O pen
In conversation with
New Development Edition
33 Yawla Street, Bentleigh Laurel Bentleigh
Gilad Ritz
A note from our director Ross Hams
Melbourne's Housing Market in 2024: Confidence, Growth, and Opportunity.
While Melbourne's housing market may not have surged as dramatically as some other capitals over the past year, the outlook for 2024 is brimming with optimism. Signs of renewed confidence are emerging, with both buyers and sellers showing increased activity. Auction clearance rates have remained robust, highlighting a significant pool of eager buyers ready to invest.
Currently, Melbourne's housing market holds substantial "inbuilt equity," offering an exceptional opportunity for those who can identify the right suburbs and property types ripe for investment.
One thing is clear: waiting for interest rates to drop might leave you battling it out with other keen buyers for prime properties. The market is already gaining momentum, and those who act now stand to benefit the most. Adding to this, Melbourne's rental market is booming, driven by a rapidly increasing population. Victoria's population grew by 2.9 percent over the year to September 2023, the second-fastest rate in the country, adding 190,000 new residents who need housing. With dwelling approvals lagging behind, Melbourne's real estate market presents a compelling investment opportunity.
The ratio of home prices to everyday essentials is currently more favourable in Melbourne than anywhere else.
Since the beginning of 2020, Melbourne has experienced the slowest total house price growth, increasing by just 11 percent. This trend positions Melbourne as a smart investment choice.
For those considering relocation, Melbourne is also an attractive place to live and work. Beyond its iconic trams and world-renowned coffee culture, Melbourne offers a balanced combination of affordable housing and low unemployment rates.
Melbourne's property market, with its unique blend of affordability and growth potential, stands out as an excellent choice for both investors and homebuyers facing tough decisions in Australia's competitive real estate landscape. With careful planning and timely action, 2024 could be a year of significant gains in Melbourne real estate.
33 Yawla Street, Bentleigh Laurel
Lifestyle Norsu
Marshall White Projects Current Projects
Mercer — Armadale
Society — Armadale
Laurel — Bentleigh
McIntyre — Burwood
Lynden Park — Camberwel
Argyle Square — Carlton
Drummond House — Carlton
Parlington Street — Canterbury
In conversation with Gilad Ritz Feature Recipe Roasted Cauliflower from Waygood
In conversation with Sonya Miller from Armitage Jones
Edithvale Place — Edithvale
Malvern Gardens — Malvern
Central Park — Malvern East
Preston Place — Preston
Mattone — Richmond
Walmer — Richmond
Havenwood — Surrey Hills
Introducing Laurel Bentleigh
The suburb is well-connected to the city, bay and south-eastern suburbs with multiple tram, bus and train connections. There are plenty of parks and open spaces to enjoy, top quality schools as well as great shopping, cafes, bars and restaurants.
Developed by
33 Yawla Street, Bentleigh
Designed by Gardens by
Ranko Cvjeticanin, Marshall White Projects Director
An inspired collaboration between developers Metro Property and designers ClarkeHopkinsClarke, with gardens by MDG Landscape Architects, has created a selection of exquisite, all-electric family homes in Melbourne’s original ‘garden suburb’.
Offering three to five bedrooms with two or three bathrooms, each with two car parks, these luxurious family homes feature dual living spaces in a fabulous tree-lined location, close to parks, shops and the train station.
Eco-conscious and exceptional by design, this exclusive collection of residences has been built with sustainability in mind designed to accommodate ample indoor living spaces that seamlessly integrate landscaped courtyard vistas. Light-filled interiors accentuate the fine woodwork, premium fittings and pristine detailing within.
Located just 13 kilometres southeast of Melbourne, Bentleigh is a vibrant suburb known for its strong community spirit and excellent lifestyle amenities. ■
For enquiries contact Ranko Cvjeticanin 0451 153 833
real estate The smart city effect on
The concept of smart cities has recently shifted from an ambitious idea to practical implementation, reshaping urban development and its interaction with the real estate market worldwide. These cities integrate digital technologies, data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance infrastructure, public services, and the quality of life for their inhabitants. Such enhancements influence real estate values, investment trends, and strategic planning, making urban spaces more efficient and appealing to residents, businesses, and investors alike.
