New residents arrive

Docklands is getting a shot in the arm this month with the arrival of new residents at NewQuay West.

The first of MAB Corporation’s luxury waterfront townhouses are being occupied in July and, at the other end of the precinct, the rest of The Quays apartments are due to go on sale.

Speaking at the June 17 Docklands News Networking Lunch, project director David Allt-Graham said new residents would this month move into the Marina residences, Quay Park townhouses and Mariner apartments.

The focus of the purely-residential western end of NewQuay is much-needed parkland.  Mr Allt-Graham said MAB had spent $20 million on infrastructure in NewQuay West and the parkland would be owned and maintained in the future by the City of Melbourne.

At the eastern end of NewQuay, Mr Allt-Graham unveiled some surprisingly innovative and refreshing architecture.

In what would appear to be a celebration of pure whimsy, MAB is jamming a giant beach-ball in the entrance to an arcade between Harbour One and The Quays apartment developments.  But the five-metre sculpture is also practical and will act as a windbreak to shelter a glamorous pedestrian arcade.

Mr Allt-Graham praised architects McBride Charles Ryan (MCR) for adding “personality” to the street-level design and praised the beach-ball idea as a “gem of a sculpture”.

In its explanation of the concept, the architects said: “The image of the ‘beach-ball’ was propelled by the thought that wind blowing towards the water will carry objects with it – such as a beachball.  Here this functions as a cork to block the path of the wind and houses a revolving door that is sized to accommodate a wheelchair bound person and their carer.”

Mr Allt-Graham said a new street, Marmion Place, would be different from other Docklands streets in that it would be a cul-de-sac.

“It will be a nice place to linger and enjoy,” he said.

Mr Allt-Graham revealed some striking stained-glass potential designs for the roof of the pedestrian arcade through the centre of The Quays, which he described as a “unique space”.  He also showed images of a breath-taking “grotto-esque” swimming pool within another arcade.

He also pointed out MAB was not adding “a huge amount” of extra retail to the precinct, but that “retail backfill” would be possible in the future.

MAB plans to join Palmyra Way through to Aquatania Way to allow alternative access from the Conder.

Mr Allt-Graham said MAB intended to centralise and consolidate its approach to serviced apartments in NewQuay with purpose-built stock.   He said the entire podium of The Quays would be 100 serviced apartments and a further 30 apartments would be housed in the adjacent H1 development.

He said MAB’s Grand Mecure operation would be moved from its current location in St Mangos Lane to The Quays.