Golden Age Group Unveils Melbourne’s Slimmest Residential High-Rise

By Adriana Pop, Associate Editor

Melbourne – One of the world’s most slender residential towers will soon rise in Melbourne’s CBD.

Local developer Golden Age Group has recently revealed the approximately $152 million (AUD $200 million) Collins House Melbourne project, which will be constructed in conjunction with Asian Pacific Group, the company behind Australia’s Art Series Hotels.

Designed by renowned architects Bates Smart, the new building at 466 Collins Street will soar nearly 640 feet high (195 meters), but will only be about 40 feet (12 meters) wide. Upon completion in 2018, the project will feature 263 luxury apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows across 57 levels. It will also celebrate the city’s rich history by preserving and restoring the heritage Makers Mark building at its base.

Golden Age Group purchased the site in 2014 following the success of the company’s Victoria One 629-unit apartment tower nearby, which is also scheduled to be complete in 2018.

“We sold 95 percent of Victoria One in three months last year, primarily to local buyers who want to commute less and live in a connected urban village,” Golden Age Group managing director Jeff Xu said.

The new apartments within the Collins House high-rise, which target local buyers, will be launched for sale in May 2015. Amenities will include a terrace for residents on level three, as well as the “St James Club” on level 27, which will offer entertaining and dining areas that can be booked for private use.

Golden Age Group and APG aim to deliver a residential building with unparalleled hotel-like luxury. Both companies have recently developed high-end hotels in Melbourne. Golden Age Group completed the city’s five star Sheraton in 2014, while APG brought six Art Series Hotels to the market over the past five years.

According to Bates Smart director Kristen Whittle, engineering such a tall and slender building, while guaranteeing its safety, has been a challenging and innovative process. The design required extensive collaboration between architects, structural engineers 4D, surveyors Socrates Capouleas/PLP and heritage consultants Lovell Chen.

“As the population grows, traffic worsens and Melbourne’s CBD continues to develop with amenities such as Emporium, it is inevitable we will start to see Manhattan-style living – where people work, live and play in the same urban neighborhood – growing in popularity in our CBD,” added Jeff Xu.

Photo credits: Golden Age Group