Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<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/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<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/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

Building Construction

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Australia’s building market, a main driver of growth, is expected to decline over the next three years led by a drop in residential starts, says a new report by BIS Oxford Economics.
Residential starts are expected to fall 31 percent as key markets move into oversupply, according to the Building in Australia 2017-32 report.
Further, the BIS report says that the value of national building commencements peaked in 2015/16 at $107.3 billion (in constant 2014/15 prices), up 22 percent in real terms since the end of the resources investment boom in 2012/13. 
While a similar value of commencements is estimated for 2016/17, the report forecasts a cumulative 17 percent decline in the real value of commencements over the three years to 2019/20.
The report comes close on the heels of another BIS report that the muted retail industry will continue to struggle in the face of tough economic conditions and investment risks in the sector are higher. 
FIGURE 1: VALUE OF TOTAL BUILDING COMMENCEMENTS 
CONSTANT 2014/15 PRICES, $MILLIONS 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/10/BISFig1.png" target="_blank" style="font-size: 12.16px;">Click to enlarge</a>
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/10/BISFig1.png" alt="">
A soft economy, weak household income growth and subdued consumer spending will continue for some years, while Amazon’s entry will only add to the challenges to Australian retailers and shopping centres, says Retail Property Market 2017 to 2027. 
“The record breaking residential building boom is already turning, offsetting growth in starts for non-residential building through 2016/17,” said Adrian Hart, associate director of Construction, Maintenance and Mining at BIS Oxford Economics.
Residential building starts will decline sharply in the next two years, particularly in the investor-driven apartments segment, as supply catches up to underlying demand. 
BIS expects the total residential market to fall by around 31 percent over the next three years.
The decline will be even sharper for the number of private high density apartments getting underway nationally, being close to 50 percent.
FIGURE 2: NUMBER OF DWELLING COMMENCEMENTS 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/10/BISHousing2.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/10/BISHousing2.png" alt="">  
Figure 3: Dwelling Stock Deficiency, Thousands 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/10/BISHousing3.png" target="_blank" style="font-size: 12.16px;">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/10/BISHousing3.png" alt="">
“Overall the slump will be similar in percentage terms to the residential downturns in the mid-1990s and the introduction of the GST in 2000/01,” the report said.
The economic forecaster’s outlook for residential building activity is more bearish than that included in the 2017/18 Commonwealth Budget, as well as last week’s RBI statement during its rate decision announcement.
The central bank has kept rates at a record low of 1.50 percent for a year now.
In the statement, Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe said the “current high level of residential construction is forecast to be maintained for some time, before gradually easing”.
“It may not be as rosy as all that,” said Robert Mellor, managing director at BIS Oxford Economics.
“Our dwelling demand/supply analysis indicates that all states with the exception of Victoria and New South Wales are either in balance or oversupply,” said Hart.
Dwelling completions are ahead of underlying demand over the next two years, implying a national residential stock surplus by 2018/19 despite New South Wales still being undersupplied.
“While high density dwellings do take longer to complete than traditional detached dwellings, when the end comes it will be very swift,” said Mellor.
“The high proportion of investor activity is another risk factor as investor sentiment can turn quickly. Overall, we expect 2017/18 will be the peak in high density residential completions, but that part of the market will slump around 50 percent in the subsequent two years. By contrast, a milder decline is forecast for detached houses. The saving grace is that the floor in residential commencements is likely to be higher than in previous busts.” 
Commercial property, however is a different story.
The Building in Australia report forecasts the value of non-residential building commencements to rise further in 2017/18 – following a cumulative increase of 25 percent over the past two years. 
“Improved economic conditions along the eastern seaboard are driving new commercial and industrial developments, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria,” said Hart.
“Offices, retail and accommodation commencements have been very strong, although the latter two segments will run out of puff in coming years given the project pipeline and fundamental demand drivers. By contrast, education and health segments are poised for further growth in commencements given a range of large tertiary education and hospital projects about to get underway.” 
However, the total value of non-residential building commencements is expected to ease later this decade, joining the downturn in residential starts.
“Except for a few sub-segments, the current upswing in non-residential building commencements is unlikely to be sustained over the next few years,” said Hart.
Weaker prospects for growth in retail sales will see a narrower pipeline for retail projects, while a tripling in accommodation starts since 2012/13 may also push activity in this segment over the top, resulting in a correction, added Hart.
Barring offices, transport buildings (eg. railway stations and airport terminals), health and education, most other non-residential building segments are expected to experience flat or declining commencements activity over the remainder of the decade.
BIS said the looming downturn in building commencements would be a strong challenge to achieving the three per cent growth targets for the Australian economy outlined in the 2017/18 Federal Budget.
“The strong growth in building commencements since 2012/13 provided a welcome boost for the Australian economy at a time when resources-related investment and construction activity fell heavily,” said Hart.
“But with residential building activity in particular now set for a sharp decline – along with its multiplier impacts on industries such as construction, manufacturing and retail – the Australian economy will need new investment drivers to support growth and employment.”
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Residential building starts to plunge 31 percent in three years: BIS Oxford Economics

