LGA

Grand Hyatt. 123 Collins Street, Melbourne

The Grand Hyatt is a 547 room, 5 star hotel on Collins Street. With a curtain wall of golden tinted glass shaped in a giant L-shaped curve, it has an imposing, if now built out, presence on the “Paris End” of Collins. Faceted vertical bays of glass break up the main exposed concrete mass and add to a shimmering effect.

Medibank House: 700 Collins Street, Docklands

Construction on Medibank House began in September 2002 and the 13 level modernist Docklands tower was completed in July 2004 with major tenant Medibank Private securing naming rights and the other major tenant being the Bureau of Meteorology.

The architects were Bligh Voller Nield working in conjunction with Peddle Thorp Walker. Construction companies Folkestone and Leighton Properties collaborated on the project which was valued at $78 million.1

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

[ratemywe]

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.

Tags