Botanical on Northbourne Avenue in Turner offers a range of home sizes at a prime location on the edge of the city. Images: SJB Architects.
Construction proper is getting underway for a highly anticipated residential development at the northern entrance to the CBD.
Amalgamated Property Group and Base Developments will deliver 249 apartments in the first stage of the Botanical development, which will rise to nine storeys on Northbourne Avenue.
Designed by award-winning SJB Architects, Botanical offers spacious one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences located on the edge of the city, Haig Park and within walking distance of Braddon, O’Connor and the CBD.
This first stage has been released to the market with homes starting at $590,000 and ranging in price up to $2,875,000.
Buyers can get an idea of what is on offer with a custom-built two-bedroom home located next to the site for inspection, along with a detailed physical model of the complex.
Botanical’s three-tone facade will reflect Canberra’s colour palette, transitioning from red brick at ground level to terracotta hues and a crisp white upper layer.
At ground level, there will be arched walkways and thoroughfares to amenities. A light rail station is out front, along with walking and bike paths.
Amenities will include a large, landscaped central courtyard, concierge services, an architecturally designed indoor lap pool in a natural setting, as well as a spa, sauna, steam room and large gym.
The view from a Botanical living room. All apartments will have a minimum EER of six stars but are likely to be more than that. Image: APG.
Principal and founding director of Amalgamated Property Group Graham Potts said the team has worked closely with SJB to ensure Botanical can offer above-average-sized homes and energy-efficient living.
Sustainability is a strong feature of the gas-free development, with a passive design to capture heat in winter and reduce heat in summer.
Amalgamated says solar studies included extensive consideration of the buildings’ form and orientation to respond to the sun’s path and accentuate airflow.
Botanical is designed to meet a minimum EER average of NatHERS 6.0 stars, but many of the homes are expected to achieve ratings above this.
This energy efficiency will be enhanced by solar PV panels that will feed power to the residential community and common areas to subsidise strata levies.
Each residence will have an EV-ready car park in the three-level basement, which will provide 529 car parking spaces, including 50 for visitors, and 20 motorcycle spaces, accessed from a new driveway on Forbes Street.
Providing shade to reduce urban heat effects is a feature of the landscape design, which celebrates Canberra’s bushland colours and textures with the selection of plants across the many planter beds throughout the site, including the street frontage, the main throughfares and courtyards.
The lush central courtyard is designed around a stand of mature trees, which has been preserved, along with several others across the site.
An archway entrance to the treed central courtyard.
Amalgamated says Botanical is ideal for owner-occupiers looking for space, convenience, and community, as well as investors looking for homes close to the city, such as ANU, the light rail, and some of Canberra’s best schools.
Its spacious floorplans and configurations, large central courtyard, onsite amenities and parklands on the doorstep will also appeal to downsizers seeking greenery and easy living in the leafy inner north.
The proximity to the City and Braddon should also attract corporates working in the CBD or young families, with an abundance of childcare centres and primary schools close by.
Keenan Veraar from marketing agent LJ Hooker said Botanical would be a highly sought after place to live and a strong investment opportunity.
“This will provide an ongoing capital gain and establish apartment rental returns that will be some of the highest in Canberra,” he said.
Principal of Base Developments Dennis Milin said SJB’s exceptional vision for Botanical would make it an outstanding development.
“We are excited to get under way,” he said.
Stage 1, including the basement for Stage 2, is estimated to be completed in 2027.
Stage 2 will have 167 homes, with commencement subject to material handling and traffic management of the Stage 1 works.
Amalgamated Property Group and Base Developments have combined on projects such as the three-tower Oaks precinct in Phillip, which includes Canberra’s first pure Build-to-Rent project (Oaks Canopy), Ivy in Phillip and Kiara in Narrabundah.
