Evolve Development

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Developed by award winning developer, Evolve Development and designed by award winning architect, SJB Architects, BOTANIC is the 5th residential project collaboration for this team. BOTANIC is seen as a further contribution to the growing reputation of Melbourne as one of the world’s most liveable cities and Evolve Development, along with SJB Architects are proud to be associated with and contribute to this significant project.

<figure><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/botanic-25-27-coventry-street-southbank"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/botanic-25-27-coventry-street-southbank-5aac16a2face4b073cb0275e3b7020ee.jpg?itok=ohJyvEeR" style="width: 580px; height: 290px;"></a></figure>Designer apartments comprising 1,2,3 and 4 bedrooms all with abundant natural light and supreme quality finishes including timber flooring to the kitchen and lounge areas, stone benchtops and Miele appliances. 
Choose from three beautifully conceived colour palettes, expertly designed by SJB.

Botanic Melbourne offers magnificent northern views towards the city skyline and eastern views over the Royal Botanic Gardens, providing an opportunity rarely available so close to the city centre. Upon arrival into the lobby, you are greeted by elegance and luxury. The inclusion of a dedicated business hub with a boardroom and private meeting room on a mezzanine level provides residents with an impressive work space.

<figure><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/botanic-25-27-coventry-street-southbank"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/botanic-25-27-coventry-street-southbank-bf57a72abe439aa17eec926ce693eff1.jpg?itok=qV4Xg7Mu" style="width: 580px; height: 232px;"></a></figure>Amenities are plentiful with premium shared facilities on level 5 including a serene garden retreat with BBQ, fireplace and outdoor dining, luxurious swimming pool, residents kitchen and dining area, lounge area, well-equipped gym, and beautiful landscaped surroundings.

<figure><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/botanic-25-27-coventry-street-southbank"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/botanic-25-27-coventry-street-southbank-1606e0979c13036c50f7ee37cb2ffd71.jpg?itok=0yQHpnh4" style="width: 580px; height: 290px;"></a></figure>Live close to the exciting CBD and feel the thrill of the Arts Precinct and the calm of the Royal Botanic Gardens. The historic and cultural significance of the immediate surrounds ensures the magnificent views from these luxurious apartments are protected and will remain interrupted.
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urban.com.au

Southbank - Endearing off-the-plan opportunities for Melbourne's hottest new development

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The issue of air rights has been given heightened media attention in recent times, principally due to Yarra House within South Yarra's Forrest Hill Precinct where developer Michael Yates <a href="http://www.afr.com/real-estate/residential/yarra-house-to-rise-with-views-secured-20131015-jgwls">purchased apartments in the adjoining low-rise building</a>. This in turn secures the right to veto any future development, thus protecting Yarra House's views.

Air rights and appropriate development is also at the crux of a dispute headed to VCAT, where Albert Road-based Evolve Development is seeking to amend an already approved scheme for 25-27 Coventry Street, so as to expand the tower's built form above the neighbouring property. Having purchased the Southbank site with approval in place for a 22 level residential building, Evolve Development have subsequently secured air rights above the adjoining 21-23 Coventry Street.

<blockquote>
Our client has also purchased the air rights of the eastern adjoining property and a subdivision permit obtained to amalgamate this land. It is noted that the permit contained Condition 1 (f), which required the built form to be set back from the eastern boundary at least 4.5 metres from the eastern boundary at Level 5 and above. This requirement was due to Council's concerns in relation to the proposed development restricting the future development potential of the adjoining land, in particular any restrictions on east facing apartments in any future development of that land.
<cite>SJB Planning document to VCAT excerpt, April 2015</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/image166.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Air right over part 21-23 Coventry Street. Image courtesy SJB"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="365" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image166.jpg?itok=i-1vNYzD" title="Air right over part 21-23 Coventry Street. Image courtesy SJB" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Air right over part 21-23 Coventry Street. Image courtesy SJB</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
The purchase of the air rights over 21-23 Coventry Street has resulted in an expansion of the built form to the east from Level 5 upwards. This has had consequential effects on the layout of apartments at these levels. Particularly, the apartments located in the south east quadrant of the building from Level 5 to Level 20 have been reoriented to ensure appropriate setbacks from the properties to the south and west and to ensure adequate daylight access to all habitable rooms.

