Prominent Malaysian developer OSK Property has unveiled the $800 million Aura, the next phase of the $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct in Southbank, which is designed with an intrinsic focus on wellness, rejuvenation and restoration.
Aura at 7 Hoff Boulevard will feature 673 residences across its 67 storeys, and balances the care, craftsmanship and intricacy of Japanese design, with materials inspired by Australia’s natural landscapes, greenery and beauty, making for serene and light-filled spaces that feel warm, grounding and refined.
The project will bring together four key pillars which are designed to culminate in a higher state of mind for residents; homes designed to embrace Japanese principles of calm, clarity and simplicity with natural materials and layered spaces; social amenities which span multiple levels with everything from private dining to music rooms; Japanese-inspired gardens on level 7 which feature outdoor dining with BBQ, lounge, and fire pit, a tea house pavilion; and a suite of cutting-edge wellness inclusions.
Aura will introduce a new concept in urban living, its vertical wellness ecosystem, which elevates physical, mental and spiritual health through a tiered architectural experience.
The extensive wellness amenities within the Aura Club on level 7 include an indoor pool, cold plunge and spa, gym, Reformer Pilates studio, yoga room, golf simulator, games and music rooms, sauna, steam room, library, WFH areas, open-air terrace and restorative spaces that are designed to instil a sense of balance and calm.
The uppermost levels 66 and 67 will be home to Cumulus Club, including refined lounges, a private dining room, outdoor terrace and premium wellness spaces such as salon and treatment rooms, private spa bath, sauna and meditation and sound therapy rooms, all of which maximise the stunning views across the neighbouring Arts Precinct and Melbourne CBD.
The Meridian Club on levels 49 and 50 will focus on social spaces with a sweeping lounge bar, conservatory, and private dining rooms, designed as elegant and intimate spaces for Aura residents.
Designed by Cox Architecture, the building will embody a sleek, rectangular grid aesthetic that meticulously fuses inspiration and design cues taken from New York’s timeless high-rises and Tokyo’s skyline.
The building’s residences will be complemented by approximately 1,600 sqm of retail space across 5–8 tenancies on the ground floor and level one.
The majority of Aura residences will also include balconies, increasing fresh air and outdoor space access. These balconies will boast incredible views across Melbourne’s CBD, Kennedy Park, Docklands, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Arts Precinct.
The tower will build on the strong sales results of BLVD, which is now 80% percent sold after over two years on-market, while delivering its own community, expression and ethos, according to OSK Property CEO Chong Boon Woon.
“Aura stands tall as an exemplar of holistic wellness – its focus on social, physical and mental health culminate in a building that is calming, restorative and relaxing, where residents will have their own sanctuary within the well-connected and sought-after Southbank.
“We have been very encouraged by the market’s response to the BLVD offering, and we know there is a strong demand for the level of amenity, service and design that the Melbourne Square precinct is known for.
“Complemented by work-from-home lounges for professionals, family friendly outdoor garden spaces, and state-of-the-art fitness and wellness facilities, Aura will continue our focus on maximising physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing,” he said.
Melbourne Square’s existing public amenities include the 3,745sqm Kennedy Park, a full-line Woolworths, Nido Early School Learning Facility, BWS, plus cafes and restaurants.
Construction is currently slated to commence late 2026.
Quotes attributable to DKO Architecture Director, Isabel Munro:
“Nature moves in cycles, and so does the way we inhabit space. Drawing on the quiet precision of Japanese design and the raw, untamed elegance of the Australian landscape, the interiors of this development are conceived as a meditation on time itself.
“Seasonal rhythms inform every decision: the materials chosen, the light considered, the moments of stillness designed in. Rather than a fixed aesthetic, what emerges is a living environment, one that shifts subtly with the hours and the seasons, inviting those within it to slow down and pay attention.
“This is the meeting point of two powerful design philosophies. The refined restraint of Japanese aesthetics, its mastery of proportion, material and silence, finds its counterpart in the elemental beauty of the Australian landscape. Together, they create something neither could produce alone.
“That sensibility extends across every layer of the development, from the private sanctuary of each residence to the curated sequence of amenity spaces designed for rest, connection and renewal. Each environment is approached with the same intention: that the experience of moving through the building feels considered, coherent and unhurried.
“The result is a place shaped by deep material knowledge and a genuine appreciation for how people inhabit space over time. Not defined by a single moment of impact, but by the way it continues to reveal itself, season after season.
Quotes attributable to OCULUS Associate Director, Claire Martin:
“Aura’s landscape is quintessentially Melbourne, with a warm, inviting arrival experience that greets you with vibrant flowering gardens and native plants – attractive for both pollinators and people. The project seamlessly connects to Melbourne Square’s established park, delivering a range of elevated landscape spaces including a curated atrium and an immersive terrace with a series of outdoor rooms and sweeping views of the Domain parklands beyond.
“On level 66, an open-to-sky glasshouse centres on a single native Wollemi Pine, one of the world’s oldest and rarest tree species. Underplanted with native groundcovers, the space has a calm, tranquil quality, drawing on Japanese garden principles of minimalism and natural beauty.
Quotes attributable to COX Director, Paul Curry:
“Melbourne Square’s newest tower, Aura, will act as a gateway between the thriving mixed-use precinct and the bustling surrounds of Melbourne.
“Anchored by a park, retail and a welcoming boulevard of trees, Aura will complete the east end of the aspirational Melbourne Square precinct, which began almost ten years ago.
“Adding its own unique voice, character and personality to the Southbank neighbourhood, Aura’s position on the doorstep of the Arts Precinct and Royal Botanic Gardens will create a unique and engaging landmark for Melbourne.
“The architectural approach is one of minimalism and timelessness. With careful consideration of craft and detail, Aura will represent its own identity within the Melbourne Square skyline.
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