DSE permit: TPM 04/000111

Received: 25-05-2004

559-587 Collins Street Melbourne Vic 3000

Construction of a new office building with associated car parking and new pedestrian through link

This site was recently sold as part of the 'Collins Street potfolio'. It's a giant hole in the ground just waiting for a 150m+ tower, one of the last sites on Collins Street where you could build a big 500 foot office tower :-)

Anybody heard anything (I would check it out but Nauru House is a long way from Mornington :-(

I thought Melbourne's bubble was about to burst, and here comes another one. GOGO Gadget Sykscrapers.

I thought Melbourne's bubble was about to burst, and here comes another one. GOGO Gadget Sykscrapers.

it ant cost must to get permit in realtion to the cost to build it!... and some people just sell permits so they also may be betting on building cost drops...

^^ Huh?? :?

Hey Grollo, is there a website that shows the full specs of what a DSE permit has been issued for? BTW, what the hell does DSE stand for? (I did check the FAQs thread before asking this question too ;))

department of sustainabitly (yeah right) and environment (hahahaha) AKA doi

You can't look at the details of planning pemit applications on line at DSE, which is really pretty poor. You would think for the kind of major projects they deal with that you could view the plans on line, even some local councils are starting to do this.

Ahhh, there's a member on this forum who might be able to shed just a tad more light on this (without having to look at a DA)

:D :D :D

you know who you are!

Um, maybe I know something.

I actually helped on the Urban Context Report for this project. So yes, I know a little ;)

Hmm, but should I tell.....

....yes, tell them the part where you said to me that it was going to be such and such a height, with architectural style & uses thusly....

:)

Um, maybe I know something.

I actually helped on the Urban Context Report for this project. So yes, I know a little ;)

Hmm, but should I tell.....

You can tell now because once the plans are submitted as a part of a planning application they are public documents and anybody can go in to DSE and see them (or even make a copy).

Or maybe you just don't want to break the new that it's a 10 storey campus style office building :-)

I don't see whay anybody would buy the site and then try to sell it a year later with a planning permit, especially in this market. But on the other hand the chances of actually pre leasing half of a new office development in the next two years would be close to zero.

From memory it's similar [in size] to 530C diagonally opposite (35 - 40 commercial levels?), that's of course if anything hasn't changed since I last spoke to joed.

I might be able to swing by Nauru House on monday - not certain of it though.

There were some concept plans released when they were selling the site that showed that a tower could go to a hieght of 160m? before overshadowing the Yarra? That would be the same height as 530 Collins.

joed im in the same field as u :)

does city of mmmm have it aswell?

OK, just thought I'd tease a little bit before spilling. :P

Yes, the development I've seen is around 150m. The ground floor consists of 2 tenancies (likely cafes) and corporate foyer (2 story space with upper gallery). The tower sits then on this podium - though architecturally it's a little more interesting than your standard tower + podium.

We had a complete prelim set of architectural drawings, though things may have changed a little from when I was working on it. But it included a couple of renders which were pretty cool.

I could try to find out the latest on Monday, I put most of the report together but due to some other commitments I have to give to someone else at work to complete it.

If Grollo's found a mention of it on Planning Schemes online, then it's likely that it'll be on display at the Planning Info. Centre @ Nauru House.

Grollo: are the people who sit behind the desk @ Nauru the ones who also update the database for Planning Schemes online?

not on display yet. (4/6)

a gap just screaming to be filled.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/getaway3.jpg

Hurry up FFS :(

http://www.thehoddlegrid.net/projects/renders/cbd/585c/585csite.jpg

:puke:

You can see the site on the right of this pic:

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/4499/101694499ml1089159132.jpg

The car park?

yep.

Doo be doo - bump.

anyone been up to DSE of late?

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/6567/101636567ml1089681520.jpg

:(

This tower was approved on 2nd of September. I think this is the only 150m+ tower that has ever been approved since the forum started that we have not seen any plans for :-( Joed?, Anyone?

Whatever it looks like it's going to have a huge impact on the skyline.

How tall is it exactly and what kind is it??!! Great news!

MG2

I'll be paying 80 Collins Street a visit before the meet today :)

(hopefully it's on display!)

It won't be on display as it has been approved (unless they have forgotten to put it away) but someone should be able to get the file for you :-)

hah, last time I went in and asked using that reference nubmer on the first page, it took all of 15 minutes to find nothing :lol:

yeah that reference number is the City of Melbourne one. Try application number 20040111 which is the DSE reference number :-)

official height! 170M!
contacted planner today-
height at street level- RL7.8m
height at flat roof-RL 159.7m
height to screen- RL177.7m
thus
-height above street-
height to roof- 151.9m
height to angled screen-169.9m
number of floors
4 podium
26 office levels
2 plant
total-32.
bastards get another 500footer! :bash:
At 170m, its 4th tallest approved scraper currently on Melbs ss.com.

Hummm. But will it get built? What does it look like?

Hummm. But will it get built? What does it look like?
not sure. the planner said pretty basic . a 4 storey podium with box tower with flat roof and 18m high angled opaque screen on roof.
will it get? yes but not this cycle. it will be ready to go next cycle maybe start in 5 years?

official height! 170M!
bastards get another 500footer! :bash:
At 170m, its 4th tallest approved scraper currently on Melbs ss.com.

Woot! Another 500 footer for Collins Street! :cheers:

Regards, Philip

official height! 170M!
contacted planner today-
height at street level- RL7.8m
height at flat roof-RL 159.7m
height to screen- RL177.7m
thus
-height above street-
height to roof- 151.9m
height to angled screen-169.9m
number of floors
4 podium
26 office levels
2 plant
total-32.
bastards get another 500footer! :bash:
At 170m, its 4th tallest approved scraper currently on Melbs ss.com.

Doen't seem like enough Floors for the Height Culwalla ?

Doen't seem like enough Floors for the Height Culwalla ?
he said the podium floors were generous heights and so were plant levels. this is office tower so floor heights would be 4m.
so 4x5m=20m
26x4=104m
2x6m=12
total-136m.?
maybe another couple he didnt include. but its 150m so prety close.

I think it has a good chance of going ahead if you read this article:

Capital Gain
Saturday Age 3/7

Hugh Martin

Does Grollo have an Axa to grind?

With 2003 being described by many a property observer as the industry's annus horribilis as nearly 400,000sqm of space was being built in the CBD, Southbank and Docklands, 2004 was to be a year of respite.
This year was to give the industry time to take stock of the passing construction boom. In 2004 there were to be no new tenancy pre-commitments or construction announcements, signalling the end of the cycle.
Cranes were to slowly disappear from the city skyline as projects were completed and filled with office workers. And the hurtful terms of 'over-supply' and 'revaluation' were to fade from memory.

