17 September 2008
Australias most impressive urban development projects have been recognised at the 2008 Development Excellence Awards.
Urban development is an important contributor to our community and lifestyle, Mr Gadiel said.
These awards recognise the efforts developers have gone to make sure their projects are a commercial success, deliver community benefits, care for the environment, demonstrate innovation and adopt high standards of urban design and architectural distinction.
Professor Chris Johnson, chairman of the panel of judges, said that the 2008 Development of the Year was the outstanding Regent Place development, which includes the Lumiere Residences, by Frasers Property.
The sophistication and elegance of these two buildings is impressive.
While they sit well in the broader context of the city, theyre also well managed at the street level where the podium picks up the heights of the existing buildings.
The combination of apartments is carefully tailored to the marketplace and the sales results indicate that a very successful financial result has come from aiming for high quality throughout the building.
The ground level retail and arcades offer a fusion of a European food hall with a high-end Asian supermarket.
Overall Regent Place is a very successful development that knits comfortably into its Sydney environment. The 2008 Development Excellence Award for Commercial Development was awarded to The GPT Group for the Quad Business Park at Sydney Olympic Park.
This latest building takes the environmental performance to new levels with the incorporation of chilled beams, waterless urinals, sun-shading devices and double-glazed windows, Professor Johnson said.
All the spaces were leased within six months of completion and the building is currently 100 percent leased with good quality yields.
2008 Development Excellence Award for Residential Development was given to Thakral Holdings for its development Alchemy in Lavender Bay.
This project has evolved from the demolition of the original Kirribilli Club and the development of a new revitalised club in a new podium structure, while establishing twenty luxury, three bedroom apartments within the five floors above, said Professor Johnson.
The simplicity of the building is impressive with its uncomplicated curve and strong horizontal lines. The market has responded well to the project, with most apartments already sold.
The 2008 Development Excellence Award for Mixed Use Development was presented to ABN Amro and the Toga Group for the Darwin Waterfront Development.
This project is a very bold move to reconnect Darwin to its neighbours to the north and the rest of Australia through the creation of a major convention centre, community infrastructure and commercial development, Professor Johnson said.
At an overall cost of approximately $1 billion, the consortium headed by ABN Amro has certainly invested in a bold manner.
This project demonstrates how a single development can have a major impact on the future of a whole city.
The 2008 Development Excellence Award for Adaptive Re-use was secured by Mondell Property Group for The Cove Apartments, Manly.
These apartments are a remarkable transformation from a very uninspiring three-storey, walk-up, texture brick home unit building to an elegant building that contributes to the streetscape, Professor Johnson said.
The building now celebrates its site location with sweeping views over Little Manly Beach and sales of the apartments are indicating a significantly increased value has occurred as a result of this exceptional makeover. The 2008 Development Excellence Award for Retirement Living was won by Waterbrook Lifestyle Resorts for Waterbrook Greenwich.
This project provides facilities for retirement living in a resort lifestyle character not previously offered in the Australian retirement marketplace, Professor Johnson said.
The 79 luxury apartments have attracted new residents previously living in the local area within five to ten kilometres of Greenwich.
While being at the top-end of the market for retirement homes, there is no doubt that this is a very successful project.
Fairfield City Council received a commendation for the community facilities offered by the Cabravale Leisure Centre. Professor Johnson said the new facility offers a dramatic modern sculptural image of a new leisure centre.
The new centre provides an excellent community benefit and is of a very high design quality.
The centre uses significant sustainability devices including solar panels, natural ventilation and water harvesting to produce a solution that is environmentally, socially and financially successful.
The Urban Taskforce is a property development industry group, representing Australias most prominent property developers and equity financiers.
