In a report released this week, Melbourne City Council has slammed the development proposal for the 72-storey mega-tower which is to be built in Southbank.
Development was previously approved by the state government before changes to planning controls meant developers Urban Matrix had to revisit the designs.
Now, the Council still does not approve of the plans designed by BKK Architects for 54 Clarke St, which are currently before the Minister for Planning.
The Council lists several key issues in the report including that the subject site is not a landmark or gateway site, therefore additional height of the building is not justifiable and a ‘wall’ of towers would be created with little visual separation of the proposed tower, the Bank Apartments and Habitat.
The report says “the building will loom over the dwellings on the lower portion of the site” and that a “sense of containment would be substantial and oppressive, particularly for dwellings at the lower levels” of the tower.
“The greater height and associated shadow will have a significantly greater and far-reaching impact on a greater number of streets and public spaces than was intended by the height control.”
Two views of the proposed tower show how it curves. Image: BKK Architects.
It claims the proposed development is largely unchanged from the previous proposal and with assessing it against the new relevant provisions of the Melbourne Planning Scheme shows the proposal continues “to be seriously flawed and would not be a positive outcome for the emerging built form of this part of Southbank, or existing residents of neighbouring properties”.
However, BKK Architects director Simon Knott denied these allegations to The Age saying the tower will become a landmark for those frequenting the West Gate Freeway.
“Because it twists as you move around that bend, the whole building will twist and turn. It’s almost like the building is alive,” Knott says.
Extensive computer modelling has been undertaken by BKK and shows the south-facing apartments in the neighbouring building will retain their extensive views, which include the Royal Botanic Gardens, he says.
“The building will sit down one side of the view – it’s anything but oppressive,” Knott concludes.
Southbank, where the tower is proposed to be built. Image: The Age.
If built, the 240m tower will contain high amenity apartments, all with direct natural light; a highly activated ground level with shops and cafes; an elevated spa, sauna and pool deck; an exclusive sky bar; innovative facade technology; state-of-the-art environmental initiatives including on site power generation; sky gardens; and a unique, automated car storage system.
