Brisbane-based <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co Developments</a> has officially launched its $250million COMO apartment development in Varsity Lakes, while simultaneously commencing construction.&nbsp;

Building work is now underway at COMO following the appointment of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/5point-projects">5Point Projects</a> as contractor to deliver the boutique development which will rise on a 2857 sqm site overlooking Lake Orr at 22 Lake Street.

When completed, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO</a> will comprise 156 apartments across 16 levels located in the heart of Varsity Lakes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363515]

The project, which will sit alongside Bond University, will deliver a diverse array of apartment designs comprising one-, two- and three-bedroom residences that have already attracted interest from local and interstate investors as well as an array of owner occupiers looking to gain a foothold in the precinct.

Red &amp; Co, which has largely focused on the Brisbane market in recent years where it has delivered more than 500 apartments and townhouses across 26 projects, has designed COMO to combine tranquil, lakeside living with the vibrant urban convenience of the vibrant Varsity Lakes village.

“We’re thrilled to announce a start to construction of COMO in conjunction with the official launch of the project, our first for the Gold Coast,” said Red &amp; Co Director and Co-Founder David Laverty.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363509]

“COMO is superbly positioned to capture the essence of the Varsity Lakes village lifestyle and its thriving café and dining precinct, while delivering a much-needed diverse supply of premium residences for the local market.

“Pre-launch inquiries have been strong among both local and interstate investors and owner-occupiers, including downsizers and upgraders who appreciate the value proposition that COMO represents.”

Prices at COMO start from $1,000,050.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363511]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, the COMO development incorporates an extensive range of amenities for residents including a 25-metre rooftop lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, as well as multiple rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts, a wellness and activity centre, gym, sauna, plunge baths and landscaped gardens.

“COMO presents a rare opportunity to secure a stylish, lifestyle-focused home in one of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after neighbourhoods,” added Laverty.

“The rooftop will be the epicentre of fun for residents with an array of amenities for residents that are quite unique for a boutique project such as this, all while offering spectacular vistas across the Gold Coast as far north as Southport and south to Burleigh.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363514]

&nbsp;

Red &amp; Co has chosen the Varsity Lakes site for its proximity to top-tier schools, major shopping hubs, such as Robina Town Centre and its CBD offering, as well as key Gold Coast transport links, including Varsity Lakes Train Station.

COMO will be located just a short walk to shops, cafes and restaurants in Varsity Lakes and just a 10-minute drive to the Burleigh Heads beachfront.

With construction currently underway, Red &amp; Co anticipates COMO will be completed in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135546]

Joel Robinson

Red & Co to launch debut Gold Coast development Como Varsity Lakes as construction commences

Longstanding Gold Coast developer Raptis has acquired a prime development site on Surf Parade for its next Broadbeach apartment project.

Progressing towards completion of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-sterling-broadbeach-6-8-george-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Sterling Broadbeach</a>, 90 apartments on nearby George Avenue, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a>, led by second-generation family man Evan Raptis, has picked up a block on the corner of Surf Parade and First Avenue.

The site had been earmarked for a luxury apartment project with 33 full-floor apartments across a 37-storey tower. Raptis will go back to the drawing board and create a building more appropriate for the site. The development application will be lodged later this month.

Evan Raptis told Apartments.com.au the site ticks all the boxes.

"Broadbeach is a suburb we've developed several buildings over the years. Surf Parade ticks all the boxes for the type of apartment development we want to deliver."

Raptis had several pre-lodgement meetings with council to ensure they are aligned in the development.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f0d58573-07a4-47a8-9f5e-fbf35fb03dc3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-03-05%20at%204.58.23%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=iczZEd_4_o4UL0PHMPJGfy_q3tv96J5i" />

Surf Parade has emerged in recent years as one of the most popular streets in Broadbeach for development.

South East Queensland developer Mosaic Property Group kicked it off with Marella by Mosaic. Bassar Group sold out Infinity on the street, while for its&nbsp;first Gold Coast development, Polycell grabbed a Surf Parade site for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-rochester-broadbeach-143-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Rochester</a>, which is nearly sold out.

Melbourne-based developer Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched its fourth Gold Coast project on the exclusive strip. The Eveleigh Broadbeach will have 100 apartments across a 31-storey building designed by Rothelowman.

GV Property Group site development specialists Antonio Mercuri and Luke Reaby, who both amalgamate sites and sell shovel-ready sites to developers up and down the Gold Coast, sold Surf Parade to Raptis.

Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development

Less than two years after breaking ground, Gardner Vaughan Group is celebrating the topping out of Bask, its second development in the exclusive coastal enclave of Bokarina on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.&nbsp;

Located only minutes from the beachfront, the two seven-storey luxury apartment towers, known individually as Mydas and Caretta, offer a selection of one-to-four-bedroom residences with views of Lake Kawana, the Glasshouse Mountains, and Bokarina Beach.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333359]

Gardner Vaughan Group Commercial Director Sam Gardner said the milestone marks the home stretch for construction, with first residents expected to be able to move in from Spring 2026.&nbsp;

“This is a significant milestone in bringing this development to life and represents our confidence in this region’s long-term growth and appeal,” Gardner said.&nbsp;

“With 85 per cent of apartments already sold, buyers are joining an established, coastal village that offers the very best of the Sunshine Coast – seasonally patrolled surf beaches, renowned restaurants, and links to established health and retail.&nbsp;

“The final collection of three- and four- bedroom apartments range in size from 127sqm to 300sqm, each with two or three secure car parks and storage, and with construction fast approaching completion we don’t expect the last few apartments to remain on the market for long.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333362]

Local restaurateur Luke Stringer, who co-owns and manages the award-winning Bocca Italian and Playa Mexican restaurants in Bokarina, has lived in the beachside suburb for 18 months and worked there for more than three years, and said the beachside suburb was thriving.&nbsp;

“It’s fair to say Bokarina is finally stepping into the sun and there’s a lot to love about the place,"&nbsp;Stringer said.

"It’s such a great community, where you see the same smiling faces every morning and everything’s within easy reach – it’s the perfect hub in the middle of the Sunshine Coast.

“When we first opened Bocca Italian, we were the lone restaurant, but it’s been amazing to see how the area has grown. The more venues that open, the busier it gets for everyone. When Playa Mexican opened its first Saturday night, Bocca had a record night and Playa was packed too, which blew us away how everyone is thriving.&nbsp;

“There’s a great energy around the place now, and people are really embracing Bokarina as a food and lifestyle destination.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=363368]

Stringer joined other buyers at Bask Bokarina and the Gardner Vaughan Group team to celebrate the topping out at a special event in February.&nbsp;

Located in Kawana Waters, midway between Caloundra and Maroochydore, Bokarina locals enjoy scenic walking paths around Lake Kawana, playgrounds, beachfront boardwalk and parklands, alongside all the convenience of a masterplanned beachside community.&nbsp;

“You see people jogging or swimming in the morning, then grabbing coffee at the cafes, people are really embracing the area and all this growth is bringing more people to Bokarina,” Stringer added.&nbsp;

To take advantage of the vistas, each of the 135 apartments at Bask is designed with full size windows and high ceilings that provide an abundance of natural light.&nbsp;

Prices for the remaining three-bedroom apartments start at $1,599,000 and four-bedroom apartments start at $3,149,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=363369]

The mixed-use development also features ground-level retail space for cafés, dining options and boutiques, including the soon-to-be-opened ‘Corner Shop’, by the team behind Noosa’s well known ‘Organika’.

Sam Gardner said Gardner Vaughan Group’s 37-year history building and developing across South East Queensland has contributed to the success of its second development in Bokarina, which follows the recently completed Zinc Apartments.&nbsp;

“We care how people live and this is reflected in the way we approach the design and delivery of every development,” he said. “Furthermore, as a builder-developer we have full control over the construction program and our 100 per cent completion rate is something people can draw confidence from.”&nbsp;

Founded by civil engineers Guy Gardner and Darryl Vaughan in 1989, the family-owned business has evolved from a consultancy firm to an award-winning builder-developer, with projects across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=141609]

Gardner Vaughan Group tops out Bask Bokarina apartments

Prolific Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> has launched its fourth new Gold Coast development in as many years.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a>, led by Daniel Faigen and backed by Eddie Hirsch, co-founder of United Petroleum, has unveiled The Eveleigh, on a prime 1,100 sqm site at 7-9 Surf Parade in the heart of Broadbeach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a> will deliver 100 apartments across 31 levels, making it the company’s largest Gold Coast project to date. It builds on the success of its three earlier developments, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/hemingway-1267-1273-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach">The Hemingway in Palm Beach</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/emerson-kirra-100-musgrave-street-coolangatta">The Emerson at Kirra</a>, both completed, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yves-mermaid-beach-7-9-mermaid-avenue-mermaid-beach">Yves Mermaid Beach</a>, which is nearing completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

The announcement of The Eveleigh affirms the company’s sustained confidence in the Gold Coast market which continues to remain undersupplied. It also increases the value of Hirsch &amp; Fa​igen’s Gold Coast development portfolio to more than $700 million since the company first entered the market in 2021 with Hemingway.

The company has enlisted its preferred architecture firm Rothelowman to design The Eveleigh, which will offer a thoughtfully curated lifestyle, including a substantial wellness precinct, communal recreation areas, children’s play spaces, work-from-home facilities, and shared lounge and dining areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

Designed for the prime market demographic of downsizers and interstate lifestyle investors in mind, The Eveleigh has been crafted to offer an increasingly rare blend of affordable luxury in a tightly held market. Uniquely positioned in the heart of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after lifestyle suburb of Broadbeach, the project will also boast uninterrupted beach and hinterland views.

