The luxury Melbourne apartment developer, GURNERTM, is again set to branch out nationally, with $450 million plans to developer a 61-level mixed-use building in the heart of Parramatta's CBD.

In a joint venture with investment manager Qualitas, the tower at 12 Hassal Street will home 385 apartments and 4,000 sqm of retail and commercial space on its 2,049 sqm site.

The building will be crowned by a rooftop facility.

The site was previously earmarked for over 300 apartments by the Sydney developer Top Place.

The acquisition marks the first of many planned in Sydney in the coming years as GURNERTM have earmarked the city as a key focus for continued growth, off the back of recent regulatory changes and an evolving macro-economic climate.

<a href="/new-apartments/12-hassall-street-parramatta">To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here</a>

Last year Gurner ventured out of Melbourne for the first time, breaking in to the QLD market with apartments plans lodged for Port Douglas and Surfers Paradise.

GURNERTM has recently established an office in Sydney to lead the aggressive acquisition phase with several additional sites currently under consideration.

The development team will look to submit planning documentation in early 2022, with construction likely to commence in late 2022.

“We are excited to announce this strategic acquisition as the first of many more to come as we look to significantly grow our portfolio in Sydney and wider New South Wales, across both our Build-to-Sell and Build-to-Rent platforms," Gurner said.

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“For a long time the development fundamentals in Sydney didn’t stack up against Melbourne and Brisbane but looking ahead, Sydney will be a key strategic focus for us in the coming years as the environment is now much more conducive to development sites that fit our model.

“We set out about 12 months ago to align ourselves with the Sydney market and within a short period of time we’ve established an office, acquired our first major site and have a number of other opportunities in our sights.

<a href="/new-apartments/12-hassall-street-parramatta">To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here</a>

“In terms of the project, at 61 levels we want to create a new icon for Parramatta, bringing a new level of luxury, service and design to the precinct along with a vibrant hospitality and wellness precinct at the ground floor.

“In our signature style we are also exploring unique amenity opportunities including a rooftop bar and exclusive building services.

“Parramatta really is an incredible story of transformation into Sydney’s second city, and we are excited to be playing a role in its continued evolution."

Qualitas opened their office a decade ago.

Qualitas global head of real estate and co-founder Mark Fischer said the team has&nbsp;continually invested in that market across our funds platform.

<a href="/new-apartments/12-hassall-street-parramatta">To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here</a>

"Qualitas continues to seek investment opportunities across Sydney, and we see Paramatta as providing the perfect location for this type of mixed-use development," Fischer said.

“As the precinct continues its transformation into Sydney’s second city, our partnership with GURNERTM allows us to deliver market-leading product quality across residential, retail, and commercial – including premium amenity and a rooftop facility.

“We are excited for what we can deliver in conjunction with GURNERTM, with Paramatta being a continuation of that relationship.

“Parramatta has shown resilience through the changing environment post pandemic and with movement of people across states and cities in Australia, this development is perfectly positioned to capture population growth in this area."

Last year Gurner ventured out of Melbourne for the first time, breaking in to the QLD market with apartments plans lodged for Port Douglas and Surfers Paradise

Joel Robinson

GURNER set to make mark in Sydney with Parramatta apartment development

Despite the wave of interstate developers descending on the Gold Coast, it was a local developer who has snagged a prime site in the heart of Mermaid Beach.

James George, director of Highlife Homes,&nbsp;grabbed the keys&nbsp;to an 818&nbsp;sqm corner site at 2419 Gold Coast Highway, which currently has a&nbsp;block of eight renovated two-bedroom apartments.

George is now&nbsp;considering a luxury townhouse&nbsp;development by Highlife Homes.

The site comes with an expansive&nbsp;frontage down Hilda Street and is moments away from the picturesque beaches and acclaimed Hedges Avenue - the &#39;millionaires row&#39;.&nbsp; &nbsp;

GV Property Group&#39;s Luke&nbsp;Reaby, who brokered the $4.5 million deal alongside Antonio&nbsp;Mercuri, said they knew the site lent itself to a small builder/developer.&nbsp;

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&quot;Mermaid is very much loved by locals due to the low rise characteristics and village feel,&quot; Reaby said.

Reaby said Mermaid Beach is the Gold Coast&#39;s version of&nbsp;Toorak and Double Bay.

&quot;It&#39;s the most expensive area for land on the Gold Coast,&quot; Reaby says.

&quot;While land is expensive, with&nbsp;beachfront properties constantly exceeding the $10m price bracket, you can see why a development that provides townhouses for under $2.5m would represent great value to locals and interstate travellers,&quot; Reaby added.

Highlife Homes&#39; has a pipeline across the Gold Coast which&nbsp;includes townhouse developments&nbsp;The Sol Project in Coolangatta,&nbsp;The Horizon Project in Burleigh Heads and The Sea Breeze Project in Palm Beach.

GV Property Group's Luke Reaby, who brokered the $4.5 million deal, said they knew the site lent itself to a small builder/developer

Local Gold Coast developer grabs Mermaid Beach development site

The national property developer, Pellicano, are set to bring something different to the affluent Brisbane riverside suburb, Kangaroo Point.

