Height

Ansett House: 501 Swanston Street, Melbourne

This 18 storey brown octagonal plan modern building, originally built by defunct airline Ansett in was completed in 1975.

Following Ansett going into administration it was placed on the market in 2002 1 and eventually purchased by PDG Corporation after which an extensive $19.2 million refurbishment was undertaken in 2004 by L. U. Simon builders.2

Originally one of two towers, the smaller of which, constructed in 1961 was demolished in 2003 and replaced by a residential tower.

Northbank Place: 525-565 Flinders Street, Melbourne

Northbank Place is a group of three mixed use towers developed between November 2008 and May 2009.

For many years, the site it was built on was a grade level carpark. It is most notable as being the site of the former Melbourne Fish Markets, built in the 1880s the markets and their distinctive conical towers were a landmark of the area, but were demolished in 1955, making way for a flyover of King Street known as the Flinders Street overpass and a grade level carpark. The demolition of the overpass by the state government in 2005 paved the way for a planned urban renewal of the north bank.1

  1. Media Edge project profile – Northbank place http://www.mediaedge.ca/AwardPDF/Project_Profiles/North_Bank_Place.pdf

Rivergarden Condos: 79 Whiteman Street, Southbank

Rivergarden Condos looking south from across Whiteman Street

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This 25 level apartment tower was completed in 20001 at a construction cost of $25 million for developer Central Equity.

The tower, constructed of prefabricated concrete is designed in stepped form, appearing as several vertical masses grouped together to break down its bulk.  The balconies make vertical statements culminating in darker vertical strips with breaking up the rows of rectangular windows and give the building a respectable crown.

Lutetia: 1-3 Bell Street, Armadale

Lutetia is a prestige 5 apartment triple storey building that tries its best to revive the Tudor style in the 21st Century combining historical styles with modern living.   While there has been no shortage of revivals of this style since its origins the 15th Century and the postmodern era, most would be classified as being pastiche, included in that category are many other recent mansions near to Toorak.  This effort, while not historically accurate (the eclectic composition includes classical features) it is quite remarkable in its attention to detail.

Crown Metropol: 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank

Crown Metropol is a 28 storey modern landmark which  opened on Wednesday 21 April, becoming part of the Crown Entertainment Complex at Southbank.  The 5 star 5 star 658 room hotel’s design is a sleek curved S-shaped curtain wall box was design was by Bates Smart architects and it was constructed by Baulderstone Pty Ltd at a cost of $300 million.12

  1. Facts & Figures – Crown Metropol. batessmart.com.au
  2. Crown Metropol Australia’s newest hotel by Bates Smart. – Media Release batessmart.com.au May 2010
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