695-699 La Trobe Street, Docklands VIC 3008

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Salta's 695-699 LaTrobe Street development is a step closer to being realised following the City of Melbourne providing conditional support for the project via its Future Committee meeting last night. The 29-storey development would rise to an overall height of 94.5m and provide an entry and gateway statement into the precinct.

Located on the corner of LaTrobe Street and Harbour Esplanade, the Fender Katsalidis-designed tower would add 197 hotel rooms under the Hotel Indigo brand in addition to 26 serviced apartments and 276 apartments on one of the last undeveloped plots of land around Marvel Stadium

When it first unveiled the latest design for the site two years ago, Salta announced that it would develop the tower under the 'build-to-rent' model, which would have been a first in Victoria.

Grocon's <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/bates-smarts-julian-anderson-discusses-build-to-rent">Home Southbank</a> will instead claim that title with the site already cleared in preparation for construction of a 60-storey tower, designed by Bates Smart.

<blockquote>
“Once developed, instead of selling the residential aspects of the building we will retain the 260 apartments and offer them as long-term multi-family leases – a tried and proven concept in overseas markets that will be new for Victorians. Prices in the Melbourne rental market are also increasing at alarming rates, so we are exploring a concept to respond to this situation and provide Victorians with a different housing option."

- Sam Tarascio, Salta Properties Managing Director (May 2017)
</blockquote>

City of Melbourne's Urban Design team cited the lack of a typical podium articulation and the loss of three expressed volumes along the waterfront elevation as its key concerns, features the earlier endorsed scheme displayed.

In response Fender Katsalidis have introduced vertical 'breaks' between the fluid, wave forms in addition to vertical timber fins to the lower levels to provide some articulation of a 'base' and gradation detail to the public realm. 

<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/699-latrobe_before_after.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="695 LaTrobe Street Before and After. Images: FKA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="195" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/699-latrobe_before_after.jpg?itok=3ElzNV3_" title="695 LaTrobe Street Before and After. Images: FKA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>695 LaTrobe Street Before and After. Images: FKA</figcaption></figure>City of Melbourne's endorsement of 695 LaTrobe Street represents the next wave of Docklands projects and comes hot off the heels of Council also providing conditional support for the next two stages of Lendlease's Collins Wharf development at Victoria Harbour.

The dual tower development of 27 &amp; 28-storeys respectively, will inject 659 dwellings into the precinct and will extend the Docklands skyline ever closer to the Bolte Bridge. The City of Melbourne planners had asked architects Warren and Mahoney to revisit the facade strategy for CW3 to better distinguish the two towers, reflected in the planning elevation below;

<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/collins_wharf_23_elevation.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="No.2 &amp; No.3 Collins Wharf elevation. Planning Image: Warren and Mahoney"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="353" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/collins_wharf_23_elevation.jpg?itok=DnTkpu3S" title="No.2 &amp; No.3 Collins Wharf elevation. Planning Image: Warren and Mahoney" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>No.2 &amp; No.3 Collins Wharf elevation. Planning Image: Warren and Mahoney</figcaption></figure>The final say on both developments rests with Planning Minister Richard Wynne's department.
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Laurence Dragomir

City of Melbourne provides conditional support for Salta's Docklands project

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A range of milestones have been achieved in <a href="/developments/docklands-vic-3008">Docklands</a> in 2018, with over one million square metres of commercial floor space and 10,000 apartments delivered or under construction, signalling how far the precinct has come. <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/development-victoria-appoints-geoff-ward-to-lead-its-precincts-team">Development Victoria’s Group Head Precincts, Mr Geoff Ward</a>, said the level of investment in Docklands by both the private and public sector was a vote of confidence in the precinct.

<blockquote>
“We are seeing a real maturity in Docklands, with around 11,000 residents calling it home and around 58,000 people now working here. The number of blue-chip companies who have their offices in Docklands continues to grow, including Lendlease, ANZ Bank, Myer, NAB, KPMG and Medibank. Construction continues on both commercial and residential towers which sustains between 2,500 and 3,000 jobs for Victorians which is remarkable.”

- Geoff Ward, Development Victoria’s Group Head (Precincts)
</blockquote>

Development Victoria has worked with its stakeholders across the precinct in 2018 to facilitate the below achievements:

<h2>Completed construction</h2>

<ul>
<li>
Yarra’s Edge - Wharf’s Entrance Stage 2 Terraces: 18 town houses completed (April 2018.)</li>
	<li>
Waterfront City – Urban Alley Brewery: A 690-capacity brewery within The District Docklands (September 2018).</li>
	<li>
Waterfront City – Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq: An entertainment complex featuring arcade games, theme-park activities and bowling within The District Docklands complex (September 2018).</li>
	<li>
Melbourne Quarter – <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/one-melbourne-quarter-695-collins-street-docklands">One Melbourne Quarter</a>: Completion of a 12-storey, 25,000m² commercial building in Collins Street, including a Sky Park (October 2018).</li>
	<li>
NewQuay – <a href="/buildings/elm-stone-387-docklands-drive-docklands">Elm and Stone</a>: Upcoming completion of two towers, one with 34 lots and 108 apartments and the other 128 serviced apartments managed by Quest Apartments (December 2018).</li>
	<li>
Waterfront City – Hoyts Cinema: Upcoming completion of an eight-screen Hoyts Cinema complex (December 2018).</li>
	<li>
Collins Square – Tower 5: Upcoming completion of a 65,000m² commercial tower, the final stage of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/walker-corporation">Walker Corporation’s</a> $2.5 billion Collins Square development (to be completed in December 2018).</li>
	<li>
Victoria Harbour - <a href="/buildings/no-1-collins-wharf-915-collins-street-docklands">No. 1 Collins Wharf</a>: Upcoming completion of <a href="/developers/lendlease-development">Lendlease’s</a> residential tower with 321 apartments (to be completed in December 2018).</li>
</ul>
<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/dv010_low_res.png" rel="gallery-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/dv010_low_res.png?itok=IEo9qiPZ" width="580"></a></figure><h2>Under construction</h2>