The Surf Parade site is just a short walk to the bustling Broadbeach dining and retail precinct, Pacific Fair, The Star Gold Coast and convention centre, and an easy stroll to Kurrawa Beach and the recreational amenity of Pratten Park on the Broadbeach foreshore.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

“We’re excited to be proceeding with our fourth project on the Gold Coast in what is certain to become the new luxury precinct in Broadbeach,” says Anthony Bueti, the CFO of Hirsch &amp;a​mp; Faigen and a shareholder of the group.

“With the likes of Mosa​ic and Abedian &amp;a​mp; Co also launching quality projects in the area, the transformation will cement Broadbeach as the premier lifestyle and amenity suburb on the Gold Coast.

"After four years in the Gold Coast market, and with three successful projects completed, The Eveleigh is the product of everything we have learned to love about the Gold Coast and it will be an incredible addition to our growing portfolio in one of the most vibrant property markets in the country. We continue to remain very confident in the high-end Gold Coast property market.”

Urban Activation Director Matt George is handling sales for The Eveleigh, having sold out The Emerson, The Hemingway, and Yves, all before construction was completed.

Melbourne builder MAXCON has already commenced construction on The Eveleigh. They are forecasting a mid-2028 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Hirsch & Faigen unveils The Eveleigh in Broadbeach

Two years after securing development approval for the final stage of its award-winning Thornton Precinct on the doorstep of Penrith Station, Urban Property Group is set to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/mayfair-on-penrith-172-lord-sheffield-circuit-penrith-nsw-2750">Mayfair on Penrith</a>, around 400 apartments designed to reflect two of Sydney’s most iconic structures.

The builder-developer has continued refining the design plans for the two-building development on a significant 8,280 sqm site on Sheffield Circuit, recognising the importance of the prime parcel as one of the closest developable sites to the station.

UPG enlisted architecture firm SJB to design the project. The team said they drew inspiration from both the General Post Office in Martin Place and East Circular Quay to help shape the design. The two-level colonnade, in particular, reflects the famous GPO building, which dates back to the 1860s.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362014]

There will be one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments on offer, with interiors by Cox Architecture. Residences will sit above a retail podium featuring hospitality and lifestyle operators such as One Playground and Volcano’s Steakhouse, contributing to an activated ground plane within the broader Thornton precinct.

A communal rooftop with a pool and views towards the Blue Mountains will provide shared open space for residents. The development is positioned between Ron Mulock Oval and Westfield Penrith, with the Nepean River and Great River Walk also nearby, placing daily amenity and green space within walking distance.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362015]

Mayfair is being delivered by Urban Property Group, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly 40 years’ experience across Sydney. The project will be the first in Penrith to be offered with Resilience Insurance’s 10-year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) policy, which Urban Property Group has adopted across a number of its recent developments. The developer also has a 4.5-star iCIRT rating, one of the best ratings in market providing further confidence to buyers.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said providing additional assurance to off-the-plan buyers has become increasingly important.

“Anything we can do to give confidence in our product is a plus,” Elias told Apartments.com.au.

“Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. They’re making their single large investment, which is their home, and providing confidence is something that we feel is paramount.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362020]

The LDI policy provides a 10-year warranty covering structural defects, with independent inspections carried out during construction and protection for owners if defects arise post-completion.

Mayfair represents Urban Property Group’s sixth and final development within Thornton, consolidating the masterplanned precinct immediately east of the station.

The developer, which builds its own projects, has already commenced construction. SRM Residential is handling the sales campaign.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136726]

Urban Property Group to close the curtain on award-winning Thornton precinct with Mayfair on Penrith release

Office Design

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The City of Greater Geelong has unveiled the design for the city’s new central administrative office.
Located at 137 Mercer Street it was designed by COX Architecture.
The City’s new office will bring together City staff from seven central Geelong offices.
Construction is expected to begin on the City’s Civic Precinct mid-2020, with project completion mid-2022.
The City and property fund manager and developer Quintessential Equity are partnering in the $200 million investment, with construction of the new Civic Precinct to reportedly create nearly 900 local jobs. 
An estimated 43% of construction costs will be sourced locally.
48% of the site will be dedicated to accessible public space as well as co-working spaces and retail and food tenancies.
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"Our new Civic Precinct sets an exemplary standard for future office buildings in Geelong through the highest standards of sustainable design, activating street frontages and generating significant public space, and providing large, flexible floorplates designed for new ways of working," said Cr Bruce Harwood, the Mayor of Greater Geelong City.
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The new office is also expected to achieve the highest standards of sustainable design with a 6 Star Green Star Design, and As-Built Rating as well as a 6 Star NABERS Energy Rating.
 