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The Building Designers Association of Victoria (BDAV) is calling on the public to vote for their favourite building design in the People’s Choice Award category at the 22nd BDAV Building Design Awards.
The People’s Choice Award covers Victoria’s best residential, interior, sustainable, heritage conservation and non-residential design projects across commercial, industrial, hospitality and public buildings.
BDAV President Lindsay Douglas said the awards recognise the ever-growing talent of building design professionals and their importance to the building industry, as well as their local communities.
“We are continually blown away by the high standard of entries we receive across all our award categories. Our building design community use innovation and creativity to produce cutting-edge design spaces while keeping sustainability front of mind."
Last year’s winner of the People’s Choice Award was luxury home The Kangaroo Ground Pavilion, designed by S L Building Designs. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/19/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-19%20at%201.24.24%20PM.png" alt="">
Some contenders for the 2017 Peoples’ Choice Award include the Alphington Townhouses, in the category for Multi Residential Design (above) and The Cheese House (below) for Best Environmentally Sustainable Alteration &amp; Additions (Residential).
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/19/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-19%20at%201.25.17%20PM.png" alt="">
Moama Anglican Grammar School (below) is entered in the Non-Residential Design - Alterations/Additions category.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/19/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-19%20at%201.26.48%20PM.png" alt="">
Voting for the People’s Choice Award is now <a href="https://www.bdav.org.au" target="_blank">open here</a> and closes midnight Sunday 23 July.
Winners will be announced at the BDAV Building Design Awards dinner on Saturday 29 July at the National Gallery of Victoria.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Vote for your favourite building in Victoria