<ul>
<li>
<a href="/buildings/east-tower-melbourne-quarter-628-flinders-street-docklands">Melbourne Quarter – Stage R1</a>: The first residential tower within the precinct will feature 45 storeys and 719 apartments (stage release in February 2018).</li>
	<li>
Melbourne Quarter – <a href="/developments/docklands-vic-3008">Stage C3</a>: A 49,000m² commercial tower which will also deliver 500m² of community space (stage release in March 2018).</li>
	<li>
Waterfront City – The Market: A new fresh food offering at The District Docklands which will include a full-line Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s, an Asian grocer, Priceline Pharmacy and a range of specialty retailers (commenced construction in May 2018).</li>
	<li>
Yarra’s Edge - Wharf’s Entrance Stage 3 Terraces: Early works for 18 townhouses (commenced in July 2018).</li>
	<li>
Victoria Harbour - <a href="/developments/docklands-vic-3008">Stage Y3</a>: Construction of 38,000m² commercial tower under construction (practical Completion is expected March 2019).</li>
</ul>
<h2>Community infrastructure and activity</h2>

<ul>
<li>
Collins Square – undercroft: Works completed on the undercroft area in Village Street with new tenants meeting the socio- economic criteria of accommodating charitable organisations (January 2018). Under croft lighting project completed as a collaborative place-making project between Development Victoria and Walker Corporation (August 2018).</li>
	<li>
Docklands Representative Group: Formation of a new-look community representative group (July 2018) with the assistance of Development Victoria and the City of Melbourne.</li>
	<li>
Docklands School: Settlement of the land allocated for the new Docklands School (August 2018).</li>
	<li>
Port Phillip Ferry: $6 million in Victorian Government funding for a three-year trial of a commuter ferry service between Geelong and Docklands (August 2018).</li>
	<li>
NewQuay: Launch of the first stage of NewQuay Central Park, which will eventually become a 4,000m² linear park extending to Ron Barassi Senior Sports Reserve and the end of NewQuay (November 2018).</li>
</ul>
<h2>Other announcements</h2>

<ul>
<li>
Channel 7 building: Development Victoria acquires the Channel 7 building as part of the overall redevelopment plans for The Docklands Stadium precinct (May 2018).</li>
	<li>
Stadium upgrade: Major upgrade announced of Marvel Stadium and surrounding stadium precincts (May 2018).</li>
</ul>
By 2025, Docklands is forecast to welcome approximately 20,000 residents and 70,000 workers, with $17.5 billion of private investment into the precinct.
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Development Victoria

Milestone year in Docklands

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The Victorian Government has come out in support of the Build-to-Rent (BTR) model in an effort to improve access, choice and quality for tenants while also providing greater rental tenancy lengths. The Build-to-Rent model involves building properties to rent instead of selling them to individual buyers with the aim of can providing high quality and well maintained rental stock to renters.

The BTR announcement follows hot on the heels of the Government’s recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act which seeks to ensure renting becomes "fairer for Victorians". The model has been established for quite some time overseas but is very much an emerging sector in Australia.

The development industry has identified some barriers to the delivery of BTR. In response the Government will facilitate planning assessment, establish an industry working group, financially support BTR in community housing, clarify taxation arrangements, and lobby the federal government to make it easier to realise BTR in Australia.

Mlbourne-based developer Grocon recently obtained approval for Victoria's first BTR development - a 60-storey apartment building at 260 City Rd, Southbank designed by Bates Smart. This revised scheme replaces a previous approval for a 62-storey residential development first designed by Hayball for Apex Vic, before being sold to Altus Developments who engaged Moull Murray architects to revised conceive a revised scheme known as Monarch Tower. 

<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/grocon_city_rd.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Grocon has received approval for a 60-storey purpose built tower. Image: Grocon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="728" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/grocon_city_rd.png?itok=tpHeggUe" title="Grocon has received approval for a 60-storey purpose built tower. Image: Grocon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Grocon has received approval for a 60-storey purpose built tower. Image: Grocon</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
Grocon is pleased to announce it has secured planning approval for Australia’s first purpose designed and developed Build to Rent in Southbank Melbourne which will include 400 apartments over 60 levels.  Grocon is proud to have collaborated with Bates Smart, the Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning (DEWLP) and City of Melbourne for this exciting project.