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The City of Greater Geelong unveils plans for new central administrative office

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The development application for Charter Hall’s $1.5 billion 555 Collins redevelopment has been lodged with the Victorian Department of Planning.
Charter Hall purchased the site on the corner of Collins and King Street in October 2018.
With the adjoining site at 55 King Street, which is also owned by Charter Hall’s rime Office Fund, it encompasses a combined 4,620 square meters.
The design was created in partnership with Australian multi-disciplinary firm Cox Architecture and global design and architecture firm Gensler.
The first phase will include 35 levels of Premium Grade, technology enabled office space across approximately 45,000 square metres.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/19/charter%20hall.jpg" alt="">
Simon Stockfeld, Charter Hall’s Regional Development Director said the building will be one of the city’s most sustainable office buildings.
“Our approach to workplace design is entrenched in extensive research into what tenants truly want and need, now and in the future,” Stockfeld said.
“Through this people-centric approach, we are committed to creating workplace experiences which are designed to foster community, an instinctive way of working and ultimately result in a better workday for our tenant customers.
“The vision for the site is to create a workplace experience like no other, where people will feel connected, inspired and engaged with their working day, and we are excited by this innovative methodology and how this development will shape the future of workplace.”
CPOF Fund Manager, Matthew Brown said: “CPOF is actively growing its existing $5.4 billion portfolio of high quality assets.
“A redeveloped 555 Collins will further enhance CPOF’s portfolio quality and total return metrics and deliver our Fund investors a coveted new Premium Grade office building in the tightly held western core of Melbourne’s CBD, a location favoured by major corporate, legal and government occupiers.”
Charter Hall has appointed JLL and Colliers as conjunctional leasing agents for the project.
Completion is targeted for mid-2022.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Charter Hall unveil plans for $1.5 billion 555 Collins redevelopment 

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Global mens health charity Movember Foundation has called on CCWS Interiors to fit out the London HQ for the second time.
The HQ, in the creative district of Farringdon, is set among art galleries and a thriving entertaining precinct with bars and restaurants.
 The 555 sqm space is the hub for the Movember workforce to collaborate, initiate and implement its objective to bring men's health to the forefront of public conversation.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/11/27/Mov1.jpg" alt="">
CCWS Interiors' David Keane and Amy Elliott headed up the project.
They were tasked with transforming the open-plan office into an inspirational environment that reflected the ethos and brand identity of the organisation.
The brief was to upgrade the office design and create an environment that better matched the people, brand and culture behind Movember.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/11/27/Mov3.jpg" alt="">
 
Providing a base for both local and visiting international teams, the newly-configured office needed to easily ‘expand-and-contract’ as required during busy campaign periods. 
Over a six-week period, CCWS delivered flexible workspaces, hot desks and hot-booth-meeting areas to encourage collaboration and introduce both formal and flexible productivity areas. 
The traditional concept of ‘one desk, one employee’ was thrown out in favour of this interactive co-working model, whilst also catering to introspective work styles with semi-enclosed booths.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/11/27/Mov4.jpg" alt="">
 
When looking to the interior aesthetics, the refit was characterised by industrial design elements, seen in the use of rustic wood cladding and exposed metal fixtures, alongside playful detailing throughout and the company’s signature ‘moustache’ symbol displayed with pride.
When adding the final touches to the Movember office design, David and Amy collaborated with the Movember team to introduce some famous moustache owners to the office décor; fancy a catch up in the Chaplin, Mercury or Einstein room?
 
 
 
 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Movember Foundation gets new London HQ office fitout

