In PX112, our interview guest is Jessica Lee, a principal architect at Fender Katsalidis Architects (https://fkaustralia.com).
Jessica discusses the ‘Alba’ project, the conversion of a 1970’s former office building into 150 rooms of age appropriate housing (retirement accommodation and aged care). The site is located within South Melbourne, an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria Australia. The cost of the conversion was $125m (AU). Whilst not being significantly cheaper than a rebuild there were environmental savings according to Jessica.
In the interview Jessica discusses the project from start to finish. There was the initial ‘whats the building like’, ‘’whats under the surfaces’, to scoping the logistics of conversions (very different from a vacant site), finding a suitable builder (not all high rise builders have the equipment or skill set to do this type of work), services upgrades and the intricate details of providing contemporary residential accommodation (along with the end user needs).
Jessica indicates that a review of the Melbourne CBD found only 6% of sites are candidates for such conversions. Frequent killers of such projects are the depth of a site and the position of lift cores, the reasons being apartments need natural light unlike office buildings. Also the ‘bones’ of a structure building in terms of structure and floor to floor heights may not be suitable. Applying contemporary safety and environmental standards are also difficult to satisfy.
The interview explores the design concept as well as the ’nuts and bolts’ and up close descriptions of the building project. At times it is like being on site mid project with hard hat, boots and vest.
The conversion of office buildings to residential has been touted in many planning publications and strategies as a solution to various housing crisis. The interview reveals that such conversions are possible but not many sites are suitable and there are specialist requirements in undertaking the challenge. Jessica provides a clear eyed view of a not well understood issue.
One insight from the interview is that blanket planning policies or government subsidies promoting such conversions at the expense of complete rebuilds may not be cost effective, environmentally benefical or practical.
A terrific interview subject with a great passion for buildings, cities and life.
In podcast extra / culture corner, Jessica recommends
Rob Adams - Urban Choreography Central Melbourne 1985 - MUP https://www.mup.com.au/authors/rob-adams
Jess N recommends: Duolingo ‘Learning Italian’: https://www.duolingo.comthe
Pete recommends: Break Point on Netflix (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_Point_(2023_TV_series) and celebrates his sporting triumphs over 2023
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 2 January 2024. Happy New Year to all our listeners.
PlanningxChange 116: Stephen Rowley - author, planning professional, academic and astute commentator.
PlanningxChange 115: Liz Mackevicius, organisational coach
PlanningxChange 114: Anna Lowder talks New Urbanism including Hampstead
PlanningxExchange 113: Air taxis (spinners) & Vertiports with Clem Newton-Brown
PlanningxChange 111: Jesse Suskin - Wing Aviation (drone delivery)
PlanningxChange 110: Professor Tim Parkin - The Romans and their cities
PlanningxChange 109: Doug Tallamy - Home Grown National Park - native species over lawn
PlanningxChange 108: Dr Stefan Gruenert - Odyssey House - Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation
PlanningxChange 107 Kate Hardwick: shining bright
PlanningxChange 106: James Vincent - Smart Cities Technology
PlanningxChange 105: Torie Brown - Student accommodation
PlanningxChange 104: Vanessa Schernickau - CEO of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation
PX103: Tim Jackson - On Leadership, local government and volunteering
PlanningxChange 102: Dr James Lesh (urban historian and author)
PlanningxChange 101: All about Canberra (Australia's national capital)
PlanningxChange 100: Live free
PlanningxChange 99: Alex Fenech (Landscape architect - Florida, USA)
PlanningxChange 98: Tim Ellis (magician and promoter of the Melbourne Magic Festival)
PlanningxChange 97 with David Beaumont - painter
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Voices of Misery Podcast
House of Whimsical Terror
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL