XO Projects

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The covers may just be off what looks to be the reworked submission for 400-430 City Road.

XO Projects have published imagery for the project, which has been commissioned by Wadhawan Holdings Pty Ltd (DEC Australia). According to XO Projects "the master plan has created an overall development vision for the site, which will be delivered in stages over approximately a 10 year project timeframe."

DEC Australia facilitated the initially approved design, which went through planning during 2010. Conceived by Crone Architects, 400-430 City Road consisted of multiple towers amounting to a 200,000sqm built form outcome which included 1274 apartments, a 288-room hotel and retail space at ground level.

The most recent version went to planning during May this year. XO Projects have dubbed the design CityGate, with three towers scaled up to 151m.

<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/image3_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Aerial perspective. Image: XO Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="371" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image3_8.jpg?itok=q-6K6sFl" title="Aerial perspective. Image: XO Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Aerial perspective. Image: XO Projects</figcaption></figure>In the likelihood that the above images are those which have gone to planning, the revised design is a sharp departure from what was initially approved onsite. Aside from the different design language employed, XO Projects have cited the following as key elements of the master plan:

<ul>
<li>A mixed used programme in its purest sense, combining residential, hotels, offices, entertainment and retail.</li>
	<li>An articulated podium design which incorporates important heritage fabric and significant activation at all levels across the majority of frontages especially at the ground level, which will accommodate a variety of retail and food and beverage type of uses.</li>
	<li>A series of ESD responsive vertical towers which unique floorplates accommodating a varied composition of generous sized apartments, strata office, hotel and child care centre.</li>
	<li>Flexible commercial floor plates within the podium levels.</li>
	<li>An integrated landscape strategy which includes upgraded public realm at the ground level.</li>
	<li>A variety of communal facilities, including an auditorium, located on the podium roof tops to be enjoyed by all.</li>
	<li>A new, fully activated pedestrian through block link which will provide a convenient pathway for connecting pedestrians with Fishermans bend and South Melbourne.</li>
</ul>
<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/image5_14.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ground plane. Image: XO Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image5_14.jpg?itok=yTkQ0v0F" title="Ground plane. Image: XO Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ground plane. Image: XO Projects</figcaption></figure>Southbank aside, Urban.com.au <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/xo-projects-first-database-entry-makes-for-a-sleek-alphington-addition">first brought to light</a> XO Projects' sleek Alphington design for <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/700-718-heidelberg-road-alphington">700-718 Heidelberg Road</a>.

For Giancorp Property Group, the Alphington project was the first to appear in the Urban.com.au Project Database for the practice, and consists of 109 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across a 2,980sqm corner site. XO Projects have included a terraced southern facade over the project, which tapers down toward the adjoining residential zoned southern boundary.

Elenberg Fraser's influence is apparent across both the Southbank and Alphington designs, with purple and bronze facades somewhat of a trademark finish across their projects in recent years.

<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/image23_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Alphington on the agenda. Image: XO Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="323" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image23_9.jpg?itok=m-jWtHCp" title="Alphington on the agenda. Image: XO Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Alphington on the agenda. Image: XO Projects</figcaption></figure>
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silvermb

Is this DEC Australia's revamped City Road endeavour?

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It seems the former Alphington Paper Mill may not be alone in reshaping the face of the inner suburb.

Lodged with Yarra Council, plans for a sleek and sizeable apartment development on an adjacent 2,980 square metre site marks the arrival of a new architecture firm to the Urban.com.au Project Database. XO Projects is the design force behind 700-718 Heidelberg Road; the relatively new firm represents the meeting of local design giant Elenberg Fraser with that of Amsterdam-based firm Elastik.

With the mantra of "creating the Extra Ordinaries within cities" XO Projects has hit the ground running with the 9 level building that features a split colour scheme and mature trees over its exterior.

<h2>700-718 Heidelberg Road, Alphington application summary</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/image133_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Heidelberg Road perspective and finishes. Planning image: XO Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="347" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image133_1.jpg?itok=P-YNkIfA" title="Heidelberg Road perspective and finishes. Planning image: XO Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Heidelberg Road perspective and finishes. Planning image: XO Projects</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>Corner 2,980sqm site containing four attached single-storey retail premises</li>
	<li>Proposed 9 level building at 34.1m above Heidelberg Road</li>
	<li>109 apartments: 31 x one-bedroom, 56 x two-bedroom, 22 x three-bedroom</li>
	<li>2 ground floor retail tenancies: 325sqm general retail &amp; 316sqm café/food and drink premises</li>
	<li>2 level basement and ground level parking for 157 cars &amp; 82 bicycles</li>
	<li>Communal amenities: library, meeting rooms, fitness/gym, roof top gardens, spa-sauna</li>
</ul>
Opposite the eastern flank of the Alphington Paper Mill site which has a preferred height of 6-8 levels, 700-718 Heidelberg Road has a high level of compliance with the Yarra Planning Scheme according to planning documents.

XO Projects have included a terraced southern facade which tapers down toward the residential zoned southern boundary.

Key to the overall design is the facade treatment of the proposed building with more than 50% of apartments having double facades. Dual level privacy walls across the facade funnel into deep planter boxes for mature trees; 1.2 meters of soil is provided per tree planter in order to accommodate abnormally large plantings.

The deep soil planters will aid in providing 700-718 Heidelberg Road in attaining a 'vertical forest' finish, as will surface level plantings across higher levels of the development.

<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/image132_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Deep rooted trees are proposed across the facade. Planning image: XO Projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="384" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image132_2.jpg?itok=A-dfm6KC" title="Deep rooted trees are proposed across the facade. Planning image: XO Projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Deep rooted trees are proposed across the facade. Planning image: XO Projects</figcaption></figure><h2>700-718 Heidelberg Road, Alphington development team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer Giancorp Property Group</li>
	<li>Architecture: XO Projects</li>
	<li>Town Planning &amp; Landscape: Urbis</li>
	<li>Traffic Engineering GTA Consultants</li>
	<li>Waste Management RB Waste Consulting Service</li>
	<li>Services, Structural &amp; Civil: O'Neill Group</li>
	<li>ESD: Sustainable Development Consultants</li>
	<li>Land Survey: Bosco Jonson</li>
</ul>
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