smh.com.au
Edgewater Towers: A Model for High-Density Living in Melbourne
Completed in 1961, Melbourne's Edgewater Towers, a 13-story apartment building in St Kilda, provides a model for high-density living with spacious units (80 square meters for a two-bedroom) and communal areas, currently selling for approximately $500,000 for a one-bedroom and $900,000 for a two-bedroom, demonstrating the market value of well-designed apartments.
- What lessons can current Melbourne apartment developers learn from Edgewater Towers' design, considering its success and current high market value?
- Edgewater Towers, a 13-story apartment building in St Kilda, Australia, completed in 1961, offers insights into apartment design. Its spacious units, averaging 10 square meters larger than modern counterparts, and communal areas highlight the potential for better living in high-density developments. The building's current high sale prices, with one-bedroom units at approximately $500,000 and two-bedroom units at $900,000, demonstrate market demand for well-designed apartments.
- How do the design features and market value of Edgewater Towers compare to those of modern high-density developments in Melbourne, and what accounts for the differences?
- The article contrasts Edgewater Towers' design with current trends in Melbourne's high-density housing developments. While the government aims to increase housing density, current regulations often lead to smaller units, impacting quality of life. Edgewater, with its generous space and light-filled apartments, showcases a successful model for high-density living that prioritizes resident well-being.
- What policy changes could encourage the development of more high-quality, spacious apartments, like Edgewater Towers, while addressing the need for greater housing density in Melbourne?
- Edgewater Towers' success suggests a need for policy changes to encourage similar developments. By allowing greater density in appropriate locations and easing restrictions, more competitive markets could emerge, leading to better-designed and more spacious apartments. This approach would also help address the sustainability concerns raised by the architect regarding sprawling single-story developments.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing strongly favors a positive view of Edgewater Towers and high-density living, using language that highlights the building's positive attributes and framing the architect's opinions as insightful and valid. The headline (not provided) likely plays a significant role in setting this positive tone, while the introductory paragraphs emphasize the building's unique historical significance and positive features.
Language Bias
The language used is largely positive and celebratory towards Edgewater Towers. Terms like "soaring," "impossible to miss," and "intrinsic to the suburb's character" create a favorable impression. The description of the former "timber garden of horror" as a now "centerpiece structure" shows a clear positive reframing. Less positive terms like "NIMBY-ism" are used to describe opposition to development.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the positive aspects of Edgewater Towers and its history, potentially omitting challenges or negative experiences residents may have had. There is no mention of potential drawbacks to high-density living in the area, such as increased traffic or strain on infrastructure. The perspective of those opposed to high-rise development in St Kilda beyond the mention of "NIMBYism" is largely absent, limiting a comprehensive understanding of the issue.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat false dichotomy by contrasting the spacious, well-designed Edgewater Towers with the smaller, less desirable apartments being built today. While acknowledging that land values and regulations differ, it doesn't fully explore the complexities of modern development constraints, such as rising construction costs and stricter building codes.
Gender Bias
The article doesn't exhibit significant gender bias. While primarily focusing on male voices (the architect and a resident), this doesn't appear to be a deliberate exclusion of female perspectives, but rather a reflection of who was interviewed for the piece.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the Edgewater Towers in St Kilda, Melbourne, as a case study of successful high-density living. Its design, featuring spacious apartments, communal areas, and proximity to open space, offers valuable lessons for future developments. The discussion promotes sustainable urban development principles by advocating for increased density in appropriate locations, improving housing affordability and reducing urban sprawl. The contrast drawn between Edgewater Towers and current development trends points to the need for better planning regulations that prioritize quality of life and sustainability over profit maximization.