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GUEST OBSERVER
In cities, people use bicycles for far more than just commuting and recreation. For many people, riding a bike is not just a way to get to work; it is a livelihood necessity and helps sustain urban economies. And for people who rely on a bike to do their job, safe access to city roads is essential.
With increasing urban pollution and poverty around the world, we urgently need to think about how to plan new cities and redesign old cities to accommodate cycling’s varied uses.
Ever-increasing numbers of cars and other vehicles reduce the road space available to cyclists. Where the risks of collisions and injury are high, they are effectively excluded from traffic.
In cities that privilege motor vehicles, cycling slowly is essential for survival. Cyclists who deliver goods and services need to navigate cautiously when sharing limited road space with speeding cars and impatient, unpredictable motorists.
These workers are different from other riders who voluntarily indulge in slow cycling for leisure. Are city experts willing to consider slowness as an occupational necessity? Can traffic planners see how a working class of slow cyclists helps set cities in motion every day?
Different cities, both relying on slow cyclists
My explorations of cargo cyclists in Kolkata, India, and postal and courier cyclists in Parramatta, Sydney, explore the relationship that cycling has with these cities. This work also shows what needs to change to support bicycle workers in our cities.
In Kolkata, cargo cyclists are central to the city’s informal economy. At dawn, the sounds of creaking bicycles fill the streets as heavily greased chains rotate and aluminium containers clank against one another. The riders balance newspapers, milk, gas cylinders and food on their bikes, which are often loaded with more than 150 kilograms of goods.
Later in the morning, the screeching tyres, engines and honking of buses, cars and motorbikes drown out the city’s cycle symphonies. In the afternoon and evening, when the traffic eases, cycle sounds once again resonate through the city’s streets.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/209641/original/file-20180309-30994-9z2nz5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/209641/original/file-20180309-30994-9z2nz5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Cyclists in Kolkata must contend with roads crowded with motor vehicles. Malini Sur, Author provided
Kolkata has one of the highest population densities in the world, with 14.3 million urban residents and is India’s second-most-polluted city.
The ratio of road space to the total city space in Kolkata is just 6% – the lowest in India. Despite a lack of cycling infrastructure and the hazards of crowded roads, the city records 1.68 million cyclists and 2.5 million cycle trips a day.
In the next decade India’s urban population is expected to double to 600 million people. This booming urbanisation – and a growing middle class that wants to own cars – will add to the congestion and pollution. Although bicycles do not add to pollution, urban infrastructure is biased towards motorised traffic.
Unlike Kolkata’s cargo cyclists, Parramatta’s postal cyclists are almost noiseless, but they too have to contend with cars that often refuse to slow down, even on residential streets. The posties’ high-visibility yellow uniforms, measured pace and iconic flag poles distinguish them from the commuter cyclists who whizz by.
Beyond posties, a new set of working cyclists is emerging. As online delivery services like Uber Eats and Deliveroo grow in popularity, more cycling courier jobs are becoming available.
While some people tout the benefits of flexible employment, these cyclists continue to work in dangerous conditions on the roads. Just like other slow cyclists in Australia and India, these gig economy riders have not received enough attention from policymakers.
Authorities make life harder for cyclists
Despite some efforts to encourage urban cycling, official prohibitions and structural roadblocks are widespread. In New South Wales, for instance, the state government has increased cycling penalties and tightened regulations – such as requiring riders to carry ID – in an attempt to curb safety problems.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/209643/original/file-20180309-30989-1n5mql9.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Stairs are just one of many obstacles delivery cyclists face in Kolkata. Malini Sur, Author provided
In 2017, Kolkata, citing similar issues, prohibited cycling on 70 city roads (despite nonexistent cycle lanes). Here, the traffic police continue to fine cyclists. Corrupt authorities skim money from the penalties and distribute it among themselves.
The need for parking space in both cities means the roadside is sacrificed to permanent parking zones. This ensures that cyclists do not have access to safe roadside space.
These limitations help explain why bicycle trips account for only around 1% of all travel in Australia, despite cycling being the country’s third-most-popular recreational activity. While the Australian government wants to double cycling participation, rates in Sydney remain lower than both the national and NSW averages.
Speed is not the only factor that drives cities into motion. Slow cycling as a response to inadequate infrastructure and poor policy tells us why seemingly very different cities – which have little in common geographically or economically – share the same cycling issues.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/92505/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">By paying attention to slow cyclists, we can begin to plan our cities in ways that recognise and enhance the environmental and economic benefits they deliver.
Malini Sur, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/slow-cycling-isnt-just-for-fun-its-essential-for-many-city-workers-92505" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Slow cycling isn't just for fun – it's essential for many city workers: Malini Sur

