A new Era begins in Chatswood

A new Era begins in ChatswoodAfter lying vacant for more than a decade, an industrial site in Sydney’s Chatswood has been transformed by Mirvac into a 42-storey mixed-use building, bringing with it commerce, services, parks and people.Mirvac’s Era Chatswood took home the Solid Construct Australia Award for Best Residential Development at the recent Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards.Completed in 2014, the building stands out as one of Mirvac’s most successful projects. In May 2011, 278 of the development’s 295 apartments were sold off the plan in less than 11 hours.Diana Sarcasmo, Mirvac’s general manager of residential design, marketing and sales, says the award is a “significant achievement” that confirms Mirvac’s approach. “We wanted to create a residential tower that would give residents the best in apartment living and amenity,” she says.The site is bisected by the North Shore Railway Line, a challenge which Mirvac turned into a positive by using the site’s positioning to create an “iconic gateway” into Chatswood from the Pacific Highway. “The location has become a key benefit for residents, with easy access to public transport and major retail.”The building features a five-storey commercial podium with ground floor retail that enhances the streetscape. Above it, the residential tower features generously-sized apartments that have been designed to take advantage of panoramic views.”The dense urban location meant the building was heavily modelled in both the wind tunnel and solar access studies. Using these studies, the shape and architecture were developed as an environmental response to create sustainable living spaces while at the same time creating a sculptural landmark,” Sarcasmo explains.Some 81 per cent of the site is now landscaped, including 3,371 sqm of public open space. Almost 625 sqm of the landscaping is dedicated to private community space for residents and includes a BBQ area, pergola and a private sanctuary for residents to relax.Sarcasmo says the public park is a “playful and engaging place that invites people to come, sit and enjoy”. “It is the only amenity in the area on the west side of the rail line with several large commercial building and thousands of apartments nearby. The area is now a highly sought after place to live and work,” she adds.Mirvac’s Era demonstrates why higher-density developments and public transport are an indispensable combination in a growing city.