COM: Urbanest | 59/53m | 20/18lvls | Apartments

[Will]

In 9 years time when someone creates a thread about the best and worst buildings of the 10s, I am confident that this project will be right up there with the worst of this decade.

I have tried my best to like it, but I can't get past how the architects have used the worst aspects of 50's, 60's and 70's architecture and combined them into one building. Appaling!

[Just build it]

^ lol. Harsh but I have to agree. I never realized the North Tce facade was designed to have a faux heritage sized mask stuck to it's face until I saw the building from this distance.
It's hideous in a weird 'Phantom of the Opera' type way.

Seemed appropriate to get a photo of it last week using a 1956 GB Kershaw folding camera on 120 roll film......(out of focus but go easy, this is only the second shot this camera has taken since 1962!).
Trust me, it didn't look any better through the DSLR.

[Matt]

Absolutely awful.

[rev]

It fits in well.....with it's ugly neighbours.

[Benski81]

Wow that really is function over form isn't it.

[iTouch]

my god.

[Wayno]

A good view from here on nearmap. Is that really the finished colour for the faux-heritage facade? looks like raw concrete...

[edit]and note the poor job by nearmap with imaging the buildings to the left of 140 Nth Tce!

[iTouch]

I don't get how this compliments the heritage building next door to it

[skyliner]

The top floors definitely look better than the faux heritage levels. Reminds me of phantom of the opera in some strange way.
Good to see that gap seen from the river view filled by hi rise though.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[ghs]

It's not that bad, looks ok to me. The title on this thread can be changed to complete now right ?

[Will]

A reedeming feature of sorts of this development will be its active street frontage.

So far, the tenancy fronting North Terrace is being fitted out for the return of Parlamento, whereas another tenancy along Bank Street is being fitted out to become a Cherry Blossom Sushi Bar.

[Will]

From the City Messenger:

Students' high life at Urbanest

Education10 Feb 11 @ 12:00pm by Jessica Whiting



Perks ... Tenants Joshua Burton (front) and Genevieve Dauphinee in the common area of the Urbanest student apartments on North Tce. Picture: Luke Hemer



WIRELESS internet, a 208cm flat screen TV, pool tables and a city view are some perks awaiting students at a new residential development on North Tce.

Urbanest is a $63 million building for 503 international and local students in studio rooms or two, four and six-bedroom apartments.

More than 100 students have moved in since the building opened last week.

The complex is expected to be at capacity by the end of the month when university resumes.

Operations manager Andrew Moncrieff said students looked for security, access to broadband internet and all-inclusive rent when choosing accommodation.

Other features include:

* Staff on hand 24 hours a day;

* Security swipe cards for access to lifts, apartments and bedrooms;

* In-house laundromat;

* Bike storage; and,

* A large balcony with seating overlooking North Tce.

A sushi bar and convenience shop will be on the ground floor and former North Tce Italian eatery Parlamento will re-open on the site.

More than 80 per cent of the 176 apartments have views of either the city or Glenelg.

Mr Moncrieff said there would be a strong focus on student engagement activities, with welcome barbecues planned for residents.

Adelaide University neuroscience student Joshua Burton 28, moved to Urbanest last week.

“This place had a good vibe; staff were really helpful and down to earth,” he said.

Education Adelaide chief executive Denise von Wald said: “Education providers, property developers and local and state governments have worked very closely to support the continued growth of international student numbers and to meet demand.”

URBANEST DETAILS

* Studio rooms are 12sq m and have either a king single or double bed and include an ensuite, desk and kitchenette

* Other apartments have between two and six bedrooms, each with its own ensuite and study area. There is a shared kitchen and lounge. Tenants get 1GB of internet access a month included in their rent. Bedrooms are 12sq m, while the shared kitchen and living space is 18sq m

* Premium rooms include linen, cutlery, crockery, utensils, crockery, an iPod dock and speakers, flat-screen TV and 30GB of internet access

* Fully airconditioned

[ghs]

Views of Glenelg .......... I am pretty sure that you wouldn't be able to see much of Glenelg
from the city !

[Nort]

It's an awful building from the outside, but I have heard some anecdotal good things about it. Lots of the tenants seem to be seeing it as less as alternative to normal apartment living and more like a massive university dorm, and by that standards it's quite good.