But the industry is about to be passed the smelling salts with the construction of at least two office towers to be committed to before the end of the year.
Said to be at the centre of the cycle's second wind is superannuation and investment giant AXA's decision to quit its Collins Street digs.

One developer seen wooing the company is Grocon figurehead Daniel Grollo, with a Docklands proposal.
"Unable to comment" on such speculation, it is said that Grollo again has warmed to Docklands after the frosting the relationship received when Grollo Tower, to be the world's tallest building at the time, was dumped by the former Docklands Authority.
He condemned the former authority for its "painfully slow and unnecessarily tortuous" procedures. But Grollo is back at Batman's Hill and it might be he has a potential AXA in tow.

In a Jones Lang LaSalle tender campaign that closed this week for an AXA relocation, Grollo was seen vying with Docklands rivals, the Kuok Group and Folkestone Leighton, who are also said to be tempting AXA west of Wurrundjeri Way. Civic Nexus is seen having hopes of landing the tenant for its Southern Cross STation redevelopment while Multiplex also has space for AXA at its Southern Cross Hotel redevelopment site. Australian Super Developments is also in the want of a tenant for its Grand Central scheme.
While that's five towers found in need of a major tenant to anchor projects, a sixth can be seen at 565 Collins Street where soft-drink king turned property tycoon Spiros Stamoulis has a concept for the vacant development site.

While there can be only one winner in the race to build AXA a home, there are said to be second, third and possible fourth places in the offing. Speculation is rising about Optus's long-awaited relocation announcement while observers keenly watch Australia Post at its Exhibition Street HQ. And word has it that Telstra could soon be in the market to replace some of its lower-grade addresses.

I can see Optus House, if Optus moves out of (I think they have about 10 floors?) its namesake tower, that would be snapped up pretty quickly by someone in the financial industry - it was built for CBA, and apart from the signage and optus in it, it remains pretty much a financial tower, perfect floorplate as well.

thats a few buildings needed to be built. 6, well hopefully 6. and i hope there decent sized.

Sorry Mr T, but my partner (who works at Optus) tells me that Optus has signed a new lease at Optus House. They are occupying more floors higher up in the same building. No movement for at least 5 - 6 years. :(

I think it has a good chance of going ahead if you read this article:

Capital Gain
Saturday Age 3/7

Hugh Martin

Does Grollo have an Axa to grind?

With 2003 being described by many a property observer as the industry's annus horribilis as nearly 400,000sqm of space was being built in the CBD, Southbank and Docklands, 2004 was to be a year of respite.
This year was to give the industry time to take stock of the passing construction boom. In 2004 there were to be no new tenancy pre-commitments or construction announcements, signalling the end of the cycle.
Cranes were to slowly disappear from the city skyline as projects were completed and filled with office workers. And the hurtful terms of 'over-supply' and 'revaluation' were to fade from memory.

But the industry is about to be passed the smelling salts with the construction of at least two office towers to be committed to before the end of the year.
Said to be at the centre of the cycle's second wind is superannuation and investment giant AXA's decision to quit its Collins Street digs.

One developer seen wooing the company is Grocon figurehead Daniel Grollo, with a Docklands proposal.
"Unable to comment" on such speculation, it is said that Grollo again has warmed to Docklands after the frosting the relationship received when Grollo Tower, to be the world's tallest building at the time, was dumped by the former Docklands Authority.
He condemned the former authority for its "painfully slow and unnecessarily tortuous" procedures. But Grollo is back at Batman's Hill and it might be he has a potential AXA in tow.

In a Jones Lang LaSalle tender campaign that closed this week for an AXA relocation, Grollo was seen vying with Docklands rivals, the Kuok Group and Folkestone Leighton, who are also said to be tempting AXA west of Wurrundjeri Way. Civic Nexus is seen having hopes of landing the tenant for its Southern Cross STation redevelopment while Multiplex also has space for AXA at its Southern Cross Hotel redevelopment site. Australian Super Developments is also in the want of a tenant for its Grand Central scheme.
While that's five towers found in need of a major tenant to anchor projects, a sixth can be seen at 565 Collins Street where soft-drink king turned property tycoon Spiros Stamoulis has a concept for the vacant development site.

While there can be only one winner in the race to build AXA a home, there are said to be second, third and possible fourth places in the offing. Speculation is rising about Optus's long-awaited relocation announcement while observers keenly watch Australia Post at its Exhibition Street HQ. And word has it that Telstra could soon be in the market to replace some of its lower-grade addresses.

Yeap Hopefully AXA are up to something sooner rather than later with Grollo! :)

There's a rendering of this tower in the 'Capital Gain' section of todays 'The Age'.
Doesn't look bad at all, but there seemed to be quite a large spire.

woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
http://www.melbournephotos.net/misc/img151s.jpg
a real goodun. I like it alot.

ahhh finally another tower (along with PwC) with a nondescript design, good stuff. what is it about melbourne and black/blue glass? even though its pointless that spire seems about 230m?

and if they strip enterprise house as the article suggests and start again - bonus!

Sorry, I didn't have time to scan plans in and post here. The rendering is exactly what I saw, not that render in particular but it looks like it hasn't changed since I saw it. The ground floor will have a couple of retail and a double height foyer with an overhanging mezzanine from memory.

Well, this is my last post as I'm off overseas this afternoon. Off to Europe and America so I'll post some pics when I get back in 4 weeks.

Cheers everyone :D

James

have fun joed, don't talk to strangers ;)

still set back a fair way, looks to me a like a commercial version of watergate (two thin towers mashed together). I like the sloping roofline as well, got that little bit extra that doesn't make me go yawn overboard. You can also clearly see the top section is screaming for signage as well, I'd like to see the Yarra facing view too.

Considering height restrictions just to the south, they've given the area a pretty sweet deal :)

I still want to see another Katsalidis commercial proposal though.

thanks for the scan dan.

Ahh looks nice. Looks werid with the big boxpart of it, but hey, i'm still happy. I like it alot.

That render is clearly oversized compared to its surrounds - the perspective shows the roofline of 565 intersecting Rialto higher than the top of 525's north tower, at about 200 m! 33 storeys still does seem quite low for a 170m building, even if the roof section takes up 18 metres of that.

Rialto's shorter tower is 'only' 185m tall, also note that it is at the bottom of the hill, whereas 565 Collins Street is probably slightly higher above sea level.

That spire seems to reach pretty high too! Not really sure if it fits into the design though.

Not bad at all actually for that heap of shit site...

The spire is a nice touch - its better than a complete box..