- Grocon
</blockquote>

With the support of the Victorian Government, Salta might finally progress plans for its development site at 695-699 LaTrobe Street on the Docklands waterfront. Having already secured InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) to operate a five-star Indigo-branded hotel of 170 rooms, the balance of the development will comprise 260 BTR apartments.

To be known as Hotel Indigo Melbourne Docklands the curved tower has been designed by Fender Katsalidis to reflect its harbourside location, with completion forecast for 2020.

According to the Victorian Government, a host of other development applications will be assessed via a fast tracked approval process. 

<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/695-latrobe-indigo.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Salta's Docklands project will include 260 BTR apartments. Images: Fender Katsalidis"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="246" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/695-latrobe-indigo.jpg?itok=FO1mL8LE" title="Salta's Docklands project will include 260 BTR apartments. Images: Fender Katsalidis" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Salta's Docklands project will include 260 BTR apartments. Images: Fender Katsalidis</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
Encouraging BTR will increase the supply of new, large-scale housing for longer-term renting. It can grow our stock of affordable and social housing, expanding housing choices for Victorians.” “Victoria is leading the way in supporting Build-to-Rent. We’ll keep listening for new ideas through our new industry working group.

- Tim Pallas, Treasurer
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
New ideas often take a while to navigate the planning system. These actions will ensure that BTR can prosper and increase the stock of rental housing to meet the current record demand.

- Richard Wynne, Minister for Planning
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
The Victorian Government’s support for build to rent is best in class and a welcome first step in creating a sector that will deliver high quality rental accommodation and provide greater security of tenure for Victorians. We congratulate the Government on its willingness to work with industry to address these challenges.

- Cressida Wall, Executive Director, Property Council Victorian of Australia
</blockquote>

 
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Victorian Government paves the way for Build to Rent

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The former site of John Batman's home, Batman's Hill is entering the final stages of its redevelopment.

Collins Square's final tower has begun its skyward ascent, as has Lendlease's Melbourne Quarter Commercial and Residential precinct already. Melbourne Quarter's first stage is at construction and involves a new 12-storey home for consultancy firm Arup along with a skypark.

A further two commercial towers, three residential buildings and additional significant open space forms have yet to be acted upon at Melbourne Quarter.

<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/20170721_143249.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Quarter and Collins Square."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="294" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20170721_143249.jpg?itok=LEdFMTFE" title="Melbourne Quarter and Collins Square." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Quarter and Collins Square.</figcaption></figure>The podium areas within Collins Square are all but complete with the food hall's expansion including a new venue called Hightail, with capacity for 1,000 people.

ETFE canopies allow light into the interior spaces while also providing weather protection which is becoming more and more common at Docklands. The former Harbour Town (soon to be known as The District Docklands) also received ETFE canopies to aid with weather protection, without necessarily feeling like a fully enclosed space.

<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/20170721_143848.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Collins Square's food hall and retail podium."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="430" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20170721_143848.jpg?itok=R-iavaG1" title="Collins Square's food hall and retail podium." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Collins Square's food hall and retail podium.</figcaption></figure>Diagonally opposite Collins Sqaure, new soft and hardscaping works are being undertaken by Development Victoria to improve the quality of the open space on the triangular park bound by Waterview Walk.

Collins Street and Harbour Esplanade will receive seating plus formal and informal areas for various recreational uses to supplement the multipurpose sports court.

<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/20170721_125640.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Public open space improvements are underway"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="374" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20170721_125640.jpg?itok=kj7PSGy0" title="Public open space improvements are underway" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Public open space improvements are underway</figcaption></figure>Development VIctoria has also completed a transformation of Village Street from a two lane road to a one-way shared space. The project allows the street to be used for festivals, live performances and other community events, maximising its location opposite Etihad Stadium.

<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/village_street.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Village Street upgrade. Image: Development Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="505" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/village_street.png?itok=fXBykqmI" title="Village Street upgrade. Image: Development Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Village Street upgrade. Image: Development Victoria</figcaption></figure>Looking to Etihad Stadium, its entire concourse is a barren, shaded transient area when the stadium isn't in event mode.

With the AFL's purchase of Etihad Stadium earlier this year, they have begun lobbying the Government to contribute funding towards the $300+m revitalisation of the almost 20 year old venue.

The AFL engaged COX Architects to develop a scheme which would see better use of the concourse area, and the improvement of the stadium's interface to Harbour Esplanade which may include an 11-storey hotel on the site of the current AFL Headquarters. 

<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/20170721_142200.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The stadium concourse."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="190" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20170721_142200.jpg?itok=2xkBFJHn" title="The stadium concourse." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The stadium concourse.</figcaption></figure>The stadium and Collins Square/Melbourne Quarter zones are both linked via a semi public but privately owned thoroughfare which winds through both 699 Bourke &amp; 664 Collins Street, providing a north-south connection which also offers great close up views of Southern Cross Station's undulating roof forms.

<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/20170721_142825.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Southern Cross Station up close."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="261" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20170721_142825.jpg?itok=Yf9yI9X4" title="Southern Cross Station up close." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southern Cross Station up close.</figcaption></figure>This piece concludes the four-part Docklands visual series. See below further photos of the Batman's Hill and Stadium precincts, demonstrating how the once desolate area has been transformed into an extension of Melbourne's CBD over the course of 15 years.
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Docklands Places and Spaces, part four: Batmans Hill and Stadium

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Salta Properties' latest project is poised to clear a major planning hurdle at City of Melbourne's Future Planning Committee sitting this evening.

