For residential developers who continue to innovate and respond to shifting market needs, it's crucial to stay attuned not only to evolving design trends, but also to advances in technology and lifestyle expectations.

Most developers have already adapted to emerging trends within the built environment. The pandemic, for instance, prompted a shift in residential design, with a growing emphasis on flexible spaces such as study nooks, and significantly enhanced resident amenities as more people began spending extended time at home.

Builder-developer GWH has embraced this shift with its upcoming Newcastle landmark, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/one-apartments-newcastle-west-1-national-park-street-newcastle-west">ONE Apartments</a>, set for completion later this year.

Not only has GWH raised the bar in lifestyle amenities—offering rooftop lounges, a heated outdoor pool, gym with steam room, and private cinema facilities—they are also giving buyers the option to enhance their apartments with smart technology upgrades designed to improve comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24247 project_image_fid=325765]

While each apartment comes fully equipped with fibre-to-the-premises NBN, Pay TV wiring, and wireless access points, buyers can also opt for an upgrade to the Clipsal Wiser™ Smart Home system (or equivalent). This system allows residents to control lighting, climate, and appliances from a single mobile app.

Smart systems like Wiser help save energy by automating tasks such as turning off unused devices, adjusting lighting and climate control based on occupancy or time of day, and opening or closing blinds in response to natural light or weather.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24247 project_image_fid=325772]

Beyond energy savings, the system is also designed to elevate daily living. Residents can pre-set routines—for instance, activating air conditioning before arriving home, or setting the scene for movie nights or bedtime routines. The system is compatible with voice control and integrates seamlessly with existing Clipsal wiring, providing flexibility for future upgrades as technology evolves or resident needs change.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24247 project_image_fid=325771]

GWH, Newcastle’s only local builder-developer, is on track to welcome residents to ONE Apartments in early 2026. The development, located on National Park Street, will comprise 193 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments.

Designed by Marchese Partners in collaboration with CKDS, the towers will become the tallest residential buildings in Newcastle West—delivering a new benchmark in apartment living for the region.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=24247]

Joel Robinson

GWH implements tech-focused lifestyle upgrades at ONE Apartments Newcastle

Plans have been unveiled for a 549-apartment vertical village within Westmead Heath and Innovation Precinct.

The State Significant Development Application and planning proposal for the rezoning of the strategic site at 93 Bridge Rd is&nbsp;one of the earliest projects under the Housing Delivery Acceleration program.

The development, designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/group-gsa">GroupGSA</a>, will deliver 549 homes, including 80 affordable apartments, across two towers rising 27 and 28 levels.

The mixed-use development responds to growing housing demand in Westmead’s Health and Innovation Precinct and aligns with the Westmead Place Strategy, which outlines a vision to transform the suburb into a globally significant hub for health, research and education.&nbsp;

Earmarked as one of Australia’s largest health and biomedical research districts, Westmead Health and Innovation Precinct encompasses four major hospitals, four world-leading medical research institutes and two university campuses. By 2036, the precinct is expected to support over 50,000 full-time workers and more than 10,000 students.

The 8663 sqm site is the largest amalgamated land holding identified for residential use in Westmead’s Health and Innovation Sub-Precinct.

“This is an incredibly well-connected site – close to Westmead and Wentworthville stations, the new light rail, the metro now under construction, and just minutes from Parramatta CBD,” said GroupGSA Director Lisa-Maree Carrigan.

“We’ve designed a vertical village that’s walkable, inclusive and future-ready — one that supports long-term liveability and is deeply connected to Country.”

The development, projected to cost $223.5 million, will deliver a diverse unit mix tailored to a variety of household types and needs, comprising 304 one-bedroom, 225 two-bedroom, and 20 three-bedroom dwellings, as well as a four-level basement of 441 car parking spaces.&nbsp;

Fifteen per cent of apartments will be dedicated to affordable housing for essential workers and low-income residents under the NSW Government’s State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) for affordable housing. The dwellings will be managed by a registered community housing provider.

The ground level will be opened up to the community through a network of new walkways, landscaped areas and more than 3000 sqm of communal open space. An additional 1000 sqm public park will feature nature and water play areas, Indigenous plantings, and storytelling elements celebrating local culture and biodiversity.

The formation of a green corridor following the creek line to the east of the two towers will link to the Toongabbie Creek corridor. To the south, a dedicated nature walk with native landscaping will restore and reconnect the site with broader ecological systems.

Podium rooftops and elevated communal terraces will provide views to Parramatta Park, the Parramatta River and Toongabbie Creek — connecting residents with “sky Country” and regional landscapes.