Evolve No.21 Pty Ltd now seeks permission to pursue an amended development strategy which incorporates the air rights over 21-23 Coventry Street to the east and which better reflects current inner urban housing market trends.
<cite>SJB Planning document to VCAT excerpt, April 2015</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>25-27 Coventry Street, Southbank amendment highlights</h2>

<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/image168.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A comparison between approved and proposed. Images courtesy SJB"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="343" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image168.jpg?itok=8l3s_v4t" title="A comparison between approved and proposed. Images courtesy SJB" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A comparison between approved and proposed. Images courtesy SJB</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>21 level residential tower at 70 metres in height</li>
	<li>252 apartments - 99 * studio, 105 * 1BR, 48 * 2BR</li>
	<li>177 car parking spaces and 80 bicycle spaces within a three level basement</li>
	<li>279sqm commercial/restaurant space with 50 person capacity</li>
	<li>Meeting room and library included within the development</li>
	<li>1,147sqm site area</li>
</ul>
The reworked SJB Architects design seeks to bump up apartments numbers by an additional 72 over the initial scheme which was given the nod via City of Melbourne during 2013. This is principally achieved by increasing studio dwellings from 8 to 99 within the amended proposal, at the cost of two bedroom dwellings which decrease by 20.

While the design still adheres to the DDO60 height limit, the external look has been drastically altered with the addition of balconies to the eastern facade. It's argued within the documents that the balconies which overhang the adjoining 21-23 Coventry street will aid in the retention of both on-site and off-site amenity.

Evolve Development currently have the project listed on their website as valued at $140 million and holding a completion date of 2017. It's fair to assume both these figures will change.

<h2>North, south, east and west</h2>

<blockquote>
The building form varies on each of its four elevations, relating to the immediate neighbouring conditions, whilst the use of varied colours and materiality presents a continuity and connection to the surroundings.

The north elevation presents an elegant tower on a setback podium with expressed columns that lightly anchor the elevation to the ground. Laneway access provided at the rear of the site along Wells Lane ensures flexibility and street activation of Coventry Street by way of tenancy and residential lobby interface. Street canopies, individually expressed between columns, break up the podium providing a human scale in the current streetscape rhythm while providing protection from the elements.

The tower is expressed in distinctive elements to provide visual interest and articulation. A recessed floor plan is incorporated at level 5 to distinguish the podium from the tower above. This break in the facade is introduced to respond to the height of the parapet of 312 St Kilda Road to the east, and the fagade composition of 35-37 Coventry Street to the west. The western elevation incorporates an angled setback to individual apartments facing south-west to protect the amenity of existing residents to the south and future neighbours to the west.

The south elevation is set back in response to the proximity of the residential tower at 6-8 Dorcas Street to the south.
<cite>SJB Planning</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>Join the club</h2>

25-27 Coventry Street would join Evolve Development's initial Southbank project, <a href="http://www.evolvedevelopment.com.au/completed-projects.php#guilfoyle">The Guilfoyle</a> at 39 Coventry Street. LU Simon Builders completed the $190 million tower during 2013, which holds 353 apartments spanning 21 levels. SJB Architects were also responsible for the design of The Guilfoyle.

Currently fellow developer VIMG have sold in excess of 70% of Coventry Haus located at 33 Coventry Street, which will see the project head to construction shortly. Designed by Jackson Clement Borrows, the tower began life considerably shorter but was expanded upon VIMG's purchase of the site to the maximum allowable height.

<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/141029-33-coventry-photomontage-dusk-edit-3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Coventry Haus at 23 levels. Image courtesy JCB"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="899" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/141029-33-coventry-photomontage-dusk-edit-3.jpg?itok=2ZAoQ8ld" title="Coventry Haus at 23 levels. Image courtesy JCB" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Coventry Haus at 23 levels. Image courtesy JCB</figcaption></figure>The 'secondary' Southbank apartment market has proven popular in recent years with a string of apartment tower completions falling between Coventry and Dorcas, as witnessed by Sunday Apartments, Elm and the aforementioned Guilfoyle.