We Several cities globally are leading the way in smart urban development, showcasing innovative approaches to integrating technology with real estate:
Singapore: Known as one of the pioneering smart cities, Singapore's Smart Nation initiative includes smart traffic analytics, autonomous vehicles, and sustainable buildings. The city's real estate market benefits from these advancements through increased efficiency and enhanced living conditions, making it a magnet for international investors.
Dubai: Dubai's Smart City strategy aims to make it the smartest city on Earth. With projects like smart grids, smart homes, and the use of blockchain in real estate transactions, Dubai is redefining luxury real estate, attracting global investors and high-net-worth individuals.
Copenhagen: As part of its goal to become carbonneutral by 2025, Copenhagen has implemented smart solutions for energy, waste, and transportation. These initiatives have not only enhanced the city's liveability but also increased the appeal of its real estate market to environmentally conscious investors and residents.
These cities serve as benchmarks for others, including Melbourne, which is rapidly advancing its smart city initiatives. By focusing on sustainability, innovation, and connectivity, Melbourne is positioning itself alongside these global leaders, aiming to attract investment and enhance resident quality of life in its quest to redefine the urban landscape and real estate market.
This shift is making a big impact on the real estate sector, evident in several key areas:
Value Appreciation: Properties in smart cities often see higher appreciation rates due to improved infrastructure, connectivity, and quality of life. A study by the McKinsey Global Institute predicts that smart city technology can increase property values by 10-20%.
Investment Attraction: Smart cities attract significant investment, both from public and private sectors. Investors are keen on developments that incorporate smart technologies, such as energy-efficient buildings and automated property management systems, expecting higher returns on investments.
Sustainable Developments: Real estate in smart cities tends to emphasise sustainability, with green buildings and eco-friendly practices becoming standard. This shift not only appeals to environmentally conscious buyers but also contributes to long-term cost savings in energy and maintenance.
As smart city technologies continue to evolve, the real estate landscape is set to experience even more significant changes. The integration of AI and machine learning in building management and urban planning will further optimise energy use, security, and maintenance processes. Meanwhile, 5G networks will enhance connectivity, making remote work and digital services more accessible and reliable, potentially reshaping demand patterns in both residential and commercial real estate.
The rise of smart cities is fundamentally transforming the global real estate markets. By offering improved efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life, smart cities are not only attracting more residents and businesses but also redefining the value of real estate within these urban spaces. As this direction continues, professionals and stakeholders alike will be compelled to contribute to, and therefore benefit from, a smarter, more sustainable future. ■
From $4,150,000
to
and
A homage
the rich
deeply textured neighbourhood of Armadale, Mercer presents an exclusive collection of luxurious townhomes curated by one of Australia’s most esteemed design studios, Conrad Architects. 30 Mercer Road, Armadale
Architecture by Developed by Built by Gardens by
Architecture by Gardens by Developed by Interiors by
Tapware
Developed by
Designed by Gardens by
Developed by Built by
In conversation with
Gilad Ritz
Gilad Ritz, co-founder of the award-winning architecture and design studio RITZ&GHOUGASSIAN, is known for creating interior-focused moments that merge the external environment with the interior experience.
Fresh from his visit to Salone del Mobile in Milan, Gilad shares his insights on the latest design trends and innovations, their potential influence on new residential design, and his studio's approach to crafting memorable spaces.
Photo Credit
Jisun Kim / Studio Round
What were some of the most inspiring trends or innovative ideas you observed at Salone del Mobile this year?
The strongest movement we observed at the Salone del Mobile was a shift towards re-use and re-invention.
