Ralston - 22 Toorak Road, South Yarra

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Following on from <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/welcome-to-boom-town-melbournes-low-rise-high-density-projects-in-one-long-list">Friday's list of 2, 3 and 4 floor low-rise high-density projects</a>, today we're looking exclusively at projects which have either 5 or 6 floors.

There are 243 current projects in the list below and while the overwhelming majority of projects are residential, there are a few notable commercial projects such as the ABC's expansion of its offices and broadcast facilities on <a href="/new-apartments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a>, the <a href="/developments/burnley-vic-3121">East Edge Botannica</a> project in Richmond and <a href="/developments/hawthorn-vic-3122">8 Hall Street</a> in Hawthorn.

Factoring in purely residential projects, the list of projects below yields 10,781 dwellings from planning assessment to construction.

<h2>The low-rise high-density story</h2>

Combining the numbers across both lists - that is, buildings with 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 floors - there are just under 18,000 dwellings across 453 projects (2 more low-rise projects have been added since Friday's article). 46% of all projects on Urban.com.au <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments">Project Database</a> have 6 or less floors.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">Project Status</th>
			<th class="rtecenter" scope="col">Number of Projects</th>
			<th class="rtecenter" scope="col">Number of Dwellings</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Planning Assessment</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">99</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">4175</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Approved</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">97</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">3866</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Registration and Sales</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">141</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">5116</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Under Construction</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">116</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">4808</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">453</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">17,965</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Furthermore Urban.com.au has site area data on 214 of the 453 projects outlined in the table above; this subset has an average of 312 dwellings per hectare. Dwellings per hectare = 10,000 ÷ (Site Area m2 ÷ Dwellings).

Where Friday's list has projects which provide a good insight into what is possible in the residential growth zone throughout the Metropolitan area, today's list looks at the small step up into areas where suburban structure plans encourage higher-density development.

See <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/welcome-to-boom-town-melbournes-low-rise-high-density-projects-in-one-long-list">Friday's article</a> for the list of projects with 2, 3 or 4 floors.

And it's over to the Project Database once again. Here's the list of projects with either 5 or 6 floors.
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Alastair Taylor

Melbourne's low-rise high-density: all projects with 5 or 6 floors in one long list

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CBD-based <a href="http://sterlingglobal.com.au/">Sterling Global</a> is pushing ahead with its plans for an 'urban village' at 1221-1249 Centre Road, Oakleigh; the site of a former quarry and located directly opposite Huntingdale Golf Course. With an expected end value in excess of $600 million, the <a href="http://www.dko.com.au/">DKO Architecture</a> master planned development will accommodate approximately 2,500 residents as it is developed over the next 5-8 years.

Adhering to Sterling Global's criteria when assessing site acquisition opportunities, the site is well serviced by surrounding amenity, transport links, retail, education and parkland aspects.

<blockquote>
Huntingdale is a flagship development, one of the biggest residential infills in the inner south eastern suburbs, and definitely one of the most significant developments in the City of Monash.
<cite>Brandon Yeoh, Development Director, Sterling Global</cite>
</blockquote>

The masterplan features a mix of townhouses, SOHO living, apartments and the potential for serviced apartments/student accommodation to take advantage of the site's strong connections and proximity to both campuses of Monash University. Currently the plans allow for a 2-storey buffer of townhouses to existing surrounding dwellings.

Apartment buildings will be limited to the eight 'superlots', three of which are sited along Huntingdale Road and are intended to accommodate buildings up to 6-storeys with views over the adjoining golf course. The remaining superlots will feature buildings of 4 to 6-storeys with all apartments taking advantage of views to existing parks.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/huntingdale_aerial.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Site and Amenity aerial. © Sterling Global"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="407" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/huntingdale_aerial.jpg?itok=mMlkIrDa" title="Site and Amenity aerial. © Sterling Global" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Site and Amenity aerial. © Sterling Global</figcaption></figure>The project team consulted heavily with the Metropolitan Planning Authority, City of Monash and the EPA to establish the best outcome for the site, even being encouraged to go denser as the site sits within the Monash Employment Cluster that is well serviced by public transport infrastructure.

It was DKO's previous work on masterplanning projects such as Banbury Village in Footscray and Kew Cottages that led to their engagement on Huntingdale, according to Brandon Yeoh.

<blockquote>
The Huntingdale masterplan provides a series of villages that relate to the landscape and adjacent green spaces. In providing separate villages, a greater sense of dwelling diversity is achieved that in part facilitates a true community.

Communal facilities are strategically provided an become the heart of the new neighbourhoods.

The architecture has been carefully crafted to maximise orientation and outlook, we have designed bespoke, sustainable homes, which take care of the environment, but also enhances the quality of life for future residents.
<cite>Koos de Keijzer, Principal, DKO Architecture</cite>
</blockquote>

Drawing inspiration from the native parklands which flank it, the development will incorporate walkways, cycling tracks, playgrounds and communal facilities such as club houses, barbeque areas and activity pavilions. Additionally, landscaping by REALM has been designed to include wetlands and native gardens while street frontages are set to be activated with cafes and the like with the expectation that the greater community will be drawn into the area and not just residents.

