M/Construction provides design, construction and maintenance services for residential, commercial, retail and government building projects.

Construction completion has been achieved at Form by Match located in prestigious Port Coogee Marina Estate. The interesting block formations designed to maximise natural light, views and orientation benefits give this apartment development a presence like no other in the area.

M/24 Apartments in Leederville won the Master Builders Award for Best Multi-Unit Development between $10-$20million. See it here on Home in WA where they speak to Jason Robertson from Master Builders WA and our very own Michael Read, Director of M/Construction behind the construction of the apartments.

(*Story and footage courtesy of CH7 Perth and HOME in WA!)

With 50% of apartments sold prior to completion, boutique property company Match has opened its doors to Form by Match at Port Coogee with a top floor Display Apartment designed to help residents experience their potential new space.

Form by Match is a 50-apartment marina-side complex that has been mooted by some as one of the area’s most anticipated boutique apartment designs. It is the incarnation of one of Western Australia’s most reputed Architects, Geoff Warn of Donaldson & Warn, who worked in collaboration with Match to push the boundaries of apartment living in Perth.

Located just 50metres from Port Coogee Marina and adjacent to parkland, the property greets you with a striking façade that draws you inside, where you will find every apartment designed to make the most of the surrounds, including the majority being north facing with sweeping ocean views.

Match  Director, Mr Dean Burrowes, said the property is a design statement and impressive on every level and he is thrilled that the project is now complete for people to experience the difference.

“We wanted to make a statement with Form by Match and move as far away as possible from the traditional apartment block,” he said.

“We encouraged Geoff Warn to look outside the square and create an environment that pushes the boundaries of balancing space, light and features. The result is outstanding and really needs to be explored to be fully appreciated.”

While the building exterior is bold, inside restraint is shown with clean, white and timeless interiors. It has been a conscious design decision to create a blank canvas for buyers to individualise with furniture and artwork.

“The building is based on a block formation that uses different materials to give the total development a definite sense of scale. The building’s exterior aims to speaks directly to an increasing demand for signature residences, as opposed to ‘cookie-cutter’ environments,” Mr Burrowes continued.

“Most apartments within the complex are north facing and many offer amazing ocean views. Features such as high ceilings and floor to ceiling glazing are incorporated to maximise the outlook and benefits of orientation. This also includes sheltered balconies with shade screens to make the most of the sea breeze in summer as well as create a sunroom sanctuary in winter.”

The property opens to an emerging community within the Port Coogee Marina Estate, with amenities such as a new Woolworths and Dome café at the doorstep, and Fremantle less than 10 minutes away.

For more information visit www.formbymatch.com.au or call 0432 660 066

An intuitive understanding of the retail sector together with robust investment and tenancy strategies have been credited to the significant valuation uplift received for M/Group’s recently acquired shopping centre assets. The valuation uplift for Wodonga Plaza in Victoria and Albany’s Chester Pass Mall are both estimated at some 15-20% since acquisition.

M/Group shopping centre acquisitions took place throughout 2017 amidst increasing online and local competition. Both centres were sold by major retail conglomerate, Vicinity, as non-core assets. M/Group saw this as an opportunity to secure key assets and add value in important regional hubs.

M/Group Managing Director, Mr Lloyd Clark, believes regional shopping centres serve an entirely different purpose to their city counterparts, and says it is where M/Group’s experience and understanding of the retail sector can really contribute.

“While retail is a changing landscape, shopping centres located in regional areas represent an important social hub where residents go into town to socialise and be part of the community,” he said.

“At acquisition, Wodonga Plaza’s weighted average lease expiry (WALE) was under 4 years, and the centre was facing increased competition with two new shopping centres opening within a kilometer of the location. Vacancies were high and customers were having to cross the border to Albury for certain retailer needs. It was a problematic landscape, but we were confident in our capacity to turn things around.”

M/Group initially conducted a needs analysis and invested funds to the value of $2.5million on a major mall reconfiguration. This introduced a food court, two mini-major retailers and an increased fashion offer.

The company have renewed or signed new leases for over 30 tenancies at the centre within 12 months representing over 60% of the tenancies and lifted the WALE to circa seven years and revitalized the centre with a number of new tenancies. The shopping centre is today poised to be 100% leased by the end of the year.

Closer to home, planning is underway to maximise the potential of the company’s Albany asset. M/Group Director, Mr James Collis, who leads the company’s asset management division, said Albany presented great opportunities particularly in the bulky goods, food and entertainment areas.

“In contrast to Wodonga, which is the fastest growing regional city in Victoria, we see Albany as a more stable and mature market with gradual growth and a great deal of redevelopment potential,” he said.

“Understanding retail behaviours and digging deep into local demographics has enabled us to make considered judgements and decisions that not only protect our investor interests but also create environments that will attract regional shoppers.

“There are a number of plans on the table for Albany, but significant traction has already been made through our targeted tenant negotiations. It is incredible what can be achieved when a clear focus is given to building an asset. Additionally, we have been able to renew, relocate and expand a number of the sitting tenancies at the centre who are now all trading well”

M/Group’s Albany shopping centre includes 2.7 hectares of undeveloped retail zoned land and the company has already negotiated an extended lease agreement with Woolworths and a number of other tenants to achieve its increased valuation.