35 Spring Street is a luxury residential tower that occupies an extraordinary position on the eastern boundary of the Hoddle Grid, opposite the Treasury Gardens. The tower’s sculptural quality and patterned façade differentiates it among other high-rise buildings and distinguishes it as a unique tower within the Melbourne skyline.
On a 1,320 square metre site, the 44 level tower incorporates 241 apartments and residential amenities including a 25 metre lap pool, gymnasium, wine cellar, lounge and dining facilities, a kitchen and deck with barbecue.
Situated on the corner of Spring Street and Flinders Lane, the design was inspired directly by its location. Spring Street is home to some of Melbourne’s most significant historical government buildings including the State Parliament of Victoria and the Treasury Building. The street is characterised by timeless masonry expressing weight and solidity.
In the 1880s Flinders Lane was the centre of Melbourne’s fabric manufacturing trade. The heritage buildings are exemplified by large windows set within heavily modelled and layered facades. Today the area is one of Melbourne’s most vibrant and culturally significant streets with an abundance of cafes, art galleries and fashion boutiques.
The design approach involved a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional Melbourne architecture and pays tribute to the history of both Spring Street and Flinders Lane. In drawing inspiration from these precincts, the patterned façade interprets the warp and weft weaving of fabric referencing Flinders Lane, as well as the ashlar patterns found in the stonework of historic buildings along Spring Street.
The façade was further inspired by the idea of framed balconies and views. The vertical and horizontal pattern creates a woven veil which helps to optimise the views outwards. The veil also assists with creating protected terraces and balconies providing residents with a sense of privacy, a feeling of home and helping to differentiate the building from the neighbouring commercial towers. The balconies avoid uniformity and provide variation across the façade.
At an urban scale the building is divided into separate components that respond to different site conditions. As a result of the sense of openness created from the Treasury Gardens opposite, the frontage along Spring Street did not require a setback at street level. This device helped to emphasise the edge of the CBD grid, while also enhancing the sculptural quality of the building.
A setback along the Flinders Lane frontage avoids overshadowing the finer grain of the laneway, while another setback further up the tower helps the building relate to other tall towers in the immediate vicinity.
The lobby is distinguished by a residents’ lounge with a striking fireplace and intimate seating arrangements. Instead of giving the space to a retail tenancy, the residential experience has been prioritised.
The apartments feature timeless, contemporary design, and the choice of finishes is modern and neutral in order to provide a blank canvas for residents’ collections of art and furniture.
Originally comprising 270 apartments, the project now includes 241 apartments due to high demand for customisation and combined apartments which were tailored for owner-occupiers.
