Washington Street - 27 Washington Street, Toorak

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It's very easy to assume that Melbourne is only building skyscrapers and high-rise towers in the inner city and low-density detached housing on the fringes.  Skyscraper proposals attract headlines across a wide range of media outlets but there's an equally huge story of Melbourne's current development scene that is easily overlooked.

What of the middle ground between skyscraper or sprawl?  There are in fact hundreds of small stature apartment projects in Melbourne's suburbs that are easily glossed over.

At the time of writing there are 983 projects listed on the Urban.com.au Project Database.  208 of those are made up of either 2, 3 or 4 floors and when combined contain over 7,000 dwellings across all phases of the development cycle: that is from planning to construction.

If the search criteria is expanded to include projects up to and including 5 floors, the total number of projects rockets up to 339 with over 12,000 dwellings in play.

The following (long!) list is every low-rise project with either 2, 3 or 4 floors that Urban.com.au is tracking on within our  <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments">Project Database</a>.  <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/">Data Portal</a> subscribers can pull this information directly by exporting the database and filtering through a spreadsheet program like Excel or OpenOffice Calc.

I'm going to let the database do the talking from this point on - so get off your mobile, turn your tablet to portrait layout or jump on a desktop/laptop: here's Melbourne's low-rise high-density story.
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Alastair Taylor

Welcome to boom-town: Melbourne's low-rise high-density projects in one long list

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Melbourne architectural developer <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/orchard-piper">Orchard Piper</a> is about to commence demolition on the site for their Washington Street project, which would see the creation of one of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/toorak-vic">Toorak’s</a> most luxurious apartment developments featuring a $15 million Penthouse <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/return-of-the-luxury-penthouse">covered last year</a> on Urban.com.au.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/140908_-_washington_street_-_r001_-_elevation_2000_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Washington Street. Image courtesy Orchard Piper"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="278" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/140908_-_washington_street_-_r001_-_elevation_2000_0.jpg?itok=BpfFLsxY" title="Washington Street. Image courtesy Orchard Piper" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Washington Street. Image courtesy Orchard Piper</figcaption></figure>Washington Street presents as a unique apartment offering, a project that for Orchard Piper represents a commitment to contemporary design and sets a benchmark for collaboration on a global scale. Unlike the traditional property ‘developer’ model, design is very much at the forefront of Orchard Piper's projects with very aspect of the developments beginning and ending with meticulous design and exceptional attention to detail. Washington Street this commitment.

Washington Street consolidates three residential blocks into one site located at <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/washington-street-27-washington-street-toorak">27-31 Washington Street, Toorak</a>. Comprising six spaciously proportioned residences over three floors the project also features a penthouse that Orchard Piper believes "will sit comfortably amongst the best in Australia, if not the world."

With architecture by regular collaborator Stephen Jolson of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/jolson">Jolson Architecture</a> and seasonal landscaping by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/eckersley-garden">Eckersley Garden Architecture</a>, Washington Street includes two ground floor 'Garden Residences' with expansive north facing gardens and three first floor residences, known as 'The Terraces', sitting comfortably within their green surrounds.

To crown the building, one 1,000sqm penthouse, conceived as a whole floor pavilion sunken into a garden surround, the ‘one of a kind’ penthouse will include a gymnasium, pool, a private garage with separate lobby with dedicated lift access opening onto the gallery hall, in addition to a 1,300 bottle wine room and bar. The Washington Street penthouse will feature expansive city views and comes with a price tag in excess of $15 million.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/140908_-_washington_-_r010_-_study_2000.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Washington Street rooftop. Image courtesy Orchard Piper."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/140908_-_washington_-_r010_-_study_2000.jpg?itok=AYTOz1J9" title="Washington Street rooftop. Image courtesy Orchard Piper." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Washington Street rooftop. Image courtesy Orchard Piper.</figcaption></figure>Internally, Jolson has sought to create a sensory experience: Washington Street homes have been designed to allow maximum natural light to filter through into free-flowing, flexible spaces where attention to detail is paramount. The interiors draw on the rich collaborations with international artisans who have been commissioned to make one-of-a-kind fixtures and fittings for the building. Notably, New York based lighting designer Lindsey Adelmen was commissioned by Orchard Piper to design a custom fitting for the entry lobby, and eminent Venetian glass house Venini will be undertaking their first Australian collaboration, creating glass spheres that will identify the apartments.

