at the tap of a screen. Our research finds that factors that will influence liveability in the future boil down to how communities can be optimised through technology and design, supporting convenience, wellbeing, connectedness, collaboration and sustainability.

Developments such as YarraBend are at the forefront of profound cultural shifts in which people – and buildings – are optimising everything, which is why we’ve identified that it will become the World’s Most Liveable Suburb in the future.

Food quarters and artisan quarters have become hugely important in defining and measuring an area’s liveability and are usually found in an area that also places a high emphasis on culture, innovation, design and the entrepreneurial mindset.

This is why cities such as Melbourne, San Francisco, Stockholm, Seattle and Toronto tend to figure concurrently and regularly on Liveable City, Creative City, Culture City and Wellness City indexes.
</blockquote>

Rather than laud the announcement, Glenvill Group, the developer behind YarraBend, was quick to reinforce factors that underpin the perceived future needs and status of the development. Creative Director Len Warson said:

<blockquote>
YarraBend is founded on six visionary pillars, including health and wellbeing, technology, art and design, sustainability, knowledge, food and entertainment. These pillars were identified to reflect the changing needs and desires of the public and shape a new way of living.
</blockquote>

YarraBend design features are set to include:

<ul>
<li>Four parks and a state of the art health and wellness centre complete with an indoor spa, yoga and spin rooms with virtual reality and real life classes, massage rooms, Technogym equipment and indoor pool</li>
</ul>
<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image35_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Spa, Health &amp; Wellness Centre. Image: Glenvill Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="430" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image35_12.jpg?itok=QIPppCti" title="Spa, Health &amp; Wellness Centre. Image: Glenvill Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Spa, Health &amp; Wellness Centre. Image: Glenvill Group</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>A gallery space, art installations and an annual art prize for local artists valued at $50,000 over five years</li>
	<li>A dedicated three-level building for coworking and recreational purposes with a rooftop for entertaining</li>
	<li>Outdoor cinema</li>
	<li>A Scandinavian road design, where cars, bikes and pedestrians get equal share of the road, ultimately encouraging a change of attitude through safe roads for active transport</li>
	<li>Dubbed as the world’s first Tesla Town, the suburb will also feature Telsa Powerwalls in select residences to reduce energy costs and electric car charging points</li>
	<li>Free high-speed WiFi for all residents in parks</li>
</ul>
<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image41_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The future Turbine Park. Image: Glenvill Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="683" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image41_9.jpg?itok=1gCUklsG" title="The future Turbine Park. Image: Glenvill Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The future Turbine Park. Image: Glenvill Group</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>A technology concierge available to residents should they have any IT issues</li>
	<li>A Resident app that will connect the community to each other and the surrounding environment</li>
	<li>An artisanal food district, curated by one of Australia’s top chefs, Scott Pickett, boasting leading restaurants, cafes and bars</li>
</ul>
In a broader sense The Future Laboratory's report reflects the changing goalposts in terms of what constitutes livability.

According to The Future Laboratory "access to behavioural data helps to inform planning and design and our lifestyle priorities continue to evolve, we can expect to see revolutionary concepts emerge to lift the standard of living to new heights."

To that end, YarraBend has been successfully positioned as a world-leading exponent of research-driven design. The former paper mill onsite is now demolished, with Glenvill Group progressively rolling out various stages of the 16.5 hectare parcel of land.
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silvermb

Melbourne adds the World’s Most Liveable suburb title via YarraBend

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The development of the 2500 home project YarraBend combined with the new Chandler Highway bridge, will drive a boom in property prices according to developer Glenvill.
YarraBend has already sold over half of its first release of house and land packages with advertised prices for three to five bedroom homes starting at $1.48 million.
Len Warson, Glenvill chief executive offcer said access to the suburbs North of the Yarra has always been difficult due to the bottleneck at the Chandler Highway Bridge, however with its widening to six lanes, accessibility immediately increases and the entire area is given a boost.
“YarraBend will be new a new Northern gateway opening up a huge parcel of river front land to the public that was previously industrial and inaccessible. This can only have a positive effect on real estate prices in the area,” he said. 
YarraBend will feature architecturally designed free hold homes, townhouses and apartments, a wellness center with indoor pool and sauna, gymnasium, indoor and outdoor gym equipment, playgrounds, parks, green rooftops, as well as outdoor seating and BBQs scattered throughout.
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Danni Addison, UDIA Victorian chief executive officer said YarraBend would be one of the most environmentally sustainable developments in Australia.</div>
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<div class="page" title="Page 1">For more information, <a href="https://yarrabend.com.au/#jOIQ4h4kKjzjRPPy.97" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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