Crystal Gardens – Russell Street, Melbourne

Crystal Gardens was a proposed ground breaking, signature 35 storey mixed use property development including ground floor retail, 3 levels of commercial offices, 155 apartments with communal areas and landscaper gardens on every sixth floor. Rainwater would be collected from the facades and used for garden watering and toilet flushing. Energy efficient lights and water efficient appliances would be used throughout and an innovative heating, cooling and hot water supply plant would be located in each garden area, minimising pipe runs.

The building would be clad in heat reflective glass and with its faceted balconies would have the appearance of a sparkling crystal punctuated by greenery. It was envisioned that the corner site would make the building very prominent and CK Architecture had also investigated the option for solar powered feature lighting, allowing the crystal garden like appearance to become a significant landmark for Melbourne in the early evening hours.