So excuse me not reading the article (or previous posts) whats the odds of it starting?

It's a chnky mofo ain't it. Like it Shane, like it a lot.

Looks good!

I would still like to see a round building in Melbourne sooner rather then later!

OOooooh, I really like this design actually. There is enough going on that it is not just a box, and I think it is a great site. What are the chances of it getting pushed through this cycle you think? (ie: approval and starting by early next year).
stu

I would still like to see a round building in Melbourne sooner rather then later!


Check out YVE, allthough it's not round, more dogbone shaped, plenty of round bits.

What about building "Focus" on the roundabout with the big flagpole, now that would be classy! :)

^^ yes great building.. how about YE3, YE4, Gateway, Victoria Point, Conder..etc they are great curvy buildings..

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

This is a massive tower, looks to take up the whole width of the lot around 70m wide and 2,000 square metre floorplates.

It only has 32 floor because the first four floors are around 35m high so that all the office floors can get views over the 12 storey car park behind the site, should have a pretty awesome atrium lobby.

I hope they leave the spire off the final design if it gets built.

Also can't wait to see the plans for the new Grocon Tower on Batmans Hill, hopefully it at least goes to 180m or higher :-)

Also can't wait to see the plans for the new Grocon Tower on Batmans Hill, hopefully it at least goes to 180m or higher :-)

Ahem .. Grollo - please explain ?? Know something we don't?

The two buildings flanking this building are worse. The pics I've seen look OK? Facade with inset to reduce the obvious bulk and the pole on top to point out here I am ! Just another building to return investment with large floor plates for efficient office space that will melt into the bland bulk of medium height buildings in our city.Only once in a while we get a dynamic landmark tower ......lucky for Melbourne the Grollo family are here but from recent press, looks like bigger things for them interstate and overseas. I also hope any Grollo docklands building will give the area a landmark tower,as walking around there a couple of weeks ago I still find it hard to get excited about any building.

Only once in a while we get a dynamic landmark tower ......lucky for Melbourne the Grollo family are here but from recent press, looks like bigger things for them interstate and overseas.

I also hope any Grollo docklands building will give the area a landmark tower,as walking around there a couple of weeks ago I still find it hard to get excited about any building.


Hi Red Baron, Welcome to the online madhouse...........

Interesting that you find no excitement in the docklands precinct buildings.

Considering what it was 10 years ago, I think Docklands is a very exciting place to be for both buildings and living.

official height of spire-200m!
for those interested, the spire rises 30m above screen, thus 200m above collins st.
also found out the reason for angled screen is due to shadow impact on Yarra. seems Sydney isnt only city that is strict on shadows. good stuff.
cheers

Yeah, a Grocon batmans Hill proposal would be very exciting! Revenge of Grocon! Son of Grollo Tower! Muahahahahah!

At least this is a half decent proposal for a megasite!

I think they might have slightly exaggerated the spire height in that rendering because it sure looks higher than 200m :-)

It's a big no,no to overshadow the Yarra. You can overshadow the north bank with a planning permit but overshadowing of the south bank is prohibited. So in this case the 152m high roof is as high as you can go without overshaodwing the north bank and 170m is as high as you can go without overshadowing the south bank. That's why it has opaque screening between 152 & 170m :-)

Hey favco 750, Thanks . I may have been a bit hasty on the docklands. It was just that I have followed it's concepts since conception and the daring or more exciting proposals seem to have dropped off. eg. The Grollo Tower........first the 680m . then the 560m. The Studio City? A world class theme park so close to a CBD. The Victoria Village I think it was called on the south side of Victoria Harbour looked pretty good. I know the Nat. Aust . Bank is a modern high tech building as offices go but it just doesn't grab you like a tower.If everything goes up 6 to 12 floor .......no views etc.The big wheel they say is coming is at the center of it's site and the view from it will be looking at Coode Is. If it was overlapping the water like the London Eye it may have looked more impressive? When it is more complete the whole area will look alot better.

I've said it before and i will say it again (in reference to Coode "timebomb" Island).
The C.B.D. is creeping closer and closer to this place with spanking new buildings and apartments. This place has been recognised as a very real terrorist target. Highly toxic and highly explosive.It needs to go.

Yeah redbaron, I agree that the whole area will be better when complete. I have so much interest in the place at the moment though due to all the crane activity. It will be a very long time before Melbourne sees a construction boom in such a defined area again, if ever.

It is a very exciting process to watch, from any perspective. I remember it as I'm sure many do as a waste land, and to see the transformation so far is extraordinary, with much more to come.

As I drove over the West Gate the other night I was looking down onto the area known as Webb Dock. It is now more of a general freight handling area moreso than a container port. (Only have the one portainer crane left) I get to work in here a few times a month and marvel at the piece of land that it occupies. I am certain a fair chunk of it was reclaimed in the 80's and it was only when I was looking down on it from the bridge that I really saw what a sensational piece of land it is. It would be equipped with some of the best views of the city, but it's position at the very top or apex of the bay is unrivalled.

The whole Port Melb/Willy/Docklands precinct is without a doubt one of the most exciting areas to be watching. Any bets on how long developers wait before trying to build medium/high rise on the foreshore at Williamstown??

Coode Island timebomb.......... maybe, and it sure ain't a pretty place but don't hold your breath waiting for it to go anywhere. Two reasons, it is currently undergoing major infrastructure and building works that would not be occuring if it's days were being counted. Secondly, where else to build it????? The neccessary Environmental impact studies would never get passed, who would want it as their new neighbour????? Because it is already there and has been forever, it is accepted that any new works there are an improvement, anywhere else they would be unwelcome.

Favco 750......I don't think any hi rise will get a go in Williamstown. Can you imagine the cries!!! There is a phobia about height nearly anywhere but particularly in residential areas. To a degree I understand but if each proposal was concidered on it's merits without the vocal minority telling us that if you let one high tower....good design, landmark etc.......then every new building in the area will be just as high. Like say Beaconsfield Pde. OK no Surfers Paradise but if you said a 5 story limit can you imagine a 5 story wall between Port Melbourne and St. Kilda !!!!! Coode Is. is a bit of a worry, just prevailing winds could be enough even with a minor disaster.But the 'Not in my back yard' is so strong so change is a slow process. Also I will go through my pics and see if any may interest anybody of development projects over the years. I wish I had a digital camera as I look at the Eureka tower everyday from work in Richmond and would have a great collection by now. I am above the tree and roof lines so it is an uninterrupted view, just south of Swan St and the Rail lines.

I agree about willy not having any new multi story soon, but my bet was for the attempts to go high. There are a few people here who have some involvement with planning permits for various councils etc. it would be interesting to know if any attempts have been made.

