K2Ld Architects

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Melbourne-based Chapter Group has underlined its aggressive expansion plans by announcing the acquisition of four separate development sites.

In light of the recent launch of the developer's super luxury <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/ukiyo-2-porter-street-prahran">Ukiyo Prahran</a> apartment project, Chapter Group's unveiling of the four new opportunities is a vote of confidence in Melbourne's apartment sector. Covering Fitzroy, Toorak, Windsor and Armadale, the new prospects carry a combined end value in excess of $400 million.

Fitzroy's 411-421 Smith Street shapes as the largest of the quartet, and will be developed in unison with Abacus Property Group and Crema Group.

The Smith Street holding is a renovated two-storey brick complex leased to Kathmandu &amp; Bellroy, with leases through to 2022. Expected is a mixed-use residential, commercial and retail development spanning the roughly 1,800 square metre site and holding an end value in the $100 million range.

<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/image68a.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="411-421 Smith Street. Image: TCI Teneketzis"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="343" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image68a.jpg?itok=vI_ggWwo" title="411-421 Smith Street. Image: TCI Teneketzis" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>411-421 Smith Street. Image: TCI Teneketzis</figcaption></figure>Also on the agenda is a site on Toorak's Malvern Road. Having already partnered with developer Sin Heng Chan on <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/the-springfield-30-springfield-avenue-toorak-">The Springfield</a> nearby, the duo have nabbed a 1,450 square metre site at 727-729 Malvern Road with intentions of creating 11 high-end apartments within a build valued at $12 million.

Further sites on Windsor's High Street and Armadale which both run in excess of 2,000 square metres in size are also in the developer's pocket.

According Chapter Group's media statement, the site purchases and intended developments are "congruent with Chapter Group’s vision of providing Melburnians with thoughtful homes that deliver design excellence, outstanding quality and unparalleled liveability. Chapter Group Director Dean Lefkos says " Our aim is to build high-quality projects in super prime locations that will provide residents with long-term gain, as opposed to projects and sites that will simply afford us short-term success.

These suburbs are recognised for their unparalleled lifestyle offering and demonstrated strength in capital growth year on year. Pricing expectations have also favoured within our parameters in recent months with vendors recognising the current environment and more prepared to agree to a reasonable deal."

The quartet of sites is also a boon for K2LD Architects; the practice is responsible for all of Chapter Group's projects to date, and have been nominated as architects for the above sites according to the developer's website.

<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/image70_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ukiyo Prahran hero perspective. Image: Chapter Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="338" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image70_12.jpg?itok=fxOFyLgD" title="Ukiyo Prahran hero perspective. Image: Chapter Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ukiyo Prahran hero perspective. Image: Chapter Group</figcaption></figure>In a further sign that Chapter Group is confident in the prospect's of Melbourne's high-end residential sector, Ukiyo Prahran is due to launch its sales campaign.

On the Porter Street, Percy Street and High Street corner, Ukiyo consists of 12 half and full floors apartments, with the top three levels of the ten level building earmarked as penthouses. Ukiyo holds an end value of $40 million and falls into a pocket of Prahran that is seeing a strong level of residential activity, with developers ITUM and SP Setia also pursuing current apartment developments.

Chapter Group's Prahran project also sees retail at ground level plus two full floors dedicated to commercial space.

Ukiyo's living options are split between  2, 3 and 4 bedroom configurations.

<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/image71_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ukiyo Prahran interior. Image: Chapter Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="323" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image71_8.jpg?itok=90O-nvFt" title="Ukiyo Prahran interior. Image: Chapter Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ukiyo Prahran interior. Image: Chapter Group</figcaption></figure>
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silvermb

Chapter Group launches Ukiyo Prahran, adds four new development sites to its portfolio

Burwood Highway&#39;s strengthening apartment market will soon be underscored by a new multi-level Quest Apartment Hotel development.

Crema Constructions has been anointed as the <a href="http://www.crema.com.au/project/quest-apartment-hotels/">builder of choice</a> for the project that has an estimated completion date of&nbsp;February 2019. At&nbsp;315-319 Burwood Highway, the K2LD Architects-designed Burwood East accommodation replaces an earlier purely residential design of roughly 100 apartments that was created by Plus Architecture for the site.

