Designs for a new 17-storey, build-to-rent tower in Abbotsford have been released, with the project targeting the title of Melbourne’s tallest residential mass timber building.

Build-to-rent group Model released the designs for the proposed $120 million high-rise, which would be sited adjacent to the Victoria Park Railway Station at 276 Johnston Street. If approved, the building would accommodate 200 dwellings – 10 percent of which would be allocated to affordable housing – across a ground floor area of 13,000 square metres.

The project required collaboration from a diverse team of partners, including architects Fraser and Partners, sustainability consultants Hip V. Hype, structural and timber engineers BGandE, urban planners from Urbis, as well as quantity surveyors and carbon planners from Slattery. Feasibility testing was undertaken by Model and its partners over a period of six months before designs were released.

According to Model, the design approach was driven by “decarbonisation at scale,” with t
he project aiming to achieve a 50 percent reduction in embodied carbon compared to standard developments of a similar scale. Additionally, it aims to be entirely powered by renewable energy and to operate at net-zero emissions. The project is targeting Passive House certification, a 6 Star Green Star rating and a NatHERS rating of 9 stars.

The proposal has been submitted for planning approval via the state government’s Development Facilitation Pathway rather than through the City of Yarra.

Source: Tourism Africa