Project Profile - Studio Nine, Richmond

Once the home of television in Australia, Melbourne’s historic GTV9 studios are set to be transformed into

Lend Lease’s $400 million residential hub

Studio Nine.

Purchased by Lend Lease in 2009 for $50 million, the iconic studios have a rich history, once accommodating the Wertheim Piano Factory and the HJ Heinz Factory.

Located on Bendigo Street in Richmond, the

Hayball and

Kerstin Thompson designed development will consist of 390 contemporary apartments, 68 townhouses and 34 heritage apartments, set on the original three-hectare block.

Five percent of the total residences will be classified as affordable housing, governed by a registered housing association.

With a focus on creating a sense of community, the development will be split into six small boutique-style buildings that will surround a garden square, ranging between two and six storeys high.

Director of Hayball, Rob Stent says the design process involved marrying contemporary architectural design with the surrounding environment and streetscape.

“Richmond has uniquely diverse streetscapes with industrial heritage interspersed with residential. We set out to create a diversity of built forms without making it into an architectural zoo,” Mr. Stent said.

Ben Coughlan, general manager of Lend Lease’s apartments division, said the development will be split into three stages, with the first stage comprising 142 apartments, 27 townhouses and 34 heritage apartments.

“It is extremely exciting to be creating the next chapter in the story of this iconic address,” Mr. Coughlan said.

Most of the heritage apartments have been snapped up, with each exhibiting the studio’s existing architectural features such as arched windows, brick piers and columns.

The apartment interiors will also pay homage to the building’s history with ebony-and-ivory kitchen finishing’s and TV studio-style lighting.

The townhouses are also said to be inspired by Melbourne’s infamous terrace houses, equipped with a courtyard and living areas on the upper levels.

The development also aims to be sustainable in its operation, with water and energy-efficient appliances, fixtures and fittings, rainwater re-use for surrounding gardens, a car share scheme, as well as bicycle storage.

Another 155 apartments are planned for the second stage of construction and 93 for the development’s third stage, with prices ranging from $450,000 to $1.9 million.

Other unique features of Studio Nine include:

• 2500 square metres of public space and communal gardens designed by landscape design firm

• A café on the development’s Studio Square

• A community centre – owned and operated by the City of Yarra for the exclusive use of the surrounding community.

• Architectural design by Hayball and Kerstin Thompson

• Interior design by

  .

• Master plan by Hayball

• Four kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD

• Top of the range kitchen appliances

• Timber flooring, carpet and ceramic tiling