Developer&nbsp;OAM (Aust) Pty Ltd is backing the project that will now see&nbsp;91 Quest Apartments built across the expansive corner site.

<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/image40_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Site specific designs by Plus Architecture and K2LD Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="202" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image40_8.jpg?itok=wPH_ntoU" title="Site specific designs by Plus Architecture and K2LD Architects" width="580" /></a>

<figcaption>Site specific designs by Plus Architecture and K2LD Architects</figcaption>
</figure>

West of&nbsp;315-319 Burwood Highway lies&nbsp;Deakin University&#39;s Melbourne Burwood Campus and&nbsp;RSPCA Victoria, although Quest will likely be targeting the numerous suburban corporate offices within walking distance, headlined by&nbsp;Motorola Australia and Hewlett Packard.

Currently, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/burwood-east-vic">16 separate projects are sited upon Burwood Highway</a> within the Urban.com.au Project Database, with further additions pending. All bar Quest&#39;s new endeavour are private residential apartments, amounting to some 738 new dwellings.

Despite the sizeable length of Burwood Highway, the vast majority of these 738 new dwellings are located within Burwood or Burwood East.

Latest to the&nbsp;Urban.com.au Project Database is what shapes as the area&#39;s biggest proposal, at 380 Burwood Highway.

<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/image41_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hayball's design for 380 Burwood Highway."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="346" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image41_5.jpg?itok=fjmy15Mv" title="Hayball's design for 380 Burwood Highway." width="580" /></a>

<figcaption>Hayball&#39;s design for 380 Burwood Highway.</figcaption>
</figure>

Sought for the site is a&nbsp;ten level mixed-use building that would account for the well known China Bar Signature restaurant.

Designed by Hayball and submitted for planning during August of last year, the new 380 Burwood Highway would include 122 apartments, an education centre, various green/outdoor terraces, 1,405&nbsp;square metres of office space&nbsp;and 3,050 square metres of retail/restricted retail space.

China Bar Signature is slated to take up a first floor tenancy of 1,109 square metres in the new building.

Covering a triangular 5,047 square metre site,&nbsp;380 Burwood Highway would be the area&#39;s tallest building if approved.

Quest boosts an expanding Burwood Highway development scene

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When K2LD Architects were commissioned to design a new school in Bendigo they turned to the students for inspiration.  Armed with crayons, it wasn't long before the limitations of architecture and design were being tested with notions of space ships, floating desks and lickable wallpaper.

After a great deal of sketching, the children collectively decided that it was only fitting their new school, which is located on Maple Street in the Bendigo suburb of Golden Square, took inspiration from a tree house.

Golden Square Primary Principal Barry Goode says that "children are particularly sensitive to change, so we felt involving them in the process from the beginning would ease the transition and foster a sense of ownership over their new school". The new Golden Square Primary School is the result of merging to campuses on to a single site.

<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/golden_square_primary_094.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Golden Square Primary School in Bendigo - image supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/golden_square_primary_094.jpg?itok=ZMJ_uORu" title="Golden Square Primary School in Bendigo - image supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Golden Square Primary School in Bendigo - image supplied</figcaption></figure>The school consists of a central administration and specialist building which houses reception, office, art, library and staff facilities and is flanked by two double storey buildings in which a total of four classroom precincts are contained.  

The four classroom precincts are arranged around a central collaborative space with further staff resource and meeting rooms in each.

Owing to the size of the site, in order to merge the two campuses, a second storey had to be added to create more capacity.

K2LD Principal Tisha Lee said "the added height feeds into our tree house concept, allowing us to get creative with 'trunk' and 'canopy' inspired levels, whilst the withdrawal spaces offered an opportunity to create play 'cubby' spaces".

<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/golden_square_primary_061.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Golden Square Primary School in Bendigo - image supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/golden_square_primary_061.jpg?itok=JMDoVMR7" title="Golden Square Primary School in Bendigo - image supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Golden Square Primary School in Bendigo - image supplied</figcaption></figure>K2LD is gaining a greater presence on the Urban.com.au Project Database yet in an interview with Urban.com.au, Tisha Lee said that around 40% of K2LD's portfolio is made up of public school projects and that K2LD doesn't lock its staff into any type of project - they're exposed to all facets of work the firm takes on.