Council planners have recommended approval for Salta's mixed-use tower at 57-63 Exhibition Street. Replacing ASF House, the currently 203m tower with an expected development cost of $255 million may be required to ditch a number of floors in order to prevent overshadowing of Birrarung Marr.

City of Melbourne planners have requested it be reduced to 183 metres. A mix of hotel and residential, 57-63 Exhibition Street's fate is ultimately with the Planning Minister.

Should the final green light be given, Salta will be in a strong position to woo a hotel operator for the project's 185 suites which range between 34sqm and 82sqm. The immediate area surrounding the Exhibition Street proposal is already a magnet for premium hotel brands; Stamford Plaza, Sheraton Melbourne, Sofitel, Grand Hyatt and a pending NEXT outlet are present.

<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/image16ex.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Exhibition Street perspective. Planning image: Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="465" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image16ex.jpg?itok=Xr7PMg0c" title="Exhibition Street perspective. Planning image: Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Exhibition Street perspective. Planning image: Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>57-63 Exhibition Street's ground plane treatment has seen a laneway inserted, connecting Strachan Lane and Chester Lane. Incidentally Strachan Lane was subject to a <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/chequerboard-art-in-melbournes-strachan-lane-washed-away/news-story/8807c8fc73d039ab1ef4049b3ddc4013">creative urban art installation</a> earlier this year which riled Council.

Report documents talk of the the "considered placement of openings and fine detailing in the (proposal's) podium facade and the ramp’s internal elevations, this alluring detail and materiality becomes the focus of Chester Lane when experienced from Flinders Lane, enticing passers by to explore further." The design also allows for adjacent properties to be redeveloped in an equitable manner.

City of Melbourne planners have called for further design changes in addition to the slight height decrease. Fenestration to the southern boundary wall above a height of 80 metres has been sought, along with further detail regarding the proposal's ground floor plane.

<blockquote>
Broadly, the proposed development exhibits a high quality design, providing a podium that will successfully integrate with the height and detailing of adjacent graded historic buildings in addition to providing a high degree of activation and site permeability. The tower component achieves adequate separation and setbacks, and the design exhibits excellent internal amenity.

Subject to the recommended conditions, it is considered that the subject site can support a building of this scale, and the proposal will make a positive contribution to Exhibition Street and Melbourne’s City
<cite>Report to the Future Melbourne (Planning) Committee</cite>
</blockquote>

<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/image21_13.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Faceted to the floor. Planning image: Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="507" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image21_13.jpg?itok=UD8RcfTo" title="Faceted to the floor. Planning image: Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Faceted to the floor. Planning image: Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>For Salta, the nod from Council tonight is a major step toward securing approval for the site which was entered into a joint venture with Malaysia’s Asia One. Although Asia One held the site outright initially, scant little has been heard from the developer since the joint venture was announced; perhaps a coincidence but Salta Properties Pty Ltd is the sole entity listed within the report to Council.

Regardless, 57-63 Exhibition Street adds to Salta's pending apartment development pipeline.

Their Park House project at 627 Victoria Street, Abbotsford has seen Icon Co installed as preferred builder, with a start to the 500 plus apartment build imminent. Also on the radar is 695-699 La Trobe Street, a 28 level tower containing rental apartments and hotel suites.

Upon approval, 57-63 Exhibition Street would join 249-261 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill and additional apartment projects within the Salta's Victoria Gardens precinct as future projects.
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silvermb

CoM moves to provide clearance for 63 Exhibition's lofty ambitions

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After 25 years Melbourne-based practice Fender Katsalidis Architects (FK), best known for designing some of the most recognised buildings in the city have launched their first ever book; Working Architecture. The publication traces the evolution of the practice and its work while providing an opportunity to reflect on its history and the significant projects completed to date.

<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/fk_book.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Fender Katsalidis: Working Architecture. Image: Uro Publications"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fk_book.png?itok=h-2k-vLN" title="Fender Katsalidis: Working Architecture. Image: Uro Publications" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Fender Katsalidis: Working Architecture. Image: Uro Publications</figcaption></figure>31 projects have been selected from the FK portfolio, as exemplars which also reflect founding directors Karl Fender and Nonda Katsalidis’ attitude towards design excellence and innovation across as range of sectors from the arts, commerce, bespoke houses and through to apartment design, where the practice has had a significant influence on Australia’s built environments.

FK has helped shape and enhance the quality of Melbourne’s architecture through its many residential buildings from the early years of the practice through to the present day. These include FK’s early works such as the Melbourne Terrace Apartments and Republic Tower, and more recently Eureka Tower and Australia 108, all of which continue to attract residents and generate commercial interest and investment in the central city.

The Republic Tower on the corner of Queen and LaTrobe Streets is seen as a pioneer in high-rise residential living within Melbourne. Completed in 1999 its off-form concrete, stainless steel and glazed form anchors the street corner from atop a 5-storey timber lattice podium which plays host to an ever changing body of artwork - one of the first buildings in the city to do so.