Every material has been scrutinised for its aesthetic, functionality and contextual relationship, creating interiors that are simple, considered and lasting. Lindsey Adelmen’s organic and industrial forms will add a further graceful dimension to the project, while the bespoke glassware of Venini will further accentuate the residences' majestic features.

Based on their experience with clientele at Davis Avenue, where almost every buyer engaged their own interior designer, Orchard Piper have responded to this desire at Washington Street by engaging Jolson Interiors to curate custom furniture packages to suit every unique apartment layout in the building. The furniture packages are hand picked by Jolson Interiors from Melbourne’s best contemporary furniture suppliers including, Cult, Space, Hub &amp; Poliform.

Orchard Piper have also engaged the sound engineers of Bang and Olufsen to tailor AV packages for each residence which will also be equipped with state-of-the-art Rimadescio walk-in wardrobes

Architect, Stephen Jolson, has used architectural principals of perspective and proportion to create a "perfect sense of place". Washington Street is very much about luxury that is instinctively sensed upon arrival.

<blockquote>
Washington Street represents everything Orchard Piper stands for, a building of understated elegance with considered and thoughtful interiors, where luxury is provided in light, space and proportion. This project will present Toorak with an unrepeatable offering and a beautiful addition. Our projects are built to our own standards, as we would want them finished for ourselves to live in.
<cite>Luke McKie, Director, Orchard Piper</cite>
</blockquote>

Around the corner in Hawksburn, on a site located adjacent to Hawksburn Village, Orchard Piper's St John Lane project is progressing on site with completion penciled in for November this year. A clever, considered architectural solution on a very awkward site, the building has seen Orchard Piper once again engage Stephen Jolson to conceive a design that draws on the simplicity and inventiveness of Japanese architecture, with interlocking forms over three levels.

St Johns Lane unlocks a residential opportunity that captures views over Toorak towards the South Yarra and Melbourne skylines,limited to just four residences. The upper storey is recessed and spills with landscape tracery, creating a notion of a secluded urban retreat. The entire structure is configured to capture maximum light and views, while providing privacy within an inner-city environment and activating the laneway in tandem with Orchard Piper's upcoming project on Mathoura Road.

The entrance is a subtle metal portal with integrated address signage piercing the façade. Internal spaces slowly reveal themselves, using natural tones of oak and stone to transition from the laneway backdrop to private and spacious havens.

<h2>About Orchard Piper</h2>

A lifestyle brand for contemporary property development, Orchard Piper is a partnership of two Directors, Luke McKie and Rick Gronow. Both have a desire to deliver unparalleled contemporary homes of beauty and integrity to owner occupiers in Melbourne. Their starting point and philosophy when it comes to design and property is simple: would they and their friends or family live in the homes? On the back of a handful of projects Orchard Piper has quickly developed a reputation as one of the more architecturally minded developers in Melbourne, with an understanding that excellent outcomes come from collaborations with highly talented individuals.

To this end, Orchard Piper commit to working with leaders in Architecture, Design, Landscape and Construction, delivering projects of some of the highest design integrity and attention to detail you can find. Orchard Piper’s portfolio has quickly built to be valued in excess of $110 million and its attention is now focused on three residential developments: St Johns Lane, Washington Street and Mathoura Road, following completion of the Davis Avenue, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/south-yarra-vic">South Yarra</a> project.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/orchard_piper_mathoura_rd_external_reduced.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Mathoura Road. Image courtesy Orchard Piper"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="357" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/orchard_piper_mathoura_rd_external_reduced.jpg?itok=txOgz1Tb" title="Mathoura Road. Image courtesy Orchard Piper" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Mathoura Road. Image courtesy Orchard Piper</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
Architectural craftsmanship is at the heart of every Orchard Piper project. Each property is developed through collaboration with design leaders, resulting in a portfolio of expressive, refined properties of enduring integrity.
<cite>Orchard Piper</cite>
</blockquote>

With a unique commitment to contemporary architectural craftsmanship, Orchard Piper properties are textured, refined and livable. Orchard Piper residential collections can be found in Melbourne’s most sought after and tightly held locales including Toorak, South Yarra with more to follow.