"It helps us feel real and allows us to engage with the community on a more personal level, the public sector work allows the staff to transpose aspects of the community into the private sector work" says Lee.

K2LD currently have <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/k2ld-architects">four projects</a> on the Urban.com.au database, one of which - 399 Little Lonsdale Street -  will be a hotel with Accor Group brands operating in the property, with onsite demolition for the tower recently completed.

<h2>Where is design headed for public schools?</h2>

No-one would argue that a school's primary purpose is to educate children, however Tisha Lee expects that in the many new schools that are to be built, as foreshadowed in the recent state budget, we will see increasingly diverse spaces added to them to cater for greater community needs, both inside and outside of normal school hours.

Outside of school hours, the new schools that are built may be used for adult education and learning, the performing arts, language education and perhaps even religious uses.

During the day, new schools may include spaces for stay-at-home parents who are looking to network with others; in a sense the design of new schools may witness a greater merging of the humble public school and community centres that are traditionally separate in middle suburbia.

This trend makes sense for new schools which have been mooted for medium and high-density areas of the city given that land is scarce and more expensive - Fishermans Bend, Arden-Macaulay and E-Gate would benefit from this school and greater community facility treatment.
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Alastair Taylor

Children at the heart of the school design process

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Recall last year that Urban.com.au ran <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/5000-new-hotel-rooms-for-melbourne">dual pieces</a> highlighting the forthcoming wave of 5,000 plus new hotel suites located within City of Melbourne. With the majority of those rooms in planning at the time, these new suites were predominantly located within large scale mixed-use towers championed by developers with Asian-based expertise and finance.

All indicators since have suggested inner Melbourne is suffering from a shortage of hotel accommodation, with a <a href="http://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/media-releases/articles/hotel-markets-push-further-into-record-territory-260215">2015 Deloitte report</a> on the state of the Australian Hotel sector showing Melbourne's occupancy rate has and continues to push well into the mid-90% range on peak nights. Coupled with a Deloitte forecast indicating Melbourne will nudge 90% average occupancy by 2017 and the time is ripe now for new hotel projects, particularly in Melbourne's CBD.

Enter Well Smart Investment Holdings who after recently gaining Ministerial approval for their new hotel accommodation project at 399 Little Lonsdale Street have unveiled Ibis and Novotel as key signatories to the tower.

<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/image9_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="399 Little Lonsdale Street. Images courtesy k2LD Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="531" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image9_1.jpg?itok=4n6TzPBG" title="399 Little Lonsdale Street. Images courtesy k2LD Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>399 Little Lonsdale Street. Images courtesy k2LD Architects</figcaption></figure>Designed by CBD-based practice k2LD Architecture, 399 Little Lonsdale Street will stand as a 34 level, 125 metre tower located at the foot of Melbourne's retail precinct. Containing 478 hotel suites, the project will represent Melbourne's first dual hotel housed within the same building.

Ibis will account for 270 suites in a three-star configuration while Novotel will take the remaining 208 suites under their four-star operation.

Externally patterned glass with differing opacity to the eastern elevation will be the defining design feature while the western elevation will consist of patterned concrete, although an adjoining planning application will likely all but cover the wall. At ground level a landscaped laneway has been introduced that will connect with Hardware Lane while the podium will hold a bar, lounge, restaurant, gym and conference facilities.

<h2>Design nous</h2>

<blockquote>
We approached the design of the building differently, envisaging the built form as a fabric in which the stories and journeys of its transient inhabitants are interwoven with the urban cityscape.

With the building’s use as a dual hotel in mind, we were able to push the boundaries of design to create something that will become iconic in nature, just as the Westin and Sofitel have become iconic forms in Collins Street, we wanted to create a similar effect at 399 Little Lonsdale Street.
<cite>Tisha Lee, Principal, k2LD Architects</cite>
</blockquote>

<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/image10_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Interior common area. Image courtesy k2LD Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="353" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image10_4.jpg?itok=eE75MVVd" title="Interior common area. Image courtesy k2LD Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Exterior terrace area. Image courtesy k2LD Architects</figcaption></figure><h2>The wider context</h2>

With <a href="http://melbourneairport.com.au/about-melbourne-airport/media/media-releases/melbourne-airports-august-passenger-traffic-results-1825">international arrivals</a> amounting to almost 750,000 passengers during August 2015, the robust year on year growth experienced by Melbourne has a flow-on effect into the hotel sector. 399 Little Lonsdale Street joins many a Melbourne project looking to service the expanding hotel room requirement.