A critical aspect of the master plan is that it is not seen as a gated community rather a part of the greater community at large.

The site currently harvests ground and grey water for irrigation throughout the Huntingdale parklands in an environmental initiative between Sterling Global and Huntingdale Golf Course. Further ESD initiatives being investigated include grey, black and stormwater harvesting for the development, in addition to the potential for solar panels being provided as standard for all dwellings.

Sterling Global intends to begin a formal registration process in October-November with the display suite to launch on site in April 2016. The project will be marketed towards the local Oakleigh community with a target mix of investors, young couples, students, downsizers and retirees in mind. Prices are expected to start at around $550,000 through to $1 million.

<blockquote>
I believe that there is significant demand for quality and well priced homes in the local market. We are aiming to deliver Huntingdale to local and surrounding residents who have grown up in the area and are now thinking of downsizing or establishing young families.
<cite>Brandon Yeoh, Development Director, Sterling Global</cite>
</blockquote>

The development follows hot off the heels of the success of Sterling Global's <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/ralston-22-toorak-road-south-yarra">The Ralston</a> in South Yarra which sold out and commenced construction just six months after settlement. The $65 million project consists of 53 luxury apartments and three townhouses and is due for completion late next year.

Keep an eye out for Urban.com.au's more in depth interview about the Huntingdale project with DKO Architecture's Koos de Keijzer in the coming weeks.
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Laurence Dragomir

Sterling Global's grand plans for Huntingdale

South Yarra is experiencing an apartment construction boom at the moment with no less than thirteen major apartment developments sprouting skyward. Comfortably surpassing the established might of Southbank, South Yarra is second only to Melbourne&#39;s CBD in terms of the number of major projects under construction.

Combined, these thirteen projects are according to the Urban.com.au Project Database delivering 1,784 new dwellings to South Yarra, with an assumption that this would equate to approximately 3,500 additional postcode 3141 residents.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_5330.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The epicentre that is Forrest Hill"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_5330.jpg?itok=Hi6lYAVY" title="The epicentre that is Forrest Hill" width="580" /></a>

<figcaption>The epicentre that is Forrest Hill, as seen from Claremont Street</figcaption>
</figure>

At the core of South Yarra&#39;s apartment success is Forrest Hill; the once low-rise industrial and commercial pocket was earmarked as an urban renewal precinct during 2005. While a steady trickle of projects have seen tower cranes populating the precinct ever since, it&#39;s only a decade later in the early stages of 2015 where Forrest Hill&#39;s full might is on display.

Seven of the current crop are located within Forrest Hill precinct, including <a href="/buildings/lucia-chiara-4-daly-street-south-yarra">Lucia/Chiara</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/central-south-yarra-3-yarra-street-south-yarra">Central South Yarra</a> who between them account for 782 of the overall 1,784 apartments under construction. The image above capturing Forrest Hill&#39;s Claremont Street holds <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/prime-tower-47-claremont-street-south-yarra">Prime Tower</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/claremont-manor-7-claremont-street-south-yarra">Claremont Manor</a>, <a href="/buildings/district-apartment-hotels-10-claremont-street-south-yarra">Alto</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/ella-2-claremont-street-south-yarra">Ella</a>; all at varying stages of construction and cumulatively contributing a further 668 apartments.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_5344.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Central South Yarra rising above it all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_5344.jpg?itok=2nrVnope" title="Central South Yarra rising above it all" width="580" /></a>

<figcaption>Central South Yarra rising above it all</figcaption>
</figure>

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/yarra-house-18-yarra-street-south-yarra">Yarra House</a> also finds itself in Forrest Hill precinct, with the remaining projects under construction spread throughout the suburb. Projects west of Chapel Street include <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/six-murphy-6-murphy-street-south-yarra">6 Murphy Street</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/eight-murphy-8-murphy-street-south-yarra">8 Murphy Street</a>, The Hill Apartments and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/her-majestys-apartments-52-davis-avenue-south-yarra">Her Majesty&#39;s Apartments</a>. <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/gisele-300-toorak-road-south-yarra">Gisele</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/pure-apartments-42-wilson-street-south-yarra">Pure Apartments</a> find themselves to the east of Chapel Street with the latter located in the emerging Garden/Wilson Street area.

While the current level of construction is robust in South Yarra, the next wave of projects heading toward construction in the near to medium term is impressive in itself. Of those apartment projects at registrations or sales, the list is headlined by LK Property&#39;s <a href="/buildings/capitol-grand-241-toorak-road-south-yarra">Capitol Grand</a> which at 193 metres in height would be South Yarra&#39;s signature built form.

