Melbourne Apartment

The design driven inner city Melbourne developer, Neometro, has secured a site in Fitzroy for a new residential project.

As one of the last remaining development sites in Melbourne&rsquo;s Fitzroy, Neometro paid more than $9.3 million for the 450 Gore Street site, after having recently snapped up a St Kilda site for almost $22 million, which has a lease to Fitness First until 2024.

Fitzroy&rsquo;s Chris James and Chris Kombi sold 450 Gore Street, at the corner of Leicester Street on behalf of a private family, attracting strong interest from buyers, with the campaign generating more than 130 enquiries.

Chris James said they had seen prudent, highly qualified developers compete strongly for the few recent offerings in the area and as expected, 450 Gore St was no different.

&ldquo;Developers looked past inflationary pressures and growing construction costs, recognising this was an unrivalled opportunity to deliver a project in the heart of one of Australia&rsquo;s most liveable locations,&rdquo; James said.

&ldquo;Inner-city locations with excellent lifestyle qualities are particularly popular with Melburnians as flexible working arrangements become commonplace. The market&rsquo;s seen overwhelming evidence for demand in the immediate area across multiple projects.&rdquo;

The significant triple-fronted 900 sqm site is located on the tree-lined Gore Street, just behind the buzzing Smith Street, which was named the coolest street in the world by Time Out.

Fitzroy itself has recently ranked as Melbourne&rsquo;s most liveable suburb by CoreLogic, taking into consideration the abundant and accessible park, health, shopping, public transport and educational amenity.

Sitting within the Fitzroy East and Johnston Street North planning precinct, the site has favourable Mixed-Use zoning, which promotes significant density and development.

Kombi commented on the site&rsquo;s walkability, sitting within walking distance to every possible amenity, including parks, public transport, renowned bars and eateries, as well as Fitzroy swimming pool.

Along with Smith Street, the site is also close by to the Brunswick Street and Johnston Street precincts, as well as the iconic Edinburgh Gardens, and just 1.5 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD.

Neometro&rsquo;s project will be the latest development in Fitzroy, which attracts local, interstate and international guests to the precinct given its world-class offering of retailers, restaurant, cafes and bars.

The suburb is soon to be home to boutique hotel group, The Standard nearby on Rose Street, where a 126-room hotel is set to be opened in 2023.

Piccolo has recently been granted a permit for their $120 million apartment project at 385 Gore Street and sold out its 71-75 Argyle Street project, while the Victorian Government is redeveloping the Fitzroy Gasworks site into a new residential, sports and community precinct.

Nearby is also the rapidly developing Collingwood office market with multiple projects recently completed and underway, including the $111 million Aesop headquarters by Impact Investment Group, global investment group Hines&rsquo; $200 million timber tower, and projects at 51 Langridge Street and 71 Gipps Street.

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The campaign generated more than 130 enquiries with multiple qualified underbidders competing for the property, with high-end boutique developers, Neometro snapping up the site for $9,305,500.



alisonwarters@gmail.com

Neometro add Gore Street, Fitzroy site to residential apartment development pipeline

ID_Land’s collaboration with Rothelowman blends rough and smooth materiality and culminates into a beautiful expression of modern architecture.

Delivering 62 residences in one, two and three-bedroom configurations, Canvas pays homage to Brunswick’s industrial past.

The project’s sculptural façade fits perfectly into Barkly Street; its industrial form framed by geometric concrete grids that reinterprets the industrial regeneration of Brunswick.

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Urban recently sat down with Rothelowman’s Kylie Caruana, who has worked in the architectural studio for 12 years, to discuss the Melbourne development.

MK: How many multi-residential projects has Rothelowman been contracted on within Victoria?&nbsp;

KC: During my 12 years at Rothelowman, we’ve been contracted on countless multi-residential projects (so I had some help to run the numbers). Rothelowman currently has 222 Active projects nationally with 132 Projects in Victoria alone, of these 81 are in planning and 45 have gained planning and are in various stages of construction. 92 of these are residential or have residential components. Historically Rothelowman has completed over 800 projects in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, ACT and Western Australia.

