A new beacon for St Kilda?
City of Port Phillip have fielded a fresh planning application that seeks to further expand the footprint of high-density towers away from St Kilda Junction.
Bound by St Kilda Road and Blanche Street, 331-335 St Kilda Road would sit south of Inkerman Street, and appear as the only building of its size in the area. Immediate apartment projects that have come to fruition along Inkerman Street sit within the 5-7 level range.
Developer Beacon Builders are behind the proposal which was submitted during August, and see architects Bird de la Coeur take the design lead. Thus far Moonee Ponds' LEX Apartments with 56 dwellings ranks among Beacon Builders more notable projects.
331-335 St Kilda Road application summary
- 2,543sqm site currently utilised as a Habitat HQ hostel
- Proposed dual buildings of 6 and 13 levels/39.6 metres
- 156 dwellings: 3 x studio, 51 x 1BR, 99 x 2BR, 3 x 3BR
- Single retail/cafe space of 61sqm
- Three basement levels include 157 car parks, 175 bicycle bays, nine motorcycle bays and 156 stores
- Outdoor recreational area to the western boundary
In preparing the application's town planning report, Meinhardt Group assert the following:
The proposal is consistent with the strategic planning policy for the area established by the relevant State and Local Policies of the Port Phillip Planning Scheme. The development addresses the strategic directions and policy objectives through supporting a diversity of housing on a strategic redevelopment site within good proximity to transport, services and facilities, and respecting the residential interface along Blanche Street through a lower built form and responsive articulation and design to reference the streetscape rhythm.
The overall height is considered reasonable having regard to the strategic significance of St Kilda Road, the limited amenity impacts caused by the proposed height, the context of the surrounding area which includes land identified for significant redevelopment within the Mixed Use Zone and Commercial 1 Zone, the existing apartment buildings approved within the precinct, the quality design aesthetic.
Town planning report for 331-335 St Kilda Road, Meinhardt Group
Visually 331-335 St Kilda Road is broken to represent a solid base, which transitions to a perforated top. Brick is prevalent over lower levels and is reflective of the surrounding urban context. The proposal's upper levels feature vertical fins assembled across the facade with a series of colour changes designed to break the building's bulk and appearance.
In recent years a crop of mid and high-rise apartment buildings have sprung up closer to St Kilda Junction. At present the largest approved building in the area is Plus Architecture's 8-12 Punt Road which covers 96m and encompasses 203 dwellings.
331-335 St Kilda Road's height and location well south of the Junction makes it a trailblazer of sorts.
Should it gain approval it would likely set a precedent for future developable plots in the vicinity, in terms of height expectations and overall density. Beacon Builders at the very least hope that their application may well become a new design beacon within St Kilda.