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GUEST OBSERVER
Many Australian companies are embracing funky new design features that maximise relaxation and homely chill zones in an effort to lure highly skilled professionals. While these features certainly hold appeal, most workers are looking for more than just neat design when they choose their ideal workplace.
Consulting firm Accenture recently made the news after installing a “Zen room” in its Melbourne offices to attract millennials to its workforce. Designed so that employees can take time out to relax, meditate or think through problems, the space is fitted out with hanging pod chairs, couches and a fireplace. Technology is banned.
And Accenture is not alone. Google has sleep pods and fish tank relaxation rooms with massage chairs in its Sydney office. Hammocks, indoor gardens, mini-golf, pool tables and even in-house bowling alleys are increasingly common fixtures.
Research shows that these types of spaces can accelerate recovery from cognitive fatigue as well as reducing stress. While not new, quiet spaces or relaxation rooms are intended to enhance well-being, increase engagement and improve performance.
Workplace engagement is a significant issue for employers, with levels of engagement continuing to fall. Studies have shown that only 28% of millennials are engaged at work.
At the same time, work-related stress continues to rise. Up to 49% of Australian employees are estimated to be stressed and distracted at work, costing employers more than A$10 billion per year.
Work stress is serious business
The consequences of work stress are of significant public interest because of their association with ill health, including cardiovascular disease and mental illness. Employers continue to experiment with workplace design, as it plays a powerful role in influencing stress. Alterations to design, materials and layout can have both positive and negative outcomes.
Open-plan offices have been a prevalent feature of workplaces for decades. Now more and more companies plan to implement hot-desking environments, where employees have no fixed desk. Research on open-plan environments has conclusively shown that employees struggle to perform effectively due to issues with noise, interruptions, distraction and loss of privacy. If you are interrupted, it can take up to 23 minutes to regain focus on the task.
One employee I spoke with during a workplace study commented that they had counted being interrupted 80 times in one morning. The interruptions had included an impromptu birthday morning tea in the workstations a few feet away, two colleagues having a stand-up argument, and another employee conducting a loud conference call on speakerphone in the open work area.
While it might seem like a folly, the design of relaxation or “zen rooms” has arisen in response to these and other challenges of modern workplace design and work. The photos of the relaxation spaces shown here have both an aesthetically pleasing and a domestic feel, designed to make employees feel relaxed and at home.
When work feels like home
Creating workplaces that don’t feel like offices is gaining popularity. Dropbox’s new Sydney’s office is intentionally designed to appear like an “Australian living room”. But is there any science behind the ideas, and is it likely to make any difference to recruits?
New research has shown that workplaces specifically designed to be aesthetically pleasing and beautiful led to increased levels of trust among new employees who perceived the employer to be more trustworthy as a result. Additionally, the higher levels of trust went on to predict coworker ratings of learning behaviour.
The use of natural materials such as wood and stone, rather than concrete and laminates, has been shown to increase creativity. Additionally, the same study showed that the use of cool colours and attractive details was helpful to creativity.
The benefits of the inclusion of indoor plants and/or views of greenery are supported by evidence showing that exposure to nature resulted in decreased heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone. Another study showed that workplace greenery improved perceptions of air quality, concentration, satisfaction and productivity.
Relaxation spaces, often closed off from the wider office and fitted with relaxing furniture and good acoustics, address the key complaint of modern workplaces – noise.
Both single-talker and multi-talker distractions in open-plan offices result in higher levels of distraction and lower cognitive performance, according to research, as well as increased levels of annoyance and mental workload.
A key advantage of relaxation spaces are that employees are able to control noise and distraction. The ability of employees to exercise personal control over elements of the environment appears to mediate some of the negative effects.
Lighting levels, access to attractive views such as art, feature installations such as fireplaces, and proximity to windows have been shown to have direct positive physical effects.
Cool office design just one factor among many
While these examples show that the workplace itself is important, there are broader drivers of interest to job-seekers and millennials in particular.
A recent study by Gallup highlighted that opportunities to learn and grow, quality of the individual manager and management overall, interest in the work, and opportunities for advancement were ranked in the top 5 by millennials, gen X and baby boomers.
Empirical research has supported these findings, showing that interesting and flexible work along with good relationships with supervisors and colleagues were rated most important for millennials.
Though millennials seek work-life balance, time flexibility is only one aspect of a flexible environment. Millennials also seek flexibility in terms of employment with different types of contracts, role flexibility and flexibility with location.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/87505/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Organisations seeking to increase loyalty need to ensure they are balancing attractive workplaces and flexibility with effective management and growth opportunities.
Libby Sander, Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Bond Business School.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-good-design-alone-wont-attract-millennials-to-your-company-87505" target="_blank">original article</a>.
View of the ‘living-room-like’ Sydney office of Dropbox. Supplied by: Dropbox.
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Why good design alone won't attract millennials to your company: Libby Sander 

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Lendlease has lodged a planning application with the Department of Planning &amp; Environment for an engineered timber office building at Barangaroo South, the second of its kind for the precinct. 
The application proposes a ‘sister building’ to International House Sydney.
The building, if the department approves it following public exhibition, will be Lendlease’s sixth engineered timber building in Australia, joining its neighbour International House Sydney, 25 King in Brisbane, Forte Apartments and Library at The Dock in Melbourne, and Jordan Springs Community Hub in Western Sydney.  
With engineering by Lendlease’s DesignMake business and architecture by Tzannes Associates, which also designed International House Sydney, the design offers a larger floorplan to suit the needs of modern businesses.
It will have ground level retail tenancies and six floors of office space constructed from cross laminated timber and glulam (glue laminated timber), a revolutionary building material which has a structural strength akin to concrete and steel. 
Rob Deck, managing director of Barangaroo South, said Australia’s first engineered timber office building, International House Sydney attracted a lot of interest from the property industry, business sector and general public. 
It was completed this year and has won several design awards. 
“This second such building will be the final opportunity in Barangaroo South for prospective commercial tenants seeking an exciting, sustainable and innovative workplace for their employees,” said Deck. 
The proposed building will be located on Hickson Road in front of Tower 1, International Towers Sydney, and is expected to be completed in late 2019.
The plan proposes total commercial floor space of nearly 10,000 sqm Net Lettable Area and a typical floorplate of nearly 1,700 sqm NLA. 
Lendlease is targeting a 6 Star Green Star Design and As Built rating and at least a 5 Star NABERS Energy Base Building rating. 
It will be serviced by end-of-trip bicycle facilities located in the basement. 
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Lendlease plans a second timber office building at Barangaroo South 