MK: What spoke to you about Canvas in particular?&nbsp;

KC: Canvas was yet another highly collaborative project between ID Land and Rothelowman, to realise their first multi residential apartment building with an exceptional site in the epicentre of Brunswick. This was an opportunity for urban reconsolidation, in a well-connected precinct around existing culture. Having lived in Brunswick for many years and residing in neighbouring Northern suburbs my entire life, this was an opening to bring my community’s ideals to the table.

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MK: What was the design brief from ID_Land for the project's architectural design?&nbsp;

KC: The design brief from day dot was open and progressive. Our special relationship with ID Land, based on high levels of trust and collaboration, meant the brief didn’t need to talk to specifics. We were to take an urban regeneration site and come up with a design concept for the future, whilst paying homage to the granular nature of the past. We framed our thinking - to embed our thirst for sustainability, balanced living, and to establish new links to the existing community.

MK: Where did you take your inspiration from?

KC: Primarily our inspiration came from the beauty and the eclectic and diverse culture we see, feel and experience within Brunswick. Tucked in a site with an industrial past and an artistic present, Canvas draws links from its surrounding tactile materiality, fluid forms, creative culture and lifestyle.

MK: How did you harmonise Canvas into the Barkly Streetscape?

KC: Very early in the piece, we brought together ideas on what we envisaged for the future urban topography of the area and what we would build upon for the future Brunswick community. Although there are three parts to our streetscape, the lines between our retail, commercial office and residential are blurred behind our façade grid. Our entry is complex, yet holistic whereby it invites patrons, employees, residents and visitors through the one naturally lit entrance.

These elements were then stitched together to create a Canvas. The development provides a sustainable living experience that culminates into a home for families, couples, and individuals.

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MK: Were there any challenges during the design process that you had to overcome?&nbsp;

KC: What are maybe typically seen as challenges became opportunities to engage and have an honest and open dialogue with the planning authorities, taking them on the journey and together forming a collective example that exemplifies future-proofed planning outcomes and creates a precedent for future developments.

MK: How important are communal amenities in new developments, and why?

KC: Now more than ever the importance of communal amenity has come to the fore; people have never spent as much time in their apartments before and now they’re receiving a real education in design – seeing how the sun enters the rooms during the day, how much fresh air they receive and how they use outdoor space.&nbsp;

This is changing people’s attitudes and cementing what’s important to them. There’ll be a definite permanent mark left and we’ll be living differently in the future, with more flexible working, both from home and from the office. As a result, people will want greater liveable outdoor space and more personal space. People like the idea of having an escape and this kind of design will become even more popular because of what we’ve been through.

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Though designed pre-COVID, Canvas has all the prerequisites for a post-pandemic world and the intrinsic changes it has brought to the way we live, work and play. With an extensive rooftop resident’s amenity floor, Canvas has the answer. Our communal rooftop includes internal and external spaces, work from home places, comfortable lounge areas, kitchen with entertainment dining, north and south facing open air terraces with spectacular views and shared gardens, all sustainably delivered.

MK: What have you tried to do in the design that the average homebuyer may not notice straight away?&nbsp;

KC: A project, be it commercial, residential or retail, isn’t about selling space; it’s about selling the intangibles – the opportunities, the lifestyle and the economic prospects these spaces can provide.

By managing spaces, sharing resources and hosting activities together, residents are empowered to contribute to the surrounding community and the world at large, creating greater connections and happier lives.

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Urban recently sat down with Rothelowman’s Kylie Caruana, who has worked in the architectural studio for 12 years, to discuss the Melbourne development

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Designed by a Brunswick local: Rothelowman’s Kylie Caruana discusses the design influences behind Canvas, Brunswick apartments

St Boulevard, located at the intersection of the grand St. Kilda Boulevard and the Melbourne CBD, is home to three towers, Magnolia, Anaca and Ginko, named after the trees that serve as a garden centerpiece that links the three buildings.

Recently completed to a design by the renowned architecture firm Elenberg Fraser,&nbsp;the biophilic towers rise as high as 21&nbsp;storeys and home 419&nbsp;one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Apartments start from $410,000.

Urban has taken a closer look at St Boulevard and picked out its top selling points.

