Leading private Brisbane developer, Consolidated Properties Group, in joint venture with the Qualitas Real Estate Opportunity Fund 2, has&nbsp;received approval for Monarch Residences, a $375 million development of the last significant riverfront parcel of land at Toowong in Brisbane.

The&nbsp;development of 600 Coronation Drive will see two 15-level towers built among three acres of riverfront gardens with around 130 metres of direct river frontage.

The development approval allows for a third 15-level tower to be built on the site, however it is expected that this third tower will not proceed to make way for the Toowong to West End Green Bridge in the future.

The two Monarch Residences towers will include 233 apartments that will be launched to market in Spring this year. There will be a mix of&nbsp;one, two, three&nbsp;and four bedroom skyhomes, river villas and penthouses. The Monarch Residences are priced from $550,000 for the one-bedroom apartments through to $8 million-plus for the penthouses.

Monarch Residences have been designed to maximise views across the Brisbane River and the city. AIA Gold Medal award-winning architect John Wardle Architects (JWA) has designed the development with support from local Brisbane architects Cottee Parker Associates.

Consolidated Properties Group Chairman Don O’Rorke said Monarch Residences will become the signature address in Brisbane’s inner west.

“Monarch Residences will set a new standard in apartment living in Toowong with its premium location and unsurpassed quality and style," O'Rorke said.

“Monarch Residences is an outstanding offer and will be unique for the area with its extensive gardens which run to the river’s edge. It will become renowned in the local area, and we look forward to working with Hutchinson Builders to get it started.”

Monarch Residences site is rich in history, with the local community awaiting its development. It will provide a significant uplift for the local Toowong community as the development approval includes an extension of the Bicentennial Bikeway, a riverfront park and the restoration of the Heritage listed Middenbury House. Upon completion, Middenbury House will be accessible to the public for the first time since it was built in 1865. Its refurbishment will include a conversion into a café and restaurant.

Consolidated Properties Group and Qualitas Group purchased 600 Coronation Drive for $35.5 million from Sunland in March 2022. The site has been vacant since 2006 when the ABC decommissioned their operations.

Consolidated Properties Group Head of Residential James MacGinley said 85 per cent&nbsp;of those registered so far have been locals.

"Feedback on the apartment design from these locals have reaffirmed the deliberate approach we’ve taken to enlarge living areas and balconies to embrace Queensland living,"&nbsp;MacGinley said.

The development of 600 Coronation Drive will see two 15-level towers built among three acres of riverfront gardens with around 130 metres of direct river frontage.



Joel Robinson

Consolidated Properties to launch two-tower Toowong apartment development after council sign off

The integrated property development group Top Spring Australia&nbsp;has launched The Newlands, their $500 million residential community on Sydney&#39;s Lower North Shore.

The multi-stage development in St Leonards, which was the first to receive development approval in the Lane Cove&#39;s recently rezoned St Leonards South Precinct, will see 329&nbsp;apartments and terraces created across a 1.26 hectare site at&nbsp;21-41 Canberra Avenue and 18-32 Holdsworth Avenue in St Leonards.

Designed by Bates Smart in landscaping by Arcadia Landscape Architecture, The Newlands is being pitched as a vibrant, highly pedestrian-oriented precinct with a strong focus on the surrounding natural landscape of Newlands Park, which sits directly across from the site.

There will be five buildings, ranging in size from eight to 12 storeys. The first building in the multi-stage development to be released is Verdant, located in the south-eastern corner of the site adjacent to Newlands Park.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24509 project_image_fid=203618]

The first building, Verdant,&nbsp;will comprise 99 one, two&nbsp;and three-bedroom apartments across 10-levels and standalone three-bedroom garden terraces, as well as private communal lawns, garden rooms and a pedestrian link providing direct access to Newlands Park.

Apartments range in size from 53 sqm&nbsp;to the 180 sqm&nbsp;garden terraces (including outdoor areas), with pricing from $795,000 to $3,250,000.

&ldquo;We are extremely pleased to be partnering with an award-winning team on this major project, with both Bates Smart and Arcadia proven to deliver outstanding design outcomes in the local area time and time again, Top Spring Australia&#39;s Managing Director Sydney Ma said.

&quot;The team understands modern Australian environments and have the ability to provide an authentic design response.&quot;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24509 project_image_fid=203623]

Ma explains that the project vision was to develop a range of bespoke apartments that would appeal to a broad range of buyers at various life stages, setting a new benchmark for residential living on the Lower North Shore by bringing a leafier and more suburban lifestyle to St Leonards.