Waiting in the wings are the approved <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/kings-domain-68-dorcas-street-southbank">68-70 Dorcas Street</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/the-evermore-58-66-dorcas-street-southbank">58-66 Dorcas Street</a> and potentially 25-27 Coventry Street which between them would pump a further 1000 apartments into the tail end of Southbank.
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silvermb

Air rights, share rights: 25-27 Coventry Street, Southbank

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An apartment sales campaign looks imminent for one of Melbourne's more contentious and long lasting development sites, referred to as Nelson Place. In recent weeks Dalton Consulting Engineers have been appointed to handle civil infrastructure matters and the like whilst Icon Construction currently have phase one of what will be known as <a href="http://waterlineplace.com.au/" target="_blank">Waterline Place</a> listed online as an active construction tender.

Comprising 83 apartments and two retail tenancies, the initial development phase will include a six level SJB Architects-designed complex as seen below. The completed development will potentially see 20 level towers and in excess of 800 dwellings.

<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/image24will.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Stage One of Waterline Place features an apartment building of 83 dwellings. Image courtesy Icon Construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="357" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image24will.jpg?itok=KU2lnICc" title="Stage One of Waterline Place features an apartment building of 83 dwellings. Image courtesy Icon Construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Stage One includes 83 apartments. Image courtesy Icon Construction</figcaption></figure><h2>Site History</h2>

Formerly the Port Phillip Woollen Mills, the site is bound by Nelson Place (north), Kanowna Street (east), Cecil and Aitken streets (south) and Ann Street (west). Carrying a handful of historic structures, the development site has been subject to a decade of wrangling between Hobsons Bay City Council, the Save Williamstown action group and proponent, Evolve Development.

The long-running saga prompted developer Ashley Williams to deliver this broadside in response to the development and parking concerns raised by opposing bodies:

<blockquote>
A bunch of what I'd say are fairly selfish established residents, who have benefited from property price rises, make it very hard for developers to respond to that demand. They forget that the changes that led to the parking issue have meant that there are more people around, more cafes, the place is a more vibrant retail centre, the supermarket and greengrocer open later, so you can't have it both ways.
<cite>Ashley Williams, "<a href="http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/developer-furious-at-selfish-residents/story-fndbarft-1226586508083">Developer furious at 'selfish' residents</a>" (news.com.au), February 27, 2013</cite>
</blockquote>

It was argued by Save Williamstown that the development would:

<ul>
<li>Destroy heritage</li>
	<li>Be situated too close to the shipyards</li>
	<li>Be situated too close to Mobil MHF(includes feeder arms on jetty, pipelines &amp; tank farm with tanks up to 40m diameter) and fuel importation ships flagged overseas</li>
	<li>Destroy nationally significant jobs</li>
	<li>Overwhelms local schools, child care and community services</li>
	<li>Make Williamstown less family friendly</li>
	<li>Overburden roads and traffic</li>
	<li>Lead to tourists being squeezed out of the peninsula</li>
</ul>
Ultimately VCAT ruled in favour of the development as was <a href="http://williamstown.starcommunity.com.au/star/2013-01-15/development-upheld/" target="_blank">reported during January 2013</a>, dismissing a number of gauzy claims above.

<h2>Staged development</h2>

<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/image29will.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Images courtesy Lovell Chen &amp; Save Williamstown"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="317" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image29will.jpg?itok=fVOxuPqu" title="Images courtesy Lovell Chen &amp; Save Williamstown" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Images courtesy Lovell Chen &amp; Save Williamstown</figcaption></figure>The overall site is broken into 14 separate lots according to the graphic above. <a href="http://www.savewilliamstown.net/" target="_blank">Save Williamstown</a> provides a concise summary of events and applications to date, where Stage One will involve Lots 1,2 and 3 with permitted plans allow for the demolition of the 1800's Oriental Hotel and provision for 142 dwellings by way of apartments and townhouses.

Lot 2 situated on the Nelson Place and Ann Street intersection holds the 6-storey apartment building which rises 19.6 metres above ground. Hobson Bay City Council's Built Form Outcomes seeks “A prominent building which provides emphasis to the corner of Nelson Place and Ann Street” and “A building that incorporates innovative façade articulation and limited sheer walls.” Vertical louvres look to be design response.

Subsequent stages are expected to see building heights rise to 9 levels, with the potential for multiple 20 level apartment towers considered likely for latter stages of the project. Expected to stretch toward 2020, the overall program is envisaged to deliver 700 apartments and 100 townhouses, although given the size and elongated delivery period for Waterline Place final numbers are unknown.
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