Using engineering methods rarely seen in Australia but common overseas, a Melbourne-based developer will build a $200 million tall tower in the CBD that is set to be among the world's most slender high-rise residential buildings. The trend is big in New York right now, with many developers going higher and higher in narrow spaces to maximise apartment numbers.

“Collins House utilises engineering methods rarely seen in Australia, but ones that are common overseas in cities such as New York,” said Kristen Whittle, director of architecture firm Bates Smart who is designing the tower. “The narrow site required a rethinking of the structure of tall buildings. Through an inventive structural system, combined with cutting-edge construction techniques, we have reinvented the tall tower. From a technical viewpoint it is at the limits of current construction technologies available today.”

The Collins House project, located at 466 Collins Street, will soar 195 metres high but measure just 12 metres wide. The 57 level building will feature 263 luxury apartments, and celebrate the history of Melbourne by retaining and restoring the historic Makers Mark building at its base. It is being built by developer Golden Age Group in conjunction with Melbourne’s Asian Pacific Group. The project requires extensive collaboration between Bates Smart, structural engineers 4D, surveyors Socrates Capouleas/PLP and heritage consultants Lovell Chen.

Golden Age Group's managing director Jeff Xu purchased the site in 2014 following the success of their Victoria One tower, which will be the tallest residential building in Melbourne's CBD when complete in 2018. “The success of that project led us to Collins House – we know there is a market for it and already have interest from those who missed out on buying in Victoria One," said Xu. "As the population grows, traffic worsens and Melbourne’s CBD continues to develop with amenities such as Emporium, it is inevitable we will start to see Manhattan-style living – where people work, live and play in the same urban neighbourhood – growing in popularity in our CBD.”

Collins House is due for completion in 2018.