BETTER APARTMENTS DESIGN STANDARDS

New apartments are being built throughout all suburbs of Melbourne at a rapid rate, including areas such as Docklands, Arden Park in North Melbourne and the St.Kilda Road precinct. These apartments are created by both local and overseas designers and developers.

Photo: St Kilda Road Melbourne Apartment Tower

Due to the overwhelming increase in the number of apartments within Victoria, The Victorian State Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning recently released the Better Apartments Design Standards for apartment developments in Victoria, with the new Amendment VC136 for the Victorian Planning Provisions(VPP)

Photo: Apartment example using the new standards

At a recent training information session hosted by The Victorian State Government, John Glossop, Director at Glossop Town Planning and Harry Nicholas, Senior Associate at Hayball Architects spoke to a room of architects, designers and town planners about the new changes to apartment design.

Photo: John Glossop discusses the new Amendment VC136

Photo: Harry Nicholas discusses Siting & Building Arrangement

The new provisions for Amendment VC136 include the following considerations, which were discussed by the speakers:

Siting and Building Arrangement

- Building Setback

- Communal Open Space

- Solar Access to Communal Open Space

- Landscaping

- Building Entry and Circulation

Building Performance

- Noise Impacts

- Energy Efficiency

- Waste and Recycling

- Intergrated Water and Stormwater Management

Dwelling Amenity

- Function Layout

- Room Depth

- Windows

- Storage

- Natural Ventilation

- Private Open Space

- Accessibility

Please refer to The Victorian State Governments website www.planning.vic.gov.au for further information.