<blockquote>
... Republic has excited the debate about city living. On one hand it is a place for individuals and groups to live and work, but it is also an exercise in urbanity and urban design especially. 
The building reinforces a tall, central city plan: the inner grid of Melbourne is like an island, like a Manhattan. In that context, these high-rise towers montage as the city design: together, not separately, they are the aesthetic of the city.What distinguishes Republic Tower from most of its neighbours is the confident expression of structure and building that is evident in the design, along with the unremitting act of providing good living spaces. 
NFK’s work is distinguished by its expressed buildability: it’s almost an ‘architecture for architects’ culture, where the structure of beams, columns, steel and concrete – and the materiality of tiles, glass and textures – are composed without further complexity.

- Norman Day, Architecture Australia – January 2000 (Vol 89 No 1)
</blockquote>

<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/fkmed_9445_3923.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Republic Tower. Images: John Gollings"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="529" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fkmed_9445_3923.jpg?itok=nq33PlP5" title="Republic Tower. Images: John Gollings" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Republic Tower. Images: John Gollings</figcaption></figure>A few hundred metres down the street near the market, another FK project marks the corner and defines the streetscape; Melbourne Terrace. Accommodating 60 apartments over seven floors the building is distinguished by its robust, masculine exterior once again employing Katsalidis' signature off form concrete, steel and glazing to produce what is still considered one of the best examples of medium-density, city living in Melbourne if not Australia.   

<blockquote>
One of the first new apartment blocks to be constructed in central Melbourne in the early 1990s, it promoted the benefits of medium/high density city living, sparked a regeneration of its immediate locale adjacent to the Queen Victoria Market and provided a successful residential model for the city’s redevelopment policies. Katsalidis’s design invokes exuberant decorative and formal effects to enrich the urban facade, using copper-etched vertical slabs, weathered copper cladding, mannered window surrounds, glass blocks, brutalist and expressive concrete forms often with serrated edges, and a highly articulated roof line. Internally the large building bulk is divided into four discrete sections and each given a unique name, Equus, Mondo, Roma and Fortuna. This has the benefit of creating a more intimate experience for its inhabitants and also reduces the scale of the building’s management and overheads. Peter Corlett’s bold sculptures announce each of the building’s entrances and highlight its baroque and playful qualities

- Australian Institute of Architects
</blockquote>

<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/fkmed_9228_3283.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Terrace. Image: John Gollings"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fkmed_9228_3283.jpg?itok=O84V9iWb" title="Melbourne Terrace. Image: John Gollings" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Terrace. Image: John Gollings</figcaption></figure>The tallest of FK's projects in Melbourne (to date) commands the Melbourne skyline, rising 297m or 91-storeys above Southbank and is embodied with visual references to its namesake, the Eureka Stockade. Upon completion in 2006, Eureka claimed the title of tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere - a point of contention for our friends up on the Gold Coast - in addition to becoming Melbourne's tallest building and relegating the Rialto to second spot in the process.

<blockquote>
Eureka Tower is a symbol of the transcendence of high density living over what has traditionally been the low suburban density mindset of Melbourne. In this respect, Eureka is an unlikely and remarkable example of Melbourne`s acceptance of high density sustainable living. Public/Cultural Benefits Eureka provides an internationally regarded symbol of place and purpose, heralding recognition of the need for a high density approach to sustainability in our built environment. 583 families will activate and enrich this precinct, with ground level amenities existing through convenience retail and restaurants, and a public observation facility at its peak. Built Form to Context Relationship The site had a permit for two towers. The idea of stacking them created the statement, but also reduced the wind/shadow impacts. Designed to stand tall and interact with Rialto Towers as a pair of sentinels to Melbourne`s river precinct - it`s glazing colour is similar and its form is visually arresting and changing from various vantage points.

- Fender Katsalidis
</blockquote>

<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/fkmed_99021_3202.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Eureka Tower. Image: John Gollings"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="260" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fkmed_99021_3202.jpg?itok=DPkv23zY" title="Eureka Tower. Image: John Gollings" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Eureka Tower. Image: John Gollings</figcaption></figure>A series of high-profile projects are currently underway which seek to build upon the FK legacy as the practice continues to shape Melbourne’s city and skyline. Eureka's sister building, the 317m Australia 108 is currently under construction on Southbank, while dual apartment towers of 79-storeys on Queen Street in the CBD (in collaboration with Cox Architecture) are currently at sales and marketing. Another residential tower, Paragon is set to be built down the road on the former Celtic Club site opposite Republic Tower. Further FK designed buildings are popping in Docklands, South Yarra, Port Melbourne, Ivanhoe and even as far as Box Hill.

As FK looks to the future as it embarks on an ownership restructure with the addition of seven directors, Urban.com.au asked the firm about its legacy and the future of high-rise design in Melbourne:

<blockquote>
The FK team is driven by the desire to create an architecture which contributes meaningfully to both the built environment and the community.  It strives to enrich living opportunities and typologies within the city through the highest level of design quality.