Yves Salomon and Chapo Creation expressed this idea in their upholstered furniture in which shearling off-cuts were assembled as if they were wooden inlays. This translated into furniture that was rich in texture and expressive in technique. Emerging designers such as Jisun Kim took to using plastic bags to create lamp shades, while we saw the invention of organic matter amalgamated with resin to create such things as avocado-seed bricks by Fragmentario.
How do you envision the concepts and designs showcased at Salone del Mobile influencing the architecture and interior design of new homes in the near future?
I think Salone del Mobile 2024 has reinforced the design community's willingness to re-use materials in inventive ways and a desire to create new palettes and design outcomes. Our own studio's work balances the ordinary with the technical, the banal with the profound. I see this idea broadening outwards and becoming a methodology designers can use for residential applications. Imagine your own home, a clean elegant space, the walls in hempcrete are textural and sensorial, plastic lighting shades send shards of light across the floor, the furniture is new but shows the creases and patina of 50 years.
Experimenting with materials is a hallmark of your studio's work. Were there any material innovations or applications at Salone del Mobile that caught your attention?
As mentioned, the creation of new materials such as the 'avocado-seed brick' or in our own studio's work, the creation of new masonry blocks made from building waste inspires us. These new palettes will shape future architectural envelopes that are grounded in re-use and re-invention.
Your studio has gained recognition for its unique approach to interior-focused architecture that creates memorable moments and experiences. Can you walk us through your creative process and how you work with clients to bring these visions to life?
Our work focuses on the user experience of the spaces we create. We are interested in one's relationship to the built environment through an interiorised lens. A clean minimal palette means that space is expressed as simply volume and light. When shaping these spaces, we focus heavily on the clients' brief and their spatial preferences. Materiality is influenced by the site and/or some other local context. Materiality also dictates the construction methodology and thus, in turn, all these factors mould design.
How do you see RITZ&GHOUGASSIAN evolving into the future? Are there any exciting projects on the horizon or new areas you're eager to explore?
I think Salone del Mobile 2024 has reinforceWe work across a large number of sectors from residential and multi-residential to hospitality. In turn, our designed spaces are often influenced by one another. Hospitality becomes a little more residential and residential becomes a little more experimental. This method of working on many things at once allows ideas to become more plastic and stretch across projects. ■
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Photo
Credit
Tom Ross
Photo Credit Laora Queyras
Lynden Park is a collection of just five parkside residences nestled in an idyllic pocket of Camberwell. Elegantly crafted by Ascui & Co and John Patrick.
207 Highfield Road, Camberwell
Architecture by Developed & Built by Gardens by
From
Developed by Project Management by Architecture and interiors by Construction by
From $1,849,000
Only
Drummond Street, Carlton
Developed by Architecture by Interiors by
Built by
NORSU Cabin
Stay in a chic log cabin, Scandinavian style.
Photo Credit Nick Skinner
Ever since norsu founders Nat Wheeler and Kristy Sadlier opened the doors to their very first norsu store, the dream of purchasing their very own norsu property was born. Customers would visit the store and enthuse about how much they loved the store and how being there made them feel so calm and ‘at home’. It birthed the idea of a place they could design themselves in which guests could stay and truly unwind, meanwhile immersing themselves in norsu’s famed Scandi-style products.
Nat’s real estate husband Dan (Wheeler, of Marshall White Armadale) shared the Macedon listing with them one evening and it was love at first sight for the business owners, who had first met in mothers’ group years before. After spontaneously making an offer moments after the initial inspection, by that evening it was secured, and the dream of making norsu short stay accommodation, soon to be the norsu Cabin, was about to become reality.
‘The uniqueness of this property really stood out to us, I mean, how many log cabins do you see in Australia?’, says Kristy.
‘We loved that it reminded us of a quaint retreat in the heart of Scandinavia - a nod to the ‘Scandi’ roots of our retail business, and the fact that it was located less than an hour's drive from Melbourne had us sold!’
The duo picked up the keys on a Monday and had the builders onsite the next day. They were already in reno-mode with Nat's home renovation taking place concurrently which was the perfect synergy, as they were able to piggyback off the stages and selections and knew exactly what needed to take place in what order. Being able to streamline this process helped enormously and in total the renovation took just four months to complete.