<h2>1. Developed by The Shakespeare Group</h2>

On each of its projects, The Shakespeare Group team begins with the careful selection of a location that will offer an exceptional level of amenity, as seen in St Boulevard.

The group then collaborates with industry experts like those at Elenberg Fraser, combining&nbsp;research, deep metrics and complex analyses to make&nbsp;decisions.

&quot;Unique, innovative and future-focused, The Shakespeare Group creates liveable spaces and lifestyle-driven communities to be enjoyed now and for years to come,&quot; the group said.

Other projects by The Shakespeare Group include, Habitat, Twin Waters in Queensland,&nbsp;Pullman Cairns and more commercial Melbourne developments on Collins and Bourke Street.

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<h2>2. Designed by the award-winning experts at Elenberg Fraser</h2>

Elenberg Fraser is an expert in multi-residential architecture and interior design, currently delivering around 42% of the apartments nearing completion and under construction in Melbourne.&nbsp;

The global practice has won a number of awards for its local projects in Melbourne, such as&nbsp;&nbsp;Fifty Albert in South Melbourne, Luna in St Kilda and A&rsquo;Beckett Tower on Melbourne&rsquo;s A&rsquo;Beckett Street.

&ldquo;We create flexible spaces that can be adapted to a range needs, with practical yet individual approaches to interior design,&quot; the architecture firm say.

&ldquo;Elenberg Fraser residential projects have demonstrated their potential to improve returns and work within strict floorplan and cost considerations, but also provide truly inhabitable environments that excite and engage their owners and tenants.&rdquo;

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<h2>3. Location,&nbsp;Location, Location</h2>

Located at&nbsp;601 St Kilda Road,&nbsp;St. Boulevard provides residents with a green&nbsp;lifestyle within walking distance to Albert Park to the West and the Royal Botanic Gardens to the East.

St. Kilda is one of Melbourne&rsquo;s most eclectic suburbs brimming with creativity, talent, innovation and entertainment.

The Shakespeare Group said St. Boulevard is placed between a concrete jungle and a bohemian hub with some of the quirkiest boutiques and restaurants lining Fitzroy and Acland Streets, just a few tram stops from home.

Some of Melbourne&rsquo;s best cultural and entertainment venues are close by as it&#39;s not far from the heart of&nbsp;Melbourne&rsquo;s Arts Precinct.

St. Boulevard&nbsp;is within walking distance to some of the best public and private schools in Melbourne. Take a short tram ride into the city, and residents are close to some of Australia&#39;s top-ranking universities.

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<h2>4. Over 2,000 sqm of resident amenity</h2>

St. Boulevard offers a multitude of exclusive facilities for residents, set in the natural leafy surroundings.

Private kitchens and dining rooms can be booked by residents, with space available in the climate-controlled wine storage racks. There&#39;s a library room that features an open fireplace, as well as a health club with spa, sauna and steam rooms.

A state-of-the-art gym is also on site, complete with&nbsp;a heated lagoon and lap pool. Outdoors there&#39;s resort-style outdoor pavilions, BBQ pods, garden seating areas and a children&#39;s play area.

The centerpiece of the development is the garden, home to large tree&#39;s after which the buildings are named, Magnolia, Ginko and Anaca.

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<h2>5. Apartment and building design</h2>

There are a number of different floorplans and configurations at&nbsp;St Boulevard.

Each kitchen features&nbsp;stone island benches, natural stone finishes and raw and polished textures, which compliment the surrounding natural landscape.

Living and kitchen areas open to balconies with views over the surrounding green areas and to the Melbourne CBD.

The floor plans are optimised with efficiency and maximise&nbsp;storage for convenient living and the exposure of natural light and city panoramic views due to the curved and sloping design of the towers, centred around a&nbsp;green&nbsp;park.

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St Boulevard, located at the intersection of the grand St. Kilda Boulevard and the Melbourne CBD, is home to three towers, Magnolia, Anaca and Ginko

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Why St Boulevard apartments on the fringe of Melbourne's CBD should be on a buyers shortlist

As the return to the office stalls due to ongoing lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne, discerning apartment developers are pivoting their approach to apartment design.

If not already as standard, a number of developers are going hard on the work-from-home office space, whether it&#39;s part of the wider development or within the apartments.