High rise, high density residential architecture is recognised as a key platform of sustainable city living.  With increasing numbers of high rise buildings completed in Melbourne, purchasers, port authorities and public at large have become more sophisticated in their expectations and accordingly the levels of excellence and innovation will need to keep rising to new heights.
</blockquote>

<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/fkmed_1288_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Australia 108. Images: Floodslicer"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="237" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fkmed_1288_11.jpg?itok=CPLXt2ag" title="Australia 108. Images: Floodslicer" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Australia 108. Images: Floodslicer</figcaption></figure>For a glimpse into the future of the FK's growing body of work refer to the below project listings from within Urban.com.au's database.

Fender Katsalidis: Working Architecture is published by Uro Publications and will be available for purchase from www.uropublications.com in late May 2017.

Lead image:  Melbourne Terrace – John Gollings
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Fender Katsalidis reflects on the last 25 years while looking to the future with book launch

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The lure of capitalising upon Melbourne's super strong hotel sector has not gone unnoticed at Salta Properties, with the developer's approved plans for a prime Docklands corner reworked to include a hotel component.

A long time at planning, 695-699 La Trobe Street was resubmitted with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) earlier in the year, with the intention of providing 175 hotel suites in addition to 305 residential apartments. The emergence of 695-699 La Trobe Street in its current form adds weight to Docklands' hotel credentials, with a handful of projects planned or at construction.

Planning documents show that for their Docklands venture, Salta Properties were negotiating with InterContinental Hotels Group to bring aboard Hotel Indigo as the operator, although of course any tie-up is subject to confirmation from the respective parties.

Active across all development spheres, 695-699 La Trobe Street shapes as Salta Properties' second mixed-use project which would include a hotel component. As part of Abbotsford's Green Square development, Salta Properties snared serviced apartment provider Quest to manage 93 studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments.

From an exterior design perspective, 695-699 La Trobe Street's shape remains for the most unchanged, with a new facade and ground floor plane in tow.

The redesigned exterior features a facade application that has become somewhat of a Fender Katsalidis trademark in recent times. Vertical timber-finish fins now veil much of the podium aspect of the intended tower, and are similar in nature to other Fender Katsalidis projects such as Ivanhoe Apartments.

A new ground floor layout would see dual lobbies and a combined bar/dining space provide continuous activation to both La Trobe Street and Harbour Esplanade. As part of the revised application, Urban Art Projects have included an urban art strategy with the option of including three major artworks across the tower's ground floor and car park podium section.

<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/image110_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A new ground level interface. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="301" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image110_0.jpg?itok=rHAI1EAS" title="A new ground level interface. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A new ground level interface. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis</figcaption></figure>Docklands and the adjoining South Wharf continue to prove themselves as a magnet for hotel development.

Salta Properties' entry into Docklands is in addition to Four Points by Sheraton which is nearing its construction completion, while Quest can expect its second Docklands outlet to begin construction in the new year. Flagship Property Holdings have begun works on a new 331-room hotel at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, while Riverlee is eyeing a new hotel an North Wharf as part of its <a href="/news/a-reborn-north-wharf-adds-to-melbournes-swelling-hotel-numbers">pending redevelopment</a>.

The only project that has yet to materialise is Altus Tower; itself a stone's throw from 695-699 La Trobe. PARKROYAL has been signed to Altus Tower, but post its <a href="http://www.hotelmanagement.com.au/2014/10/08/construction-starts-parkroyal-docklands/">official breaking of ground</a> during October 2014, precious little has occurred onsite since.

<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/image112_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Altus as rendered, but not in reality. Image: thelatus.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="364" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image112_1.jpg?itok=2sL-199A" title="The Altus as rendered, but not in reality. Image: thelatus.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Altus as rendered, but not in reality. Image: thealtus.com.au</figcaption></figure>
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Melbourne's hotel boom draws Salta Properties into the mix

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With a number of significant projects wrapping up construction within Docklands and the end of the financial year imminent, the half way point of 2017 seems like a good time to take a closer look a the state of affairs within Docklands.

Probuild and Hickory have all but wrapped up external construction on their respective builds Marina Tower and Banksia along the NewQuay promenade with just the internal fit-outs to be completed.

Their completion will leave the just begun Elm and Stone as the sole building within NewQuay under construction. It will eventually be followed by a Six Degrees-designed 20-storey building carrying 172 apartments to be located on Lot 5 at 375-381 Docklands Drive.

<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/newquay_june17.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="As Marina Tower and Banksia wind down, Elm and Stone gets underway. Images Mark Baljak and Redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="202" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/newquay_june17.jpg?itok=bDTM5FY-" title="As Marina Tower and Banksia wind down, Elm and Stone gets underway. Images Mark Baljak and Redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>As Marina Tower and Banksia wind down, Elm and Stone gets underway. Images Mark Baljak and Redden</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
The design is intended to build from the successful aspect of the CBD including diversity in the façade designs, access to natural light and ventilation and the incorporation of public spaces, arcades and lanes. We hope this will be an exemplar for human scale development in Docklands.
<cite>Six Degrees Architects</cite>
</blockquote>

With that in mind, let's take a look at what is currently under construction in Docklands.

<h2>311 Spencer Street</h2>

Currently awaiting Ministerial approval for the proposed new headquarters of Victoria Police at 311 Spencer Street, site works have commenced in preparation for full scale construction of the 171 metre high tower once approval is granted.

