First look: Richmond set for new boutique apartment development
The bustling inner Melbourne suburb of Richmond is set for a boutique $2.4 million apartment project.
A local development firm has submitted plans to the Yarra City Council for a seven-storey residential building homing just nine apartments.
Designed by Katsifolis Architects, the residences will comprise one studio apartment, six two-bed and two three-bedroom apartments, each with private generously-sized balconies.
"The surrounding Richmond area is currently undergoing a transition from traditionally commercial and industrial land use to a mixed-use urban fabric, with the proposal seeking to fit in with the future urban context, while still maintaining a form that bodes with the current landscape," Katsifolis noted in their submission.
The light court extending up the eastern side of the building provides cross flow ventilation, sunlight and a private open space for the ground floor apartment, integrating reflective mirrors on the rooftop level to provide additional sunlight to the lower levels, which is a common architectural feature seen across European countries, in higher density urban environments.
The proposal includes a landscaped communal rooftop, adding further residential amenity, split in to two sections.
The northern section encompasses 51 sqm of space and is designated for the use of residents in apartments one through seven. The southern section of the rooftop spans 29 sqm and is exclusively for the residents of apartments eight and nine.
Each terrace is provided with a communal barbecue area, sheltered by a cantilevered roof form, with planter boxes for residents’ food production, all surrounded by architectural landscaping
The Environmentally Sustainable Design report by SBE Melbourne says the project is a well-conceived example of sustainable inner urban development."
The town planning report by Human Habitat said the proposal considers a residential apartment building of high architectural quality, a high level of internal amenity, and has limited potential for adverse amenity impacts to surrounding properties.
"The proposal seeks to provide higher densities of housing in appropriate location and offer a mix of dwelling sizes and types," it noted.
"The contemporary architectural-style complements the surrounding area and will provide a benchmark for future development in York Street and the surrounds.
"The building includes innovative implementation of international design techniques such as the use of angled mirrors to provide grater sunlight access to lower levels."