DEVARCEYE

Vue tower apartments, Bondi Junction. Overview: + 19 level Mixed Use Residential tower + Total of 133 apartments made up from a variety of one, two and three-bedroom apartments + 600 sqm of prime retail space + parking for 130 cars Driving through Bondi Junction this building stands out. A change towards a more elegant look with finer detailing than many other of its neighbours (typical tilt slab rectangle boxes). Starting with the main aspect, the building makes a bold but elegant statement with the curved glass facade. The detailing is nice and the strong vertical emphasis is balanced with the articulation of the floor plates, creating the horizontal repetition. Take note of the of how the curved plan is pulled off rather well, giving each of the apartments more surface area - allowing good natural light. Really nice clean lines, with subtle balancing of colours. It's not extreme architecture but it is done with a level of sophistication. Think about how you would design the facade? Would you aim for a clean look? Add bolt on sum shading? Push and pull panels in and out? Or perhaps vary the floor plate like the tower in Melbourne (check the last post). Views over the city a exceptional. Definitely an view to envy. How could the planning be improved? Should a building sacrifice internal efficiency/economy for external aesthetics? Fun questions. Address 570 -588 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, NSW 2022 Project Value $65 Million Build Time: 146 Weeks, completion 2017 --- DEVELOPER --- > lindsaybennelong.com.au --- ARCHITECTS --- Lacoste+Stevenson > l-s.com.au DJRD Architects > djrd.com.au --- BUILDER --- > www.hutchinsonbuilders.com.au #archidaily #architecture_hunter #architecturedesign #architecturephotography #creative_architecture #creativearchitecture #sky_high_architecture #architecture #archilovers #construction #Realestatedeveloper #propertydevelopment #propertydeveloper #architecture #sydney #bondi #ausarchitecture #residentialdesign #apartment (at Bondi Junction, Sydney) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5OyoqyAZ7t/?igshid=1dngtnhfz69yr

This is one cool tower. Sheeted in black reflective glass the form oscillates with the changing of floor plates and with occupants opening their windows... Makes for an almost ethereal feel. Big, bold and black. Not sure what it'd be like to live or stay in. But as a form it is attractive. For the building typology (mixed use residential apartments) it is amazing. Balconies have been integrated seamlessly into the form with the use of winter gardens, in order to avoid the ugly tetris blocking typical in large apartment towers. This seems to be a key move in terms of aesthetics. The uses of slightly adjusted floor plates layered a top each other creates a rippling facade that is interesting, understandable but also simple to execute. ... Harry Sidler esque. Quality design makes people want to live here. They achieved this.  Project details: Developer: BPM Corp bpmcorp.com.au Architect: Elenberg Fraser elenbergfraser.com Builder: ICON icon.co Location: South Bank, Melbourne Scope: 46 levels, 494 Residential Apartments plus Retail Height: 153m Completion Date: May 2018 Construction Completion Time: 30 Months Construction Contract Value: $126 Million Development duration: 46 months Estimated building value: $350 Million #propertydevelopment #realestate #realestatedeveloper #architecture #ausarchitecture #melbournearchitecture #melbourne #construction #aesthetic (at Southbank, Melbourne) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4EEOsEg2Nm/?igshid=1bjbzmaxwbpp1

Classic concrete jungle. Glass’s VS concrete with some old brick heritage thrown in the mix. (at Darlinghurst, New South Wales)

Nishi building, NewAction Precinct Canberra. $550m Project Value. 3 in 1. This building is a really interesting project. It is a very high quality building and offers excellent amenity and experience to all occupants and users. Interlocking three separate buildings into one integrated complimentary whole. Oustanding is the complexity and diversity of functions, quality of public spaces, interesting and nuanced aesthetics and interior styling - both externally and internally. The facade morphs as the building changes functions. What would you do? How would you change the aesthitecs? How to deal with the junctions? How to create a flow and logical progression but with a new palate? A impressive feat to pull together so many design consultants... On top of that this building has some excellent sustainability features. Basic things like atriums for air circulatiom and open able windows on every level, seem simple but are not on many levels (cost, loss of salable GFA, taking up of area within allowable building envelope & building code requirements). At the time of completion it had the most photovoltaic cells on any building in Australia. Drama ensued as PLY Act went into voluntary administration. This is pretty much the single biggest risk & fear of any project and certainly any developer. This may have been a consequence of construction site getting nailed by WorkSafe ACT for unsafe practice and work conditions. *SCOPE* Project value: $550m 16-level, 22-apartment building connected to... 10-level commercial  building Including: 68-room hotel, restaurant, 800-seat cinema, hair salon, a number of retail and office tenancies Developer: Molonglo molonglo.com/ Design: Fender Katsalidis fkaustralia.com/ Suppose Design Office www.suppose.jp/ Arup Oculus March Studio Contractor: PLY (went into voluntary administration) Completed 2014 #architecture #realestatedeveloper (at Nishi Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2y1LKKAWaV/?igshid=gpe8l6ncilel

Kingston waterfront development Canberra. This is part of a large precinct of new water front developments. This is an example of premium luxury apartments. Apartments are hard to pull off. It's not an attractive development from afar but the functionality and experience it offers is as close to premium Canberra will ever get. Canberra, being built around a man made lake, is no Sydney harbour or Melbourne south bank. This is a similar development in style and aesthetic to Newcastle honeysuckle precinct. Maybe reducing lot size / Max floor plate would lead to more nuanced and intimate design with a much greater aesthetic quality and interesting, complex spaces. This is more of a 'anywhere' design. Not tied strongly to the location. The long list of features, creature comforts and luxury catch phrases that have been used in the planning, development and design of this area DOES NOT create the character, culture or the natural sophistication that would have made this a magnetic location. The unique appeal and 'function' of water front locale in Canberra will make this area successful financially but it will reach only a shadow of its potential. The developers build what they need to make money, the architects deliver the design of function and space with a level of aesthetic quality BUT it is the planners who have dictated the overall scheme, envelop and flow of this area. (at Kingston) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2tU-ZBAsKm/?igshid=zd1n0pta1ih2

SOHO Centrale Apartments Islington. This development is a prime example of ugly development. The exterior is as cheap as possible, with no style or taste. A sweet combo of white paint and gun metal grey paint, with a few splashes of brick thrown in, make this rather hideous. Points -> + consider aesthetics of all facades + don't rely on paint to 'make it' + avoid heavy clunky looks 41 apartments in 2 towers (5 & 6 stories) with 2 commercial units on ground floor. At grade parking with 46 car parks. Breakdown 9 x 1 bed aparments 30 x 2 bed apartments 2 x 3 bed apartments 2 x commercial units (43m2 + 40m2) Developer: Rate of Return Builder: GWH Presuming: Design and construct Architect /designer: unknown (in house?) Build time: 14 months Project GFA: 6700m2 #realestatedevelopment #bad (at Newcastle, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2n6iLvA_Yo/?igshid=1pdozjgj8a3zd

Title: Everton Client: Anne Miehs Design: Bennett Murada Architects Builder: TQM Design and Construct Project Value: $30 Million Mixed Use, multi res 10 levels, 70 apartments with 1 x office and 1x retail space 2 level basement parking The apartments, although not a among, are a definite step up from most apartments going up in Syd. Aesthetically the departure from 'tack on' balconies and the use of different angles, a clean look and no overt signs of construction method all makes this building a better contribution to the city. More research needed on financials, profitability, sales rates and price points. The contract seems to be a design and construct contract which means the client gets less say in the design but the builder get more flexibility to improve efficiency and cost of build. (at Strathfield, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2malM9gNRa/?igshid=u2u2equvfv8l