&ldquo;Overlooking Newlands Park, with deep generous setbacks from any surrounding roads, The Newlands occupies a prime position in the St Leonards South precinct which forms a key part of the broader St Leonards Crows Nest 2036 revitalisation plan,&quot; Ma added.

&ldquo;St Leonards is known for its proximity to the quieter suburbs of Wollstonecraft, Greenwich and Waverton, and future residents will benefit from access to the established amenity, from childcare, healthcare and education, to transport, retail and hospitality, as well as the new Crows Nest metro line.

&quot;The location offers city convenience and accessibility with a village lifestyle &ndash; not to mention opportunities for rest, respite and active exercise. Every building has pedestrian and cycle access, promoting health and wellbeing principles.&rdquo;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24509 project_image_fid=203622]

Bates Smart Director, Matthew Allen, said &ldquo;connection to nature is a fundamental driver&rdquo; of The Newlands design, inspired by the Parkland Forest, magnificent gum trees and the historic sandstone outcrops of the local area.

&ldquo;As the first development to receive Development Approval in the precinct, The Newlands will set the benchmark for the broader precinct. We have taken inspiration from the Newlands Park frontage and connection to the creek-side corridor walk, that leads from the St Leonards Centre down to the Sydney Harbour. It&rsquo;s leafy in all directions, with bushland character in the rocky landforms, sandstone and tall trees, giving apartments the feeling of living in a treehouse,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;The buildings have been positioned so they step down the hillside, connecting to the surroundings, and apartments will have a corner aspect and balconies taking in views across the treetops, with upper levels benefiting from harbour views.&rdquo;

Allen said that the interiors for Verdant had been designed &ldquo;to contrast the natural and the polished&rdquo;, with the lobby fitting discreetly between two townhouses to give &ldquo;the impression of walking into a dramatic sandstone cave cut into the hillside&rdquo;.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24509 project_image_fid=203621]

&ldquo;Sandstone and tile will define the lobby areas, creating a serene underground space. The kitchens and bathrooms will have strong timber and stone accents, with light and dark variations. In the larger residences, a window from the bath will look out to nature,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;The spacious light-filled garden terraces are well-integrated into the street with their own private entries. These large terraces with beautiful courtyards walk out onto their own private lawn overlooking the mature trees of Newlands Park.&rdquo;

A 5,700 sqm metre green spine, exclusive to residents, will connect through the centre of The Newlands buildings. The private space will encompass a resort-style pool and sun lounge, a health and wellness facility with gymnasium, yoga and stretching areas, an immersive nature boardwalk, a pocket park, barbecue facilities, children&rsquo;s nature play area and rooftop zones with private dining facilities and spaces to work from home.

Overlooking Newlands Park, Verdant offers the most significant park frontage of any building within the wider St Leonards South Precinct and is nearest to nearby Wollstonecraft and St Leonards train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24509 project_image_fid=203620]

Blake Schulze, National Director Residential at Colliers, said The Newlands was &ldquo;the most significant residential project to launch in Sydney this year&rdquo;.

&ldquo;The Lower North Shore is an untapped opportunity. It&rsquo;s a unique proposition to integrate new residential supply in an established area undergoing substantial improvements to infrastructure and open green space. The Newlands is one of the largest masterplanned communities to launch in Sydney this year, with the diversity in dwelling types ensuring there will be a product to suit many property seeke​rs,&rdquo; Ma said.

Construction on stage one&nbsp;of The Newlands is anticipated to commence in early 2023, with completion expected for mid 2025. Both stages are slated for completion in 2025.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=24509]

The Newlands is being pitched as a vibrant, highly pedestrian-oriented precinct with a strong focus on the surrounding natural landscape of Newlands Park, which sits directly across from the site.



Top Spring Australia launch parkside St Leonards apartment development, The Newlands

The Melbourne-based Little Projects is set for its third Gold Coast apartment development.

Having secured all of the sales in their one per floor tower Aperture in Broadbeach following the sell out of Signature, Little Projects, led by Leighton Pyke, are sticking to Broadbeach.

