Decibel hits the mark in Kensington
Decibel Architecture has hit the right planning note as its revised set of plans for a sizeable apartment development sails toward approval this evening.
Fronting Smithfield Road and opposite Flemington Racecourse, Kensington's 2-22 Gatehouse Drive has been recommended for approval leading into tonight's Future Melbourne meeting. Kensington Gatehouse Development Pty Ltd is the entity backing the proposal.
Mid way through its planning campaign, the proposal was subject to a complete redesign in the face of Council feedback and public discourse by way of 60 objections. New discussion (revised) plans were submitted and consequently are the plans subject to approval.
Accounting for a number of exiting retail tenancies and an open air car park, 2-22 Gatehouse Drive's renewed design spans a L-shaped 1,800 square metre site opposite the racecourse stables.
The proposal's overall development yield has dropped with the redesign, from 82 apartments to 69. Those 69 apartments are expected to consist of 11 single, 40 double and 18 triple bedroom options.
Key to the redesign was the relocation of above ground veiled parking to three basement levels. Consequently, an almost uniform external expression which was noted as being "alien in this context" by Council planners was replaced with a varied facade in both composition and colour.
The recommended approval is subject to further design refinements which would appease all concerns held by Council planners.
2-22 Gatehouse Drive is one of only a limited number of apartment developments currently active in Kensington. It along with five additional projects stand to add a relatively meagre 330 higher density dwellings to the suburb.
The pending success of Gatehouse Drive is in addition to another Decibel Architecture-designed residential project which is at sales. CV Windsor has begun its sales campaign in earnest with an eye toward delivering a uniquely expressive building.
Its approximately 70 SOHO-inspired apartments are veiled by an articulated facade to Punt Road.
On the project's interiors, Decibel Architecture describes the project as "conceived to deliver a unique typology of living to the local area. The concept is developed around the idea of a “townhouse in the sky”. There are common entrance corridors or “streets” at every third level which create an entry to an interlocking network of dual fronted apartments."
Also on the architect's design agenda is the much-hyped Magic tower on the CBD's northern fringe. The development has been the topic of a podcast with the architect on Urban.com.au, with a potential lodgement for approval in the pipeline.