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/63717/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The architecture profession perennially chides itself for being a poor advocate of the value of good design. The phenomenal rise of the Open House movement demonstrates how a simple concept – celebrating exemplary buildings by opening them free to the general public for one weekend a year – has become a successful format for such advocacy, combining entertainment and education.
Since the first Open House weekend – held in London in 1992 when 20 buildings opened their doors to the public – the Open House movement has expanded to over 30 affiliated cities world-wide. There were more than 375,000 building visits at London Open House in 2015. In Australia, Open House events now run in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and Adelaide – with Brisbane’s on this weekend.
Though its promotional material borrows from the jargon of the real-estate industry, the Open House mission is more noble: to cultivate a knowledgeable audience for architecture and involve people in the decisions that are made about the built environment. 
The Open House format is also not entirely new. It combines aspects of the logic of the Grand Tour with its education in taste; the public institution Open Day popularised in the 20th century; and the voyeuristic pleasure and insights into everyday life provided by historic house museums.
In cities like London and New York, it is easy to explain the popularity of such an event in terms of simple tourist numbers. However, its success in other locations highlights the way it has tapped into local and repeat audiences. In my home city of Brisbane, there has been more than a five-fold increase in building visits in five years, with over 66,000 in 2015. A number of these are repeat visitors.
In most Open House programs, buildings of recognised historical value sit alongside the latest in high quality contemporary design. One of the most popular buildings at Open House London recently was Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners’ newly completed Leadenhall Building, affectionately known as the cheesegrater for its raked form. However the most popular building was George Gilbert Scott’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office Building of 1868.
Interestingly, Brisbane’s own “cheesegrater” – the ABC Centre by Richard Kirk – has been a consistently popular building each year since its inclusion in the program.
Open House also showcases the latest in sustainable design and innovative development. In 2015, Common Ground, a supportive inner-city housing initiative, and Green Square Affordable Apartments were opened in Brisbane. In Melbourne, you could see how a 75m2 Flinders Lane apartment was renovated for a family by Claire Cousins.
One of the most sought-after Open House experiences is gaining access to private houses. These are often the most difficult to get into and are still considered the jewels in the crown of the architectural profession. And just as Grand Designs has been such a success in bringing architectural content to a TV audience, it satisfies an aspirational desire to see beautiful domestic settings and how other people live. 
However this impulse is not always gratified by prestigious homes. In 2013, I visited the the Jacobi House, the Eisenmenger House, and the Chater Street Residence in suburban Brisbane. They were startling for their respective modesty in size and conception. They had all been lovingly renovated by their mid-century enthusiast owners who guided visitors through their homes as amateur experts.
The following year, inspired by this experience, I opened my own apartment in Brisbane’s Torbreck, an iconic high-rise building designed by Aubrey Job and Robert Froud and built in 1959-61. 
Like the owners of the houses, I felt compelled to showcase Torbreck’s design to a larger audience. Overwhelmingly visitors were curious to see the interiors of this otherwise inaccessible but visually prominent suburban landmark. It was delightful to witness their surprise and enchantment at the clever apartment layouts, the light-filled spaces, and the playful use of materials and colours.
One of the parallel events at Brisbane Open House that typifies the form of soft advocacy it does so well, is the Man About the House stand-up comedy and music show performed by Tim Ross and Kit Warhurst.
In this show, performed for intimate audiences in architecturally significant homes, Ross weaves stories of growing up in suburban Australia; being curious about design and buying and restoring a mid-century home in Sydney, with discussions of the architecture of the host venue. Since 2013 Ross and Warhurst have toured this show as far as London and Palm Springs. 
Ross is a self-made expert, sanctioned by the profession (he was MC at the opening of the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale). He is also an everyman, and performs a journey of personal cultivation in a way that demonstrates the importance and value of architecture to society. 
In Ross’s most recent project Streets of Your Town, a two-part TV series that will air on the ABC next month, he takes this model to a larger audience – seeking out exemplary domestic architecture in our suburbs to reveal its quality and beauty. 
There is a larger question at stake for Ross: he wants to discover how in Australia we lost sight of an ambition for quality architecture for all - an ethos that underpinned much mid-century design - and where our suburbs are heading as a result. The series combines documentary footage, interviews with experts and residents, and Ross’s informal and humorous commentary to take the viewer on a journey of self-realisation.
A robust architectural culture needs interlocutors and the typical Open House program has grown to include parallel events including lectures, films, debates, and children’s programs.
<div class="enlarge_hint">In 2016, Melbourne Open House had a special program of lectures and films on brutalist buildings, a generally unloved form of late modernist architecture that is enjoying a new popularity at a time when many such buildings are being demolished. Brisbane and London Open House have a focus on opening offices of architecture practices to demystify the processes of architectural design.</div>
It is difficult to quantify the real success of an event such as Open House in raising the expectations of the general public for a high quality built environment – and how this might translate into tangible outcomes, such as more heritage listings, or better suburbs. Still, Victoria Thornton, the founding director of Open City and London Open House, is now undertaking an impact study that will endeavour to do just this.
However, the Open House movement demonstrates a softer form of advocacy in bringing conversations about architecture to a larger and more diverse audience.
While it does not take the place of a robust critical culture or the more direct political lobbying that professional architectural and built environment bodies undertake, it has a simple but important value in offering direct experience of buildings and a festive expansion of architectural culture.
Susan Holden is lecturer in Architecture, The University of Queensland and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-holden-291421" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Opening doors and minds: the Open House phenomenon