They&#39;ve filed plans, in a joint venture with the fellow Melbourne-based developer R.Corp,&nbsp;for another high-end&nbsp;tower at 118 Old Burleigh Road, with 33 apartments across the 37 levels&nbsp;on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Australia Avenue. It will tower over the neighbouring Ocean Royale and Boulevard Tower, which are 16 and 17 levels respectively. They are also more focused on short-term accomodation apartments, whereas the new project, dubbed One Australia, will be another by Little Projects targeting the high-end owner-occupier.

<a href="/new-apartments/enclave-by-graya-118-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach"><img alt="" height="788" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-14_at_10.55.16_am.png" width="1126" /></a>

DKO Architecture has put forward the designs for the slender tower, which will have full floor apartments, with 218 sqm of living space, from level two to level 33. Above will be a three-level penthouse with its own rooftop pool.

In their design statement, DKO noted they were&nbsp;inspired by two main concepts.

&quot;The first one is the idea of le estate or the Italian summer - the ideas of relaxation, inspiration and escape,&quot; DKO wrote in their submission to the Gold Coast City Council.

They said Italians pretty much own the concept of a long summer.&nbsp;

&quot;It is a tradition that is absorbed by its people.

&quot;August is the &ldquo;off&rsquo; month par excellence, especially in the days surrounding Ferragosto, a public holiday that takes place on 15 August.

<a href="/new-apartments/enclave-by-graya-118-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach"><img alt="" height="804" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-14_at_10.54.59_am.png" width="916" /></a>

&quot;For two to three weeks, the country shuts shop: companies stop operating while employees escape to the beach.

&quot;Cities become ghost towns while seaside resorts bustle at a laid-back pace.&quot;

DKO said the&nbsp;second concept draws on a strong modernist language and tradition, which is historically related to a strong European, and Italian, architectural tradition, and also closely linked to a sense of classical and timeless proportions and architectural detailing and language.

&quot;The building is conceptualised as a tripartite structure, a piece of paradise suspended between the context of sand and sea, and the sky which floats above in the shape of a tower,&quot; DKO added.

The extensive amenity is located on the first level above the podium.

&quot;It is envisioned as a place of escape from daily life, a suspended place of peace and quiet,&quot; DKO say.

The communal zone is book-ended by a pool towards the ocean end and an indoor/outdoor exercise zone towards Old Burleigh Road. In between, there are a series of smaller spaces including a co-work zone, residents lounge and a tucked away outdoor room which is elevated and provides views over the entire communal zone as well as views along Old Burleigh Road.

<a href="/new-apartments/enclave-by-graya-118-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach"><img alt="" height="754" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-14_at_10.54.27_am.png" width="846" /></a>

Broadbeach is one of the most popular suburbs for both developers and buyers in 2022. A number of Queensland&#39;s most high profile developers have lodged plans for both high and low density towers,

Mosaic has just filed plans for their first tower, and recently secured a second site around the corner for another project expected to launch this year. Anthony Quinn, in a joint venture with Glenvill, filed for an owner-occupier focused tower a few doors down on Old Burleigh Road, and while Morris Property Group have a few high and low density projects on the horizon in the suburb.

Little Projects secured the 690 sqm site through GV Property Group&#39;s Antonio Mercuri and Luke Reaby, who got the owners of the two-storey walk-up, around 40 years old, to band together the sell the prime site.&nbsp;

GV&nbsp;had over eight offers for the site from both local and interstate developers.

&quot;It&#39;s a complex site that was best suited to veteran developers and ones with local knowledge and experience,&quot; Reaby says.

&quot;The architecture and design has capitalised on the&nbsp;expansive&nbsp;43m frontage down Australia Avenue - taking advantage of the views of the water.&quot;

&quot;The shape of the site lends itself to a very unique design where each full floor apartment provides nearly 360 degrees of facade.&quot;

Reaby notes there are no beachfront&nbsp;projects in Broadbeach that aren&#39;t sold out and One Australia fills a much needed demand.

They've filed plans for another high-end tower at 118 Old Burleigh Road, with 33 apartments across the 37 levels on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Australia Avenue

First look exclusive: Little Projects set for third Broadbeach apartment development with R.Corp joint venture

Malaysian property developer, Gamuda Land, is set for just its second Australian development following its successful delivery of its 661 Chapel Street&nbsp;tower in South Yarra.

Gamuda Land, led by CEO&nbsp;Ngan Chee Meng, has spent $24 million on a prime site at 272 Normanby Road, South Melbourne, with the intention of delivering a 200-apartment, mixed-use tower.

