City North's latest entrant a metal monolith

The brisk rate of development immediately north of Melbourne's CBD has received another boost by way of a freshly submitted planning application for a sleek metal-clad tower fronting Haymarket roundabout.

City North as it's known is realising the aims of the 2012 City North Structure Plan, rapidly becoming a mid-rise extension of Melbourne's CBD. 1 Flemington Road now looks to become a more prominent member of this emerging skyline with plans submitted for a substantial student accommodation tower set over 22 levels.

1 Flemington Road also represents Brisbane-based Blue Sky Funds second dip into the Melbourne student accommodation sector, having gained approval last month for 42-50 La Trobe Street which includes 783 beds over 43 levels.

1-3 Flemington Road application summary

• Current use: Turf Club Hotel
• Site area: 1,011sqm
• Proposed 22 level student accommodation tower at 68 metres
• 453 student beds over 389 apartments: 325 x studio, 90 x 2bed, 38 x cluster
• 595sqm of internal communal space
• 418sqm of external open space
• 47sqm cafe & 133sqm retail space
• 104 bicycle bays
• GFA: 13,599sqm
• Estimated project cost: $40 million

The Hayball-designed tower involves an exterior consisting of standard modular panels that undulate with a variance of up to 300mm, resulting in a wave-like pattern that is repeated every 7.2 meters horizontally. Each panel's exterior consists of a charcoal anodised brushed aluminium finish that maintains a reflectivity of between 15% to 20%.

The sinuous footprint and undulating form combine into a facade of modular darkened metallic panels, their reflectivity catching light, shadow and colour for subtle temporal animation.

Through their composition and faceting, the façade modules reflect back the forms of the immediate locality, while seasonal weather patterns and changing light conditions colour and animate the façade.

Application design response: Hayball

1 Flemington Road adds to the surge of projects gravitating to the Haymarket roundabout. Dominated by the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Haymarket roundabout in particular is shaping as a focal point with a handful of atypically designed towers emerging.

In the wider context City North is dominated by pending residential and student accommodation projects which could see new thousands of additional dwellings added in the short to medium term.

While accommodation generally rules the roost in City North, commercial and institutional projects also get a look in. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation’s new mixed-use 15,722sqm headquarters at 535 Elizabeth Street is under construction and is set for completion during September 2017.

1-3 Flemington Road development team

• Developer: Blue Sky Private Real Estate Projects Pty Ltd
• Architect: Hayball
• Town planning: Tract Consultants
• Traffic engineer: TTM Consulting
• Waste management: Leigh Design
• Sustainability: LUCID
• Wind Engineer: VIPAC
• Aviation consultant: TGCS Thompson