Others included at registrations or sales are <a href="/buildings/wil-co-34-wilson-street-south-yarra">Wil&amp;Co</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/ralston-22-toorak-road-south-yarra">Ralston</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/essence-35-wilson-street-south-yarra">Essence</a> and The Elfin. Also watch out for <a href="/buildings/661-chapel-street-661-chapel-street-south-yarra">661 Chapel Street</a> progressing in the not too distant future.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image19_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Capitol Grand, 661 Chapel, Wil&amp;Co. Images courtesy Bates Smart, BDLC, McLaren"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="283" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image19_0.jpg?itok=NfMaG6ly" title="Capitol Grand, 661 Chapel, Wil&amp;Co. Images courtesy Bates Smart, BDLC, McLaren" width="580" /></a>

<figcaption>Capitol Grand, 661 Chapel, Wil&amp;Co. Images courtesy Bates Smart, BDLC, McLaren</figcaption>
</figure>

With many projects still to be added, the current overall list of 28 apartment projects within South Yarra can be found on the Urban.com.au <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments">Project Database</a>.

silvermb

South Yarra in full b(l)oom

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Think of Melbourne's surge in residential towers over the preceding 18 months and one firm immediately springs to mind. Elenberg Fraser have nabbed the lion's share of large-scale apartment designs in and around the CBD of late and have become synonymous with tall towers.

In a refreshing move the integrated design and architecture practice has delivered a bespoke project on behalf of developer Sterling Global located on Toorak Road, South Yarra which highlights the subtle design nuances employed by the firm in respecting the heritage and parkland settings which define the site. Far from the 1000-apartment projects Elenberg Fraser are currently overseeing, Ralston South Yarra speaks a different architectural language to many of their other ongoing projects.

Urban.com.au recently spoke with Elenberg Fraser's Project Leader and Senior Architectural Technician Nick Bruford as to why Ralston holds its own.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/ralston_ext.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ralston's subdued exterior"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="362" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ralston_ext.jpg?itok=KECvtA-c" title="Ralston's subdued exterior" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ralston's subdued exterior</figcaption></figure>The obvious distinction between Elenberg Fraser's CBD projects and Ralston is location and scale. While the CBD towers are each set to house many hundreds of people upon completion, Ralston is a six level development fronting Toorak Road in the heart of an established low-rise precinct.

With a new developer and architect superseding previously endorsed plans for the site, both parties set out to deliver a project sympathetic to its surrounds while also representative of prospective buyers wishes. Typical undulating glazed facades have been replaced by stone and plaster wash finish panels in order to provide a level of rhythm and context. The facade is most prominent at street level, providing a level of privacy to ground level dwellings, and slowly opens up over upper levels allowing for panoramic CBD views.

In addition to providing scale the vertical panels also compliment the retained historic streetscape fronting Toorak Road. Melding original structures with new forms is a method that has been shied away from in recent Elenberg Fraser CBD designs; perhaps more a reflection of developers wishes than anything else. Regardless the revised plans for Ralston were received warmly by City of Stonnington.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/ralston_pent.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A penthouse resplendid with fireplace and expansive views"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="310" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ralston_pent.jpg?itok=8kTL8Ciu" title="A penthouse resplendid with fireplace and expansive views" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A penthouse resplendent with fireplace and expansive views</figcaption></figure>Nick Bruford explains the project has been a chance to explore different design qualities and opportunities, giving rise to an increased amount of detail throughout the development. Rather than statement exteriors and ample communal facilities typical of much taller projects in the CBD which are designed to attract volume buyers, Ralston delivers a understated yet refined development aimed toward the owner-occupier in what has traditionally been a sought after location.

Internally too Ralston features a variety of living options ranging from tri-level townhouses fronting Caroline Park through to two and three bedroom apartments ranging in size from 110sqm to 160sqm with large balconies in tow. Two penthouses crown the development and occupy the top two levels.

According to Nick hundreds of interior finish combinations were considered before the design team settled upon the chosen configurations which are evidenced within the complete display suite onsite. Chevroned wood floors and bathroom wall tiles are a standout and are ably supported by brass fittings, Combi ovens, composite marble splash backs and stone bench-tops in the kitchen. Sculptural lighting by Melbourne-based industrial designer Christopher Boots also point toward the heightened level of consideration given toward internal finishes.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image1ralston.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Display suite finishes"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="270" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image1ralston.jpg?itok=ZqY9Kb__" title="Display suite finishes" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Display suite finishes</figcaption></figure>This 'departure from the norm' for Elenberg Fraser has produced results with 65% of apartments within the development sold after three weeks. Construction is set to commence on the Ralston in the new year and Urban.com.au hopes to tour the completed complex in due course.
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Ralston

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Development information for Ralston

Meet the team behind Ralston

Location of Ralston

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Melbourne's low-rise high-density: all projects with 5 or 6 floors in one long list

Sterling Global's grand plans for Huntingdale

South Yarra in full b(l)oom

Ralston South Yarra brings out Elenberg Fraser's subtle side

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