Construction has commenced for the $800 million, 67-storey residential “Aura” tower within the $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct in Southbank.
The project comprises over 670 apartments designed by Cox Architecture, with interiors designed by DKO, organised in a range of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. According to a media communique from the developer OSK Property, the project “has been designed as a Japanese-inspired retreat.”
Various levels throughout the tower will accommodate a variety of clubs and amenities aimed at mirroring the “calm, clarity and simplicity of Japanese design,” and ultimately servicing residents in social and recreational, wellness and working capacities, CEO of OSK Property Australia Chong Boon Woon said.
The development will also feature a landscaped garden designed by Oculus.
The plans are designed to connect Melbourne Square with the CBD, with the tower overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens, Port Phillip Bay and Albert Park Lake to the east, and Melbourne Square’s 3,745-square-metre Kennedy Park and Hoff Boulevard to the west.
Marking what Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell described as a “huge vote of confidence in [Melbourne],” Aura will contribute a further 1,800 square metres to the existing 4,300 square metres of retail within the precinct.
Multiplex regional managing director Ross Snowball offered insight into the construction itself, commenting, “Through the use of AI-enabled technologies and digital construction tools, we’re continuing to find smarter ways to plan and deliver complex projects.”
The completion of the tower is projected for early 2030.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