GroupGSA Associate Principal and project director Noura Thaha said Westmead is evolving into a world-class health and education precinct.

“This development supports that by providing high-quality, diverse housing for the people who power the precinct – from nurses and students to researchers and emergency services personnel.”

&nbsp;

Subject to planning approval, construction is expected to commence in 2026, delivering much-needed housing and public open space by 2029.

First look: Two-tower plans for hundreds of new homes in Westmead health hub

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/park-modern-south-melbourne-1-middleton-lane-vic-3205">Park Modern</a> isn’t just a project for Tim Price - it’s a passion piece.&nbsp;

Located in South Melbourne’s prestigious Domain precinct, the development represents years of planning, site amalgamation, and deep connection to place.

I recently had the opportunity to sit&nbsp;down with Tim Price, Founder and Director of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/time-place">Time &amp; Place</a>, to explore the vision and design ethos behind Park Modern—an ambitious new $500 million mixed-use development overlooking Melbourne’s iconic Botanic Gardens.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/45wmGXBHsI8?si=x3XdnycJ0nNbNteT" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Price says the team is "very excited about this one."

“As a business, we have been investing in both the real estate design and the development of this for about five to six years," Price says.

Park Modern, which will home 243 apartments, sits on a prize 2,398 sqm block bordering&nbsp;Dorcas Street, Wells Street, and Middleton Lane. Importantly, it integrates residential amenity with retail, wellness, and community connection.

<img alt="Park Modern" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="859906cc-bb07-404b-a891-70fb1afb7f3f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-06-24%20at%202.12.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=adAJ9uUY2ZST94I6TxRe1VU8fS46PLp6" />

“The Domain precinct of Melbourne is a special place from a residential point of view,” Price notes.

“I feel like I know this area really, really well… you’ve actually got to work through exactly what it is that people are really going to be interested in living in.”

A distinctive feature of Time &amp; Place’s design process is how Price envisions future residents by placing himself in different life stages. This mindset helps shape a product that is both aspirational and grounded in real-life usability.

<img alt="Time &amp; Place" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6196209c-1e5d-4a18-b4ef-79041cf4d510" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TIME11625_Park%20Modern_EL01_Superman%20View%20to%20CBD.jpg?VersionId=F3HaCqN_OmAr57RjxByvkWJy0hHUND8F" />

“There’s a large portion of the building which is designed for an owner-occupier. That’s not always about downsizing. Sometimes it’s just about creating a space which is easily maintained, lock up and leave, reflecting people’s aspirations,” he says.

The building design reflects this philosophy with generous living areas, big dining spaces for entertainers, and open terraces—elements that cater to the “sticky” nature of long-term residents. He compared the design by Bates Smart to The Melburnian, a nearby St Kilda Road landmark designed by Bates Smart.

“If you look at the turnover in The Melburnian building… they’re very sticky. People love living there. It’s a combination of the quality of the building and also the location.”

<img alt="Time" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f536bdee-0a63-4bb9-8648-4be2a6f49d8e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TIME11625_Park%20Modern_EL03_3Bed%20Residences%20Balcony%20Level%204%20-%2017.jpg?VersionId=df9c0elD7xrZn0oEnWJT4z1TAYVCMBeG" />

&nbsp;

Park Modern will feature two sculptural towers joined by a central garden bridge, resting on a podium. This layout not only maximises view lines to the park and the bay, but also reinforces a “village-style” living concept—where connectivity, wellness, and walkability are prioritised.

In keeping with post-pandemic living priorities, the ground floor of Park Modern will dedicate space to wellness and flexibility. Instead of traditional large-format pools, the development will feature plunge pools, magnesium pools, Finnish saunas, and daybeds. There’s also a co-working space and a studio offering for pilates and cardio workouts.

“We’ve got an element which is really dedicated to wellness… really focusing on if we were living in this space and enjoying the benefits of adjacency to areas to run and exercise.”

The entrance experience, too, is designed to impress, pulling in elements of the gardens through beautiful landscaping, concierge service, and a thoughtfully integrated porte-cochère.

