Koichi Takada designs Crown Group's next considerable residential project

Koichi Takada designs Crown Group's next considerable residential project
Mark BaljakMarch 21, 2018

The initial stage of Crown Group's multiphased redevelopment of a substantial land track in Sydney's Waterloo has been unveiled.

The developer earlier this month lodged plans for the first of five separate stages within its Lachlan Precinct land parcel. Addressed 44-48 O'Dea Avenue, the overall development will ultimately see multiple buildings delivered, climbing as high as 20 levels.

The subject of the initial application though is Building E, a more modest 8 level apartment development. The 2,993 square metre island site is set well back from O'Dea Avenue and is bound by Archibald Avenue, Gadigal Avenue, Reed Street and Hatbox Place. 

Koichi Takada Architects is behind the design, having created a number of stand out residential buildings for Crown Group in recent times. Building E, too, shapes as an architectural statement, holding winged feature aluminium corners that soften an otherwise squared form.

Koichi Takada designs Crown Group's next considerable residential project
Street level perspective. Planning image: Koichi Takada Architects

95 apartments are slated for the initial stage, which has a development cost beyond $41 million. Crown Group have provided a spread of living options within Building E, electing to include 10 studio, 29 single, 45 double and 11 triple bedroom apartments.

Internal areas for the respecting living options begin at 35 square metres for studios, 50 square metres for singles, 70 square metres for doubles and 90 square metres for triples.

The apartments, along with 11 retails tenancies predominantly facing Archibald Avenue, will be serviced by dual basement levels accommodating 105 parking bays.

At ground level, a publicly accessible and landscaped through passage will account for roughly 30% of the site's footprint, with a small degree of built form above, effectively creating a U-shaped building. Part of the above build form is a fourth level terrace for future residents.

Koichi Takada designs Crown Group's next considerable residential project
Joint Koichi Takada - Crown Group projects to date

Building E aside, Crown Group has taken a liking to Koichi Takada's flowing lines in recent times; the duo has collaborated on a number of projects in inner Sydney. Skye, Arc and the highly distinctive Infinity with its roughly 400 apartments, retail and convention facilities are Koichi Takada designs for the prolific developer.

Another upcoming project sees Crown Group team with architecture firm FJMT to deliver a $1 billion rejuvenation project to Sydney's southern suburb of Eastlakes. Crown Group is also planning its first Melbourne project.

Teaming with G3 Projects, the duo is reportedly developing 175 Sturt Street, Southbank. It went to planning during 2016 and still remains there.

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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