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/63263/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
By 2034/35, almost 20 percent of Australians (6.2 million) are projected to be aged 65 or over.
One sector already feeling the impact of the ageing population is construction. In Queensland, the number of construction workers aged 55 and over increased from 8 percent of full-time workers in 1992 to 14.2 percent in 2014.
An ageing workforce is likely to increase the need for less physically demanding jobs or maybe technology might address this issue. Task automation and the industry’s innovation culture are two of the greatest areas of uncertainty for the construction industry.
A new study that developed evidence based scenarios for 2036, depicts how automation and manufacturing could grow in the construction sector, creating more knowledge intensive jobs as a result.
The study explores future technology that eliminates dangerous and difficult tasks, particularly in light of the ageing workforce.
Experts in the industry were asked the extent to which technology would progress and how many or which tasks could be automated. There was no consensus on this and the other point of contention between the interviewees was how bold the industry would be in its pursuit of new solutions.
The research did suggest the construction workforce will need a broad understanding of digital applications, in addition to traditional project management and communication skills.
<h2>Construction jobs of the future</h2>
The trends analysis and scenario development in the report produced some examples of possible construction industry jobs in the year 2036, including:
Building assembly technician
Someone who oversees robotic systems and examines data feeds throughout the life of a project. This worker would optimise workflows and make adjustments on real time feedback from clients about design or changes to materials.
Virtual/augmented reality trainers
Breakthroughs in virtual and augmented reality technology could provide low-cost immersive environments where apprentices and trainers can meet virtually in any training situation, such as worksite, factory, design studio – the possibilities are endless.
Building drone operators
These professionals would control and program drones to carry out complex tasks such as site inspections, deliveries and maintenance.
Robot resource manager
Robots in the workplace will need someone to take care of commissioning, software programming, maintenance and re-purposing or recycling of robotic parts. Keeping track of this exploding field of technology will be a key challenge for the role.
<h2>Other opportunities</h2>
The Australian construction industry is changing with the introduction of digital collaboration platforms, like Building Information Modelling (BIM), robot machine prototypes such as the Fastbrick robot and rapid progress in 3D printing capabilities. These innovations will need more people skilled in the use of software programs and less people for labour-intensive jobs such as bricklaying or paving.
BIM is software that creates a 3D visualisation of a building. However, it extends beyond 3D imaging to show scheduling, cost control, facility management and energy performance monitoring. The UK government has mandated that all centrally funded work is to be undertaken using BIM by April 2016 and the Queensland government has stated that it will progressively implement the use of BIM into all major state infrastructure projects by 2023. As workers' skills in BIM increase in Australia, the improved cost and time saving will drive customers to demand that projects are managed in this way.
Already, in the Netherlands, the company MX3D is using 6-axis industrial robots to print a fully functional steel bridge. Contour Crafting technology, a process invented at the University of Southern California, has great potential for automating the construction of whole structures as well as sub-components and a company in China is using 3D printing to build houses.
The manufacturing part of the construction industry is expected to grow at 5% per annum out to 2023, compared to a growth rate of 2.3% for the industry as a whole. While the current prefabricated building market in Australia is still comparatively small, with only A$4.5 billion of the total A$150 billion construction industry, it is expected to contribute to more affordable housing stock and to take a much greater share of creating multi-storey buildings.
The nature of construction work is set for a step change over the next 20 years and careful strategic thinking is needed to navigate the changes.
The changes will require humans to exercise judgement and decision-making that reflects human values and aspirations; a task that is well beyond the most advanced artificial intelligence systems.
George Quezada is research scientist, Data61, and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/george-quezada-286991" target="_blank">here</a>.
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What construction jobs will look like when robots can build things

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Nearly all respondents to JLL’s Future of Work survey believe the ability to co-work with other businesses and entrepreneurs as the most important factor in the design of the future workplace.
According to the survey, creating a high-end ‘trophy’ workplace is the least important element of workplace design, with only 13 percent of participants interested in working in such an environment.
Some 81 percent of participants said in the future, people would work, live and play within ‘eco campuses’. 
Releasing the survey at yesterday’s TEDx Sydney event at the Opera House, JLL’s Australian head of property &amp; asset management, Richard Fennell, said the survey results show clearly that people want more from their cities, the built environment and their office interiors.
“We tend to think of cities as collections of buildings and roads, but they are, first and foremost, collections of people. Successful cities are cities that not only meet our material human needs, but promote the social connectedness and relationships that are critical to our well-being,” he said.
“From the city perspective, the desire is for more seating and shared spaces to connect people, more landscaping and greening of buildings and more ways to work and be open to the natural elements.  We see this translating to buildings having access to natural elements and fresh air.  And exploring ways to have more intermittent space halfway between inside and out.
“Other ways to achieve more of a work/life balance would be to incorporate ‘nature paths’ within built structures to relax and encourage interaction. 
"It could even include having ‘walking meetings’ and using walking tracks throughout buildings. 
“The importance of well-being and the role that active placemaking plays in fostering and realising its success is a phenomenon that has transitioned from fringe to mainstream in only a few short years.
“Placemaking is now actively embraced throughout the property industry. The role of tall buildings in creating and sustaining environments which foster community engagement, social interaction, personal and professional collaboration, and lifestyle choices, is the new standard expected by occupants, be they office workers, residents or the general public.
“The recognition that this is an imperative for tall buildings is becoming entrenched and mainstream.”
<div>In an industry first, JLL partnered with TEDxSydney to tap into the ideas, creativity and diversity of  what has become a highly enlightened, engaged community that attended the event at the Sydney Opera House this year.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Participants also gave a view about the technology of the workplace of the future:</div>
<div>●     85% said 40% of the workforce in 2050 would be made up of robots;</div>
<div>●     83% said 4D/5D printing would have replaced all manufacturing needs by 2050;</div>
<div>●     66% said Boards of Directors and Governments would be made up of both humans and Artificial Intelligence.</div>
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Future staff to disregard high-end ‘trophy’ workplaces: JLL

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Co-founder of AllenWargent Property Buyers Pete Wargent has tweeted more than half of the current national building work done has been in New South Wales and Victoria.
Posting through his Twitter handle <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/petewargent" target="_blank">@PeteWargent</a>, he said in Sydney, at the increase in higher density construction has to some extent come at the expense of detached house construction, with house completions in New South Wales still tracking well below historical levels.
<img src="/images/2016/01/22/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-22%20at%2010.53.04%20AM.png" alt="">
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