With sales set to commence later in 2025 and construction to follow, Park Modern is poised to become a defining project for Time &amp; Place and for Melbourne’s city fringe.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=138453]

Michael Bird

Inside Park Modern, South Melbourne: Five minutes with Time & Place Founder Tim Price

Joint venture partners <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/time-place">Time &amp; Place</a> and NPACT have kicked off construction at Two Tides, their new Manly apartment development.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/builders/ultra-building-co">ULTRA Building Co.</a>&nbsp;will deliver the&nbsp;five-level, $100 million coastal development that will complete in Q2 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141371 project_image_fid=832]

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/two-tides-manly-9-raglan-street-manly-nsw-2095">Two Tides</a>, on a gateway site at 9 Raglan Street, will comprise 24 luxury apartments above&nbsp;an activated ground-floor retail space, intentionally designed to enhance the local Manly streetscape and seamlessly integrate with the strong existing retail offering that services the area’s daily foot traffic, surrounding businesses, and residents.&nbsp;

Above the ground floor with sweeping views over <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/manly-nsw-2095">Manly</a>’s beachfront, Two Tides brings to market 15 two-bedrooms priced from $2.95 million and sized from 93 sqm to 103 sqm, six three-bedrooms priced from $10.1 million and sized from 121 sqm to 134 sqm, with three crown jewel penthouses (POA) spread across the top floor reaching up to 300 sqm.

Nearly half of the apartments have been snapped up, predominantly by locals.

“Two Tides has clearly resonated with Manly locals, which validates the work we’ve done to shape a project that feels deeply in tune with its surroundings," said&nbsp;Evan Papadopoulos, Director at Time &amp; Place.

"This isn’t just a site we’re building on – it’s a neighbourhood we live in, are connected to, and deeply care about. We’re proud to be delivering homes for people who already call this place home.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141371 project_image_fid=837]

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB Architects</a>, Two Tides draws inspiration from Manly’s laid-back sophistication, embracing natural materials and soft coastal tones that reflect the surrounding environment.&nbsp;

With construction now underway and strong early sales results, Two Tides signals Time &amp; Place’s long-term commitment to the Northern Beaches region and follows the developer’s acquisition of a second Manly site, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/101-north-steyne-manly-nsw-2095">101 North Steyne</a>, which is currently in early planning stages.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=141371]

Time & Place kicks of construction at Two Tides Manly with half of the apartments sold

Boutique Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/carpe-group">Carpe Group</a>&nbsp;is teaming up for the fourth time with joint venture partner ICON Developments to enter the new apartment market in Hawthorn.

The duo is planning a low-rise block of 32 two- and three-bedroom apartments on a prime 3,680 sqm site on Robinson Road, just a short walk from Riversdale Road and located midway between the centres of both Hawthorn and Camberwell.

<img alt="Robinson Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c3b61e6-c6d3-47e6-aebc-d379f0ddcadc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-06-23%20at%204.34.29%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=OBSttx0Nmm2DGxrbDOaoc4WVefxPh4li" />

Designed by acclaimed architecture studio <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/powell-glenn">Powell &amp; Glenn</a>, the low-density development is expected to cater predominantly to owner-occupiers—Carpe's primary target market. The majority of the 32 apartments will feature three bedrooms.

The architectural design aims to reflect Hawthorn’s established residential character, integrating seamlessly with the surrounding streetscape in a modern apartment setting. The building will be set within landscaped gardens designed by renowned landscape architect <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/landscape-architect/myles-baldwin-design">Myles Baldwin</a>.

Carpe founders Tim Campbell and Stuart Kacir hope to secure planning approval later this year, with plans to launch the project to market in early 2026. They are expecting to complete the building in mid-2028, pending approvals.

<img alt="23-27 Robinson Road, Hawthorn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c32f8562-763c-4904-a0b3-8add63967981" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Image21.jpg?VersionId=JaOGkrObp67rhfJI.9xIwPSnTd57lc4S" />

Carpe previously partnered with ICON Developments on Grandview in Brighton, a boutique development of just 10 apartments completed in 2023. They are currently delivering <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/ocean-house">Ocean House</a> in Hampton—18 apartments located just one street back from Hampton Street—which have proven particularly popular with local downsizers.

Carpe currently has <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/studley-park-residences-kew-85-studley-park-road-kew-vic-3101">Studley Park Residences</a>, a collection of 31 apartments in the heart of Kew, on the market, as well as <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/the-coterie-sandringham-49-51-abbott-street-sandringham">The Coterie</a>, a 25-apartment development in Sandringham. They have another project in planning, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/53-57-cambridge-street-collingwood-vic-3066">Cambridge Collingwood</a>, 27 apartments with ground-level retail, which is expected to secure approval later this year.

Designed by acclaimed architecture studio Powell & Glenn, the low-density development is expected to cater predominantly to owner-occupiers—Carpe's primary target market.

Global housing affordability - where Australian cities rank: Demographia

Cassidy Knowlton

Editor's Picks

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.