Even four storey developments in Williamstown lead to protests, petitions and howls of outrage :-)

Emporis.com have the height of this building at 200m. They also write that another 200m, 61 floor tower on 368 Little Collins Street has just been approved. does anyone know anything about this?

Emporis.com have the height of this building at 200m. They also write that another 200m, 61 floor tower on 368 Little Collins Street has just been approved. does anyone know anything about this?
the 200m height is to its spire.
its 170m to plant encosure and 152m to roof.
The 200m 368 LITTLE COLLINS IS A PROPOSED 62storey apartment tower. checkout the other threads its there.
cheers

It has been 5 months since media releases.

Now that it looks as if AXA is going bo-teek....

bo teek???

beautique?

Anyway, looks alright, would be cool for 12 storys, just so its a skyscraper.

Boutique guys, boutique. :|

Well, obviously jack-shit as far as movement on this one ATM.

so what are you saying muse? this one isnt going to get up?

take it easy, it was only recently approved. colliers have taken on the leasing campaign just recently.

when its been around as long as John Boyd then you can have a whinge.

for what its worth i think Optus will take on the pre-commitment.

Not too certain about Optus!

Yeah, a Grocon batmans Hill proposal would be very exciting! Revenge of Grocon! Son of Grollo Tower! Muahahahahah!

At least this is a half decent proposal for a megasite!
The bastards sold us out on Batman's Hill! :bash:

1/3 blabby, one third.

so what are you saying muse? this one isnt going to get up?
Not at all. Not up to us.

When its been around as long as John Boyd then you can have a whinge.
Coz we are based in Sydney, it's somehow a reflection on us? :|

....

no, but when the towers been on the market for more than five minutes, ala John Boyd then you can question whats going on, simple as that!

this one will eventually happen. not now, but next cycle maybe. melbourne should and will be happy with the big 4 coming on line this year.

In Melbourne there is no such thing as fast.

hot shoe shuffle.

APN pays $25m for Collins Street site
Mathew Dunckley
25 May 2006
Australian Financial Review

Yet another of Melbourne's long-standing bombsites is set for a rebirth with a listed development fund belonging to APN Property Group snapping up the hole in the ground at 565 Collins Street for a bullish sum of about $25 million.

The 3942 square metre site was sold by a Stamoulis family company which bought it three years ago for $8.5 million.

The partially excavated site has a chequered history. No fewer than three planning permits for major office towers have come and gone in the past 25 years as different owners have passed up the development opportunity.

The Stamoulis family obtained the site's fourth and current permit late in 2004. It allows for a 55,000 sq m, 33-storey building with an estimated development cost of $200 million.

In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange yesterday, APN said the property was purchased by the APN Development Fund No. 1, which was launched last year.

The 565 Collins Street development will be APN's biggest undertaking in Melbourne following its 22,620 sq m office building at 380 La Trobe Street, which is almost fully rented by AWB.

The development fund has also committed to major projects in Queensland's Coolum and Yatala.

At the time of its purchase, the Stamoulis family said it would hunt for a prelease tenant to kick-start development. The hunt was unsuccessful and that baton will now be passed on.

APN managing director Clive Appleton said the site had unusual characteristics that would appeal to tenants.

"It can offer large 2000 sq m plus open-plan floors with premium services in Collins Street in a location that continues to be rerated with the new Southern Cross Station, improved tram services and enhanced aesthetics in the area with the removal of the Flinders Street overpass," he said.

Fund manager Michael Hodgson said that the timing of the development would cater for a strengthening Melbourne market that had low vacancies in A-grade space (about 7.3 per cent) and very limited supply of large contiguous space.

"In addition, new supply earmarked to be completed in 2006 and 2007 already has high levels of pre-commitment estimated at 78 per cent and 60 per cent respectively with a number of major tenants still seeking precommitment opportunities," he said.

Colliers International commercial sales associate Martin O'Sullivan brokered the deal and said it showed the positive impact of redevelopment in the CBD's west and at Docklands.

KEY POINTS

* The hole in Melbourne's CBD has remained undeveloped for 25 years.

*The Stamoulis family bought the site three years ago for $8.5 million.

* APN's Clive Appleton says a development will appeal to tenants.

render went missing, hoping there's no re-design

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/565collins.jpg

Doesnt look too bad in that render. Compliments Rialto, and looks much better than a hole in the ground to say the least...

Why can't ANZ help out with the leasing here instead of a Docklands lowrise? hehe. Is a Collins Street address still as prestigous as it used to be?

I hope they come up with a better design, that design is OK but nothing special probbaly part of the reason why they never pre-leased it. I t's about time for a new FK office tower and this would be the perfect site :-)

yeech... that design looks pretty ugly to me

too fat for melbourne.

I hope they come up with a better design, that design is OK but nothing special probbaly part of the reason why they never pre-leased it. I t's about time for a new FK office tower and this would be the perfect site :-)

Hear hear, Katsilidis go sick!!

Blue

Problem with that render is you will very rarely (if ever) see the tower from that angle. Here's one I did a while ago from Southbank (I'm aware the spire's on the wrong side but can't be stuffed doing anything about it :D)

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/5756/565photoshop5sr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Interesting i still think i've seen worse. I'm not sure that most of the blue would really end up looking that dark though. The glass within those black squares might be dark like rialto prehaps but i get the feeling the rest of it would end up a bit lighter maybe more the BHP building at QV, maybe not as light as that.

Is it supposed to look the same on both north and south sides?

Judging from the big render, I'd say it looks pretty much the same on both the northern and southern sides. joed should know unless he's forgotten.

i like it, the tower works well along side other glass buildings.. guess it's the look Melbourne towers tend to go for but the fattness, i'd say is a good thing for this part of town

that render looks alot better then the one on skyscraper page

http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?

also, whats the building going up next to it

That shocker going up next to it is The Eiffel.

that render looks alot better then the one on skyscraper page

http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?

Then please feel free to replace it!

I didn't bit much effort into it.

Cheers,

Adam

soz, didnt mean to offend. i meant more the colour of the building then the render itself :-)

I quite like that building - pity its not taller.
It sure is much more classy and attractive than the crap that is going up in other parts of Melbourne - Docklands, Southbank etc.

i walked past the site - there was a big sign there..
from the distance - the render looks different than this one ..
anyone know the update ?

lemme just go for a walk...

this render's been floating about for a while now, but nevertheless.

The podium / street level is much better than the previous version - it was setback further from Collins St from memory. The tower shape in the older version was far more interesting though.

