City Road
Southbank is further consolidating its position as Australia’s high-rise capital, with another landmark tower mooted, this time for a site near the corner of City Road and Clarendon Street. The proposed apartment building at 293-297 City Road will rise 81 levels, or 259 metres.
City Road Southbank is inspired by Melbourne’s illustrious art deco architectural past. Everything from the overall massing to the material selection is inspired by this. The soft rounded corners of the tower pay homage to the architectural period whilst allowing for expansive views across the CBD and Port Philip Bay. The tower is clad in a coloured ceramic tile which responds to changing light conditions, reflecting and refracting light across the city while also reducing the heat gain on the building, reducing operational costs and improving overall performance.
Providing 212 apartments over 37 floors with interspersed common amenity through the tower and podium retail, the development is now in design development following the granting of a permit in 2019.
On the residential floors a sense of space is achieved within the apartments through winter gardens in place of balconies and a sweeping curved glass rather than faceted panels with mullions.
The concave inflection of the façade is accentuated with tapering vertical fins which in turn break the strong floor slab expression to articulate a slender rolling tower. The edges of the building are softened using curved glass on a tight radius; a level of quality rarely seen in the faceted curved towers of Southbank.
The street experience of the podium celebrates craftsmanship provides a sense of depth as a contrast to our immediate neighbours. A glazed brick finish is applied to compound columns and beams to allow a richness of colour that can withstand the harsh pollution of a busy arterial road.