DEC Australia

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The covers may just be off what looks to be the reworked submission for 400-430 City Road.

XO Projects have published imagery for the project, which has been commissioned by Wadhawan Holdings Pty Ltd (DEC Australia). According to XO Projects "the master plan has created an overall development vision for the site, which will be delivered in stages over approximately a 10 year project timeframe."

DEC Australia facilitated the initially approved design, which went through planning during 2010. Conceived by Crone Architects, 400-430 City Road consisted of multiple towers amounting to a 200,000sqm built form outcome which included 1274 apartments, a 288-room hotel and retail space at ground level.

The most recent version went to planning during May this year. XO Projects have dubbed the design CityGate, with three towers scaled up to 151m.

<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/image3_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Aerial perspective. Image: XO Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="371" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image3_8.jpg?itok=q-6K6sFl" title="Aerial perspective. Image: XO Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Aerial perspective. Image: XO Projects</figcaption></figure>In the likelihood that the above images are those which have gone to planning, the revised design is a sharp departure from what was initially approved onsite. Aside from the different design language employed, XO Projects have cited the following as key elements of the master plan:

<ul>
<li>A mixed used programme in its purest sense, combining residential, hotels, offices, entertainment and retail.</li>
	<li>An articulated podium design which incorporates important heritage fabric and significant activation at all levels across the majority of frontages especially at the ground level, which will accommodate a variety of retail and food and beverage type of uses.</li>
	<li>A series of ESD responsive vertical towers which unique floorplates accommodating a varied composition of generous sized apartments, strata office, hotel and child care centre.</li>
	<li>Flexible commercial floor plates within the podium levels.</li>
	<li>An integrated landscape strategy which includes upgraded public realm at the ground level.</li>
	<li>A variety of communal facilities, including an auditorium, located on the podium roof tops to be enjoyed by all.</li>
	<li>A new, fully activated pedestrian through block link which will provide a convenient pathway for connecting pedestrians with Fishermans bend and South Melbourne.</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/image5_14.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ground plane. Image: XO Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image5_14.jpg?itok=yTkQ0v0F" title="Ground plane. Image: XO Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ground plane. Image: XO Projects</figcaption></figure>Southbank aside, Urban.com.au <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/xo-projects-first-database-entry-makes-for-a-sleek-alphington-addition">first brought to light</a> XO Projects' sleek Alphington design for <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/700-718-heidelberg-road-alphington">700-718 Heidelberg Road</a>.

For Giancorp Property Group, the Alphington project was the first to appear in the Urban.com.au Project Database for the practice, and consists of 109 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across a 2,980sqm corner site. XO Projects have included a terraced southern facade over the project, which tapers down toward the adjoining residential zoned southern boundary.

Elenberg Fraser's influence is apparent across both the Southbank and Alphington designs, with purple and bronze facades somewhat of a trademark finish across their projects in recent years.

<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/image23_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Alphington on the agenda. Image: XO Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="323" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image23_9.jpg?itok=m-jWtHCp" title="Alphington on the agenda. Image: XO Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Alphington on the agenda. Image: XO Projects</figcaption></figure>
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