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/565newrender1.jpg

stats

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/565newrender3.jpg

full profile

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/565newrender2.jpg

the facade will make or break this tower. Bonus points for not being completely glass (eh silvermb), I like the 15 William st-like vertical metallic strips up the western (and assuming eastern) facades. Most importantly it will give the dead end of Collins a big lift.

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/565newrender4.jpg

That podium's screaming out for TV studios of some kind, cmon ABC / Ten, pull your finger out.

BTW! I count 33 levels above the podium and 5 in the podium (including ground) - approx 152m - go figure?

i think the facade is glass and the second skin is a sun screen that runs up higher than the tower itself (like grollo mentioned and in the pic). guess it will look like brisbane square or nab docklands screening. externally mediocre or goulag - whichever fits

it's very Canary Wharf now.

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/565cCWcompare.jpg

(^ a silvermb pty ltd production)

lament all ye minions.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/565collins.jpg

the podium is cool but overall - it is rather boring and uninspiring..

thanks Tays for update

it is only 25 floor - so i guess it wil be around 120-130 metres height mark ?

the podium is cool but overall - it is rather boring and uninspiring..

thanks Tays for update

it is only 25 floor - so i guess it wil be around 120-130 metres height mark ?

I thought it was 170m and 200m to the top of the spire?

Will it block the view of any other buildings when coming in over the Bolte Bridge? I much prefer the new design to the original.

the new height is
roof=110m
glass fin=130m

Will it block the view of any other buildings when coming in over the Bolte Bridge? I much prefer the new design to the original.

Maybe smaller ones, not ones bigger than it is.

the new height is
roof=110m
glass fin=130m

oooh another shortie !

I likes that it has blades (possibly angled away from the sun) running down the western and eastern facades. My worry is the Collins street facade with the sun shades. If it's like NAB or NY Times tower it may be half decent, if it's like Brisbane Sq, then God have mercy on us all.:D Actually this design kind of reminds me of a beefy NY Times tower minus the spire and height.

^^ liberty tower over the road

dull shit.

leave the site vacant until something better comes along, seriously. This is the last major site on Collins Street. :ohno:

Doh. I totally forgot about Liberty. Might have a go at making my own model and render of this tomorrow.

Melbourne likes these sensible slabs eh?

What - like Eureka, Melbourne Central, 101, 120C, Republic, Rialto, YVE, Bourke Place, Crown, YE5, MTC and Recital Hall........
Yeah, there are alot of "sensible slabs" around at the moment, but I think they are off-set quite nicely with some of the more 'flamboyant' pieces.
I don't mind this proposal. It'll fit quite nicely in the skyline and I think the street level parts of the building are interesting enough to give the area a kick. I think there's a danger of the skyline looking too busy if there aren't enough minimalist 'fillers'. Power Station and Age site will give enough scope for creativity. If they throw up boring boxes on those sites then Melbourne needs a reality check.

^ i think muse means many new office blocks (post 2000) are big glass boxes.no Deutschbanks or Aurora places . Melbournes planning authority, be it council or DOI need to conduct design competitions for new skyscrapers to ensure the best design for the allocated site. use same old architects, you will get same old buildings.
sydney is now getting OS architects like foster and german s Ingenhoven-overdiek etc. to design our new ones.

heres the section/elevation of latest design.
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/578/567nr3.png

Its not up to the DoI nor the MCC to design buildings. They are the planning authority. Its up to the owners to come up with good design.

^ of course, but DOI or MCC can enforce a design comp as part of DA application.

^ i think muse means many new office blocks (post 2000) are big glass boxes.no Deutschbanks or Aurora places.

I agree about Aurora but isn't Deutschebank just a 'big glass box' with an atrium and some sticks on top? Personally I'd rather see local architects get the gig ahead of international architects. If you give an international architect the same budget as a local one, you'd still end up with the same shit. Grand Central was ther result of a design comp amongst local architects but because ASD are cheap developers who have no vision we ended up with glass boxes albeit colourful ones to make it look more interesting.

^deutschebank is sooo much more then a glass box with a void and sticks.
yes local architects should get most jobs but good to get some international flavour spread throughtout city.And yes cost always seem to lower the standards of some designs, but with sydney design comps builders arent allowed to cheap on materials which are part of agreed winning design.

What - like Eureka, Melbourne Central, 101, 120C, Republic, Rialto, YVE, Bourke Place, Crown, YE5, MTC and Recital Hall........
Yeah, there are alot of "sensible slabs" around at the moment, but I think they are off-set quite nicely with some of the more 'flamboyant' pieces.
Yeah, wouldn't disagree. It wasn't an insult btw and the other buildings you list don't escape anyone's attention. From buildings such as Orica House to Optus to this, sensible slabs fit in with Melbourne's corporate image.

If this turns out anywhere near 1/2 decent as SX Office East or even Urban Workshop, then great.

^deutschebank is sooo much more then a glass box with a void and sticks.
yes local architects should get most jobs but good to get some international flavour spread throughtout city.And yes cost always seem to lower the standards of some designs, but with sydney design comps builders arent allowed to cheap on materials which are part of agreed winning design.

Both Deutsche Bank and Aurora are hardly steps forward for either of those designers - and therefore no huge step forward for Sydney. They are fairly mediocre designs, churned out by the factory that practices like F&P are so often criticised for. Not many people here in London (other than politicians) have many positive things to say about the vast majority of Foster's buildings.

Whilst I agree, there should be a much more open market, and design quality should be a much higher priority, it sounds very cultural cringe to equate "international" with "better", or names like "Foster" automatically with quality. Governor Phillip tower, Eureka and republic are examples of IMO a more considered, dynamic and higher quality design - and Australian designers like NFK would do well to follow DCM into a high profile presence in the european and asian markets.

well there are a step forward. both winning architecture awards!
Both are such an advancement in design.way ahead of any office bldg previous in Australia.
I didnt say International architects are better, but they seem to have a different approach to highrise architcture or may have a alternate idea for the site.

mediocre? lol/
foster is brilliant. one of the most sought after architects atm.
awards>
Aurora Place
http://www.propertyoz.com.au/nsw/media/020704.htm
http://www.architecture.com.au/i-cms?page=5201

Deutsche bank Place
http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=browse&entryno=&majorcat=-1&minorcat=-1&keyword=&field=&showstyle=1&location=-1&awards=2&browseyears=2006


anyway back to subject

Pfft. I'd take Aurora or DB over this piece of shit any day. I want the original proposal back as it was actually *good*.

^ of course, but DOI or MCC can enforce a design comp as part of DA application.

Sorry Mr C. As far as I know, the DoI nor the MCC can do that. They can not force any developer to undertake a competition.

