Mount Waverley receives the Rothelowman touch prior to a VCAT visit
Mount Waverley's largest pending development has been completely reworked, with an aesthetically pleasing design in tow.
The planning application before City of Monash has sidestepped the traditional 'mixed-use' term, instead opting to label the application for 445-467 Blackburn Road as a ‘multi-age precinct’. Beyond being highlighted by Urban.com.au last year, BC Mount Waverley Project Pty Ltd have enlisted Rothelowman to undertake design duties prior to a VCAT Merits Hearing next month.
445-467 Blackburn Road abuts the Monash Freeway and currently sees the 4-star Hotel Bruce County preside over part of a larger development onsite.
Marchese Partners conceived the initial design which garnered 23 objections and ultimately fell short of Council expectations. Design character, scale, internal amenity, overdevelopment and inconsistencies with presiding planning policies were amongst the reason noted as leading to the initial application's rejection.
BC Mount Waverley Project Pty Ltd are now hoping Rothelowman's substituted plans will suffice in addressing earlier concerns when at VCAT.
Adhering to the original intended uses earmarked for the project, 445-467 Blackburn Road will still focus on catering specifically for both children and the elderly, whilst adding short, mid and long-term accommodation options.
Changes to the project's yield include:
- Removal of 47 apartments
- 15 townhouses (previously 10 townhouses)
- 86 hotel rooms (previously 120 hotel rooms)
- 8 serviced apartments (unchanged)
- 108 independent living units/over 55s retirement living (previously 60 independent living units)
- 246 on-site car spaces (previously 135) including an additional level of basement car parking
The design strategy employed here is to stratify layers of built form which both separates uses and allows the opportunity to apply a distinct architectural language and identity to each use.
The materiality helps to draw distinction between the uses, with dark glass encompassing the hotel rooms, providing privacy from Blackburn Road. The residential framing elements are infilled with a light grey glazing and metal cladding. Levels 3 and 7 are designed to appear recessive in order to separate the colonnade and concrete frames.
Rothelowman Design Statement
The rebirthed Mount Waverley project carries strong design traits relative to a number of other Rothelowman-designed developments.
445-467 Blackburn Road is dominated by clear, white, charcoal and black glazing, resulting in an almost brooding exterior. Other finishes include metal cladding and finishes, textured concrete and green planters.
The massive departure from the initially submitted application will go before VCAT on August 20th.