Curiously though only one noteworthy hotel project is currently under construction within the CBD, namely QT Hotel which will add a further 182 suites. Docklands fares better with Peppers Docklands almost at completion while Four Points by Sheraton is heading skyward as part of the Marina Tower project.

Pending projects however read as a who's who of the hotel sector. Among the many contending chains seeking a Melbourne footprint Ritz-Carlton and Dorsett will preside in Far East Consortium's West Side Place project, PARKROYAL is awaiting commencement of their mixed-use tower in Docklands, Aloft Hotels will likely land at 380 Lonsdale Street while the largest of all proposals is headed by Crown and Schiavello.

Their 1 Queensbridge project is seeking 388 additional Crown-branded hotel suites in addition to private apartments within a 317 metre tower.
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New Ibis and Novotel hotels for Melbourne's CBD

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The latest entrant into the bustling Doncaster Hill apartment market has unveiled itself with Nest at the Hill due for its public launch in coming weeks. A collaboration between established Singaporean developer Sin Heng Chan and architecture firm K2LD, Nest at the Hill located at 642-654 Doncaster Road will deliver 249 apartments and four townhouses.

Split between 40 one-bedroom, 180 two-bedroom and 29 three-bedroom apartments, Nest at the Hill also holds 10 penthouse dwellings with private rooftop terraces. Designed with a 7.2 energy star rating, the project will target both high-end purchasers and investors with a manned concierge desk, hotel-style lobby, swimming pool and keyless entry included.

Located on the highest point of Doncaster Hill, Nest on the Hill is 18.9 kilometres to Melbourne's CBD and will hold sweeping views with separate north and south facing terraces available to all residences. Other project amenities include the aforementioned outdoor pool, gym and multi-purpose meetings/functions rooms.

<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/image43.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Exterior perspectives. Image courtesy K2LD"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="591" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image43.jpg?itok=qQEeenTX" title="Exterior perspectives. Image courtesy K2LD" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Exterior perspectives. Image courtesy K2LD</figcaption></figure>In fitting with the project's unique moniker, internal apartment finishes have been dubbed ‘Light Dove’ and ‘Dark Owl’ relative to the respective colour schemes on offer. Obligatory for top-end developments, Nest on the Hill will feature Miele appliances, reconstructed stone benchtops and splashblacks and timber floors, in addition to LED and track lighting throughout the living areas. Bathrooms include Porcelain tiles, while bedrooms will be fitted with wool blend carpet.

Entry price into Nest on the Hill is $395,000 for a single bedroom apartment with 52sqm of internal space, while the largest non-penthouse apartment on offer is a three bedroom/two bathroom dwelling with 104sqm of internal space valued at $800,000.

Maximising the site's elevated position, ten penthouses will occupy top billing within the project. The average penthouse internal size comes in at 172.9sqm with the average price per penthouse at $1.631 million. As sales have yet to commence, the largest penthouse is still available with 367sqm of internal area, while terrace areas of up to 224sqm are also available. The premier penthouse caries a list price of a cool $2.188 million.

Currently an open air car park, the project will also activate Doncaster Road by way of 6 retail spaces present at ground level, including an expected cafe. Basement car and bicycle parking services the development, and includes 43 retail and visitor spaces.

With the display opening May 16th, construction commencement of Nest at the Hill is expected at the turn of 2016.

<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/image44.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Internal finish and lobby space. Image courtesy K2LD"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="418" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image44.jpg?itok=Bm5ToV5h" title="Internal finish and lobby space. Image courtesy K2LD" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Internal finish and lobby space. Image courtesy K2LD</figcaption></figure>The site in question has been subject to a number of design proposals over the best part of a decade, including an imaginative beehive-like design some years ago. Most recently Englehart sold the site with a permit for a Peddle Thorp-designed residential building containing 273 dwellings over twelve levels.