The 2,600 sqm site, famously home to the Dunlop Rubber Co for over 70 years, is located within the Montague Precinct of Fishermans Bend.

Ngan Chee Meng said after the delivery of the company&rsquo;s maiden 661 Chapel Street, South Yarra project in 2018, Gamuda Land is focused on building a strong pipeline of residential projects in Australia over the next five years.

&ldquo;Since Australia&rsquo;s borders reopened for business, Gamuda Land has been actively looking to expand its foothold in all capital cities, in order to bolster residential supply by an additional 1,000 residences,&rdquo; Ngan said.

&ldquo;The South Melbourne site was immediately attractive to us, as it plays to Gamuda Land&rsquo;s global experience in developing sustainable communities and townships.

&ldquo;As a town maker, Gamuda Land is well positioned to apply our expertise in our international projects towards addressing challenges like climate change and housing affordability, which form the cornerstone of our scheme for South Melbourne.&rdquo;

<img alt="" height="722" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-14_at_6.42.38_am.png" width="1148" /> 
The former plans for the site had 260 apartments

Gamuda Land&rsquo;s vision is to re-instate local biomass on site, with extensive tree-planting and contributions to public green space included in the scheme.

&ldquo;Working with the traditional landowners as a first step, our design brief started with an understanding of the site&rsquo;s natural landscape and its indigenous heritage. We wanted to understand how we could restore part of the project to its pre-colonial state.&rdquo;

Partnering with Hayball Architects, Oculus and HIP V. HYPE, the project will deliver a biophilic outcome that incorporates native flora and &lsquo;re-wilds&rsquo; part of it to a pre-urbanised landscape.

In collaboration with the City of Port Phillip, DELWP and Fishermans Bend Taskforce, Gamuda Land will also deliver a new 3,000 sqm public park that will see a section of neighbouring Johnson Street permanently closed and transformed into open green space.

The architectural response by Hayball champions ecological design features like vertical greening that connects the park frontage with the building and private residents&rsquo; rooftop garden. Promoting the health and wellbeing of future residents has informed natural material selections, increased natural light in the development&rsquo;s design and enhanced connections to nature.

A lush biophilic spine through the building&rsquo;s 20 levels offers resident &lsquo;hide out&rsquo; areas for work and recreation amongst green spaces. Cascading green walls will feature prominently throughout corridors, lobbies and terraces.

An eco-deck atop the building will feature lush green planting and resident amenities like a Japanese inspired onsen, urban farming beds and a meditation and wellness studio.

&ldquo;It was important to us that the project made a significant contribution to enriching air quality and reducing heat island effect, delivering on Gamuda Land&rsquo;s goal to reduce its CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2030,&rdquo;&nbsp;Ngan added.

&ldquo;The project will also see over 6,000 native plants and trees planted, furthering our goal to plant an additional one million trees across Gamuda Land&rsquo;s projects.&rdquo;

Additional amenities within the project will include an atrium retail space that will introduce 14 specialty retailers.

A mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments will be priced from $490,000 up to $1,450,000, with a sales launch planned for late 2022. Construction is anticipated to commence in June 2023.

The 2,600 sqm site, famously home to the Dunlop Rubber Co for over 70 years, is located within the Montague Precinct of Fishermans Bend

Gamuda Land set for Fishermans Bend, South Melbourne apartment development

Local apartment seeker Lyn&nbsp;Pearsall&nbsp;only spent 10 minutes in the Tapestry display suite before signing off on one of the biggest apartments in the artistic Chevron Island project.&nbsp;

&ldquo;I&nbsp;rang my daughter and said that i&#39;m going to sign a contract at the launch, I was only there for 10 minutes,&quot; Pearsall, who lives not far from the Darrambal Street development,&nbsp;said.

Her daughter came over to have a look and her immediate response was &quot;we&#39;re buying the top floor.&quot;

Pearsall, who had been researching her next purchase for around 12 months,&nbsp;brought forward her purchase, having had the intention of buying an apartment in 2023.

Pearsall intended on buying the ground floor apartment, because of her dog and she wanted a big outdoor area, however she was sold on the abundance of space on one of the upper level apartments, as well as the extensive amenity on offer.

&ldquo;The facilities are awesome,&quot; Pearsall said, adding that she&#39;s already started planning to have her girlfriends over in the private dining space.

