Moda apartment complex proposed for Sandy Bay Rd aims to set the standard in apartment living in Hobart

A new luxury apartment development aiming to be an architectural high point for Hobart has been proposed for a prominent inner city location. See the first images here.

Proposed residential apartment development for 9 Sandy Bay Rd, Hobart.

THE proponents of a new luxury apartment building for Hobart say their project could set a new standard for multi-residential development in Tasmania, but the location is not without its share of controversy.

A development application has been submitted to the Hobart City Council for the 28-room apartment complex at 9 Sandy Bay Rd opposite St David’s Park.

Exterior of proposed residential apartment development for 9 Sandy Bay Rd, Hobart. Image: Room 11

Melbourne-based developers Moda working with local architecture firm Room 11 have put forward the proposal which aims to address the city’s critical shortage of medium-density housing and to create a building of outstanding architectural merit.

Moda managing director Ed Farquharson said the total value of the development, their first in Tasmania, was expected to be around $18-$20m.

“We normally sell to owner occupiers and downsizers who are looking for something with less maintenance and we couldn’t see many options for that demographic in Hobart,” he said.

“We know a number of people from Hobart who are living in Melbourne now who are looking to move back to Hobart who might be interested in purchasing.”

Project architect Thomas Bailey said the brief had been to design a sensitive building which respected the scale of other buildings around it and which would meet the needs of a growing city.

Project architect Thomas Bailey from Room 11 Architects. Picture: FIONA HARDING

At it’s highest point, the building would be 18m, with the bulk of the building fronting Sandy Bay Rd sitting at 15m high.

As it moves away from Sandy Bay Road towards Wilmot St, the building scales down towards the existing residential properties.

Mr Bailey said each of the 28 apartments had a different layout and sizes varied in an attempt to attract a mix of demographics.

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In 2017, the $15 million Tribe hotel was earmarked for the same site.

The council knocked back the group’s first development application before agreeing to modifications during an appeal.

Residents Julie McConaghy, her husband Phil Crawford and neighbour David Saunders launched an appeal at the planning tribunal, spending up to $50,000 in the process, and were ultimately successful in overturning the decision.

Facade of proposed apartment complex by Moda. Image: Room 11

The residents argued the six-storey hotel was too high and out of character with the precinct.

Despite the failure of the Tribe development, the area at the start of Sandy Bay Rd looks set for significant change.

READ MORE: RESIDENTS SCORE WIN OVER HOTEL HEIGHT

The Moda site is located next door to the University of Tasmania’s Conservatorium of Music, which was bought by Singaporean developers the Fragrance Group who earlier this month submitted a development application for 55 residential apartments.