DealCorp's spinalscraper: 42-48 Claremont Street, South Yarra

DealCorp's spinalscraper: 42-48 Claremont Street, South Yarra
Mark BaljakOctober 22, 2015

Make no bones about it, Cremorne-based DealCorp are back in the high-rise game after a hiatus of sorts in which the developer has pursued low and medium-rise residential projects over a number of suburbs. At the point of their efforts is an intended development within South Yarra's Forrest Hill Precinct that is set to distinguish itself from the pack.

Plus Architecture are responsible for the design which sees the exterior of the 25 level edifice employ a spinal-inspired finish to the tower which is slated to hold 141 apartments and eight office studios.

42-48 Claremont Street also continues the trend in recent times which has seen a string of increasingly taller apartment developments flood into the remaining development plots within Forrest Hill Precinct.

DealCorp's spinalscraper: 42-48 Claremont Street, South Yarra
Melbourne High School's perspective of the development. Image courtesy Plus Architecture

Application summary

  • Currently onsite: two level commercial building over 949sqm site.
  • Proposed 25 level tower at 80.8 metres.
  • 141 dwellings: 26 x studio, 26 x 1BR, 85 x 2BR, 4 x 3BR.
  • Eight office studios between 61sqm and 94sqm.
  • 263sqm communal facilities including pool and gym.
  • Basement provisions for 100 vehicles and 123 bicycles.
  • Landscaped forecourt to Claremont Street.
  • Development includes $1.5 million contribution to Public Transport Victoria for South Yarra Station upgrades.

Design statement

Claremont Street is a modern built form environment with similar design elements, we set out to find a design solution which provided a unique experience. To produce a standout design and some variation in the Claremont Street skyline we looked to express verticality in the design.

The facade articulation responds to the massing of the building being 'rib' like and a need for screening between apartments. With a 'rib' shape massing the articluation becomes the twisting spine up the building that responds to the internal planning.

Plus Architecture, town planning submission
DealCorp's spinalscraper: 42-48 Claremont Street, South Yarra
Further perspectives created by Plus Architecture

With Stonnington Council's request for further information, revised plans were submitted during September with most visible changes relating to the podium and how it interacts with the street.

Forrest Hill mushrooms

DealCorp have initiated the development of 42-48 Claremont Street at a time where development sites within the precinct are becoming increasingly rare. Coupled with the recent approval of Capitol Grand, current proposals seeking approval are pushing further skyward.

671 Chapel Street is seeking 102 metres while Fridcorp's 627 Chapel Street looks likely to rival its neighbour Capitol Grand with a tower in the vicinity of 160 metres.

42-48 Claremont Street shapes to be the second tallest development along Claremont Street with a fellow residential tower also at planning likely to hold that title. 16-22 Claremont Street's development team have sought approval for a 98.5 metre Fender Katsalidis-designed tower; coupled with the above developments Forrest Hill will further emerge as a substantial skyline in its own right.

Development team

  • Developer: Dealcorp (Claremont Co. Pty Ltd)
  • Architect: Plus Architecture
  • Planning: SJB Planning
  • Wind: Mel Consultants
  • Waste: Leigh Design
  • Sustainability: Ark Resources
  • Traffic: GTA Consultants
  • Landscape: Mark Jacques

Mark Baljak

Mark Baljak was a co-founder of Urban.com.au. He passed away on Thursday 8th of November 2018 after a battle with cancer. He was 37. Mark was a keen traveller, having visited all six permanently-inhabited continents and had a love of craft beer. One of his biggest passions was observing the change that has occurred in Melbourne over the past two decades. In that time he built an enormous library of photos, all taken by him, which tracked the progress of construction on building sites from across metropolitan Melbourne.

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