Project Overview

East Grove is a contemporary four-storey residential development, featuring 25 two- and three-bedroom apartments in Glen Iris.

Developed by Fortis in collaboration with architects Ewert Leaf and landscaper John Patrick, extensive town planning consideration was given to the way the building holds the corner of Kenilworth Grove and Malvern Road.

As a contemporary expression of classic design, East Grove is defined by craftmanship and high-end minimalist finishes. Ewert Leaf’s modulated building form delivers a timeless and robust façade finished in limestone cladding juxtaposed with charcoal bricks.

Linear steel framing elements define generous wrap-around balconies and create a rhythm which wraps around the corner from Malvern Road, folds onto Kenilworth Grove and through to the building entry. Additional framing elements pull forward from the building to create a feature entry arbour.

Further integrated landscaping continues the botanical character of the surrounding streetscape while discrete screening delivers privacy and a play of light and shade to each apartment.

Construction was completed by Cobild at the start of the global pandemic in April 2020.

Organisation

Fortis

 

Team

Developer - Fortis
Architect - Ewert Leaf
Landscape Architect - John Patrick
Construction - Cobild
Project Manager – Neoscape

Project Brief

The project brief for East Grove was to create highly functional and comfortable living in a landmark building designed to enhance the corner of Malvern Road and Kenilworth Grove and optimise outlooks from its elevated setting.

Fortis briefed Ewert Leaf to create a future classic which would reveal its true value over time through timeless design and the selection of enduring materials. These enduring materials needed to improve with age and require little or no maintenance, to reduce the need for intervention or repairs over time.

The focus was on creating a human scale at street level by moving the architecture from four storey to a single level, consistent with the neighbouring residential houses. The ground floor apartment needed to include generous courtyards and large terraces on all levels, with the building line set back from the street to reduce its visual impact.

The desire was for residents to be able to live and entertain effortlessly through the creation of efficient, adaptable spaces. The residences also needed to include everything that local purchasers would want, including butler’s pantries and large walk-in laundries.

Project Innovation/Need

Just as it did for the entire construction industry, the global pandemic presented its share of challenges at East Grove. With a nimble solutions-first outlook, Fortis moved swiftly to ensure the project was able to progress as smoothly as possible. Important measures included keeping regular personal contact with purchasers and offering live digital inspections as well as pre-recorded virtual tours for prospective purchasers.

The only apartment unable to settle was due to the purchaser’s job loss and subsequent inability to secure their original loan; this purchaser is occupying the premises under a licence agreement indefinitely. Fortis also worked with purchasers who experienced late settlements due to delays in bank processing, to ensure no penalties were payable.

The pandemic also impacted the way Fortis managed site works and people movement, requiring careful social distancing and COVID work safe plans. Unlike previous projects where the Fortis team made weekly on-site visits towards completion, key Sydney-based team members were unable to travel to Melbourne.

Instead senior management relied on virtual site inspections and direct feedback from the Melbourne-based project team. This adaptation for project completions has permanently changed Fortis’ approach.

Design Challenge

East Grove overcame several design challenges.

These included the creation of a design to enhance a prominent high street corner, exceeding the expectations of downsizers leaving larger homes and ensuring the building integrated with the context of its tree-lined streetscape.

East Grove uses a consistent design language to deliver a holistic visual experience from every aspect of its elevated corner site, and uses setbacks to achieve a human scale at street level while reducing visual size though graduated setbacks in higher levels.

The needs of downsizer purchasers were foreseen by specifying key functional elements enjoyed in larger homes and by creating efficient, adaptable spaces to enable effortless living and entertaining.

A bespoke flush transition was engineered at the base of full-height sliding doors, allowing terraces and balconies to become seamless extensions of living areas.

Cubed planters with cascading foliage helped to draw landscaping into the building, providing green relief. Planter drainage flows below raised pavers of outdoor terraces before connecting to the downpipe for stormwater drainage and harvesting.

Sustainability

Sustainability is an integral part of East Grove’s design and construction.

Key environmental innovations include external retractable venetian blinds that automatically retract in bad weather and provide shade and privacy at other times and automated louvres in communal corridors which open and close according to climatic conditions to naturally ventilate areas.

East Grove exceeds STORM (water sensitive urban design requirements) with rainwater harvesting used to water gardens and with an option for toilet flushing.

Every East Grove residence has a minimum 6-star energy rating. Some of the development’s sustainability measures include daylight modelling to optimise natural light with every apartment designed for maximum glazing while reducing solar gains and heat loss, 10 percent greater lighting and power efficiency than specified by the National Construction Code, timer-controlled external lighting, rooftop solar panels to help power common areas including lift and lighting and fixed and operable shading.

Other initiatives include low VOC paints and flooring, AFS-certified plantation timber used in structure and joinery, an energy-saving CO2 monitor that turns on an exhaust fan in the car park when CO2 levels reach a threshold. There are also bike racks on site.