Believed to have been built in the mid-1990s, the retro-inspired home featured a quirky A-frame design with timber log walls, pitched ceilings and landscaped gardens.
‘The biggest challenge we faced was the logs themselves,’ says Kristy.
Neither the external or internal log walls could be moved, so they were unable adjust the floorplan and needed to work within the home's existing footprint. The exterior was eventually painted black for a modern touch, while the existing logs inside were carefully sanded back by hand, before being treated to a lime wash to reveal a restful blonde timber.
The magic of the norsu Cabin is unmistakeable.
There’s enough room for up to eight people across the three bedrooms and there’s even a concrete bath overlooking the rows of silver birch trees in the gardens.
‘There are some homes that just have that 'feeling' that you can't quite explain - you need to experience it to understand - and this Cabin has it in spades!’ explains Kristy.
Not surprisingly, the Cabin has been in high demand since listing for short term rental, and Nat and Kristy’s families too enjoy the Macedon retreat.
‘We've had the pleasure of spending several precious weekends there with our families together so far,’ says Kristy. ‘Watching the kids make memories by exploring the gardens and toasting marshmallows while the adults enjoy great conversation by the fire over a cheese board and a nice bottle of red is what really puts a smile on our faces.’
The norsu Cabin features design and styling by Norsu Design. The Cabin sleeps up to eight guests and is now available to book. ■
Developed by Designed by Landscaping by
Appliances by Tapware by
Developed by Design by
Edithvale
Developed by Architecture by Built by Gardens by Managed by
Roasted Cauliflower
Photo Credit Liana Hardy
Head chef Mina Tomas shares her head-turning signature dish, ‘Roasted cauliflower with burnt honey, feta, preserved lemon, and hazelnuts’, from Richmond meeting place, Waygood.
Ingredients Method
1 small whole cauliflower
1 whole lemon
15g thinly sliced preserved lemon (rinsed, peel only)
60g crumbled feta
2 tablespoons cauliflower puree
1 tablespoon pickled red onions
Honey dressing
For garnish
1 tablespoon hazelnuts
(roasted at 160 degrees for 10 minutes)
2 sprigs coriander
2 sprigs dill
2 sprigs parsley
2 sprigs mint
Burnt Honey
100ml honey
20ml cider vinegar
60g olive oil
1 tsp green peppercorns
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Pinch of salt
Pickled Red Onions
2 large red onions, thinly sliced
150ml white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
300ml water
60g salt
40g sugar
Serves 2 as a main course or 4-6 as a side serve
Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
Remove green leaves from cauliflower and cut the bottom edges so the cauliflower sits flat on a plate.
Steam the whole cauliflower for 20 minutes.
Roast in a 200-degree fan-forced oven for 8 minutes.
Cauliflower Puree
Cut ¼ small cauliflower (florets and stems) into 5 cm pieces.
Steam for 30 minutes.
Drain, keeping the steaming liquid aside.
Puree cauliflower, adding 50ml of the steaming liquid at a time until the consistency of smooth mashed potatoes is achieved.
Season to taste with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
Burnt Honey
Bring honey to a simmer for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Maximum temperature: 160 degrees.
Add the remainder of the ingredients and stir continuously until the dressing is totally emulsified. (around 10 minutes)
Pickled Red Onions
(Prepare at least 24 hours in advance. Will keep for 2 weeksrefrigerate once opened.)
Combine vinegar, salt, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer.
Pour the mixture over the thinly sliced onions. Place in a clean jar and set aside overnight.
To Assemble
Place 2 tablespoons of warm cauliflower puree on the base of the plate.
Top with the whole roasted cauliflower.
Drizzle with 60ml burnt honey dressing.
Top with feta, hazelnuts, preserved lemon, and sprigs of herbs.