My renders (yes the sun's shining from the south which is wrong):

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8568/567rendercopyua6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3213/567renderiiicopyyw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1323/567renderiicopyyo4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/1120/567renderivcopypj9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I might add the podium later.

good work archie

is this building going ahead soon or just at preliminary status ...?
is there any anchor tenant in place yet ?

No anchor tenant as yet, but hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

cool.... your render looks much nicer than the photo on the board
will be good if it has that light blue hint in it..
i just wish bit taller though....

Whose the developer? Prehaps they will go speculative as FWP is now?

^^APN Property Group who were behind the AWB building on LaTrobe St & Bendigo Bank @ Docklands. Not sure they're into speculative building.

I prefer this new version to the old, taller one. That one looked sort of awkward to me.

I think the new version could do with a spire like the previous design, not for height's sake, I just think it would look a lot more 'complete' with a spire. Currently it kind of looks like there's something missing.

these days spires seem to be waste of money. look at Verves501, it was originally 190m high, then cut to 170m, and ended up a pissy 159m. hardly worth effort.
original design
http://www.urbandesign.com.au/images/clients/ansett/4_lg.jpg

mugs
http://static.flickr.com/122/292135939_cb468b10cb_o.jpg

Just wanted to add that it was the interiors for DeutscheBank that won the RAIA award (state and nationally) - these were designed by local architects Bligh Voller Nield...F + P had nothing to do with the internal fitout.

yes, and they are incredible,but basic design for whole building were from Foster.

Sorry, that was meant in reference to your post below, in which you seem to imply the the award (which was only for interiors) is to be credited to Foster. :)

well there are a step forward. both winning architecture awards!
Both are such an advancement in design.way ahead of any office bldg previous in Australia.
I didnt say International architects are better, but they seem to have a different approach to highrise architcture or may have a alternate idea for the site.

mediocre? lol/
foster is brilliant. one of the most sought after architects atm.
awards>
Aurora Place
http://www.propertyoz.com.au/nsw/media/020704.htm
http://www.architecture.com.au/i-cms?page=5201

Deutsche bank Place
http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=browse&entryno=&majorcat=-1&minorcat=-1&keyword=&field=&showstyle=1&location=-1&awards=2&browseyears=2006


anyway back to subject

Ok, now I promise to stay on topic.

A big gap just waiting to be filled....

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2752/22122006174oi8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Aye.

What's with the old bluestone and arches etc?

What's with the old bluestone and arches etc?

Because they demolished this:

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/jcollins/0/1/8/im/jc018294.jpg

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/miscpics/0/0/9/im/mp009420.jpg

Because they demolished this:

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/jcollins/0/1/8/im/jc018294.jpg

wow...what was it, as a matter of interest?

The tiny text under syas the New Zealand loan and mercantile company. WOW I had no idea that was there before. What I would do to walk around Melbourne for a few years in it's gold rush times....

Demolishing that building was a crime!

Demolishing that building was a crime!

And replacing it with a car park makes the crime even more painful and depressing. :cry:

When did they demolish that building?

Looking at the renders and sections of 567C again, I'm not so sure that the facade will actually have sun screens (whether perforated aluminium or the louvred variety) I think what looks like a second skin consisting of sun screens may actually be opaque glass similar to that on 700 Collins' northern and southern facades (although not in that random assortment) which sites flush with the windows and with horizontal metallic strips running in between. Like 700C the southern and northern facades seem to be almost identical apart from the fins which differ in height, so it wouldn't make sense for the south side to have a sunscreen as it would never get any sun. Then again it could also be alpolic panels, whatever it is it's attached to the slab but extends beyond it possibly to block out the summer sun but allow the winter sun into the offices.

Like 700C the southern and northern facades seem to be almost identical apart from the fins which differ in height, so it wouldn't make sense for the south side to have a sunscreen as it would never get any sun.

...or it could be that Seidler Associates are trading/operating as a different entity in Victoria now and have finally taken the plunge with glass ;)

Baulderstone Hornibrook are the appointed builder, wont be too long now

i talked to cox architects and got some heights.should start within a couple of months with 2009 finish.

height to screen (RL130m)
height at main entrance-Collins st-(RL8m)
height above grd- 122m
roof height-95m
plant height-101m
levels-26

diagram
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/578/567nr3.png

I don't like it.

Does this mean they are going to build speculatively?

There is certainly a lot of confidence in the Melbourne office market at the moment, this will be the third speculative office tower U/C.

Green Machines for town,,,,, Yay!!!!!!

There is certainly a lot of confidence in the Melbourne office market at the moment, this will be the third speculative office tower U/C.

i hope the residential will follow the trnend... ie Prima and Little Collins st projects

Westpac logo would suit 567 nicely:

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/7128/np567skylineqo2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Quite possibly my best render ever :colgate: :

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5484/closeuphc8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^You're a champ Archi!! :)

Imagine what that part of the CBD would look like if you had the Power Station site replaced with a 350m!

BUSINESS
Westpac linked to tower
Peter Taylor
13 February 2007
Herald-Sun

WESTPAC is considering anchoring a $200 million office tower proposed for the burgeoning west end of Collins St.

The banking giant -- on the hunt for 16,000 sq m of Melbourne office space -- has 567 Collins St firmly in its sights, sources say.

The move would allow developer APN Property Group to push ahead with the building on the former Transport House site between Enterprise House and 595 Collins St.

The bank would take almost a third of the proposed 50,000 sq m of the development, which would be APN's biggest project to date, an insider said.

Under the proposed deal, Baulderstone Hornibrook would build the tower, expected to rise about 30 levels, he said.

The group's wholesale APN Development Fund No. 1 bought the site from softdrink tsar Spiros Stamoulis last May for $25 million.

APN director Clive Appleton said the Westpac speculation was "news to me".

One agent said that while Westpac was contemplating the Collins St move, it was doubtful APN could have the building ready before Westpac's major Melbourne lease expired in mid-2009.

The bank occupies space at 360 Collins St and several smaller CBD offices.

"For them to be able to build that thing down there in two years, fit it out and get them out of 360 Collins St would be cutting it fine," he said.

"If you are building a 10,000 sq m building you could do it but not if you were building 50,000 sq m."

A Westpac spokesman would say only that the bank "has not made any decision" on a site.

Meanwhile, publisher Fairfax has said it is closing in on a deal to sell the Spencer St site of The Age.

Fairfax chief financial officer Sankar Narayan said the company was "in discussions with several parties".

Fairfax announced last September it was selling the ageing building and moving from the site.

