Towers

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<p>Cast your eyes over the northern reaches of Melbourne's CBD and a not-too-subtle marker is taking its place. Brady Group's <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/vision-500-elizabeth-street-melbourne">Vision</a> has motored past the 150 metre mark on its way to 226 metres and in doing so is acting as a vanguard project of sorts for the rash of new residential towers set to redefine this section of Melbourne.</p>

<p>With a host of new proposals joining the ranks of late, now presents as an opportune time to provide an overview of these residential towers that promise to remodel the northern areas of the CBD beyond recognition.</p>

<h2>The current drop</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/image43_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A host of projects are early into their construction cycle"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="273" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image43_0.jpg?itok=hXuuDiC-" title="A host of projects are early into their construction cycle" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A host of projects are early into their construction cycle</figcaption></figure><p>Clockwise above are <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/eporo-tower-279-la-trobe-street-melbourne">Eporo</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/light-house-450-elizabeth-street-melbourne">Light House</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/eq-tower-127-abeckett-street-melbourne">EQ Tower</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/victoria-one-452-472-elizabeth-street-melbourne">Victoria One</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/empire-melbourne-398-elizabeth-street-melbourne">Empire</a>, the most advanced of which has risen two levels above ground. Joining these projects in the early stages of construction are <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/the-trillium-36-la-trobe-street-melbourne">Trillium</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/la-trobe-tower-323-la-trobe-street-melbourne">La Trobe Tower</a>.</p>

<p>Near on 3,100 apartments are contained within the above seven projects, demonstrating the sheer pace at which this section of the CBD is evolving into a high-rise residential hub. With Vision, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/the-carlson-321-la-trobe-street-melbourne">The Carlson</a> and part of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/fulton-lane-151-franklin-street-melbourne">Fulton Lane</a> also under construction, the number of apartments under construction is inflated by a further 1,460.​</p>

<p>It's a staggering number, yet such is the volume of upcoming projects north of La Trobe Street and south of Victoria Street that it can easily be surpassed by those projects in waiting.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="400" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" msallowfullscreen="msallowfullscreen" oallowfullscreen="oallowfullscreen" src="https://charts.datawrapper.de/abxpa/index.html" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<h2>Incoming</h2>

<p>A master sales agent has been assigned to <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/swanston-central-168-victoria-street-carlton">8 Bouverie Street</a>, with its sales campaign imminent. Snapped up by Hengyi, the project is set to follow the current project Light House, albeit with a greater apartment yield exceeding 1,000 dwellings; the final numbers for the project will be revealed shortly.</p>

<p>Also pushing up the development chain are two separate projects for student accommodation provider Scape Student Living. <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/scape-la-trobe-212-la-trobe-street-melbourne">212-222 La Trobe Street</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/scape-melbourne-393-swanston-street-melbourne">393 Swanston Street</a> between them are capable of providing in excess of 1,500 dwellings and have a completion date spread over 2018-2019. These are joined by the approved <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/377-391-swanston-street-melbourne">377 La Trobe Street</a> scheme which would essentially sit between the two nominated projects above, although its delivery timeframe is unknown.</p>

<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/image38_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Side by side and set for reshape the La Trobe Street landscape"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="223" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image38_2.jpg?itok=VkDr756g" title="Side by side and set for reshape the La Trobe Street landscape" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Side by side and set for reshape the La Trobe Street landscape</figcaption></figure><p>Also maintaining a 2019 completion timeline is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/aurora-melbourne-central-224-la-trobe-street-melbourne">Aurora Melbourne Central</a> which is due to begin site demolition at present while <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/97-franklin-street-melbourne">97 Franklin Street</a> remains the only major approved development in the CBD's northern precinct without publicly known development plans. The 200 metre plus golden tower is value at approximately $200 million and would carry 551 apartments and 144 serviced apartments.</p>

<p>Looming is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/conservatory-9-23-mackenzie-street-melbourne">Conservatory</a> with in excess of 450 apartments; it will be UEM Sunrise's next Melbourne venture post the sales success of Aurora Melbourne Central.</p>

<p>The projects at planning are equally as imposing with four towers in excess of 200 metres on the radar. Headlining the show is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/queens-place-350-queen-street-melbourne">Queens Place</a> with 1,700 dwellings over two hulking towers, the tallest of which is 267 metres. Nearby 293 - 303 La Trobe Street Melbourne is shaping up for a slender residential tower with 370 dwellings over what is the Duke of Kent hotel.</p>