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&quot;The fact the facilities are on the top floor is a real cool because the developer usually wants the maximum with a penthouse but they&#39;ve decided to put the facilities on the top which I think is a great positive.&quot;

The rooftop amenity will rival the best on the Gold Coast. It will feature a private dining space which can be closed off to the rest of the rooftop, an infinity pool with views across Surfers Paradise, a gym, and outdoor lounge areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108641 project_image_fid=192963]

The community garden was also another big tick for Pearsall.

&ldquo;The big attraction is coming from a home where you have a garden to an apartment where you don&rsquo;t &ndash; and so here they&rsquo;ve incorporated a community garden and I know others that I&#39;ve spoken to are really excited about that.&quot;

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Speaking on her display suite experience, Pearsall said the conversations with the team were very informative, which gave her confidence in her purchase.&nbsp;

&quot;I think the Tapestry brand, once you buy in, you become a part of the family because&nbsp;you are included and asked for your feedback.&quot;

Siera Group Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson says their residents are the most important part of their&nbsp;projects.

&quot;Creating our Tapestry development to suit its future occupiers every need sat at the forefront of our design process,&quot; Thompson says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108641 project_image_fid=192961]

&quot;The personal journey of our buyers and their experience with Siera is something we strive to make not only exciting, but seamless.

&quot;As we walk alongside our residents across every step of their buyer journey, we hope to form foundations across our projects from now and into the future.&quot;

The development approved Tapestry, which will rise 22 levels&nbsp;from 39 Darrambal Street on the prized east-side of Chevron Island, is Siera Group&#39;s first foray into the Gold Coast apartment market, having had success for a number of years developing in Brisbane&#39;s inner ring.

Local architecture fir BDA created the 113-apartment project, with the brief to merge art with architecture.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=108641]

&nbsp;

Speaking on her display suite experience, Pearsall said the conversations with the team were very informative, which gave her confidence in her purchase

Why 10 minutes was enough to buy a Tapestry, Chevron Island apartment: Buyer Q&A

The prominent Sunshine Coast developer Cube Developments has launched their own&nbsp;construction arm in an attempt to cruise over the&nbsp;currently problematic&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;construction industry.

Cube Constructions will be led by&nbsp;Michael Crocker,&nbsp;whose long career saw him lead the likes of Hutchinson Builders and NCM Constructions.

Director of Cube Developments Scott Juniper said taking the builds of upcoming projects in-house was a natural evolution for the company due to the team&rsquo;s expert mix of design, build, trades and consultancy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=109813 project_image_fid=196625]

&ldquo;Our team has a strong history of delivering high-quality projects across the Sunshine Coast. Couple this with the long running expertise that Michael brings to the venture as Head of Construction, we are confident that we are in the best position to deliver our projects from start to finish,&rdquo; Juniper said.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking forward to giving both existing and new purchasers the confidence that when they sign an off-the-plan contract that it&#39;s something that can and will come to fruition, and in a timely manner.&rdquo;

With a recruitment drive underway, Crocker said the new venture will create plenty of new jobs in the region, including project managers, safety officers and site foreman.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89721 project_image_fid=172110]

&ldquo;Following the huge demand for property experienced here on the coast over the last 18 months, we have more than 500 residences in the pipeline across five Cube Developments projects, all of which will be built by Cube Constructions,&rdquo; Crocker said.

The first project to commence under Cube Constructions is Nature by Cube in Cotton Tree with works scheduled to start mid-July, followed by the construction of Oasis in Bokarina Beach and Seasons by Cube in Birtinya.

The announcement comes at a critical time in the Australian building sector, with over 16 large firms having collapsed since 2021, leaving developers with unfinished projects, thousands of Australians without jobs and just as many would-be homeowners empty handed.

Cube Constructions will be led by Michael Crocker, whose long career saw him lead the likes of Hutchinson Builders and NCM Constructions

Sunshine Coast developer Cube launch construction arm

Fortis has lodged plans with Waverley Council for&nbsp;their first collection of luxury homes in the affluent eastern suburbs hotspot Bronte.​

​The homes will be&nbsp;developed on the prime&nbsp;2,472 sqm site at&nbsp;122-128 Hewlett Street, which was&nbsp;acquired by Fortis for $44 million in early 2022. The proposed scheme has been developed in response to the increased demand for luxury houses in Sydney&rsquo;s east.&nbsp;

Architecture firm MHN Design Union have drawn up the plans, which will feature&nbsp;architectural facades including custom brickwork and European lime renders and screening.&nbsp;Alexander and Co and Lawless &amp; Meyerson will handle the interiors.