They're seeking to create Story House, a development of 86 apartments,&nbsp;on the more affordable end of the scale than what Kangaroo Point is generally&nbsp;used to.

There will be a mix of studio, one, and two-bedroom apartments across the nine-level building designed by DBI Architecture, which will be crowned with an extensive rooftop amenity level.

<a href="/new-apartments/kangaroo-point-qld-4169">To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here</a>

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The exterior of Story House. Image credit: DBI Architecture

That will home a lap pool with a pool deck and spa, a yoga lawn, a dining and barbecue area, and an outdoor gym. 85 per cent of the building's roof top&nbsp;is disposed as recreation areas and gardens, landscape architect RPG Group advise on the development submission.

They described Story House as "mid-century modern meets sophistication in the heart of Woolloongabba and wider area of Kangaroo Point."

<a href="/new-apartments/kangaroo-point-qld-4169">To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here</a>

The Pellicano team identified the area as having considerable growth potential well before the Olympics was announced for Brisbane in 2032. They bought two adjoining 708 sqm Duke Street sites for a combined 1,418 sqm block in 2019 for around $2,875,000 combined.

The site is currently vacant, with the existing character house at 21 Duke Street having been relocated, and the house at 65 Linton Street&nbsp;demolished.

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The rooftop of Story House. Image credit: DBI Architecture

A stone's throw from The Gabba but in the Kangaroo Point postcode, Story House was designed by DBI who said the building and internal use is broken down to create a base form that scales to the street; a three-story expression that is typical in scale to the historical locality.

"The building offers balconies expressed to offer an overt sub- tropical, outdoor living experience," DBI advised.

"The balconies become a vibrant &amp; playful series of sculptural forms that humanize the suburban building to the street.

"The articulated facade allows for desired breeze flow through all habitable spaces."

<a href="/new-apartments/kangaroo-point-qld-4169">To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here</a>

Story House was described as "mid-century modern meets sophistication in the heart of Woolloongabba and wider area of Kangaroo Point."



First look: Pellicano set for Story House, Kangaroo Point apartment development

The soon-to-be-completed mixed-use Box Hill development, Panorama, will feature two dedicated office levels from UCommune,&nbsp;Asia&rsquo;s largest co-working operator and NASDAQ listed company.

It will be UCommune&#39;s first move in to Australia.

Panorama, the 31-level building developed by&nbsp;Hexa Group, will have 396 apartments and&nbsp;the Hexa Space-UCommune, which will follow the pattern of UCommune&#39;s&nbsp;intelligent agile office ecosystem that provides members with flexible and cost-efficient office space solutions.

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They signed a five-year deal, which will see&nbsp;UCommune provide a broad range of services including the design, operation, management, and marketing of the coworking space.

Panorama, designed by the&nbsp;award-winning design and architecture studio, Peddle Thorp, will also have offices,&nbsp;retail spaces, and eateries on the ground floor.

It is expected to complete construction in December.&nbsp;

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Residents will have access to four&nbsp;rooftop terraces with gardens on levels six, eight, 28 and 29. The gym will also sit on level 28.

Entry to the building is through a modern lobby with&nbsp;light stone and ornate gold chandeliers. It leads to an expansive lounge.

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All apartments feature floor-to-ceiling windows and&nbsp;generously-sized balconies.

Located in the heart of Box Hill&nbsp;as the gateway tower to the suburb, Panorama residents&nbsp;will be within arms reach of a number of&nbsp;restaurants and civic facilities, including&nbsp;Box Hill Central.

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Panorama, designed by the award-winning design and architecture studio, Peddle Thorp, will also have offices, retail spaces, and eateries on the ground floor

Hexa to offer two-level co-working space in mixed-use Box Hill apartment development, Panorama

Broadbeach&#39;s next apartment tower is set to come from Turrisi Properties, who has received sign off for their first Gold Coast apartment project.

The development, at 9-11 Armrick Avenue, will home 84 apartments across its 22 levels, a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a small collection of four-bedroom penthouses, each set to have their own rooftop decks with&nbsp;a spa, kitchen, living and dining facilities.

There were a few tweaks to the Rothelowman-designed tower, which saw the balconies of the south side apartments relocated to the outside corners.

<a href="/new-apartments/9-11-armrick-avenue-broadbeach">To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here</a>

&quot;This change will lighten the appearance of the tower form and any appearance of bulk in the tower would be minimised through the lightness and transparency of the balconies,&quot; Urbis director Matthew Schneider noted.

Turrisi&nbsp;founder and managing director Gaetano Turrisi said liveability was the top priority in the design.

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&ldquo;We are passionate about the development of the highest quality bespoke residences in Southeast Queensland and excited to be bringing our design standard to the Gold Coast,&rdquo; said Turrisi Properties managing director, Gaetano Turrisi.