<p>Most recently submitted for assessment is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/unilodge-place-478-488-elizabeth-street-melbourne">478 Elizabeth Street</a> with a 68 storey mixed-use development envisaged. 399 apartments and 196 hotel suites would constitute the development's yield.</p>

<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/ldo_cbd.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © Laurence Dragomir"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="497" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ldo_cbd.jpg?itok=EAaBuHpN" title="Image © Laurence Dragomir" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image © Laurence Dragomir</figcaption></figure><p>Perhaps the most poignant indicator as the the rapid change and sheer volume of projects sweeping through the northern parts of the CBD is the render created by Laurence Dragomir above. Barely a year old the image depicts six of the tallest proposals with Aurora Melbourne Central being the only project not at construction.</p>

<p>If nothing else the dynamism of this pocket of the CBD provides impetus for an updated Urban.com.au render.</p>
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silvermb

Northern lights: the incredible rate of change in Melbourne's northern CBD

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<p class="rtejustify">Blink and you would have missed it!  Within weeks of this prime <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/southbank-vic">Southbank</a> development site at <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/38-freshwater-place-southbank">25-35 Power Street (also known as 38 Freshwater Place)</a> landing a new owner, a planning application landed in the lap of determining body <a href="http://www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank">DTPLI</a>.  Having the site purchase announced during October, new owner <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/freshwater-no-6-pty-ltd">Freshwater No 6 Pty Ltd</a>, a company located within the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/sydney-nsw">Sydney</a> suburb of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/rhodes-nsw">Rhodes</a>, wasted no time in submitting detailed plans for a 70 storey mixed-use tower with an expected end value of approximately $400 million.</p>

<p class="rtejustify"><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/docklands-vic">Docklands</a>-based firm <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/metier3">Metier 3</a> were commissioned for the design, located on a 3096 <span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: arial, sans-serif;">m</span><sup style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: arial, sans-serif;">2</sup></span><sup style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </sup>site in an area already heavy with high-rise developments.  If approved 25-35 Power Street seeks to join four other 200 metre plus towers on this 'Southbank block of strength,' including <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/prima-pearl-31-queensbridge-street-southbank" target="_blank">Prima Pearl</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/one-queensbridge-street-1-23-queensbridge-street-southbank" target="_blank">Queensbridge Tower</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/25-queensbridge-street-southbank" target="_blank">25 Queensbridge Street</a>, although for reasons unbeknown the latter 236 metre approved tower was omitted from the diagram below.  Minimum distance to 25-35 Power Street's closest residential neighbour is 27.5 metres.</p>

<p class="rtejustify">Surrounded by towers with regular, if not interestingly shaped floor plates, Metier 3 have chosen to design a tower with an irregular, tapering floor plate which they describe as:</p>

<div class="rtejustify">"Taking the curvaceous two dimensional forms of those buildings both existing and proposed in close proximity and translating this into a true three dimensional form the building mass draws inspiration from the feminine form. With flowing curves and material patterning reminiscent of ballroom gowns and highly detailed junctions, the evoking comparison to Pavé jewellery, the built form will entail a sense of materiality and form in counterpoint to the more rigid forms adjacent."</div>

<div class="rtejustify"> </div>

<p class="rtejustify"><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_20.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Design inspiration and context. Image © Metier 3"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="409" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image5_20.jpg?itok=9q9JofdM" title="Design inspiration and context. Image © Metier 3" width="580"></a></p>

<div class="rtejustify"><em>"My work is not about form follows function, but form follows beauty, or, even better, form follow feminine"</em></div>

<div class="rtejustify"> </div>

<div class="rtejustify">Quoting Oscar Niemeyer above, Metier 3's objective was to create a unique tower form and that box has been ticked.  What pleases the author to no end is the use of textured stone cladding over lower levels and also the tower's leading edge fronting Power Street.  Stone is a quality, timeless material that is exponentially better than painted precast panels, yet has fallen out of favour in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne</a> seemingly.</div>

<div class="rtejustify"> </div>

<div class="rtejustify">Complementing the stone will be aluminium composite panels and metal trim finishes, while the dominant element will be the towers glazing which according to the materials schedule is verging on army green in appearance - it surely won't be missed in the skyline!</div>

<div class="rtejustify"> </div>

<div class="rtejustify">It's also refreshing to see a continuous tower form from the ground up where the podium is not clearly defined and tower not set back from Power Street, although one wonders whether DTPLI and Melbourne City Council will be suitable impressed. And what of the all important street activation where the public will predominantly interact with the complex?  Whilst the absolute street frontage is dominated by a Port Cochere entry servicing the hotel lobby and existing vehicle access to the adjoining office tower, plantings and an arched canopy seek to soften the street view.</div>