The design below has been supplanted by the current K2LD scheme. Nest at the Hill add's to K2LD's Melbourne portfolio which has expanded in recent times. The Singapore and Melbourne based practice also has four additional large-scale residential projects active in Melbourne, in addition to a sizeable Burwood Highway commercial 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/image2_211_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The superseded design. Image courtesy Peddle Thorp"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="314" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image2_211_1.jpg?itok=fMvLHavx" title="The superseded design. Image courtesy Peddle Thorp" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The superseded design. Image courtesy Peddle Thorp</figcaption></figure>Nest at the Hill joins a bevy of other residential projects jockeying for position at Doncaster Hill. The Urban.com.au project database shows Nest at the Hill to be the 16th large-scale apartment project in postcode 3108.

Projects at construction include <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/83-on-tram-83-tram-road-doncaster">83 on Tram</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/panorama-101-tram-road-doncaster">Panorama</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/imperial-doncaster-3-sovereign-point-court-doncaster">Imperial Doncaster</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/88-doncaster-hill-88-tram-road-doncaster">88 Doncaster Hill</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/pearl-1-grosvenor-street-doncaster">Pearl</a> while those at sales are <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/ellia-802-elgar-road-doncaster">Ellia</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/gardenhill-5-elgar-court-doncaster">Gardenhill</a> which incidentally has nearly sold out, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/magnolia-doncaster-hill-22-hepburn-road-doncaster">Magnolia</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/8-hepburn-road-doncaster">8 Hepburn Road</a>. There are an additional six approved developments in and around Doncaster Hill.

Should all 17 projects come to fruition, the total number of apartments pumped into Doncaster Hill would be approximately 2050.
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Nest the latest at Doncaster Hill

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An existing development site has resurfaced seeking approval for a revised planning scheme that would inject a new 199 metre tower into central Melbourne, while also adding two new hotels into the rampant Melbourne market. Gone is the Peddle Thorp-designed 39 level apartment tower with 219 dwellings, replaced by a sleek 56 level tower comprising apartments and 447 new hotel suites.

Conceived for Melbourne-based <a href="http://riversideproperties.com.au/default.asp">Riverside Properties Pty Ltd</a>, 399 Little Lonsdale Street represents the second large-scale project designed by <a href="http://k2ld.com.au/home/">K2LD Architects</a> of late, following the recent planning submission for <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/vibe-1-queen-street-melbourne">1-5 Queen Street</a>, also in Melbourne's CBD.

<h2>Project Summary</h2>

<ul>
<li>Revised plans submitted August 2014</li>
	<li>1,080sqm site currently a commercial car park and at grade space</li>
	<li>Approved 39 level design replaced by 56 level mixed-use tower at 199 metres in height</li>
	<li>A 4-star 207 bed hotel and a 3-star 240 bed hotel</li>
	<li>120 one and two bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>Provision for 90 car parking spaces</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/image58k2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The revised tower at 200 metres. Image courtesy K2LD Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="855" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image58k2.jpg?itok=pK65x8AQ" title="The revised tower at 200 metres. Image courtesy K2LD Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The revised tower at 200 metres. Image courtesy K2LD Architects</figcaption></figure><h2>Ownership intrigue</h2>

Riverside Properties have had 399 Little Lonsdale <a href="http://riversideproperties.com.au/current-399.asp">listed upon their website</a> for many years, so much so it's still shown as an intended 20 level building carrying 130 student accommodation rooms. Upon approval of the more recent 39 level, Peddle Thorp designed tower, the site was <a href="http://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/2011027121/for-sale/vic/melbourne/development-land/retail?topspot=1">offered for sale via CBRE</a>.

<a href="http://www.cbre.com.au/aboutus/mediacentre/mediaarchives/Pages/Sale-signals-ongoing-offshore-interest-in-Melbourne-development-opportunities.aspx">Heralded as sold</a> to a Singaporean-based investment firm entitled Well Smart Investment Holdings (Melb) Ltd, the current planning application form shows Well Smart Investment to be the applicant with the owner still listed as Riverside Properties Pty Ltd. Part of developer Clement Lee's Melbourne-based portfolio which includes, Riverlee, Asset1 and WTC Group, Riverside Properties Pty Ltd has apparently come full circle at 399 Little Lonsdale Street.

