ABSTRACT
Accompanying the increase in the absolute number and height of Melbourne’s tall buildings has been a decisive shift to Design, Novate, and Construct contract arrangements. This construction technology combines commercial building inspired curtain wall façade systems with a system of internal concrete sheer walls. This places restrictions on apartment layouts on typical floorplates and has had a noticeable effect on the spatial quality and liveability of the many apartments produced. This research has analysed twelve recent built case studies in Melbourne, examining the relationship between facades systems, central-core systems, internal structure, and apartment layouts. The study highlights where façade concepts, structural performance, and ease-of-construction inputs prevail over spatial integration and apartment integrity. The authors reappraise the effect of the shift in design influence away from architects and engineers, in terms of the narrowing of innovation in tall buildings to a focus on constructability and speed of construction.
