First look: Koichi Takada designs Iwan Sunito's One Global Residences development in Macquarie Park

Plans have been revealed for the first residential development for Iwan Sunito's One Global Capital, away from Crown Group's Mastery by Crown in Sydney's Waterloo.

Sunito, the Crown Chairman and Group CEO, founded One Global Residences last year. It will deliver the first buildings in Crown Group's Mastery by Crown.

But the first project away from Crown Group will be in Macquarie Park, where Sunito's had renowned Japanese architect Koichi Takada (Crown Group's go-to architect), draw up plans for a three-tower project.

No hotel as mooted, the buildings, across 7-11 Lachlan Avenue and 157-159 Herring Road, will home just over 300 apartments, as well as an activated street-level. 

There will be 35 studio apartments, which take up just over 10 per cent of the building. The majority of apartments will be two-bed (149 apartments, 49 per cent), while there will be 60 one-beds and 60 three-bed dwellings (20 per cent).

The units range in size from 40 sqm studios to 199 sqm split-level, three-bedroom townhouses. There will be a handful of 'Plus' apartments, which will feature a dedicated study space, responding to the rising trend of working from home.

The proposal accommodates 342 parking spaces including 31 visitor spaces, seven car share spaces and 34 accessible spaces. There are 36 bicycle parking spaces and 15 electric vehicle parking spaces.

The Design Report, part of the development submission, said the proposed development is ideally positioned in Macquarie Park, a Northern Sydney suburb set to play a key role as an innovation precinct and economic powerhouse in Sydney’s North District.

"Given the anticipated future investment, development and growth in the area, the local Council is anticipating a significant increase in the residential population who will require more affordable and diverse housing product, the report noted.

"The overall vision for the project is a high-quality residential and commercial development which adds value and density to its site.

"One Global Capital will deliver a quality development of scale that benefits from the available transport infrastructure and the precinct’s proximity to jobs, retail and education opportunities within the Macquarie Park corridor."

The design strategy is focused on creating community, activating the streetscape, delivering high-quality apartments, and maximising residential experience on site, the report noted.

The streetscape design sets out to create a permeable pedestrian network and active retail precinct along Herring Road. Macquarie University railway station is approximately 400m away.

"Residents will enter from busy Herring Road to a generous, central green oasis programmed with amenities that set out to activate a sense of place and community.

"From the apartments above, residents will look down in to an urban forest with a meandering track programmed with intimate and larger spaces to rest, work and play. The courtyard is sheltered from the street by two building blocks which act as an acoustic buffer, creating a pleasant and relaxing environment."

One of the towers will feature a range of amenities, including indoor and outdoor recreation spaces and a swimming pool, set in landscaping and rooftop gardens. There will be play areas for children and barbecue areas.

Sustainable initiatives have been used in the design.

Rooftop solar panels have been designed to generated 100kWh energy, which will be used for common areas and corridors.

Within the apartments will be high performance double glazing, improving solar control, and energy efficient LED lighting. EV charging will also be available.

The application will be referred to the Sydney North Planning Panel under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 for determination as the capital investment value exceeds $30 million.

On securing the site late last year, Suntio said, as the first of many acquisitions, the Macquarie Park site is a significant investment which they plan to deliver a "truly extraordinary residential offering to the market, unlike anything else currently available in Sydney."

At the time of the sale, it had been the largest collection sale in Australia in 2022.