UNStudio

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<p>Vicinity Centres, operator of The Glen, gained a decisive win last week with City of Monash deciding to issue a Notice of Decision that will allow the operator to considerably boost the number of apartments it has planned as part of its wide-ranging redevelopment of the Glen Waverley shopping complex.</p>

<p>Subject to a number of conditions, the latest version of The Glen's pending $500 million overhaul will see apartment numbers rise from 427 to 539. Post approval of the previously intended redevelopment, Vicinity Centres went back to planning, introducing the proposed amendments during August.</p>

<p>NH Architecture remains the project's principal design driver, with UNStudio also present across planning documents, suggesting that the international design studio has played a part in the design evolution of the project.</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/image217_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Glen's new perspective. Planning images: NH Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="318" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image217_0.jpg?itok=JBKcJhEr" title="The Glen's new perspective. Planning images: NH Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Glen's new perspective. Planning images: NH Architecture</figcaption></figure><p>Expected changes to the centre's facade now sees a layered new skin consisting primarily of aluminium finishes, with the three residential towers also changing their configuration markedly.</p>

<p>The tallest 'Signature Tower' which was initially at 76.51 metres has lost five levels to better meet Council expectations regarding height. The 'Kingsway Axial Building' remains at 13 levels while the 'Urban Building' has been approved at 12 levels, and with considerably increased girth.</p>

<p>The wash up now sees Vicinity Centres able to add 539 apartments across the three approved towers, with configurations including 155 x 1 bedroom apartments, 357 x 2 bedroom apartments, 22 x 3 bedroom apartments and 5 x 4 bedroom penthouses which will crown the 'Signature Tower'.</p>

<p>Included within the revamped centre will be a net total retail floor space of 73,024sqm and 3,540 retail car spaces, plus 674 new spaces devoted to residential and residential visitor use.</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/image214_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Glen's proposed Square and Pavilion. Planning image: NH Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="218" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image214_0.jpg?itok=c0IgN_KQ" title="The Glen's proposed Square and Pavilion. Planning image: NH Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Glen's proposed Square and Pavilion. Planning image: NH Architecture</figcaption></figure><p>Future residents will also have access to 2,700sqm of dedicated communal open space across the southern aspect of the complex.</p>

<p>The Glen's forthcoming development will also strive to add a degree of placemaking by way of a new public square and pavilion that will dominate the corner of Snedden Drive and O'Sullivan Road.</p>

<p>City of Monash have in recent times made a conscious effort to encourage Glen Waverley's various developments to provide an active and engaging street level outcome. The Glen's public square will eventually sit opposite the new 15 level <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/galleria-glen-waverley-52-osullivan-road-glen-waverley">Galleria</a> apartment development with its active frontages, while Council is also pursuing a redevelopment of the Glen Waverley Central Car Park site.</p>

<p>It in time is likely to feature a new library and community hub, expanses of green public space and a variety of predominantly residential towers, in line with Council's vision for a revamped heart of Glen Waverley.</p>
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silvermb

The Glen redevelopment grows further with more apartments approved

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<p>News has filtered through that <a href="http://www.unstudio.com/" target="_blank">UNStudio</a> have replaced Bjarke Ingles Group in partnering with Hassell to deliver a competitive scheme for the new 447 Collins Street, previously outlined in <a href="/development/2014/02/17/cbus-brings-in-the-big-guns-for-447-collins-street" target="_blank">Laurence's article</a>.</p>

<p>So accomplished are UNStudio that we thought it appropriate to highlight five of their designs that would fit into a given Melbourne streetscape seamlessly - or at least we wish they would.</p>

<h2>695 Collins Street</h2>

<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/Image10_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ever so slightly better. Image © UNStudio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="262" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image10_11.jpg?itok=4uJXbJ6l" title="Ever so slightly better. Image © UNStudio" width="580"></a></p>

