St. Collins Lane

<html><body>
Australia on Collins has taken on a different complexion of late as tenants continue to move out in preparation for the centre's <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/st-collins-lane-vies-for-a-piece-of-the-luxury-market" target="_blank">considerable redevelopment</a> and ultimate rebirth as St. Collins Lane.

Capitalising on a gaggle of lease expiries while negotiating early lease terminations with others, centre operator LaSalle Investment Management finds itself with a unique asset that now resembles more of a ghost town than retail hub.

<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/Img_6201_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Australia on Collins in its final days"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_6201_0.jpg?itok=uKhoWDwp" style="height:387px; width:580px" title="Australia on Collins in its final days"></a>

The centre's hiatus is temporary however, as leading national contractor <a href="http://www.built.com.au/" target="_blank">Built</a> are due to take site control soon enough, enabling the demolition of existing interiors to begin. With the majority of construction staged from Little Collins Street, the complex will be significantly and structurally refurbished according to management.

<blockquote>
St. Collins Lane will be transformed into a 9000 SQM home to highly desirable, international and local designer brands, offering 60 exclusive tenancies in a light-drenched, sophisticated and urbane shopping environment. Rising from the lower ground, with two levels atop, St. Collins Lane aims to become Melbourneʼs new retail ʻpasseggiataʼ in the tradition of Melbourneʼs historic shopping thoroughfares such as The Royal Arcade.

Located at 260 Collins Street, St. Collins Lane is Melbourneʼs new $200M luxury shopping destination, which is expected to bring the European sophistication of the ʻParis end of Collins Streetʼ down the hill, directly into the city centre.
</blockquote>

Triumphing over fellow architecture firms Buchan and NH Architecture, project lead ARM Architecture has conceived a design that draws upon the success of their previous retail experience. While a laneway strategy has been implemented once more akin to nearby ARM project Melbourne Central, the architect has incorporated a high degree of sophistication into St. Collins Lane with the intent of setting it apart from all-comers.

Chosen to convey an understated quality, 'champagne' is considered the dominant colour both internally and externally as the Collins Street frontage will be remodelled extensively to deliver a grand and glamorous yet practical entrance. The generous foyer coupled with terrace/dining options above constitutes a welcoming exterior, far from what is currently presented to street level.

<blockquote>
St. Collins Lane will now provide a direct linkage and clear sightlines from Collins Street to Little Collins Street. Gone are the days when customers were ʻtrappedʼ in shopping malls. St. Collins Lane has been conceived as a series of boutiques for the 21st century. It is not a traditional shopping centre. It is part arcade and part lane. An intimate experience at the centre of St. Collins Lane, integrated with the urban fabric of the city.
</blockquote>

<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/Image268.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The stylings of ARM are evident. Image courtesy ARM Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image268.jpg?itok=a_KiJuQP" style="height:372px; width:580px" title="The stylings of ARM are evident. Image courtesy ARM Architecture"></a>

In discussing the project with LaSalle Investment Management's National Director of Development, Matthew Bailey, he conveyed LaSalle's desire to create a showpiece for St. Collins Lane. This will be by way of the 'lighscape' seen above which will not only act as a focal point but also cast a dynamic shadow pattern through the complex as natural light permeates through the transparent ceiling above.

<blockquote>
An enormous vaulted roof provides natural light throughout. The crowing glory is an undulating and sculptural ʻlightscapeʼ comprised of neon pendants that will cascade down. A dining terrace on level two will be defined by this lightscape, which is reminiscent of an illuminated canopy of leaves, a reflective place to sit and enjoy a meal.
</blockquote>

While Urban.com.au will tour St. Collins Lane both during and post construction, tomorrow Laurence will highlight a recent <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/neil-masterton-talks-st-collins-lane" target="_blank">interview with ARM Architecture design director Neil Masterton</a>. Neil will offer first hand knowledge on the design ethos and guiding principles behind St. Collins Lane.
</body></html>

silvermb

St. Collins Lane nears construction

<html><body>
Urban.com.au recently talked with ARM Architecture's Neil Masterton. As Design Director of the prolific architecture firm, Neil was the premier candidate to explore the design rationale behind the pending <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/st-collins-lane-vies-for-a-piece-of-the-luxury-market" target="_blank">St. Collins Lane development</a>, formerly Australia on Collins.

