Abbotsford's small-street commercial market set to expand

Abbotsford's small-street commercial market set to expand
Alastair TaylorMarch 18, 2018

The progressive diversification in the nature of employment that happens in Abbotsford might get a boost with a new planning application before Yarra City council.

Across Fitzroy, Collingwood and Abbotsford, many existing semi-industrial streets are seeing a progressive diversification of employment space and the latest proposal before the council would see that trend continue, albeit on a slightly larger scale compared to more recent small-street commercial developments.

The planning application currently displayed on Yarra City Councils website seeks permission for the proponent to build an 8 level plus 1 basement office building which will include a total of 2878sqm of commercial office space.

Architects CHT have designed a building to have a ground level break-out space and the basement level would see double the amount of bike spaces than car spaces.

The ground floor will also include 60sqm of retail space and the building will include standard end-of-trip facilities including showers, lockers, a bicycle repair station and disabled toilet facilities.

What they say

The proposed development comprises an eight (8) storey building with a maximum parapet height of 30.2m, with lift overrun protruding an additional 1.7m.

The development proposes a contextual architectural response resulting in an elegantly crafted building that will set the benchmark for future development within the area. The building is apportioned into two primary components.

The podium form presents to Marine Parade as a 3-storey form, consistent with the existing 2-3 storey datum present along the southern side of Marine Parade. At 3 storeys the building can be read as a logical transition from the 1-2 storey residential properties along the northern side of Marine Parade.

The proposal seeks to enhance what is otherwise an uninspiring area through the incorporation of a highly glazed café tenancy and double-height commercial lobby. The glazed vertical street frontage juxtaposed against framed horizontal glazing reinforces the existing commercial character of the southern side of the street.

The character of the area is further reinforced at ground level through a series of punctuated glazed recesses set behind the street frontage. Above podium the building is appropriately set back to provide for a clear distinction between the lower and upper proportions of the building.

The elegantly crafted angular glazed fagade treatment sets a catalyst for the benchmark for future architectural quality within the area. To the rear of the development the corresponding angular design reinforces the architectural language of the building while capturing distant views of the Yarra River Corridor environs.

proUrban Town Planning report

According to project documents lodged with the City of Yarra, the development has an estimated cost of construction value of $10,000,000.

Abbotsford's small-street commercial market set to expand
1E Marine Parade, Abbotsford - image: CHT Architects

Project team:

  • Proponent: NewBart Investments Pty Ltd 
  • Architect: CHT Architects
  • Urban Planner: Pro Urban
  • Traffic Consultant: Ratio
  • ESD Consultant: GIW Environmental Solutions
  • Waste Management Consultant: Ratio

Alastair Taylor

Alastair Taylor is a co-founder of Urban.com.au. Now a freelance writer, Alastair focuses on the intersection of public transport, public policy and related impacts on medium and high-density development.

Editor's Picks