<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/red_311sp.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Site works are slowly getting underway. Image: Redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/red_311sp.jpg?itok=cpj3f6AT" title="Site works are slowly getting underway. Image: Redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Site works are slowly getting underway. Image: Redden</figcaption></figure><h2>839 Collins Street</h2>

Work is progressing on the new offices of ANZ along the banks of the Yarra at Victoria Harbour. Designed by DCM, the 21-storey office tower is about to begin its ascent out of the ground with the erection of dual tower cranes and the formation of the core pit.

<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/839_collins_street.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The core pit is being formed and two cranes have now been installed on site. Image: Glennwilson at OzScrapers"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/839_collins_street.jpg?itok=fr9o0K34" title="The core pit is being formed and two cranes have now been installed on site. Image: Glennwilson at OzScrapers" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The core pit is being formed and two cranes have now been installed on site. Image: Glennwilson at OzScrapers</figcaption></figure><h2>No. 1 Collins Wharf</h2>

The first stage of the Collins Wharf sub precinct which extends all the way along the remaining undeveloped tract of Victoria Harbour peninsula, is making steady progress with the core box now ready to begin its rise to an eventual height of 90 metres.

<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/gw_915c.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Site progress at No 1 Collins Wharf, Victoria Harbour. Image: Redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/gw_915c.jpg?itok=gG88LJOz" title="Site progress at No 1 Collins Wharf, Victoria Harbour. Image: Redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Site progress at No 1 Collins Wharf, Victoria Harbour. Image: Redden</figcaption></figure><h2>Tower 5 Collins Square</h2>

With the tower going momentarily on hold following completion of the 'podium' structure while Walker Corporation scoured for tenants in the building, it's now very much full steam ahead with the last puzzle in the Collins Square jigsaw set to be completed next year.

<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/t5cs.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The final tower at Collins Square is making up for lost time. Image: Redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/t5cs.jpg?itok=HgPiC5gJ" title="The final tower at Collins Square is making up for lost time. Image: Redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The final tower at Collins Square is making up for lost time. Image: Redden</figcaption></figure><h2>One Melbourne Quarter</h2>

And finally, the first stage of Melbourne Quarter is quickly rising above Collins Street and upon completion will become the new home of global consulting firm Arup and will include a publically accessible skygarden hovering over Collins Street. Two other commercial towers will round out the commercial neighbourhood to Collins Street while the first of three residential towers which comprise the Flinders Street neighbourhood are yet to begin construction.

<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/june_pic.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="One Melbourne Quarter Construction progress. Image: Lendlease"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/june_pic.jpg?itok=UasUIJYe" title="One Melbourne Quarter Construction progress. Image: Lendlease" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>One Melbourne Quarter Construction progress. Image: Lendlease</figcaption></figure> 

 

Other projects which should commence in the next six months include Salta's build-to-rent development at 695 LaTrobe Street which includes and Indigo Hotel and Mirvac's Voyager residential tower at Yarra's Edge.


As mentioned in an article a few weeks ago, we'll continue to test hosting parts of the Urban.com.au model on the site to complement other content, such as a construction update in this instance.

<figure><div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper"><iframe allowfullscreen="" allowvr="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="true" onmousewheel="" src="https://sketchfab.com/models/069f9f80fdb04cababdf53701efadbc6/embed" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="640"></iframe></div>

<figcaption><a href="https://sketchfab.com/models/069f9f80fdb04cababdf53701efadbc6?utm_medium=embed&amp;utm_source=website&amp;utm_campaign=share-popup">Melbourne Docklands</a> by <a href="https://sketchfab.com/urbmelb?utm_medium=embed&amp;utm_source=website&amp;utm_campaign=share-popup">Urban.com.au</a> on <a href="https://sketchfab.com?utm_medium=embed&amp;utm_source=website&amp;utm_campagin=share-popup">Sketchfab</a></figcaption></figure>
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Docklands construction update June 2017 (with 3D)

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The commercial sector's apparent disinterest in the western end of La Trobe Street has given rise to one of Melbourne's premier residential development sites. At the foot of Victoria Harbour, 1000 La Trobe Street has emerged as The Millennium Site, a 6,007sqm land holding with the ability to hold approximately 600 apartments.

Land owner Digital Harbour Holdings has chosen to sell the prime site following years of staggered activity within their Digital Harbour Precinct, seeking instead to capitalise upon fervent market conditions which continues to seen strong prices achieved for inner city development sites.

Selling agent Colliers International is preparing for a tide of interest from both local and international developers as The Millennium Site represents the largest single development site currently available in the City of Melbourne. The current approved commercial scheme has been superseded with the below concept, yet still allows for a total of 47,940sqm of residential living gross floor area.

<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/image134_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist's impression of a revised 1000 La Trobe Street. Image courtesy Colliers"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="980" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image134_1.jpg?itok=MJETN2KL" title="Artist's impression of a revised 1000 La Trobe Street. Image courtesy Colliers" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist's impression of a revised 1000 La Trobe Street. Image courtesy Colliers</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
The Millennium Site forms part of Melbourne’s waterside precinct which will benefit from the redevelopment of Harbour Esplanade. Situated between Southern Cross Station, Etihad Stadium, New Quay, the waterfront, and the soon to be announced E Gate precinct, The Millennium Site will be a key element within a highly connected precinct linking the Melbourne CBD to the Docklands waterfront.

