Project Overview
Where the old embraces the new: 67 Palmerston Crescent.
Inspired by Japanese modernist architecture, 67 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne creates a sense of place and exudes refined elegance in the rich streetscape. Maximising the outlook to the city through a series of bold framing elements, the building’s design uses clean and simple materiality and form to realise this.
“The Fortis team have always felt a strong connection to South Melbourne. From humble beginnings, 67 Palmerston Crescent is our way of giving back to the fabric of the local area through creating a place that will be admired for years to come.”
Charles Mellick, Director, Fortis.
Organisation
Team
Developer - Fortis
Architect - Ewert Leaf
Landscape Architect - Wyer & Co.
Interior Designer - Ewert Leaf
Construction - Cobild
Sales Agent - Colliers
Photographer - Liz Keene
Project Brief
Located in the heart of South Melbourne, 67 Palmerston Crescent stands as a striking embodiment of modern design and simplicity. This innovative building offers 8 levels of expansive, full-floor commercial spaces tailored for forward-thinking businesses. Its strategic design fosters productivity and wellness, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the interiors with natural light and provide panoramic views of the city. These views can be enjoyed from the landscaped rooftop terrace and private balconies, making every level an inviting space for long lunches, after-work drinks, and evening events for staff and clients alike.
The ground floor houses 'Clementine’, a daytime eatery renowned for its high-quality offerings and recently recognised in The Age Good Food Guide 2024 as one of Melbourne's top 40 cafés of 2023. Below, the basement hosts Castlerose, a subterranean supper club celebrated in Good Food, Broadsheet, and Concrete Playground. This venue channels the elegance of 20th-century English dining with its timber panels, marble bar, brass tables, and a chandelier-lit spiral staircase, creating a unique and sophisticated dining experience.
67 Palmerston Crescent is not just a place to work but a vibrant community hub, enhancing the work-life balance with its thoughtfully designed spaces and exceptional amenities.
Project Innovation/Need
67 Palmerston Crescent responds to the needs of the market in several ways. Furnished in collaboration with Coco Republic, the communal tenant rooftop features bespoke landscaping, BBQ facilities, an ice machine, and a fridge, creating a stylish environment for gatherings.
Quality is evident throughout the building. The high-performance render on the facade emphasises dramatic curves for aesthetic impact, while solid CNC milled brass signage and full-height bifold glazing enhance the retail spaces. Expansive glazing on the commercial floors floods the interiors with natural light. Custom-made planter boxes, serving as balustrades for the upper floors, seamlessly integrate greenery into the design.
In terms of innovation, self-funding before securing debt reduced land holding time and allowed construction with low pre-leases, enhancing equity IRR. Sustainable features, including an off-street car park and a 'Green Travel Plan,' enrich the community and align with responsible urban planning principles.
“We loved the feel of the building, as well as the design and amenities. Having a cafe, rooftop and basement wine bar in our building is wonderful. Additionally, the natural light and ability to have fresh air through open balcony doors is so good for mental and physical well being of the team.” Joanna Reymond-Burns, Tenant, Reymond Communications
Design Challenge
For 67 Palmerston, limited site width posed a significant constraint, requiring innovative solutions. The design team tackled this by implementing an extremely efficient side core arrangement, housing lifts, fire stairs, and commercial floor facilities. Structural design was refined to maximise floorplate space by positioning columns against the façade, ensuring an unobstructed layout.
Built in a flood zone, the building required significant design work to be future-proof against storms. A 12m gravity-fed water barrier was installed to protect the car stacker machinery. During heavy rain, the barrier captures water and automatically rises, safeguarding the car park and basement from flooding.
Overall, the design challenge encompassed addressing site constraints, implementing innovative solutions for functionality and aesthetics, and ensuring resilience against environmental factors, while also meeting the expectations of the target market for a premium office space.
Sustainability
Designed with sustainability in mind, 67 Palmerston Crescent presents an unrivalled case for socially conscious business leaders looking to minimise their energy footprint and cost base.
The design team's forward-thinking approach prioritised enhancing natural ecosystem health by minimising stormwater runoff. The project surpassed compliance standards, achieving an impressive 147% score on Melbourne Water's STORM tool.
Key strategies included a 10kL rainwater capture and reuse system for toilet flushing and garden irrigation, effectively reducing water consumption. Further water efficiency was ensured with drip irrigation featuring moisture sensor override and wicking beds on terraces. Rainwater collected from roofs and terraces was repurposed, establishing a closed-loop system to minimise waste and maximise resource utilisation. These comprehensive measures not only underscore a dedication to sustainability but also bolster the ecological resilience of the local environment.
Tags
Architecture - Commercial - Constructed
This award celebrates the design process and product of planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, and aesthetic considerations. Consideration given for material selection, technology, light and shadow.
More Details