Renowned Australian restaurateur Chris Lucas will bring his culinary and design expertise to Urbanity, The Urban Developer’s flagship conference, to be held from July 30 to August 1 on the Gold Coast.
Lucas, founder and chief executive of Lucas Restaurants and known for his transformative impact on Melbourne’s dining scene, will be a key guest speaker, sharing his insights on the intersection of hospitality, wellness and urban development.
Lucas’s appearance at Urbanity comes on the heels of his collaboration with Cbus Property to create a new dining destination at 435 Bourke Street in Melbourne.
The $1-billion commercial office tower will feature two of Lucas’s new restaurant concepts: a contemporary Chinese eatery and a sophisticated Mediterranean venue.
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From the project’s inception, Lucas has worked with Cbus Property and project architect Bates Smart to reimagine the food and guest experience at 435 Bourke Street. The development will intergrate cutting-edge hospitality within a state-of-the-art commercial space.
“Melbourne is my home and a city that I have dedicated my working life to,” Lucas said.
“Developments such as 435 Bourke Street give me a rare creative licence to see how our restaurants can help transform our city and position it as a city of the future for both hospitality and work.”
Lucas’s restaurants will not only offer exquisite dining experiences but will also focus on sustainability. His all-electric kitchens will employ advanced hospitality technologies, such as electric woks, aligning with Melbourne city’s vision of an environmentally sustainable future.
Cbus Property chief executive Adrian Pozzo said the collaboration would allow Lucas to “help shape the vision for 435 Bourke Street and create restaurant offerings that will reinvigorate mid-town Melbourne by applying the signature Lucas atmosphere and experience to define a new mixed-use destination for the CBD”.
Cbus Property and Lucas have worked to ensure the restaurant fit-outs align with the building’s sustainability focus. This collaboration highlights a commitment to creating socially valuable spaces that support future workplaces and communities.
At Urbanity, Lucas will delve into the creative process behind his projects and discuss the broader implications of integrating high-quality hospitality with urban development.
Attendees can look forward to learning about Lucas’s vision for future cityscapes and his innovative approaches to design, wellness and sustainability.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Lucas has redefined Melbourne’s dining scene with such venues as Chin Chin, Society, Grill Americano, and Kisumé. His latest venture, Batard in Bourke Street, is much anticipated and due to open in late pring of this year.
Urbanity 2024 attendees will have the opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s most influential restaurateurs and gain insights into the future of urban dining and development.
For more information and to register for Urbanity 2024, visit the Urbanity website.
Taking place on the Gold Coast in July-August, Urbanity 2024 will bring prominent industry figures from the Asia-Pacific region together for the three-day conference. The event will unravel the most recent trends, disruptions and themes that influence the evolution of cities in the region.
Register before June 30, 2024 to receive second-release ticket rates.