LD: What were the key drivers behind your offices' design strategy for St. Collins Lane? Improved sight lines? Light? Greater permeability?

NM: The fundamental driver behind the St Collins Lane project was the desire of the client and design team to create a particular boutique retail experience in an urban core that is specifically related to Melbourne. This is not a shopping experience but an urban retail experience.

NM: It is a re-structure of the existing centre with a flattening out of the floor plates and rationalisation - five floors down to four but the overall area will increase by 1000 sqm to about 9,000 sqm. The centre will boast high ceilings of 3.5m and we'll also be filling in the large void in the ground floor. We wanted to create a distinction between the high end of Collins Street and the boutique laneway environment of Little Collins Street. There will be a strong visual connection between the two by way of improved site lines from Collins Street through to Little Collins Street.

NM: The entry point from Collins Street will be double height with a little canopy over the dining deck on the upper level which really opening the centre up to Collins Street. It is about creating a vertical experience but also an elegant passeggiata with a level of intimacy in the heart of the city.

LD: Were there any particular inspirations for the design team both in a local and international context?

NM: We were fascinated with the great streets of the world - 5th Avenue in New York, the Champs-Élysées in Paris - these types of places.

LD: What lessons were learnt/what were you able to take away from the offices' experience on Melbourne Central - although there is clearly a different target demographic in mind?

NM: St Collins Lane is a unique experience but we were able to draw upon some similar approaches to design and ambitions - making the experience clear and direct with good sight lines - we wanted to steer clear of the labyrinth and 'trapping people' - a subtly different identity between levels is employed but within a holistic vision for the centre.

NM: The departure point between the two is obviously in the scale. St Collins Lane is a relatively small boutique experience that offers the opportunity for intimacy - where Melbourne Central occupies an entire city block. It is not a shopping centre but it's also not quite a laneway. It is unique.

<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/comparison.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A stark Melbourne Central and St. Collins Lane comparison. Image © ARM Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/comparison.jpg?itok=w3suh1bc" style="height:263px; width:580px" title="A stark Melbourne Central and St. Collins Lane comparison. Image © ARM Architecture"></a> ​

LD: Would you say it's a typology all of its own?

NM: Yes, that's perhaps one way of looking at it.

LD: Would I be correct in suggesting that St. Collins Lane is a bit more restrained formally with a much more subtle materials palette than usually employed by ARM?

NM: It's more about responding in vigorous ways to different settings. Retail itself is the most prominent or pronounced feature - the architecture has to help the retail but you don't want to necessarily see it as secondary. It's a bit of a juggling act - the generic nature of the shopping centre and the bespoke nature of the laneway or arcade. It becomes about the architecture of the public realm more than anything.

NM: To elaborate further, public spaces should be memorable. People should be encouraged to congregate in them, to be seen in them. I would say that the Royal Arcade is a memorable place and something St Collins Lane aspires to, so you could say that there is a sliding scale between the generic and the particular.

LD: The retail core is undergoing a renaissance similar to that of Melbourne's laneways in the 90's - what do you put that down to? Increased competition from an increasing number of international retailers? Increase in population and the advent of later trading hours?

NM: This is very much an architect's take on it but I would say it's a combination of a number of factors. There certainly are many more people living in the city. I think the diversity of Melbourne and Australia in general are seen as quite desirable for both international retailers and people looking to migrate, particularly the Asian middle class population. H&amp;M moving into the GPO didn't necessarily seem like a good fit at the time but it appears to be working.

NM: The other factor the retail world has to come to terms with is on-line shopping.

LD: Funny you should mention on-line shopping. That was my next question - the evolution of shopping and the implications for architecture - online vs physical?