More than one-10th of Melbourne&#39;s office floor space was untenanted in July, the Property Council of Australia&#39;s Office Market Report showed. The St Kilda Rd precinct had Melbourne highest vacancy rate at 16.3 per cent, followed by Southbank by 15.2 per cent.

Chris McCue, managing director at architecture and design firm Carr, says he has seen the&nbsp;demand for a tailored home office space continue right through the pandemic.

&quot;The multitude of workspaces within a single dwelling has definitely risen as we move to more longer-term workplace flexibility and adaptive environments,&quot; McCue said.

The customisable apartments at Riverlee&#39;s mixed-use Melbourne development Seafarers had a recent buyer re-jig&nbsp;the floorplan, taking out the laundry sink which was moved to the ensuite to accomodate a study nook large enough for two people, fitted with cabinetry and shelving.

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The developer Riverlee also focused on the home office boom by adding shared facilities in the 123-room development, located in the same Flinders Street building as&nbsp;Australia&#39;s first 1 Hotel.

Residents will have access to a number of meeting rooms and breakout areas, an 800-seat function space, a residents-only library and communal lounge. There&#39;s also onsite building support staff who can assist with printing.

The home office facilities, as well as the access of&nbsp;exclusive privileges when staying at a&nbsp;1 Hotel&nbsp;worldwide, has seen a big uptake in purchases by entrepreneurs and executives.

Seafarers was&nbsp;designed by Fender Katsalidis on the banks of the Yarra River. They were tasked with&nbsp;reimagining&nbsp;the heritage-protected Goods Shed 5, preserving&nbsp;the only intact remnants from the days before containerisation.

McCue said Seafarers&nbsp;faceted exterior does more than create a striking urban presence, it yields uniquely large floorplans.

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&quot;From the four-bedroom penthouses to two-bedroom residences, each interior is meticulously planned to maximise natural light, external views and connection to the textures and rhythms of its riverfront setting,&quot; McCue said.

&quot;Luxury can mean so much in terms of spatial and service amenity and is where Seafarers achieves luxury in many ways.

&quot;From a service inclusion and connection to 1 Hotels, to the kitchen joinery and fixtures inclusions, to the inclusion of generous and highly-functional storage.

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&quot;There was a lot of consideration around house-like storage amenity, as well as spatial amenity and flow through spaces and connection.

&quot;Our key spatial thinking and beliefs include connected indoor and outdoor living spaces, controlled and extended aspects, extended views that are aligned with internal planning.&quot;

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Chris McCue, managing director at architecture and design firm Carr, says he has seen the demand for a tailored home office space continue right through the pandemic

Joel Robinson

How apartment customisation and adding a home office is driving off the plan sales

Chronicle Armadale is a collection of just 31 three-bedroom residences, located on the dress circle&nbsp;High Street and set&nbsp;in one of Melbourne&rsquo;s most established retail and lifestyle destinations.

Apartment 304 is the last remaining three-bedroom apartment available&nbsp;in the refined development, boasting an intelligent floorplan and flexible spaces.

Delivered by Bensons Property Group, Chronicle has a strong sense of composition, with flexibility and expression.

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&ldquo;From the beginning, Chronicle has been inspired by movement. The same concepts which form classical dance &ndash; grace, poise, strength, tradition, beauty &ndash; have driven us to craft new homes of rare beauty&rdquo;, Bensons&rsquo; Rick Curtis said.

The apartment presents an elegant aesthetic, with the use of sliding panels for flexibility, energy efficient initiatives and stylishly appointed interiors.

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Set over a total area of 116sqm, the third-floor apartment includes two bathrooms, an open-plan living and kitchen, built-in robes and a balcony.

The carefully selected interior palette includes elegant materials and textures inspired by copper and herringbone.

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In the kitchen, integrated Miele appliances are complemented by stone benchtops, a beautiful splashback and fine, 2 pac gloss-finished cabinetry.

Although Melbourne&rsquo;s dining scene is internationally renowned, staying home at Chronicle is also an attractive option, thanks to considered residences, abundant light and a feeling of relaxation.

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Delivered by Bensons Property Group, Chronicle boasts a strong sense of composition, with flexibility and expression

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