Fortis Director Charles Mellick says the team are looking forward to apply what they know from the multi-residential apartment space to the luxury housing market.​​

​&ldquo;Fortis has carved a reputation for itself over the years for premium residential developments in blue-chip locations across Sydney and Melbourne,&quot; Mellick says.

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&quot;We are excited to be utilising our considered approach to develop luxury houses that offer an enviable combination of location, amenity and quality. 
​ 
&ldquo;This will be the first collection of houses by Fortis, making this project a notable milestone for us. With an expected end value of $125 million, we are investing in the future of the luxury residential coastal market in Sydney that continues to remain buoyant. We look forward to working collaboratively with the community to deliver a superior product in a desirable location.&rdquo; 
​ 
​The collection of private homes will feature three or four bedrooms, four bathrooms and secure basement parking. Open-plan living and dining areas will open onto north-facing private pools and lush gardens by Wyer &amp; Co, in addition to sweeping views of Bronte Beach from the upper levels.&nbsp; 
​ 
​Each home will have private full-floor master retreats including an expansive bedroom, walk-in robes and ensuites, dedicated laundry rooms, custom swimming pools and spas, grotto entertainment areas in the rear garden and integrated Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. Select residences will have wellness rooms that can be converted into gyms or&nbsp;studios for pilates and yoga, cinema rooms and the option to have a private art studio or kids rumpus room.

Construction on this site is expected to commence by mid-2023, once plans are approved by the local council.

Fortis Director Charles Mellick says the team are looking forward to apply what they know from the multi-residential apartment space to the luxury housing market

Fortis lodge $125 million Bronte luxury off the plan house plans

Palm Beach was one of the most in demand spots on the Gold Coast

Cabana Palm Beach, The Tally, The Monroe, and Hemingway were among a number to sell out&nbsp;in double quick time. And while demand has continued, the market has been starved of stock, with little to no fresh new projects launched in the last six months.

Buyers finally have another opportunity to secure a slice of Palm Beach, considered one of the most local spots in the whole of the Gold Coast which is being overran with Sydneysiders and Melburnians either seeking a holiday bolthole or a future home as the pandemic sped up retirement for many.

Seaclusion, on Twenty First Avenue just one block back from the beach, is one of the most local projects anyone will be able to find.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107136 project_image_fid=202029]

It&#39;s being developed by the local Dorr family, who have lived at the prime dress circle spot for over seven decades. The Dorr family actually built the home on the 1,229 sqm&nbsp;site which is soon to be demolished to make way for the&nbsp;nine-level development.

An attractive proposition for buyers is that&nbsp;the Dorr family are intending on keeping a number of the apartments in the building, which ensures their level of commitment to the project.

Pezet Matheson Director Todd Matheson says the Dorr family are wanting to build a legacy.

&quot;They want to create a legacy for both Palm Beach and their family,&quot; Matheson says.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107136 project_image_fid=202033]

&quot;They&#39;re making a statement that they want to be here for another 70 years, and that&#39;s a good sign for buyers that the developer will be creating something to last.&quot;

Seaclusion will be made up of 40 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

The Dorr family have pulled the best team together to create Seaclusion. BDA Architecture has designed the striking development with&nbsp;striking batten timber feature on the facade.

Matheson says Seaclusion is a rare offering for the exclusive suburb.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107136 project_image_fid=202034]

&quot;Nobody builds one and two-bedroom apartments at this price point on the beach side of the highway,&quot; Matheson says.

&quot;Most apartment developments on the beach side are half or full floors, and can start anywhere from $2.5 million to $4 million.&quot;

There&#39;s only a handful of one-bed apartments left, priced from $695,000. The two-bedroom apartments are priced from $950,000, and the three-bed stock from $1,495,000.

Matheson&#39;s team sold out The Tally in Palm Beach last year, at a not too dissimilar price point. He expects Seaclusion to not stick around for long either.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107136 project_image_fid=202038]

&quot;One of the biggest drawcards of Seaclusion is the orientation,&quot; Matheson adds.

&quot;Over 80 per cent of apartments are either east facing or north facing. It&#39;s pretty special to get sun for that long.&quot;

The amenity is located on the roof, where there&#39;s a north-facing pool with both ocean and hinterland views, as well as a barbecue area.

Another&nbsp;rare part of the development, particularly&nbsp;in the current Gold Coast apartment market, is the unlikeliness of future redevelopment on the block between Seaclusion and the beach.

