How we designed Riverbank apartments in Abbotsford: Urban chats with SJB's Michael Bialek
SJB are one of Australia's most sought-after architecture firms for anything from mutli-residential apartment developments to commercial towers and luxury home builds.
They've got two studios, in Sydney as well as Melbourne, and have been the brains behind the likes of Crown's luxury Waterfall apartments in Sydney and Kings Domain in Southbank.
One of their most recent designed was the Abbotsford apartment development The Park House, developed by the renowned Salta Properties, with a major influence in the design being the building's proximity to the Yarra River.
Urban spoke to SJB's Michael Bialek, who headed up the design team for The Park House, to discuss how it was created.
What was the brief from Salta for The Park House, and then more specifically Riverbank? How did it need to differ from Riverbend?
Salta’s brief for the The Park House project was to deliver a quality residential development as the final piece for the wider Yarra Gardens precinct.
The project should provide significant improvements to the public realm through the provision of new visual and physical links from Victoria Street through to the Yarra River. Compromising over 500 apartments, the new buildings should respond positively to the landscaped character of the adjoining completed Green Square project and allow construction in stages towards the new proposed Walmer Plaza.
Riverbank addresses the ‘urban edges’ of Victoria Street and Walmer Plaza, while Riverbend is less prominent – connected to the adjoining Green Square project and overlooking the bend in the Yarra River.
What were the most important features of the site/location which influenced your design?
The most important features of the site are the frontage to busy Victoria Street and the opportunity presented by the north-facing frontage to the Yarra River. These differing conditions resulted in building forms that have been shaped to respond to their location on the site and precinct planning that ensures a high quality public realm with enhanced amenity and connection to the Yarra River.
Were there any other buildings you've designed previously (or just seen) that influenced the design?
SJB was previously involved in the delivery of three residential projects fronting both Burnley Street and Victoria Street in the precinct. Each project has a distinctive aesthetic based on its orientation, typology and scale – townhouses fronting laneways, apartments along street frontages and common amenities surrounding landscaped courtyards.
The buildings which are in close proximity to the retail complex Victoria Gardens, create a varied yet unified residential community which enjoys access to shopping facilities, public transport and riverfront recreation.
What were the biggest challenges of the design?
The challenges faced in the early design phase related mainly to the sensitive location of the site along the Yarra River.
Taller built forms were shaped so that the actual and apparent width of buildings were minimised when viewed from the river. These sculpted forms have been aligned generally to be perpendicular to the river corridor. Building separation, height and setback controls also influenced site planning and built form outcomes.
A two-tier river edge movement system was also incorporated into the master plan in order to maintain and enhance the ‘natural’ river character at the lower level. A continuous bicycle connection is provided at this lower level while a more active ‘urban’ character is created at the upper level with new pedestrian connections from the river to Shamrock, Walmer and Davison Streets.
What interested you about the project?
The most interesting aspect of the project was the opportunity and challenge to provide significant improvements to the public realm and amenity for new occupants and the surrounding neighbourhood.
Unlocking this parcel of land formally occupied by the Melbourne Fire Brigade was a significant achievement by the project team, delivered through the provision of new public spaces and connections to the Yarra River.
What part of the design were you most proud/most interested in seeing when it was completed?
SJB is able to look back with pride at its role in the delivery of a series of residential projects in the precinct, which were successfully adopted by the marketplace over several years. The area has been transformed into a ‘new neighbourhood’ with an improved public realm and new connections to the Yarra River.
In The Park House project, residential amenity is of high quality. Planning of apartments provide significant northerly outlook over the natural landscape of the river setting while common facilities are well located and generous. The aspirational planning principles for the site have been delivered while the residential character and amenity of the buildings are both innovative and responsive to this unique setting.
How closely do you work with Carr Design when creating the apartments?
SJB & Carr Design worked collaboratively during the design phases of the project, with extensive briefing sessions determining the aspirations for both teams. The interior design of apartments and common areas was to respond to the architectural character of each building. Particular attention was paid to the extensive recreational facilities including swimming pools, lounges, playrooms and entry lobbies.