<p>My favoured <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/expert-insights/buying/batmans-hill-leaves-much-to-be-desired" target="_blank">punching bag</a> this week, Lend Lease have chosen a 'minimalistic look' for their dual commercial buildings that will plug the last remaining gap on Collins Street. If nothing else the above designs in <a href="http://www.unstudio.com/projects/columbia-business-school" target="_blank">New York</a> and <a href="http://www.unstudio.com/projects/galleria-cheonan" target="_blank">Cheonan</a>, Korea demonstrate that a delicate facade can do wonders, even on a simple rectangular floorplate.</p>

<h2>101 Waterfront Way</h2>

<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/2684618480.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Better than the Melbourne Star? Image © UNStudio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/2684618480.jpg?itok=yfqnIMYn" title="Better than the Melbourne Star? Image © UNStudio" width="580"></a></p>

<p>Roll Melbourne Star into the Bay? The maligned development even though rebuilt still screams of simple 'Meccano' design - not much more than an enlarged Ferris wheel. There are some incredibly well designed observations wheels out there, perhaps no better than UNStudio's Japanese example, <a href="http://www.unstudio.com/projects/gow-nippon-moon" target="_blank">Gow Nippon Moon</a>.</p>

<p>Hybrid tension design and incredible looks; Melbourne Star pales in comparison.</p>

<h2>Fed Square East</h2>

<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/2703986929.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A ready-made Fed Square East. Image © UNStudio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="345" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/2703986929.jpg?itok=hVw7aW4u" title="A ready-made Fed Square East. Image © UNStudio" width="580"></a></p>

<p>A slice of Guangzhou in Melbourne? The <a href="http://www.unstudio.com/projects/three-museums-one-square" target="_blank">Three Museums One Square</a> competition entry could be adapted for Fed Square East easily enough.</p>

<p>An open deck adorned with cocoon-like structures would contrast markedly with the bustling, varied designs of Melbourne's CBD and Federation Square itself. Heading toward the Yarra the design transitions into a latticework of greenery and bridges, melding seamlessly into Birrarung Marr.</p>

<h2>Camberwell Station</h2>

<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/Image12_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Camberwell station? Image © UNStudio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="240" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image12_11.jpg?itok=YQMTrqvb" title="Camberwell station? Image © UNStudio" width="580"></a></p>

<p>An oldie but a goodie. Designed during 2007 as a competition entrant for <a href="http://www.unstudio.com/projects/masterplan-train-station" target="_blank">Bologna's Central Station</a> expansion, a scaled down version would generally comply with the the Camberwell Station development envelope. Originally destined to become <a href="http://www.arno.com.au/project_place_01" target="_blank">Place</a> by the Arno Group, the failed development still leaves a gaping hole in Burke Road's streetscape.</p>

<p>Could the likes of Geoffrey Rush and Barry Humpries be placated by a magnificent new Camberwell Station, offset by commercial or residential development above? Unfortunately, most likely not.</p>

<h2>Anywhere you please</h2>

<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/2736898423.jpg" rel="gallery-all" style="font-size: 12px;" title="DAM Workshop concept. Image © UNStudio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="392" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/2736898423.jpg?itok=aUK-a0zt" title="DAM Workshop concept. Image © UNStudio" width="580"></a></p>

<p>Whilst the CBD talls garner most attention, equally as important are Melbourne's suburban 5-8 level apartment blocks.</p>

<p>UNStudio have produced a concept of a redesigned existing Frankfurt multi-level car park into a "<a href="http://www.unstudio.com/research/iop/dam-workshop-reuse-reclaim-revitalize" target="_blank">series of modular plug in living units</a>." Adaptive re-use or new build, the design is intriguing, green, efficient, stylish, viable and any other descriptive word you care to think of. If designs such as the above became the norm around Melbourne, surely they would go some way to breaking down the 'NIMBY' negative connotations toward medium density suburban living.</p>

<h2>The purpose of such an article</h2>

<p>Multi-pronged of course! In highlighting some impressive UNStudio designs we also highlight some of Melbourne's shortcomings both in development (lack of in some cases) and design.</p>

<p>It is refreshing to see an international design competition held for one of Melbourne's premier development sites: 447 Colllins Street. They don't occur all that often for commercial developments, yet the calibre of UNStudio's architecture outlined above, coupled with the fellow local/international design competitors should ensure a landmark development for 447 Collins Street.</p>
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