443 Upper Heidelberg Road reborn
Gone is the 26 level proposal for Heidelberg which stirred local resentment earlier in the year, with a new scheme in place that developer Caydon hopes will receive the green light. Gone too are initial architects Peddle Thorp, with Fender Katsalidis installed to deliver an altogether different proposal.
Shorter in stature and gaining a handful of apartments over the initial proposal, Fender Katsalidis have endeavoured to bring a heightened level of architectural flair to 443 Upper Heidelberg Road. Heavily curved with multiple setbacks and an articulated podium, Fender Katsalidis continue their run of projects for Caydon which has also seen the firm create apartment schemes in both Cremorne and Moonee Ponds for the developer.
Submitted prior to Christmas last year, the proposal is set to come to a head during October with VCAT to hear from relevant parties on the merits of the project.
443 Upper Heidelberg Road application summary
- Site area: 3,360sqm
- Proposed 16 level residential tower (previously 26 levels)
- 54.8 metres in height
- 269 apartments (previously 258)
- 126 x 1BR / 89 x 2BR / 3 x 3BR
- 51 serviced apartments (no change)
- 2,208sqm office space & 713sqm retail space
- GFA: 36,756sqm
- 296 car spaces & 156 bicycles over four basement levels
Design changes
The total redesign of 443 Upper Heidelberg Road has led to ten fewer levels as opposed to the initial Peddle Thorp design. While the tower has been shortened, the podium has been bulked up which has effectively covered for and expanded upon the initial number of apartments envisaged for the project.
The lower levels have seen a redistribution of retail tenancies which now facing Bell Street, with the layout of intended office tenancies also adjusted. Residential facilities and an external pool have been moved upwards in line with the expanded podium, while expected residential facilities atop the tower have been scrapped.
As opposed to a solid rectangular design, the oval-shaped tower element now consists of two interlocking elements while lower levels now feature planter boxes to all frontages.
VCAT bound
Banyule City Council had upon inspecting the initial plans identified a number of issues with the proposal. Building design and scale, landscaping and tree retention, car/bicycle parking, access and layout, future residential amenity of some apartments plus the strain placed upon the surrounding road network were considered key sticking points.
Consequently an application for review was lodged with VCAT during June, with the revised plans circulated on 21st August. Mid October shapes as the key juncture in proceedings with a VCAT date set to determine the merits of the reworked 443 Upper Heidelberg Road.