Imagine what that part of the CBD would look like if you had the Power Station site replaced with a 350m!Huh? "That part of the CBD"? The Age/Power Station site is @ least 5 city blocks away slightly to the north-west. I guess you meant the western part of the traditional Melbourne CBD in general, surely.

eh Archi, quite a good guess on the Westpac signage :applause:

Preliminary Works have already started on site:

http://web.aanet.com.au/nmharrison/15-4-2007/585%20collins%20forum.jpg

What, they dropped a few bombs?

Looks like a Baghdad carpark!

^^ :lol:

they missed the Neon 200 as a target!

When did they close that carpark off?? WHen i was there at the start of Feb, the joint was still open. God wouldnt mind a krispy kreme which is like 2 shops up from that pic.

God we miss out on so much here in Perth. I dont know weather to laugh or cry.

Preliminary Works have already started on site:

http://web.aanet.com.au/nmharrison/15-4-2007/585%20collins%20forum.jpg

Looks like part of a Gears Of War map!

ahh What a waste of a car park.. i could easily leave my car there, ahhh the pain......

bump

As per the Westend/Northbank thread:

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2631/pic0004cv6.jpg

are they going to demolish that multi storeys car park behind it?

I'm pretty sure the car park stays!!!

I think ARM occupy the top floor of that car park

This is true.

http://web.aanet.com.au/nmharrison/melbourne%20winter/567%20collins%20web.jpg

this render's been floating about for a while now, but nevertheless.

The podium / street level is much better than the previous version - it was setback further from Collins St from memory. The tower shape in the older version was far more interesting though.

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/565newrender1.jpg

stats

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/565newrender3.jpg

full profile

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/565newrender2.jpg

the facade will make or break this tower. Bonus points for not being completely glass (eh silvermb), I like the 15 William st-like vertical metallic strips up the western (and assuming eastern) facades. Most importantly it will give the dead end of Collins a big lift.

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/565newrender4.jpg

That podium's screaming out for TV studios of some kind, cmon ABC / Ten, pull your finger out.

BTW! I count 33 levels above the podium and 5 in the podium (including ground) - approx 152m - go figure?


^^ so is this still the current design for this development?

Might fit in better when the adjacent askew boxes die.

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/565newrender2.jpg

^^Boring, wake me up when it's done. :sleepy:

Today:

http://ozfrog.thehoddlegrid.net/567collins20070720.jpg

Christ, even the foundations of this building are boring! :sleepy:

Christ, even the foundations of this building are boring! :sleepy:

haha :lol:

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/4828/104164828ml1185157350.jpg

I wonder why they stopped.

I honestly don't think it would be possible, even if you collected the World's most disenchanted, Prozac-resistant and angry designers, to make a carpark look any uglier.

Cheers,

Adam

The current design for this building should be torn up, and everything from Enterprise House, west through to Transport House should be demolished.
A clean start including an architectural competition should take place for this entire area.
Denton is asleep at the wheel, he should have flexed his muscle and prevented aproval for this hideous development. :mad:

Doesn't look promising does it?

Any reason why they have covered it over?

Don't really understand why they would clear off all the carparking only to smooth it over and leave it. At least they got some income while there was carparking on it.

They want to make a nice big sand castle!! :guns1:

They want to make a nice big sand castle!! :guns1:

Actually, a skyscraper-sized sand castle wouldn't be such a bad idea, provided that the right materials were used. At least it would be original and somewhat innovative for Melbourne! :)

Back in 2005, John Denton was made the Victorian Government Architect, and this is what was said about this appointment and office....

The Minister for Planning, Rob Hulls, today announced the creation of the Office of the Victorian Government Architect with the appointments of John Denton as Victorian Government Architect and Shelley Penn as Associate.

“This new office has been established to provide leadership and strategic advice to Government about architecture and urban design and to PROMOTE MELBOURNE AS A CITY OF DESIGN EXCELLENCE.”

Keeping my fingers crossed that the reason for the halt is that Denton told the developers of this site to go back to the drawing board for a new design. :yes:

this would have at least been across his desk once as it's over the threshold for MCC (25,000sqm). who knows.

By showing that they were/are/Ready to Start construction straight away , but now :ohno: we know the rest :cheers:

spoke to some BDM's from APN and they are waiting for a main tenant, but are expecting to build very soon. they are very keen to get this project going because it will be their largest scale project ever.

This one is just painful to watch.....I mean, it's unfathomable how such a large piece of prime Collins St. frontage has been overlooked for so long.
Then again, look at that photo Grollo posted. If the two dirty cream 70's shockers, plus the filing cabinet for cars, plus the other non-descript 80's dogbox shoved in the corner were all razed to the ground the development potential of the site would suddenly increase ten-fold. Imagine the monster that could go up on that site. It won't happen though:ohno:

Kids, at last some joy. Turns out that this has had a bit of a face lift. It is now Rialto-blue, with barely any white on it apart from pole like things running up the side. To see, go to http://www.scharpdesign.com/home.html . Much much much better :D

Not set back at all, that's good!

Nice find dockman. Pity this one is flanked by two of the worst eyesores on Collins.

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/7752/567collinshc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Shot at 2007-08-15

It's amazing: it gone from god ugly, to reasonably sexy actually. If this was in Sydney, Cul would be creaming himself...

nice ;-) http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/smilies/banana.gif

wow, breaking the mould alright :gaah:

it's alright big man, I'll buy you a La Fin Du Monde or five and you can drown your sorrows....

nice...and as for all those other projects on the website..are they all in australia? some of them are friggin awesome, like the changsa one!

Changsa is in China. These guys do the renders, they're not architects.

It looks better, yes. But More blueglass? Could have done something cool, green or red perhaps. Much better though.

Agree it does look better. Looks simpler and classier. Could these changes be the reason construction seemed to start and then stop?

I'm with silvermb on this, I still don't think much of it. :down:

it's alright big man, I'll buy you a La Fin Du Monde or five and you can drown your sorrows....

no quasi cheese eating surrender monkey can change the fact that mediocrity is the norm. purely my opinion

i want boxes like these, even a slightly articulated facade makes a world of difference.

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/shenz.jpg

uniform curtain wall facades are the new 70's poo-brown precast - lack or imagination, lack of architectural merit...

Needs cross bracing. I remember reading MCC were disappointed with the facade and they may have asked APN to change it to something similar to the older design. Whether this is it, I'm not so sure. The facade would have to be double glazed if there are no longer any screens.

^^ That "box" on the left is pretty cool

...best in Shenzhen.

Did a spot of reading and it turns out the tower will have a 6 Star Greenstar rating and a 5 star ABGR rating. First real officescraper in Melbourne to achieve this, so it's not all bad news. They've had many leasing enquiries but construction won't start until they 'secure a significant lease.'

thanks archie
and the height is still around 120-150 m marks?

