An elegant tower proposed by Zaha Hadid Architects and Plus Architecture is one step closer to gaining approval.
A proposed Melbourne development by Zaha Hadid Architects and Plus Architecture will be referred to Victoria's planning minister without consideration by the City of Melbourne's Future Melbourne Committee, meaning it is a step closer to approval.
If approved and built, the tower will be Hadid's first in Melbourne, and one of only a few to be completed after the celebrated architect's sudden death last month.
The elegant 54-storey tower takes the form of fluted, stacked vase-like forms. The building appears light and almost floating, despite its considerable size.
Developer Landream submitted the project for approval in December 2015. The Future Melbourne Committee was to decide on the project on Tuesday 3 May, but two councillors were absent from the meeting, and five declared a conflict of interest, preventing them from voting. Therefore, the 11-member committee failed to achieve a quorum. Geoff Lawler, director of city planning and infrastructure at the City of Melbourne said the committee wouldn't be able to consider the project.
The council's planning officer is generally in favour of the design, saying "the development will not overwhelm or dominate the public realm or adjoining buildings," and "apartment sizes are good." The recommendation was to "advise Department of Environment, Land, Water and planning that the Melbourne City Council supports the proposal."