Award-winning Melbourne developer, Beulah International, has entered the next phase of its Southbank by Beulah project, lodging the planning application with the Victorian Government. 

To be located on the site of the BMW showroom on City Road and Southbank Boulevard, the application details plans to transform the site into a world-class, multi-use development that sets a benchmark in liveable city design.

Metamorphosing the concept of a ‘vertical village’, Beulah’s proposed development will introduce Melbourne to a welcoming and multi-faceted precinct underpinned by creativity and cultural innovation that will support the City of Melbourne’s ‘Future Melbourne 2026’ plan.

A stunning structure composed of two twisting terraced forms, the design, led by acclaimed Dutch firm UNStudio and local firm Cox Architecture, is a refinement on the winning concept (‘Green Spine’) from the 2018 Southbank by Beulah global architecture competition. Selected by the competition jury, chaired by Victorian government architect Jill Garner, the enhancements showcase Beulah’s dedication to the original design.

A proposed mixed-use lifestyle precinct of 270,000sqm with 13,500sqm of arts & culture programs, the updated design for Southbank by Beulah has a strong emphasis on placemaking, with the project to host four distinct collections of private residences; 35,000sqm of commercial offices; a 220-key five star urban resort; 6,600sqm of conference and entertainment centre; a children’s play centre; a health and wellness precinct, 30,000sqm of world class experiential retail including the BMW Experience Centre; 7,250sqm of public green spaces including the Future Sky Garden.

Following 10 months of dedication to refining the design with the project’s world class consultants, Beulah International Managing Director Jiaheng Chan said the project team is thrilled with the finished concept and is now excited to collaborate with all stakeholders on the next phases of Southbank by Beulah.

“We have worked closely with both the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the City of Melbourne and are inspired by their vision for Southbank. We believe this project will significantly support the wider transformation of the area by creating a green, active, connected urban environment that invites and encourages an enjoyable experience for both residents and visitors," said Jiaheng.

“We look forward to working alongside all parties to play a part in unlocking the area’s true potential and solving the urban pedestrian realm by creating a green and culturally vibrant Southbank.”

Located at a critical intersection, Southbank by Beulah begins its journey with a proposed 4,000sqm fresh food marketplace at street level. Through a series of stairs and stepped terraces, the unfolding pathway leads to the first of seven podiums; an exciting experiential retail space where collaborations and experiences will offer a changing and seasonal expression of the intersection between art, technology, culture, fashion and design.

Travelling up one level, a progressive and versatile conference and entertainment venue will amplify the cultural offering of the already dynamic Southbank Arts Precinct.

“We see this project as an extension of the famous Arts Precinct and we are already in discussions with prospective prominent local and international art collaborators to create an experience to complement the current arts offering,” said Jiaheng.

At the heart of the project is an elevated civic square, childcare, cultural podium and wellness precinct connected together within a public realm, giving Melburnians and visitors a space of creative play, reflection and recreation. A network of internal and external artwork commissions will deliver new, high quality, activated public spaces for residents, visitors and workers, and enhance the quality of Southbank.

In dedication to the city’s wellness, the square is also home to a central garden; a true urban oasis set to become Australia’s first sequence of green terraces trailing to the top of the building. It is at this point that the two twisting forms emerge, with the shorter of the towers to encompass a new type of workplace, with flexible commercial offices comprising of both indoor and outdoor green terraces, offering spatial diversity.

Further above, a new generation five-star urban resort with generous gardens will give guests the luxury of experience and connectedness to nature within a city environment. The tower then culminates with world-class rooftop culinary experiences, with sweeping views of the Melbourne skyline.

Offering a diverse product mix with three distinct living collections, the residences in the adjacent and taller tower will cater to all demographics including those who prefer a more communal and social lifestyle through to those who desire the utmost exclusivity and privacy. Enhancing the residents’ lifestyle, the apartments and amenities play into Beulah’s focus on community and interaction, while embracing Australia’s love of the backyard lifestyle within an urban environment.

With double-height pocket parks throughout, these interconnecting neighbourhoods will give residents a place to relax, meet and enjoy a sense of community. The landscaped journey up the residential tower will then be crowned by a publicly accessible ‘Future Sky Garden’ showcasing innovative landscape technologies, offering spaces of opportunities for creative activations and day-to-night experiences around botany, arts, hospitality and sustainability.

With various green moments, the view of Melbourne’s famous skyline will be framed by these plants in an experience unique to the building. Most importantly, the submission outlines the use of nature as a way to enhance its residents’ health and wellbeing benefits, using vegetation to mitigate wind, filtering noise, dust and carbon dioxide.

In late 2018 and early 2019, Beulah embarked on an extensive global study tour to explore some of the world’s most inspiring architecture and design to further understand how leading global cities have approached regeneration of urban areas.

“Our project is a vote of confidence in Melbourne's economy, and it will transform Southbank. It's our vision to improve the urban environment on City Road and create an internationally significent landmark that will be a vibrant mini metropolis for people to live, work, shop, learn, play and stay,” said Jiaheng.

For more information on Southbank by Beulah click here

See also: 

'Green Spine' awarded Australia's tallest building for Melbourne's Southbank by Beulah BMW Site

Designs for Australia's highest hotel at Beulah's Southbank Melbourne BMW site

New Melbourne Peppers hotel opens in Southbank