A new mixed-use, build-to-rent (BTR) development designed by Plus Studio for SKS Group has been granted development approval on the fringe of Perth's CBD.
Known as The Harvest, the Murray Street project is proposed within an inner-city commercial precinct between the CBD and Kings Park in West Perth. The site is surrounded by an eclectic mix of heritage and contemporary buildings housing offices, medical suites, consulates and government agencies.
According to a media release from Plus Studio, the project is "conceived as a new generation of development," with the 21-storey proposal bringing together 87 serviced apartments, 118 BTR apartments and ground-floor retail space.
The communique notes that Plus Studio amended an inherited development application scheme with "a version that works harder, feels lighter and fits more naturally into the rhythm of the city. Key design interventions include maximising the plot ratios and redesigning the entry lobbies, retail spaces, car parking and short-stay communal facilities to meet the client's brief in line with the site and its context."
Plus Studio senior associate Prasad Nimma said, "We were able to enhance constructability and efficiency while clarifying the vision for The Harvest as a place that responds to its site, supports everyday life and contributes to Perth's evolving CBD."
The project is underpinned by the idea of creating a vertical community supported by shared amenities. At podium level, a significant communal open space featuring a bocce court, landscaped seating and covered barbecue areas for residents and visitors is intended to serve as an active shared focal point for the building.
Short-stay amenities such as a gym, co-working spaces, a wellness space and private dining room/bar facilities overlook the ground-floor lobby from the mezzanine, while a dedicated residential amenities level is provided on the fifth floor.
The proposed tower design - clad in a grey, concrete-look cladding punctuated by full-height glazing - meets the street with an angular expression. Bronze tones in the building's perforated metal, window glazing and lobby interiors are intended to give "the building a calm presence and a strong sense of arrival."
According to the studio's media release, "The inclusion of build-to-rent apartments means the homes are purpose-designed for long-term rental, with a single owner and professional management. This model can offer residents greater security of tenure, consistent maintenance and access to shared amenities, while helping to deliver high-quality rental housing close to Perth's CBD," the release states.
"Together, the residential and short-stay components are designed to holistically support contemporary city living in a building that is fully electrical and guided by passive solar principles, helping to reduce operational emissions and support more efficient day-to-day running over time."