^its 122m.

sorry i just realised from the title...silly me

u r sooo quick!

good colours - break the boring and dull brown towers around it

Looks better in context, but also looks nearly twice as tall as Enterprise House (even taking perspective into account) - more like 150m than 122m. It definitely looks like it has more than 26 floors, I counted 33 storeys (not including the fin). Also architects are Spowers and not COX as was previously mentioned.

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6936/567csj7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Melbourne sure is churning out some buildings that lack any crediability or edge.

What happend?

Market fundamentals - that's what.

http://www.propertylook.com.au/listings/CJ/CJ_21/300/CJ_21_70195_120311.jpg

http://www.propertylook.com.au/listings/CJ/CJ_21/300/CJ_21_70195_120312.jpg

Melbourne sure is churning out some buildings that lack any crediability or edge.

What happend?

Without some generic gap fillers, you end with with a city like Dubai. The QV office tower turned out to be a pretty plain design, especially with the cheap glass, but it still fills the gap and the development at ground level mattered a lot more, for people who actually live in the city as opposed to looking at pictures of it in a skyscraper forum. :)

I'd be disappointed if this was built on the power station site, or any of the other big sites. This tower has the potential to turn out bad though, since renders usually always look better than the real thing. But I'll save judgement until it's finished.

Is this around the same height as BHP in Lonsdale St? From the renders both buildings share very similar characteristics.

http://www.propertylook.com.au/listings/CJ/CJ_21/300/CJ_21_70195_120312.jpg

Ooohh I don't like this at ground level at all........ :bash:

I actually do not mind that at ground level. I think it's quite nice.

I like shops and active frontages. Some of the worst frontages are actually tall buildings, when at ground level its all foyer and nothing else.

i talked to cox architects and got some heights.should start within a couple of months with 2009 finish.

height to screen (RL130m)
height at main entrance-Collins st-(RL8m)
height above grd- 122m
roof height-95m
plant height-101m
levels-26

diagram
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/578/567nr3.png
i contacted cox spowers today just to get "latest" height to see if it has changed since feb.
Its actually come down in height to 113m to glass membrane parapet. it was to rise 27m actual roof but now it will be 9m shorter at 113m.
i asked her about number of floors and she said still 26 above collins street.

I don't mind this building at all and i think it is a very good space filler. mabye a couple of tweaks on the ground floor could make it better but over all im pretty pleased. The new height isnt a significant change. i think its a good height with a good exterior. Nothing fantastic, but still good.

Another slab? Man, we need something more original for the CBD this time. Check out these babies going up in Japan:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=522150
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=522146

^^ It's heart wrenching Jase. :(

Why can't we have scrapers like those Jap ones in Melbourne? :bash:

Those are two great skyscrapers, but a vast majority of the skyscrapers going up in Japan are even more more boring and boxy than what is going up in Melbourne.

Even more than Melbourne: The Glass Box Capital of The World?

I rekon those towers are exactly the sort of thing we'll get for the SAMA site. Looks to be around the same height too.

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/6640/cj217019585533qw7.jpg

Woah! I Think the base will actually look great on collins.

Why can't we have scrapers like those Jap ones in Melbourne? :bash:

I'm sure they're saying the same thing in Japan about Melbourne and the CUB tower/Zarha Hadid tower/MTC theatre and Recital hall etc etc. Not everything can be outstanding...or can it?

^^ It's heart wrenching Jase. :(

I know! Especially since it's in a prominent location.

Take a look at any Tokyo skyline and you'll see fields of boxes

See!
http://www.digi-promotion.com/pics/tokyo_skyline.jpg

well, ignore the right side of the photo

Law firm linked to struggling Collins Street development

Marc Pallisco with Chris Vedelago
14 November 2007
The Age


www.theage.com.au
ONE of Collins Street's ugliest development sites - a big dirt car park - could make way for a flash 33-level office building if a major lease deal eventuates.

Sources say the developer of 567 Collins Street, APN Funds Management, is close to securing law firm Allens Arthur Robinson (AAR) as a major tenant in its proposed 55,000-square metre building - which has struggled to attract support since it was proposed three years ago.

AAR is believed to be in advanced negotiations to lease 13,000 sq m of the proposed building between Spencer and King streets.

The firm has been hunting for office space since earlier this year and is currently based nearby at 530 Collins Street. It would have to sub-lease that space if its new offices were ready for occupation before the end of its current lease in 2012.

Sources say a number of smaller deals are also in the wings for the building at 567 Collins.

APN Funds Management, through its APN Development Fund No. 1, paid $25.1 million for the site in May last year. It has struggled to attract a major tenant to its proposed building since it was granted development approval three years ago.

Previous owner, private developer Ryssal-One Pty Ltd, also struggled to attract tenants for its failed development on the site. But the market has turned in APN's favour this year with a lack of alternative CBD office accommodation.

The site is wedged between two former government-owned buildings: the former Enterprise House and the former Transport House.

Colliers International director Tony Landrigan is marketing 567 Collins Street with Doug Cleine. Both declined to comment. A spokesman for the company handling the expression of interest campaign for AAR's new Melbourne offices, MPS Corporate Property Advisors, also declined to comment.

A move by AAR from 530 Collins Street would add to a string of tenants, including ANZ and the ASX, that have recently moved or committed to move from the building.-- With CHRIS VEDELAGO


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Notice that they're referring to it as 33-levels again, are they just not upto date, or has it been re-designed again?

Might be counting basement levels?

EDIT: I noticed it also says 55,000sqm, it's always been marketed as having 50,000sqm.

Someone should just pull down those horrific government houses, and rebuild the entire block. To have that beast sitting there, wasting space on the corner of King and Collins instead of the Federal Coffee Palace. Oh the humanity.

There are 25 levels available for lease so I presume the article must have included ground and basement levels. Also the article states 55,000sqm when it is actually 50,000.

here are some newer renders i found...looks fairly tall in some of them...

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4025/5671sv8ox4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/4741/5678ix4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Rialto looks massive in this one :S
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/946/567qu2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

But looks quite short in this one...? lol wtf?
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/945/5674iy5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ Looks like they are interested in luring the Herald Weekly Times??

Good find. I've resized some of the pics, they'd been stretched out of whack:

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2751/567qu2vk1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/6840/5671sv8ox4uy5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4384/5674iy5lf7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

haha thanx :) they lookd a bit funny lol

melbournee12 i love you!
great finds with ALL the renders today!
i actually really like this building and i cant understand why some of you don't! sure its in a good position and we could have something taller there, but its still better that the vacant slab that was there before...
I think we just accidently found out about the hush hush secret HWT move!!!

Article in today's Age says HWT are looking at 664 Collins next to Southern Cross Station.