NM: On-line shopping can't offer a visceral urban experience. I believe there is a strong desire and need for actual visual and physical interactions and developers/retailers are looking more and more to create great places to be, interesting places to be! The experience is something that on-line can't offer and this is in part is what's leading to much more retail outcomes. Shopping is no longer shopping as it was in the 19th Century for example.

NM: It's all about being seen hanging out in interesting places, the element of 'shopping' has become secondary - it's all about the experience and creating memorable spaces.

Many thanks to Neil Masterton for setting some time aside to chat with Urban.com.au.
</body></html>

Laurence Dragomir

Neil Masterton talks St. Collins Lane 

<html><body>
In a retail 'arms race' of sorts to be left behind is to be vulnerable at present, so with that in mind interests controlling Australia on Collins announced last week that the venerable Melbourne address will be vacated next month in preparation for a new retail experience.

Whilst fellow CBD retail venues such as GPO, Emporium and The Strand have progressively unveiled new redevelopments of late, Australia on Collins will rebirth as <a href="http://www.stcollinslane.com/" target="_blank">St. Collins Lane</a> following a transformation valued at $200 million.

Seeking to usurp all-comers as Collins Street's premier retail destination, the redevelopment will be defined by a new internal laneway running between Collins Street and Little Collins Street. When complete St. Collins Lane will be topped by a large vaulted roof allowing natural light to penetrate throughout while the projects showpiece is "An undulating and sculptural lightscape comprised of neon pendants that will cascade down. A dining terrace on level two will be defined by this lightscape, which is reminiscent of an illuminated canopy of leaves."

<h2>Project Summary</h2>

<h3>260 Collins Street - St. Collins Lane</h3>

<ul>
<li>Architect: ARM Architecture</li>
	<li>Client: <a href="http://www.lasalle.com/AU/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">LaSalle Investment Management</a>
</li>
	<li>Cost: $200 million</li>
	<li>60 tenancies over three levels and 9,000 square metres</li>
</ul>
<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/Image1_53.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artists impression of the Collins Street frontage. Image © Cornwell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image1_53.jpg?itok=TekWSjGf" style="height:310px; width:580px" title="Artists impression of the Collins Street frontage. Image © Cornwell"></a>

<h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
Geographically, St. Collins Lane will complete the north-to-south pedestrian path through the city with both entrances attracting a dramatically increased footfall as commuters flood into the city centre.
<cite>Matthew Bailey, National Director of Development LaSalle Investment Management</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
St. Collins Lane will now provide a direct linkage and clear sightlines from Collins Street to Little Collins Street. Gone are the days when customers were ʻtrappedʼ in shopping malls. St. Collins Lane has been conceived as a series of boutiques for the 21st century. It is not a traditional shopping centre. It is part arcade and part lane. An intimate experience at the centre of St. Collins Lane, integrated with the urban fabric of the city.
<cite>Neil Masterton, Design Director of ARM Architecture</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
We commenced our selective and targeted leasing campaign early 2014, with a strong focus on luxury and international retailers. With Melbourne being one of the hottest markets across the globe for these luxury and international brands the interest has been extremely strong. These brands have confirmed a strong desire for a Collins St address and with limited availability in only 60 retail shops. We are confident of securing a globally recognized tenancy mix.
<cite>Alistair Palmer, National Director - CBRE Retail Services Group Australia</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>ARM Draws on Experience</h2>

ARM are no novices when remodeling existing large-scale retail structures, with Melbourne Central the prime example. A light drenched north-south internal laneway, retail spaces over multiple levels and the introduction of glass ceilings are all elements that both retail centres will hold in common, although St. Collins Square fit-outs are expected to be far more decadent given the target tenant profile.

<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/Image5arm.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A template of sorts for St. Collins Lane? Image © ARM Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image5arm.jpg?itok=A-konLXs" style="height:497px; width:580px" title="A template of sorts for St. Collins Lane? Image © ARM Architects"></a>

With works due to commence during 2014, St. Collins Lane is expected to open after an 18 month construction period.
</body></html>

St. Collins Lane

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

St. Collins Lane

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News