A recently renovated house is currently on the beachfront, but between Seaclusion and the house is an easement through to another two houses, which makes it very unlikely of a developer coming in and building a tower.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=107136]

Seaclusion, on Twenty First Avenue just one block back from the beach, is one of the most local projects anyone will be able to find

Rare opportunity to buy in Palm Beach as Seaclusion apartments launch

The display suite is one of the most important parts in an off t​he plan buyers journey.

While technology has evolved and renders are looking more and more realistic, there&#39;s nothing like being able to touch and feel the apartment you&#39;re going to buy. Display suites act&nbsp;as a bridge between buying&nbsp;o​ff the plan and buying an established property.

They&#39;re also an essential point of difference for property developers, often proving the difference between whether buyers purchase in your project, or in a neighbouring suburb at a similar project.

There&#39;s a rivalry in the Gold Coast, with SPG going head to head with Gu​rner on their display suites. Hardly a display suite, they&#39;re more a display experience.

SPG had their commissioned builder, Hutch​insons, create the $4 million, 750 sqm building, making it the largest sales gallery of any new development in the southern hemisphere. It takes up 2,000 sqm of the Fer​ny Ave site which SPG are set to create nearly 800 apartments across three towers.

Gu​rner just opened theirs across the road for their equally large La Pelago, which will have over 900 apartments across four towers.

Display suites tend to be reserved for the larger, multi-res projects. Small boutique developments, maybe less than 40 or so apartments, often don&#39;t have the budget for a fully fledged display suite.

The Sydney developer Coronation Property have long known the importance of the display suite, with their last five display suites featuring full scale apartments in the future development.

<img alt="" height="2250" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/coronation_masonmain_260422_219168.jpg" width="3000" /> 
The display suite at Mason &amp; Main. Image supplied

Coronation Property&#39;s Head of Sales and Marketing Cameron Porter says display suites have come a long way over the last decade.

&quot;While previously&nbsp;display&nbsp;suites were ordinarily quite sterile with little more than demountable floor plans and finishes boards, we&rsquo;ve seen the&nbsp;display&nbsp;suite journey for off-th​e-plan apartments over the last five to 10&nbsp;years come a very long way,&quot; Porter says.

&quot;Nowadays, any premium&nbsp;display&nbsp;suite journey includes a fully immersive and engaging experience for purchasers that touches on all the senses &ndash; sight, sound, touch smell and taste.&quot;

Porter says they&nbsp;want people to walk in and start envisaging the new building, picturing exactly how it could become a place they could call home.

Despite the changes and evolution of the display suite experience as technology advances, Porter notes that&nbsp;display&nbsp;suites have, and always will&nbsp;be, about creating trust between the developer, the prospective purchasers, and the community in which the development is being built.

Coronation took that belief into its under construction Merrylands project, Mason &amp; Main, the mini-community designed by Woods Bagot with its own&nbsp;vibrant market-style laneways with retail and dining precinct underneath nearly 800 apartments.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=31751 project_image_fid=161007]

Since opening the display suite in 2020, the space has evolved.&nbsp;Coronation have created&nbsp;a caf&eacute; for the community and purchasers to get a sense of what&rsquo;s to come, as well as two&nbsp;built-to-scale apartments in differing schemes to show buyers exactly what they&rsquo;ll get,&nbsp;a very rare offering. They also&nbsp;included varying building and design features that showcase the intricate architectural detailing of the Mason &amp; Main development. It allows buyers to literally picture themselves in what will be produced.

&quot;Beyond just a&nbsp;display&nbsp;suite, we wanted to create a space that was an experience. We wanted to create a connection,&quot; Porter says.

<img alt="" height="1106" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-28_at_9.08.56_am.png" width="842" />

The community-led display&nbsp;suite at Mason &amp; Main. Image supplied

Coronation has always placed a strong emphasis on creating a display suite that to help buyers feel &nbsp;confident in purchasing off t​he plan.

The display suites in their two&nbsp;latest developments, Mason &amp; Main and Ashbury Terraces, include life-size apartments and features, with various colour schemes and finishes available. Their significant investment in the display suite experience was also prevalent across their previous developments, 8 Phillip St in Parramatta, Charlie Parker in Harr​is Park and the acclaimed Paper Mill Precinct in Liverpool.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112253 project_image_fid=193250]

&quot;Buying a home can be daunting, especially when you can&rsquo;t physically see the property,&quot; Porter adds.

