Emerald Place brings new life to South Melbourne

A new luxury residential development on the corner of Clarendon and York streets is helping reinvigorate South Melbourne’s main retail strip, close to Southbank and the CBD.

Emerald Place, developed by Lowe Living in partnership with IN. TRE, is now complete, delivering 38 architecturally designed residences on one of South Melbourne’s most prominent corners.

The project has been designed as a luxury, low-density alternative to larger inner-city apartment buildings, with house-sized residences aimed at rightsizers, professionals and buyers seeking a walkable lifestyle close to the South Melbourne Market, Albert Park and the CBD.

Beyond the residences themselves, the completed building also marks a visible renewal of a key Clarendon and York St site at a point where South Melbourne transitions towards Southbank and the central city.

With its heritage-inspired form, ground-floor presence and emphasis on quality design, Emerald Place adds a new layer of activation to a stretch of Clarendon St that has long carried the potential to better connect South Melbourne’s village character with the growth occurring in the area.

Lowe Living co-founder Tim Lowe said Emerald Place reflected the company’s focus on delivering high-quality projects in established lifestyle locations.

“At Lowe Living, we take great pride in transforming highly coveted lifestyle-driven locations into exceptional residential, retail, and commercial spaces,” Mr Lowe said.

Designed in collaboration with Woods Bagot, with landscape architecture by Acre, Emerald Place has sought to reinterpret the character of South Melbourne rather than overwhelm it.

The building draws on the area’s 19^th century pub architecture and brickwork, using detail, texture and restrained materiality to create a contemporary corner statement that still feels connected to its setting.

Woods Bagot associate principal Ana Sá said the design had been grounded in the history and texture of the suburb.

“Home at Emerald Place is an urban oasis to call your own,” Ms Sá said.

“Grounded in South Melbourne’s rich history of heritage pubs and brickwork, Emerald Place celebrates detail and craft, forming a strong and elegantly restrained corner statement.”

She said subtle patterns, textures and honest materials carried through from the architecture into the interiors, creating warmth and comfort for residents.

Inside, the residences have been conceived with an emphasis on generous proportions, natural stone, smoky engineered timber and premium detailing, reflecting a shift towards apartments that feel more like established homes than standard inner-city dwellings.

The building still has a limited number of remaining residences and skyhomes, positioning the completed project as a rare complete offering rather than an off-the-plan promise.

Lowe Living co-founder Emma Lowe said collaboration had been central to the project’s delivery.

“Collaboration, integrity and respect for our partners is at the centre of everything we do,” Ms Lowe said.

The project’s landscaping has also been designed to soften the urban setting and bring greenery into daily life.

Acre creative director Brett Robinson said the landscape had been developed to work closely with the building’s architecture.

“The materials and geometry of the landscape has been delivered to work with the architectural palette and form, linking the two to create a seamless connection between the building and landscape,” Mr Robinson said.

“This approach responds to the needs of urban living, in bringing nature to the day-to-day life of occupants and providing spaces for entertaining and outdoor living.”

For South Melbourne, the project’s completion comes at an important moment for Clarendon and York streets, which continues to balance its traditional village identity with the pressure and opportunity created by nearby growth in Southbank, Fishermans Bend and the CBD.

Emerald Place’s location gives residents immediate access to South Melbourne Market, surrounding cafes and restaurants, public transport and open space.

In that sense, the development is not only a new residential address, but a contribution to the continuing renewal of South Melbourne as a lived-in, walkable and active inner-city neighbourhood.

loweliving.com.au •