[COM] West Franklin | 54m & 64m | 17 & 20 lvls | Apartments

[claybro]

There is not nearly enough recycled or existing red brick walls used in Adelaide. They add character, look interesting and give some warmth to the street, rather than the bland concrete and glass so much in favour now.

[Nathan]

There is not nearly enough recycled or existing red brick walls used in Adelaide. They add character, look interesting and give some warmth to the street, rather than the bland concrete and glass so much in favour now.

They're making use of a fair bit of recycled brick in Bowden. It's not my material of choice (raw concrete for me, thanks) but it does look good and it's a neat way of giving new builds some patina and tie them to the existing neighbourhood.

[ml69]

The brick section looks really quite nice and fitting with the opposite corner of the site, the rest is very generic apartment building that we see in the 21st century. Will still get sleep at night but nothing to be proud of.

Thumbs up from me too. That podium is really well-designed. The tower is reasonable without being outstanding.

[Ben]

This is expected to be approved at Thursday DAC meeting.

As previously mentioned the website is http://www.westfranklin.com.au

The applicant seeks approval for the construction of a mixed use development consisting of two residential towers constructed above a six level podium element. Tower heights of 54 metres/ 16 levels and 63 metres/19 levels are proposed with a total of 295 dwellings, 253 car parks and ground floor retail including a supermarket, rooftop bar and cafe.

I found this interesting. 13 I have heard of but not the others. Maybe they should start naming levels 8A, 8B, 8C etc haha

It is noted that Levels 4, 13 and 14 have been omitted from the plans by the architect at the request of the applicant for cultural reasons. All building levels quoted within this report and the applicant’s planning report reference the level numbers from the architectural plans.

The report can be found here:

http://www.dac.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/ ... n_St_1.pdf

There will also be 2 more stages to this development. The former "Loft" site facing Franklin and north of this development towards Waymouth street, however these will be lodged as required dependant of sales of this first stage.

[Nathan]

I found this interesting. 13 I have heard of but not the others. Maybe they should start naming levels 8A, 8B, 8C etc haha

It is noted that Levels 4, 13 and 14 have been omitted from the plans by the architect at the request of the applicant for cultural reasons. All building levels quoted within this report and the applicant’s planning report reference the level numbers from the architectural plans.

Not sure about 14, but one way of reading the number 4 is a homonym for death in Japanese. Many buildings skip the 4th floor (or apartment buildings skip apt. 4).

[ml69]

I found this interesting. 13 I have heard of but not the others. Maybe they should start naming levels 8A, 8B, 8C etc haha

It is noted that Levels 4, 13 and 14 have been omitted from the plans by the architect at the request of the applicant for cultural reasons. All building levels quoted within this report and the applicant’s planning report reference the level numbers from the architectural plans.

Not sure about 14, but one way of reading the number 4 is a homonym for death in Japanese. Many buildings skip the 4th floor (or apartment buildings skip apt. 4).

In Chinese, 4 sounds like the word for "Death", 14 sounds like the word for "Instant Death".

[Ben]

No disrespect but this is Australia, not China and 4 means 4 and 14 means 14. How ridiculous. Guess what. You can call it level elephant but at the end of the day it will still be the fourth floor. I'm not having a go at anyone btw just find this totally ridiculous.

[Nathan]

No disrespect but this is Australia, not China and 4 means 4 and 14 means 14. How ridiculous. Guess what. You can call it level elephant but at the end of the day it will still be the fourth floor. I'm not having a go at anyone btw just find this totally ridiculous.

If they think a decent part of their market have an asian background, then I can understand. The omission of the 13th floor is not that uncommon in the west. That said, I dare say the council will have final say on it. There's a set of standards on how building levels should be numbered which is designed to make things easy and obvious for emergency services (I know this, because City of Charles Sturt seems to be the only council that continues to adopt the old version of the standard, which caused untold havoc with the numbering of our own apartment after we had moved in)

[ghs]

No disrespect but this is Australia, not China and 4 means 4 and 14 means 14. How ridiculous. Guess what. You can call it level elephant but at the end of the day it will still be the fourth floor. I'm not having a go at anyone btw just find this totally ridiculous.

I agree Ben, it's ridiculous.

Anyway I think the developer's have missed the boat and are getting in on the apartment boom too late now.

There's so much supply at the moment, I can't see this development going anywhere in the next couple of years.

[Smithy85]

http://m.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/c ... 7524372137

Stage 1 approved during the week... Stage 2 still in design phase and involves 2 more towers.

Also quotes the developer saying that the project is "well financed" and would only need 40-50% of sales for construction to begin, which is hopefully mid 2016.

[Smithy85]

Bit of work on the display centre (cnr Franklin/Morphett) this week. The asbestos roof is being removed, and today (sat) the old Precinct signs are being removed from the exterior.

[Nathan]

Bit of work on the display centre (cnr Franklin/Morphett) this week. The asbestos roof is being removed, and today (sat) the old Precinct signs are being removed from the exterior.

I saw that too. The poor lollipop man nearly got mowed down by a motorcyclist who decided he didn't need to adhere to his stop sign while one of the signs was swinging on the crane just a couple of metres away.

[ghs]

The previous comment from the developer that they could proceed with only 40 - 50 % sales because the project is well financed is interesting. I think it's just marketing propaganda, proceeding with only 50% of the sales would be too risky.

[Ben]

The previous comment from the developer that they could proceed with only 40 - 50 % sales because the project is well financed is interesting. I think it's just marketing propaganda, proceeding with only 50% of the sales would be too risky.

The developer is one of the wealthiest men in the world with a net worth over $100b I don't think he'd be too fussed about needing 70% sales.

[Wayno]

$100b+, nice.

Note you don't get and stay wealthy by taking unnecessary risk. Time will tell...