Steller and Ewert Leaf combine for a reworked South Melbourne apartment tower
Steller's intended development of a low-rise South Melbourne corner site has taken another step closer to fruition with Ewert Leaf producing a new design for 200-204 Wells Street.
What shapes as the first high-rise for both developer and architect is also set to continue the very well established relationship between the duo. The partnership has yielded hundreds of apartments over numerous sites predominantly across Melbourne's South Eastern suburbs.
Steller landed the South Melbourne plot after it was offered for sale via a Lemon Baxter campaign during late 2017. The sale came after approval was granted during June 2017 for an Artisan Architects-designed tower containing 174 apartments.
That scheme included a Gross Floor Area of 21,857 square metres over 20 levels.
Reflective of a number of pending residential towers surrounding Steller's site, the apartment balance has been reworked to better suit current market conditions. The approved 174 apartments are likely to shrink to 84 according to Ewert Leaf, split between 36 single, 36 double and 12 triple bedroom apartments across its 18 levels.
The nearby 8 Palmerston Crescent for Crema Group also spans 18 levels and consists of only two and three bedroom apartments.
The apparent dramatic reduction in Steller's Wells Street apartment numbers can also be attributed to the inclusion of commercial office space and a marked increase in space associated to amenities. Ewert Leaf note the tower's Net Saleable Area as at 6,907 square metres, equating to an average apartment size of just over 82 square metres across 84 apartments.
200-204 Wells Street finds itself on the eastern border of South Melbourne, and is within walking distance to the under construction Anzac Station. The area is becoming increasingly popular with developers owing to its location and abundance of relatively modern low-rise buildings suitable for redevelopment.
Ewert Leaf describes the project as follows:
The development comprises 84 apartments, 3 levels of office space and 2 levels of shared communal facilities for the residents of the building. These communal facilities include hotel style offerings of pool, day spa, lounges, café, restaurant and private dining options.
The podium features angled concrete planes, which are glazed or clad with a perforated mesh, creating an undulating form which wraps the corner site and draws your eye around the building.
To emphasise the slenderness of the tower, the form has been broken down into concrete frames which wrap a number of levels, creating a simple and unified form. The concrete is further utilised in a ribbed pattern on the east and west facades.
Perforated mesh screens to the balconies create winter gardens and enable residents to use these spaces all year.
200-204 Wells Street is Steller's first high-rise pursuit in a catalogue of developments that reaches past 50.
Currently, Urban.com.au is tracking 30 developments under the Steller umbrella. The Wells Street tower aside, other sizeable pending projects for the developer include Chesterville Road, Taylor Street and Elsternwick's Glen Huntly Road.