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/79497/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The phrase “coworking spaces” may conjure up images of tech-savvy millennials working for startups in converted warehouses. Add in the obligatory ping-pong tables, bean bags and beer on tap. 
But our report on the Australian coworking industry shows much more is going on in these spaces than this cliché. We found more than 300 coworking spaces are operating across Australia, up from only 60 spaces in 2013.
Rather than just catering to one type of worker, coworking spaces are used by people from different backgrounds, professions and ages. We also found the majority (53%) of Australia’s coworking spaces are in or around the CBD of our major cities. Sydney and Melbourne take the lion’s share overall, where our coworking industry first started out. 
Most coworking spaces target small-business workers, who tend to be in professional services and creative or knowledge-based work. They are also more likely to be living in our major cities. 
However, newer coworking spaces are emerging on city fringes (7%) and in our regional towns (15%). These spaces focus on supporting local employment opportunities and bringing businesses together for economic development. 
The form and function of these regional spaces are often inspired by city-based models. As an example, The Creative Fringe in Penrith, on the outskirts of Sydney, seeks to drive local innovation and collaboration.
Beyond the tech start-up hub
There’s a trend we found where coworking spaces are popping up in locations geared towards supporting lifestyle choices of professionals who want a “sea change”. 
The Gold and Sunshine Coasts in Queensland and the Central Coast in New South Wales have a surprisingly high number of coworking spaces. Other popular seaside locations include Byron Bay and the South Coast of NSW.
One example of this type of space is Cows Near the Coast. It’s on the main street in Bega, South Coast NSW, and actively encourages “sea-changers” to join their community. 
We also found certain recurring types of spaces. One type focuses specifically on high-end professionals wanting to work in style and impress their corporate clients, often located on the top floors of CBD high-rises. Gravity coworking spaces are a good example of this type.
In contrast to this corporate atmosphere, we found some coworking spaces are also the home of social enterprises. These spaces support typically younger people to combine business know-how with their passion for community impact, specialising in supporting their altruistic visions. 
These spaces have none of the gloss of many other coworking spaces. You’ll find recycled furniture and inspiring quotes emblazened on the walls in these spaces. The Common Room at Vibewire in Sydney epitomises this type.
For many smaller towns and regions, coworking spaces are where ﬁercely proud locals go to take action around the future of their community. BizBuddyHub in Point Cook, Victoria, is an example of this. This coworking community was set up with a campaign advocating for a space for locals who would otherwise have to commute into Melbourne. 
Who owns and runs coworking spaces?
Around 75% of coworking spaces in Australia are owned and run as private businesses. The majority of these (54%) are run as a separate business, for profit, under private ownership. 
Small-business owners are also enhancing their appeal to existing and future clients by starting up these coworking spaces. In our research, we found 21% of all Australian coworking spaces are run as ancillary to an operator’s regular small-business activities. 
Not-for-profit coworking spaces make up 8% of Australian spaces, usually established to pursue a social causes, such as reducing youth unemployment. Some of the most well-established coworking spaces in Australia are set up as non-profit organisations.
A small numbers of coworking spaces are state or local government funded (6%) with an aim to support economic development in that region.
Recently a number of corporate-owned coworking spaces (7%) have emerged, which are primarily set up to support their own customers, such as small business customers, who use these spaces to grow their business. Good examples of these include The Village at National Australia Bank, and Australia Post’s Small Business Hive at Geelong.
Commercial real estate operators are also exploring coworking as a way to facilitate a sense of community in multi-tenanted office towers, such as Dexus Place.
Coworking spaces operated by universities (4%) are the latest addition to the industry, supporting alternative career choices for students, and deeper engagement with industry. 
The future of coworking
Coworking spaces are now found in at least 89 countries, spanning six continents. Best guesses indicate that by the end of this year there will be over 14,000 spaces worldwide. 
Coworking spaces facilitate work in ways that other workplaces can learn from. They go beyond simple “hot-desking” and the open plan work settings which many of us have become familiar with. They are places where people are welcomed and hosted, with regular social and learning events that engage members and their guests. This creates a real sense of community and belonging. 
This is something that larger organisations are starting to look for inspiration. Recently, WeWork, the world’s largest coworking operator, has started designing workplaces on behalf of large corporations. Many Australian corporates are engaged in partnerships or sponsorship of coworking spaces, with some simply supporting their employees to work flexibly from them. 
The diversity of coworking spaces we found in this study means that these spaces can cater to a variety of workers, allowing them to collaborate with other interesting businesses and professionals from all walks of life. 
These coworking spaces offer examples of how work can be transformed to have a greater focus on community and belonging. The humanity we found in our coworking spaces offers us hope for the future of work which, under constant threat of disruption and automation, will no doubt continue to play an important role in our lives and in forming our work identities.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tim-mahlberg-272846" target="_blank">Tim Mahlberg</a> is PhD Researcher, University of Sydney and author for <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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Australian coworking spaces cater to a more diverse crowd than just young tech entrepreneurs

