Top 10 Residential Stories of 2014

The Australian population is now hitting over 23.6 million people, with the population expected to double over the next sixty years.

From mixed-use developments to inner-city high density developments, demand for good quality living amenities is of importance not just to home buyers but also to the town planners who design the cities of the future and the developers who develop the master planned communities in which we will live today and into the future.

Below is a list of The Urban Developer’s best residential stories for the year. All articles are amongst the top 50 posts for 2014.
1. China’s Starryland to revitalise Parramatta with $550m promenade

This year Fuxing Huiyu Real Estate Co Ltd developed a local division, Starryland Australia, to construct a residential estate in Parramatta. The estate is resort-style and offers 774 apartments.

$550 million was invested in the estate which is called Promenade. This article also explores further developments which will happen in Parramatta that could possibly lead to the city taking Adelaide’s spot as the fifth largest CBD in Australia.
2. Inside Forté: The World’s Tallest Timber Apartment Building

Here we covered the features of Forté; an impressive and ambitious development by Lend Lease.

It is the tallest timber apartment in the world and the first of its kind in Australia. It is 32.17 metres tall and located in Docklands, an inner-east suburb of Melbourne.
 3. China’s Greenland Group to Develop Sydney’s Tallest Residential Tower

This article looks at Greenland Group’s plans to develop Sydney’s tallest residential tower.

It is their first development in Australia and will cost $600 million. The tower will be 240 metres tall.
4. Urban Construct Lodge Plans for Six Tower Project in Woolloongabba

Earlier this year Urban Construct Group lodged a proposal for the development of a six tower mixed-use residential scheme located in Woolloongabba.

It will consist of 16 levels and offer 1,026 residential apartments. The article also looks at Urban Construct Group’s planned developments in Queensland.
5. Tallest Building in Southern Hemisphere Approved in Melbourne

Melbourne will soon accommodate the highest residences in the southern hemisphere.

In 2019, a 319 metre tower designed by Fender Katsalidis will be unveiled.

The tower costs $900 million and consists of 100 levels with a penthouse located on level 100. Click the link above to read more about this exciting development.
6. Space Saving in ‘Swiss Army Knife’ Apartments

In highly populated cities such as New York and Tokyo, micro living has become increasingly popular amongst homebuyers.

Apartments of 25-square metres are now in demand. While this seems small, such apartments provide features you would see in a regular sized accommodation.

This article looks at five of our favourite micro designs.
7. Dimmey’s Clock Tower Development in Richmond

Melbourne approved the development of a heritage-listed clock tower in Richmond which will form part of Richmond Icon Apartments.

This mixed-use development will be designed by Arnsby Architects with apartment prices starting from $490, 000.
8. Melbourne’s $200m Yorkshire Brewery Gets the Go Ahead

We looked at the $200 million redevelopment of the Yorkshire Brewery Site in Melbourne and the planned features to be added to the site.

The Yorkshire is an iconic landmark and was once Melbourne’s tallest building.
9. Opera to Bring New Luxury Apartment Living to South Brisbane

A 16-level luxury apartment building costing $100 million will take residence in South Brisbane.

The building is called Opera and is the first development in Brisbane for Abcor Property Holdings who reside in Melbourne.

Click the link above to read more about the features and apartment prices.
10. Inside One9: The Six Star, Prefab Apartments In Moonee Ponds

This article details One9, a mixed-use development in Melbourne.

It was designed by Amnon Weber and offers a modern and architectural style at a convenient location. Constructions were completed by Vaughan Constructions in 2013.