<div class="rtejustify"> </div>

<div class="rtejustify">The ground floor sees a public access arcade link Power Street to the existing internal garden and retail facilities of Freshwater Place, and Queensbridge Square beyond.</div>

<div class="rtejustify"> </div>

<p class="rtejustify"><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_49.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Expected view from Queensbridge Street. Image © Metier 3"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="1575" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image1_49.jpg?itok=M92gmQ6v" title="Expected view from Queensbridge Street. Image © Metier 3" width="580"></a></p>

<p class="rtejustify">With one basement level car park, ground floor as mentioned hosts seven separate retail spaces fronting the arcade, in addition to the expected hotel/apartments lobbies and ancillary services such as loading etc.  Mezzanine floor also hosts four retail spaces for a total of 1,300 <span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: arial, sans-serif;">m</span><sup style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: arial, sans-serif;">2</sup>.  With the proceeding five levels of podium car parking, a total of 240 vehicles and 146 bicycles are accommodated.</p>

<p class="rtejustify">178 one and two-bedroom boutique apartments cover the first ten inhabitable floors, with the assumption that these are short stay and/or serviced apartments. Thereafter 32 levels of traditional apartments follow with 318 in total spread between 82 one, 156 two and 80 three bedroom options - 80 three bedders at between 120-150 square metres each equates to 25% of total traditional apartment offerings.  </p>

<p class="rtejustify">This is the highest percentile of three bedroom apartments in any development covered by <a href="http://www.urban.com.au">Urban.com.au</a> and speaks toward the intended quality/target market for this development.</p>

<p class="rtejustify">Proceeding these will be an entire commercial floor containing 21 office suites, a hotel sky lobby and back of house services located on level 51 while dual floors covering conference, restaurant and function facilities follow.  15 hotel floors absorb levels 54-68 with the typical hotel floor containing 24 single bed dwellings, while hotel facilities line the remaining two floors which include a sky bar and pool the best part of 260 metres above ground.</p>

<p class="rtejustify"><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_19.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Cross section and uses. Image © Metier 3"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="834" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image5_19.jpg?itok=Aab_PVfN" title="Cross section and uses. Image © Metier 3" width="580"></a></p>

<p class="rtejustify">The associated traffic report prepared by <a href="http://www.gta.com.au/home.aspx" target="_blank">GTA Consultants</a> shows 480 car spaces within the development meets statutory requirements, whilst also remaining under the total 2,300 car park threshold for the entire Freshwater site.  Also noted is the failure of 146 bicycle spaces in meeting statutory requirements, with a minimum 171 spaces required.</p>

<p class="rtejustify">Quoting the report, "The site is expected to generate up to 190 and 230 vehicle movements in the AM and PM peak hours respectively.  There is adequate capacity in the surrounding road network to cater for the traffic generated by the proposed development."  Adequate capacity there may be for 25-35 Power Street, but the sheer number of proposed towers in Southbank and the traffic they would generate if realised would surely make Southbank an 'interesting' place to navigate in a decade's time.</p>

<p class="rtejustify">Overall a total of 846 separate dwellings within 25-35 Power Street would not only see it become one of Melbourne's tallest buildings, but likely the densest liveable structure in Melbourne; a planning decision is not expected for some months.</p>
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Not so straight forward > 25-35 Power Street, Southbank

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<p>The focus of today's article is <a href="http://www.equiset.com.au/">Equiset</a>'s proposal at 710 Collins Street, designed by <a href="http://www.hassellstudio.com/">Hassell</a> and potentially Docklands' tallest building at 189 metres.  I will also touch briefly on the proposal's impact on the skyline together with <a href="http://www.collinssquare.com.au/">Collins Square</a> <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/forum/docklands-collins-square-multi-tower-office">Tower 4D</a> and <a href="http://www.lendlease.com/site-settings/splashpage.aspx">Lend Lease</a>'s <a href="http://www.batmanshillcollinsstreet.com.au/">701 Collins Street project</a> (covered in a separate <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/batmans-hill-collins-street-the-missing-piece-of-the-docklands-jigsaw">article</a>) by way of a number of in context renders.</p>

<p>Equiset's proposal calls for the demolition of the barely 5-year old <a href="http://elenbergfraser.com/">Elenberg Fraser</a> designed 'Lantern' structure fronting Collins Street in addition to 7 bays of <a href="http://elenbergfraser.com/#!/project/goods-shed">Goods Shed North</a>, in order to accommodate a 34-storey Premium Grade commercial tower offering 47,500m2 (NLA) of office space. The office space will be supplemented by up to 1,200m2 of retail space, stronger connections between the Goods Shed and Collins Street via a new set of public stairs,  a new laneway and public plaza.</p>