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

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/75200/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Recent reports estimate that by 2020 1.55 billion workers will be responsible for work that does not confine them to a desk. Already, up to 80 percent of employees work at least one day a week out of the office.
Co-working, where employees and the self-employed share workspace, ideas and knowledge, started in 2005 in San Francisco. Once the domain of techies working on start-ups, co-working spaces continue to evolve rapidly.
In 2017 it is estimated over one million people will work from co-working spaces. In 2016, a single co-working company recorded a valuation of US$16 billion dollars, highlighting the growth of an industry that didn’t exist just over a decade ago.
Users of co-working spaces often report feeling that they are part of a social movement. In co-working spaces, helping each other out, even those you have just met, is the norm. Indeed, the co-working movement prides itself on a set of core values, community, openness, collaboration, sustainability and accessibility.
This can be a refreshing change for many employees where the design of the workplace and the politics of their organisation means they are simply too tired, stressed or distracted to help their colleagues. Globally, organisations such as Merck, GE and the Guardian newspaper are regularly using co-working spaces for their employees. Research shows that users report increases in learning, new networks and the benefits of working close to the users of their services or products.
The promise of these anecdotal stories is now being supported in emerging research. In a study reported in Harvard Business Review, researchers from the University of Michigan found that users of co-working spaces experienced greater meaning from their work, and experienced thriving at work far more than their office based colleagues. Additionally, with many choosing to work from co-working spaces closer to home, commuting times and traffic congestion are reduced.
Some research however indicates that the inherently social nature of co-working spaces may lead to similar issues experienced by regular office users such as distraction and lack of privacy. Another study found that the co-working space itself was not enough to encourage connections and collaboration, and that a space host may be necessary to catalyse these relationships.
These changes to the way we work are bringing a focus on both the role of the stand alone workplace, and the design of cities. As co-working spaces evolve to meet the demand of workers for flexible, autonomous and creative work environments, broader changes are occurring in how we work and live.
Co-working spaces offer the potential to address other challenges facing our future cities as they provide accessible space for individuals to work, attend learning events and become part of a like minded community. This is important given predictions regarding changes to the urban landscape.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics predicts a 65 percent increase in the number of single person households in Australia. For Australia particularly, housing affordability continues to be a significant issue. As governments and cities grapple with ways to address these issues, new projects in the collaborative economy are showing promise in addressing a number of these issues.
In London, the world’s largest co-living community opened its doors to 550 residents. While residents have their own units with bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette, the project offers all inclusive rent with access to a restaurant, co-working spaces, wifi, gym, cinema, spa, larger kitchens and dining rooms. Aside from convenience and flexibility, early indications suggest that co-living residents are attracted to the sense of community.
While empirical research on co-living is yet to emerge, 96 percent of residents of co-housing communities report increased life satisfaction according to research.
As similar projects are underway globally, research suggests this trend will increase as solutions are offered for adults at all life stages.
Libby Sander is lecturer, Bond Business School, Bond University and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/libby-sander-143232" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Co-working is evolving to combine co-living

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With its new head office in Sydney's Rhodes Corporate Park, Frasers Property Australia wanted to make a statement about its innovation and excellence, says a new video which Frasers portrays as a case study of its general approach to development.
The office was awarded 6 Star Green Star business park facilities, from the Green Building Council of Australia and is a good example of the future of workspaces.
In the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI4b8-RrC5w" target="_blank">YouTube video</a>, Reini Otter, executive general manager at Frasers Property, says the vision was a workplace that reflected “not only the culture of our business, but also the aspirations of the business for the next decade”.
As Reini says in the video, “we are in a 15-year-old fit out, ad hoc design, lacking in many ways”.
The new building’s design revolves around a “central hub”, with meeting rooms dispersed around the office. Reini says “there’s no offices either”, so everybody is “open plan”. There are several standing workstations, a cafe area, and a lounge, which is mostly designed for informal meetings. Also, quiet spaces called “booth”, which offers more privacy for concentrated work.
Reini, who is an architect, says the building not only achieves a “technical outcome” of better IT infrastructure and office organisation, but it is also an “embodiment of the culture of the Frasers business”.
The office is designed to promote more collaboration among employees to encourage innovation, says Reini.
“So this project is a good case study in how we approach all our developments.”
The video says “it’s not just about providing a workspace that improves efficiencies, it’s about improving the health and wellbeing of people that work there”.
Frasers Property Australia was formerly Australand, which was acquired by Frasers Centrepoint Limited in late 2014. The parent group is listed in Singapore and focuses on Australia and China with total assets of more than S$23 billion.
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