<h2>Design highlights</h2>

Headline changes to the approved development as taken from the Urbis planning report:

<ul>
<li>Changes from retail component at ground floor, to hotel and residential entrance/lobby with concierge.</li>
	<li>Car parking removed from the podium levels to within the basement with car stackers. Hotel and apartment facilities will now activate the podium levels above.</li>
	<li>Removal of all borrowed light from residential apartments.</li>
	<li>Inclusion of a 3 and 4 star hotel providing 447 rooms.</li>
	<li>Decrease in number of residential apartments to 120 one and two bedroom apartments.</li>
	<li>Increase in floor to ceiling heights to improve amenity of rooms and apartments.</li>
	<li>Increase in average apartment size</li>
	<li>Activation of Findlay Lane</li>
</ul>
With increased height the most noticeable change, 399 Little Lonsdale Street also receives a new external skin to all aspects, comprising angulated façade panels which disturbs the otherwise smooth external finish. This random angulation over certain panels will cast differing shadows over the facade providing the tower with a dynamic aspect.

Much emphasis has been placed upon the ground level sphere in the revised planning report with a host of changes included in order to improve podium activation and the public experience. As mentioned the above ground car park allotment has been relocated to a basement facility while hotel suites and apartments will now activate the podium levels above ground.

Podium edges remain activated with hotel facilities and the concierge area creating increased people circulation over the previous scheme, while Finlay Alley will benefit from increased foot traffic as a secondary passageway.

<h2>From the ground up</h2>

<ul>
<li>G - Dual entrances for residential and hotel guests, services, vehicle access to rear of building</li>
	<li>L1 - gym and offices</li>
	<li>L2 - conference facilities</li>
	<li>L3 - restaurant and bar with associated kitchen, meeting rooms and waiting lounge</li>
	<li>L4 - reception for hotel components</li>
	<li>L5-17 - 3 Star hotel suites</li>
	<li>L18 - plant &amp; 3 Star hotel suites</li>
	<li>L19-38 - apartments</li>
	<li>L39 - plant and 4 Star hotel suites</li>
	<li>L40-54 - 4 Star hotel suites</li>
	<li>L55 - 4 Star hotel suites, bar &amp; lounge</li>
	<li>L56 - plant</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/399ltlpt.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The 39 level approved scheme. Image courtesy CBRE"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/399ltlpt.jpg?itok=APXOUHDh" title="The 39 level approved scheme. Image courtesy CBRE" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The 39 level superseded scheme. Image courtesy CBRE</figcaption></figure>Should 399 Little Lonsdale Street eventually gain approval it wouldn't necessarily seem out of place as the adjoining property at <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/272-queen-street-melbourne">272 Queen Street</a> currently holds planning approval for a 210 metre mixed-use tower, although that site has been offered for sale for some time.

In its current form Clement Lee's Riverside Properties Pty Ltd may seek construction for 399 Little Lonsdale Street soon after approval. Another of Mr. Lee's recent developments at 206 A'Beckett Street in the northern reaches of the CBD delivered 278 studio apartments and suites under the newly formed <a href="http://www.pegasussuites.com.au/">Pegasus Apart’Hotel</a> brand.

Considering the relatively low number of apartments located within the revised 399 Little Lonsdale scheme and the possibility that another Pegasus Apart'Hotel may account for one of the two hotel sections, the revised design could in theory gain the necessary pre-commitments to proceed to construction shortly after approval.

<h2>Development team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer: Well Smart Investment Holdings (Melb) Ltd on behalf of Riverside Properties Pty Ltd</li>
	<li>Planning: Urbis</li>
	<li>Architect: K2LD Architects</li>
	<li>Traffic: Salt3</li>
	<li>Wind Impact Advice: MEL Consultants</li>
	<li>Waste Management Plan: Leigh Design</li>
	<li>ESD: WSP Sustainable Management Plan</li>
</ul>
Lead image courtesy CBRE.
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