There is a tram stop on the doorstep of the site and developers will be able to capitalise on the uninterrupted water and CBD views from the upper levels of any potential future development. CBD development sites are becoming increasingly popular among developers as central CBD precincts become more tightly held.”

Melbourne as a city has a diminishing supply of prime residential development opportunities, with development sites increasingly hemmed in by adjoining buildings. Docklands is not as intensively developed on a site-by-site basis, so it is becoming increasingly desirable for residential development because there are more opportunities to optimise both built form outcomes and future view lines.
<cite>Trent Hobart, Colliers International media release</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
Docklands is also becoming more connected to the CBD. Whereas once Docklands was thought of as a very separate precinct, new roadways, pedestrian access and tram super stops have seen it become increasingly thought of as part of the western core of the CBD.
<cite>Bryson Cameron, Colliers International media release</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>All washed up</h2>

A string of commercial developments at the Docklands end of La Trobe Street have failed to materialise in recent years, much to the delight of residential developers. Subject to a low-rise commercial development, <a href="/new-apartments/695-699-la-trobe-street-docklands-vic-3008">695-699 La Trobe Street</a> is now with Salta Properties seeking approval for a 303 apartment development while the neighbouring 685 La Trobe Street development site was sold to a residential developer following its unsuccessful commercial leasing campaign.

Diagonally opposite The Millennium Site, Chinese-aligned Capital Alliance Investment Group is delivering <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/m-docklands-679-la-trobe-street-docklands">M Docklands</a>, a mixed-use residential and hotel tower that backs onto Etihad Stadium. The residential prospects of The Millennium Site coupled with the five most recent development site sales in Docklands averaging $7000/sqm points to the inherent value that this emerging Docklands residential pocket holds.
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Opportunity arises from a failed Digital Harbour development

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Editor's note: all images and information included below were extracted from a pre-application submission lodged in March 2013.

The subject of today's article is a proposal for a residential tower on a prominent Docklands site. Acquired by <a href="http://www.salta.com.au/">Salta Properties</a> back in December 2008, the site sits on the corner of Harbour Esplanade and provides an opportunity for a major contribution to the Esplanade and as an entry statement for Docklands.

Engaging <a href="http://www.fkaustralia.com/">Fender Katsalidis</a> during 2010, the team initially produced a 36-storey mixed-use scheme that had a number of features recognizable in previous FKA-designed projects. A glazed residential tower with a tiered envelope that sat upon a commercial wrap around a carpark podium - providing a bookend to Victoria Point to the south. The proposal was lodged and was to be Salta's signature Docklands project but ultimately never saw the light of day.

An article from The Age briefly touching on the proposal can be seen below:

<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/695_article.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Commercial property article. © Fairfax"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="640" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/695_article.png?itok=a-Is2WGY" title="Commercial property article. © Fairfax" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Commercial property article. © Fairfax</figcaption></figure>Fast forward three years and a shorter design has been put on the table that has significantly deviated from the language of the previous proposal. Expressed as a series of staggered volumes the new scheme looks to limit the amount of overshadowing across the Etihad Stadium playing turf. Changes between the two designs are described below:

<h2>Previous vs Current Scheme</h2>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th>Aspect</th>
			<th class="rtecenter">Previous</th>
			<th class="rtecenter">Current</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Height</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">124.3m</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">Stepped from 78.05m</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>No. floors</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">36 storeys</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">Stepped from 23 storeys</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Apartments</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">336</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">Approx. 303</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Parking</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">338</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">Approx. 309</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Commercial</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">3,896m2</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">Approx. 2,114m2</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Retail</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">598m2</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">Approx. 674m2</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>GFA</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">49,669m2</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">Approx. 41,941m2</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The submission focuses heavily on the merits of the proposal's ground plane condition with retail tenancies located to the north and south, interspersed with lobbies for the commercial and residential components. Featuring strong vertical timber column and blade elements, the design provides a contrast to the otherwise concrete and glazed structure.

Vehicular entries to the car park and loading dock are located along the eastern boundary while a public thoroughfare separates the proposal from the existing Channel 7 digital broadcast centre.

<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/ground_plane.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Rendered ground plane. © FKA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ground_plane.png?itok=mEOOM01D" title="Rendered ground plane. © FKA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Rendered ground plane. © FKA</figcaption></figure><h2>Comment</h2>

One suspects that Salta will most likely follow the lead of <a href="https://charterhall.com.au/">Charter Hall</a> and <a href="http://premiercapitaldevelopments.com.au/">Flagship Property Holdings</a> and look to offload the site. At time of writing the site next door at 685 La Trobe Street is currently under contract.

The potential for a far more ambitious scheme would be most welcome for a site that demands something special. I'm of the opinion that an amalgamation of the two sites would offer the best outcome for the site and allow for a more successful interface and relationship between potentially multiple buildings.

If the scheme as detailed above is to proceed then I believe a further level of design refinement is required.
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695-699 La Trobe Street, Docklands VIC 3008

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City of Melbourne provides conditional support for Salta's Docklands project

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Docklands construction update June 2017 (with 3D)

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