Waygood
213 Swan Street, Richmond
Developed by Architecture by Gardens by
Managed by
In collaboration with
Developed by Gardens by Design by
Preston
Developed by Architecture by Gardens by Architecture by
In conversation with
Sonya Miller
from Armitage Jones
Photo Credit Tom Blatchford
Photo Credit Tom Blatchford
We sat down with Sonya Miller, director at project management and property development company Armitage Jones, to discuss her journey in the property industry. Sonya shares her insights on the evolving role of project management in managing risk and fostering successful partnerships throughout the development process.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the property industry, and how has your background in architecture influenced your approach to project management?
I grew up in a family dominated by property as my dad was an architect – so I often walked around the local building sites in the area working out the layout of each house - and I found it fascinating.
It was only after completing my architecture degree when I started working for a construction company that I realised my skills were better suited to working alongside the design team, in the practical, problem-solving area of project management.
As a director, what is your vision for the company, and how do you ensure that your team maintains its commitment to doing things differently?
In establishing a business, it was an opportunity to bring together all the best experiences I had in my previous roles, and right from the outset establishing some “not negotiables” in terms of behaviour and conduct that we would not accept from anyone – our clients, our peers, or our team. It has been this strong focus on behaviour, relationships and management style that we have built a reputation on doing things differently.
In your experience, what are some of the key factors that contribute to the success of a property development project, and how do you navigate the challenges that inevitably arise?
Once you have established that the commercial fundamentals are sound, the success of any development relies on good communication, problem solving, and decisive decision making. When the inevitable challenges arise, you need to be nimble and decisive to determine the best option based on the information you have at the time - too many times we see key decisions stalled in the hope a better option will present itself, which very rarely occurs.
Armitage Jones prides itself on delivering projects to an inspiring standard. What does this mean to you, and how do you ensure that this high standard is maintained across all projects?
We have been fortunate to work with clients that really understand the importance of high-quality projects – from engagement of design consultants, reputable builders, and project managers – and they really understand the importance of our role in the process.
When I reflect on the projects I am most proud of, it is not only the quality outcome of the finished project, but also the collaboration and partnerships that we have fostered through the overall development process. I truly believe a project that is delivered through great partnerships and collaboration delivers a premium outcome.
As a leader in the property industry, what advice would you offer to young professionals who are just starting out in the field, particularly those with a background in architecture or design?
I very quickly realised that you don't necessarily have to practice as an architect to have involvement or input in the design process. The collaborative design process that occurs on many of the complex projects we are involved with requires input and feedback from a range of stakeholders. This is what I love about this process –the best outcomes are never from a singular viewpoint or design idea but rather a collaboration of a whole range of ideas and requirements from multiple stakeholders. ■
Photo Credit Brett Goldsmith
Developed by Gardens by Built by Design by
From $1,975,000 Designed
5-7 Leura Street, Surrey Hills 3 A B C 3 2
Architecture by Gardens by Human Habitat
G02/6 Cromwell Road, South Yarra
Invest in your luxury lifestyle
Secure your place in the future of contemporary living with off-the-plan developments represented by Marshall White Projects, showcasing unparalleled design and innovation. We partner with Australia’s most trusted and established developers, builders, and designers to craft exceptional residences that redefine luxury and style.
Contact Marshall White Projects to explore all opportunities.
Ross Hams Meet our Director
With his unwavering client-centred focus on selling Melbourne’s most luxurious off-the-plan residences, Ross Hams is recognised industry-wide as the go to agent for some of Australia’s largest public and private companies.
Known for his ability to create sales at the highest level, over the last decade Ross has been involved in some of Melbourne’s most iconic and successful off the plan residential developments.
Outside of Real Estate, family and sport are Ross’ driving forces. Ross, a former gym owner, and lawyer wife Jo have three beautiful children, and they are all sports and fitness fanatics. Basketball is number one sport at the Hams’ Warrandyte family home, and Ross plays, supports and coaches his kids’ teams and is an avid fan of SE Melbourne Phoenix and the LA Lakers.
Contact Ross 0410 160 151 ross.hams@marshallwhite.com.au