Orchard Piper differentiate themselves as developers and ‘design’ is the touchstone for every decision they make in the development process. Teaming up with Stephen Jolson they have developed a formula for success which sees them employ a typical 2-3 storey podium of apartments, topped with a recessed penthouse apartment. This strategy towards built form ensures a smooth town planning process as the developments adhere to strict town planning guidelines with relation to built form, adequate setbacks, privacy and overlooking of neighbouring properties.
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Laurence Dragomir

Orchard Piper in focus

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Some pizazz has re-entered the top end of the Melbourne apartment market with a handful of penthouse offerings jostling to take centre stage. Far from the investor-driven stock of Melbourne's CBD towers, two current projects are showing their wares in the pedigree stakes.

Perhaps a sign of South Yarra's still exceptional pulling power, the two current projects are located within the locality maintaining differing but spectacular penthouses on offer for.

<h2>Washington Street</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/140908_-_washington_street_-_r001_-_elevation_2000.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Looking to set a new benchmark. Image courtesy Orchard Piper"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="278" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/140908_-_washington_street_-_r001_-_elevation_2000.jpg?itok=Sb8Skl-G" title="Looking to set a new benchmark. Image courtesy Orchard Piper" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Looking to set a new benchmark. Image courtesy Orchard Piper</figcaption></figure>Jolson Architecture have conceived a fresh project for developer Orchard Piper titled Washington Street. Six oversize dwellings will be located within the three level complex, including a 'super penthouse' expected to fetch in excess of $15 million. A breakdown of internal area size speaks toward the luxury status of Washington Street.

Dual ground floor residences range between 589sqm and 648sqm, including large external terrace/gardens in excess 200sqm. Three first floor abodes average 260sqm of internal living while the 'super penthouse' is precisely that: 570sqm of internal space complimented by a 372sqm external terrace. A total of 942sqm ranks Washington Street's penthouse as one of the largest penthouse apartments available in Melbourne.

<blockquote>
Luxury to us is about making the most of the intangibles, such as light, proportion and aspect, not just the combination of the most expensive items available. We achieve a greater outcome by focusing on creating value through relentless and obsessive design.

Saving money through value management is a fruitless task when compared to the benefit of a truly design led outcome. It’s very rare to find a site where you can completely take the brakes of your design team. Washington Street is a true expression of the collaborative talents we have employed on this project.
<cite>Luke McKie, Orchard Piper</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/140908_-_washington_-_r013_-_bed_20001.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="An extended bedroom goes toward Washington Street's prowess. Image courtesy Orchard Piper"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/140908_-_washington_-_r013_-_bed_20001.jpg?itok=r9Mbngzy" title="An extended bedroom goes toward Washington Street's prowess. Image courtesy Orchard Piper" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>An extended bedroom goes toward Washington Street's grandeur. Image courtesy Orchard Piper</figcaption></figure><h2>Yarra House</h2>

On a smaller land plot yet with height and never-to-be-built-out views to burn, the under construction Yarra House aims to bring dual penthouses to the South Yarra's Forrest Hill precinct. Designed by Scott Walker of Hassell Studio, the ‘North East Penthouse’ and ‘North West Penthouse’ together act as the crowning glory for the 26 level tower.

Refined stone benchtops, bespoke ensuites, fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling glazing, extensive walk-in robes, designated studies, kitchen walk-in pantries and entertaining space are included in the either three or four-bedroom residences, depending upon the buyers preference. At up to $3.995 million the penthouses represent a departure from the norm in Forrest Hill.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/yate8000_yarra_hp_v19_penthouse_01_to_view.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The best of Yarra House. Image courtesy Michael Yates &amp; Co"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="322" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/yate8000_yarra_hp_v19_penthouse_01_to_view.jpg?itok=I9jZVw5X" title="The best of Yarra House. Image courtesy Michael Yates &amp; Co" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The best of Yarra House. Image courtesy Michael Yates &amp; Co</figcaption></figure>Closer to the CBD a number of other prestige penthouse apartments and developments have appeared on the radar. Urban.com.au highlighted what will likely be Melbourne's most exclusive development at <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/is-this-melbournes-most-exclusive-and-expensive-apartment-development">502 Albert Street, East Melbourne</a> with its massive sky homes, each of which could be considered a penthouse in its own right.

That a handful of luxury penthouses have been released to market loosely around the same time tends to suggest that the top end of the apartment market is still quite healthy with perceived underlying demand; the proof is in the penthouse (so to speak).
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Washington Street

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Welcome to boom-town: Melbourne's low-rise high-density projects in one long list

Orchard Piper in focus

Return of the luxury penthouse

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