&quot;It&rsquo;s our responsibility to make the process as seamless and stress-free as possible. As part of this process, it&rsquo;s important for buyers to see and feel the different aspects of their future home.

<img alt="" height="992" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-07-28_at_9.15.31_am.png" width="836" />

The display suite at Ashbury Terraces. Image supplied

&quot;As one of the biggest investments most people make in a lifetime, we believe a premium&nbsp;display&nbsp;suite experience is integral to facilitating trust and assurance that what you&rsquo;re buying of​f-the-plan will be delivered come handover.

Porter suggests that beyond showcasing their built product, they also&nbsp;believe the&nbsp;display&nbsp;experience is essential for prospective purchasers and developers to understand each other.

&quot;By taking prospective purchasers on tours of our&nbsp;displays, we have the space to better understand what their individuals needs and aspirations are, to ensure they feel comfortable with what they&rsquo;re purchasing, to learn more about the developer and design team, and help them to better understand the process of buying off the pl​an.&quot;

Coronation Property's Head of Sales and Marketing Cameron Porter says display suites have come a long way over the last decade

The importance of the display suite for an off the plan apartment buyer

In a time of building insolvency, increasing material costs, and supply chain issues, off-the​-plan purchasers are demanding greater quality assurance from developers and builders.

While there&rsquo;s no overnight fix for rising construction fees, Sydney-based developer Coronation Property believes investing in new processes and people will provide customers the quality assurance they crave while giving developers and builders a competitive edge in a changing industry climate.

It takes a number of moving parts, and more importantly, moving specialist teams, to create exceptional mixed-use developments with collaboration and communication between in-house teams and external consulting agencies including architects, placemaking specialists, engineers, and subcontractors integral to the success of a project.

Further investing in their fully integrated business model, Coronation Property recently announced the formation of a new in-house design team to bridge the gap between their development teams, construction arm and external agencies.

Anticipating the needs of a changing industry, Coronation Property&rsquo;s new in-house design team, Studio Circle &amp;&nbsp;Co will be integral to the ongoing protection of their customers. The team will ensure the original design intent of projects is carried through from early design concept to construction completion and customer handover.

The quality assurance initiative will see new processes put in place to support compliance with the Design and Building Practitioners Act, with a specific focus on Class 2 mixed-use multi-residential developments.

While many larger publicly listed developers such as LendLease and Mir​vac have been doing this for some time, very few privately owned developers who dominate Sydney&rsquo;s residential market have their own construction arm and in-house design teams.

Studio Circle &amp;&nbsp;Co is led by experienced architect Mona Chao, the former co-head of architecture at apartment giant Meri​ton.

&quot;As a business, we are constantly evaluating opportunities that will better serve our customers and communities,&quot;&nbsp;says Chao.

&quot;Having an in-house design team ensures meticulous quality control throughout every phase of the build and allows the business to remain agile in the management and execution of industry regulatory framework,&quot;&nbsp;she adds.

Chao says the team is an important cog in the whole process of the development, not just in ensuring design intent is carried through the build.

Chao&#39;s team is engaged at the earliest point in the development before the site is even acquired.

They help scope out what is possible with the site, and what the site lends itself to in terms of density of buildings, number of apartments, and ultimately how well the design can fit into the current landscape of the area.

Studio Circle &amp; Co has been supporting the business&rsquo;s growth plans following the announcement of new site acquisitions in Chatswood and Erski​neville, boosting the company&rsquo;s development pipeline to more than $7 billion.

&quot;We collaborate with our acquisition team to test feasibility before a site is acquired which provides the business with confidence to proceed with purchase as a baseline, compliant architectural model has been developed and verified in-house,&quot;&nbsp;Chao says.

Studio Circle &amp;&nbsp;Co will collaborate with Coronation Property&rsquo;s award-winning architectural partners to push design boundaries early in the planning process.

&ldquo;It takes a certain type of person to work with, and for work for Coronation and we&rsquo;re proud of our longstanding relationships. We really demand the best from our chosen collaborators to ensure we are constantly evolving to better serve our customers and communities&rdquo;

Anticipating the needs of a changing industry, Coronation Property’s new in-house design team, Studio Circle & Co will be integral to the ongoing protection of their customers

How in-house design teams can benefit off-the-plan buyers amidst industry uncertainty

One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

Joel Robinson

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