<p>The development is aiming for a minimum 5-Star Green Star Design &amp; As Built, and a minimum 5-Star NABERS.</p>

<p><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/710%20Collins%20Street_tower%20views.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="408" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/710%20Collins%20Street_tower%20views.jpg?itok=jTfQ566S" width="580"></a></p>

<p>The proposed tower presents as a crystalline element on the skyline "<em>whilst providing a glimpse of the overall super structure within.</em>"  Hassell's scheme employs a largely homogenous glazed skin raised above a brick plinth that suggests an erosion of form, with openings 'carved in' to allow views from within and out, with the stair cascading down from Collins Street to the new lobby below.  </p>

<p>While the Goods Shed and proposed tower never physically come into contact, a number of visual relationships are intimated through the timber-lined,  vaulted underbelly of the tower.  Generated from the profile of the goods shed and enhanced via the angled facade to the lower levels of the tower - the skyscrapers highly reflective glazing is designed to capture the Goods Shed in an almost ethereal reflection of what was once a much longer continuous structure. </p>

<p>The benefit of the proposed development is two fold - it frees up the Goods Shed from any new architectural intervention thus providing the public with a greater viewing opportunity of its interior and structure, allowing  for an enhanced pedestrian experience.  Additionally a new view is opened up through to the Goods Shed below and Stadium Precinct beyond (including another Hassell tower at 720 Bourke), framed by the vaulted ceiling above. </p>

<p><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/Public%20Stair.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Public stair with vaulted ceiling above and view beyond."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="413" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Public%20Stair.jpg?itok=AS2DSOGX" title="Public stair with vaulted ceiling above and view beyond." width="580"></a></p>

<p>The ground floor area of the development is largely permeable with retail offerings flanking the new east-west laneway and activity spilling out on to it which should also go someway to activating both Aurora Lane and Village Street.  The proposed treatment to these areas is a timber decking - a softer contrast to the robust brick plinth. Minimal car parking of only 8 spaces is included with an entry off Village Street; extremely low by any measure but particularly so for a commercial complex.</p>

<p>Cyclist facilities are proposed within the Goods Shed via Village Street with visitor bicycle spaces externally. </p>

<p><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/new%20laneway.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="New laneway between tower and Goods Shed."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="411" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/new%20laneway.jpg?itok=qqAOs8xS" title="New laneway between tower and Goods Shed." width="580"></a></p>

<p>An area that could do with a bit more refinement is the westerly wall of the brick plinth, flanking the stairs and housing the substation.  Currently it presents to the street and pedestrian as a blank brick wall save for the car park entry - now I love my brick but I would like to see a bit more articulation whether through the feathering of the brick, manipulation of the brick to create some sort of visual relief, or artwork or even a great big 710 Collins Street sign.</p>

<p>One of the aims of the development is to <em>"re-establish and reconnect Batman's Hill to the traditional city of Melbourne by strengthening the CBD built form from Docklands."   T</em>his begins to become evident when 710 Collins Street is viewed in the context of future development at Batman's Hill, namely the new 145m KPMG headquarters at Collins Square and the mammoth 701 Collins Street development - ten buildings ranging in height from 20m to 160m.  </p>

<p>Batman's Hill was always envisioned as being the transitional threshold between the CBD and Docklands, yet visually this is only just beginning to become apparent. </p>

<p><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/710C%2001_EDIT_1.png" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="239" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/710C%2001_EDIT_1.png?itok=detFpOu_" width="580"></a></p>

<p>One thing that is highlighted is an imbalance in the Batman's Hill precinct - with a taller, denser core towards the south of the precinct.  Buildings such as 750 Collins Street, 700 Collins Street and 737 Bourke Street seem aesthetically and at a macro scale rather transitory, as if it's only a matter of time before they too are replaced by something taller and architecturally more adventurous.</p>

<p>As Docklands continues to mature I expect we will see more and more first generation (or G1 as I like to call them) commercial buildings replaced with taller, more striking buildings and 710 Collins is just the beginning of the next phase of Docklands evolution.  While the partial demolition of Goods Shed North is unfortunate I believe the benefits to the public realm far outweigh the negatives. The employing of timber and masonry as more natural counter elements to the glazed steel structured tower is a huge positive for mine, resulting in a less sterile environment.</p>

<p>Overall I believe Hassell have designed an excellent scheme which strikes a good balance between the commercial requirements of their client, heritage concerns and benefits to the public realm.   </p>
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