&ldquo;As our debut project on the Gold Coast, this is an opportunity for us to enhance one of the world&rsquo;s most famous beachfront skylines and we have not made any compromises in crafting a well-designed residential tower with liveability as the top priority.&rdquo;

<a href="/new-apartments/9-11-armrick-avenue-broadbeach">To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here</a>

The Rothelowman design pays homage to the Gold Coast&rsquo;s mid-century past that echoes tropical modernism.

&ldquo;The design of our Armrick Avenue project encapsulates the quintessential coastal experience, including an operable fa&ccedil;ade that allows residents to tune their environment to the current conditions and is a short walk to the beach, a surf club, Norfolk pines and a bowls club - the existing collection of civic offerings allows for the creation of a new civic promenade along Armrick Avenue,&rdquo;&nbsp;Turrisi said.

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&ldquo;Also, the contemporary but timeless design elements of the development are enhanced by extensive podium and rooftop communal amenities that add value to residents as well as the local community.&rdquo;

The podium communal recreation area features a gym, pool, sundeck, spa, sunken lounge, dining and teppanyaki/ barbecue facilities. On the rooftop, the communal amenity includes a&nbsp;private dining room with kitchen and TV facilities as well as an open air spritz bar overlooking the beach.

<a href="/new-apartments/9-11-armrick-avenue-broadbeach">To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here</a>

A landscaped tropical formal entry and beach entry with beach showers sit on the ground level, as does a&nbsp;Zen Garden and surf craft room.

About the developer

Turrisi Properties is a development company owned and operated by the Turrisi family, with a proven track record of delivering sought-after communities.

Established in 2000, Turrisi Properties founder and managing director Gaetano Turrisi has delivered more than 6000 residential land lots and residences&nbsp;to South-East Queensland&nbsp;in the last 35 years, worth in excess of $2 billion.

It specialises in residential and mixed-use&nbsp;developments in strategic locations and prides itself on its well-considered collaboration with a diverse team of consultants, architects, builders that&nbsp;have a like-minded approach to aesthetically sophisticated and functional design outcomes.

The Rothelowman design pays homage to the Gold Coast’s mid-century past that echoes tropical modernism

Turrisi Properties get sign off for mid-century, tropical modernist Broadbeach apartment development

Newcastle is set for its joint-tallest residential apartment tower, as Sydney developer Third.i. Group lodge plans for two towers on the landmark Dairy Farmers Corner site in Newcastle West.

The two towers, on the corner of Tudor and Hunter Streets, will home 184 apartments across the two buildings. One will rise nearly 100 metres, and 30-storeys, which will be the same number of levels as Pinnacle Apartments. There will be an adjoining five-storey building for retail and commercial.

Local architecture firm CKDS has designed the project. They are behind a number of&nbsp;the city&rsquo;s new residential and commercial buildings including the multi-award winning Verve Residences, Horizon Lee 5 and East End Stage 2.

A mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments&nbsp;will be on offer, which Third.i Director, Luke Berry, says will have some of the best views in town, as well as the harbour, great dining and entertainment options, and the transport interchange at their doorstep.

To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here

&quot;To create a true sense of community for residents we&rsquo;ve focussed on incorporating communal and green spaces and facilities such as a gym, a cabana pool area with lap pool, wine bar and cellar, and function rooms,&rdquo; Berry says.

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Third.i positions Newcastle as an exciting market to work in with great potential which presents a sea change for Sydneysiders, empty nesters and downsizes, given its close proximity to Sydney, and a relaxed return to the office, post pandemic.

&ldquo;In what we believe is a first for the city, we want to use some of the commercial space as a residents&rsquo; shared work hub, so they can work from home without being in their apartment,&rdquo; Berry added.

To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here

The Newcastle West site was once home to Dairy Farmers - one of Australia&rsquo;s largest dairy producers. In a nod to the history of the site, Third.i will re-imagine the heritage-listed, iconic glass milk bottle and clock towers as part of a pedestrianised, broader public art installation.

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Dairy Farmers Towers is the fourth West End apartment project for the Sydney-based developer. It has already completed the West, Eaton on Union, and Stella on Hannell apartments in Wickham, creating 381 inner city homes.

Third.i&rsquo;s retirement living division ThirdAge is partnering with Merewether Golf Club on the recently approved luxury resort retirement living project &ndash; The Merewether.

To keep up to date with the development and its launch, enquire here

&ldquo;We feel like the West End is our second home and we are excited to be part of its revitalisation. We want Dairy Farmers Towers to be a West End icon, a landmark that will be reborn to create a new chapter in the West End&rsquo;s growth as a great place in which to live, work and play.&quot;

The project has been designed by leading local architectural firm CKDS. The firm is behind the designs of a number of the city&rsquo;s new residential and commercial buildings including the multi-award winning Verve Residences, Horizon Lee 5, East End Stage 2, and the Gateway l and ll buildings.

Third.i Director, Luke Berry, says the apartments will have some of the best views in town

Third.i to create Newcastle joint-tallest apartment development at the Dairy Farmers site

The Melbourne developer,&nbsp;Pitard,&nbsp;is offering a rare opportunity to buy a new apartment in the heart of the inner south east Melbourne&nbsp;suburb of Elsternwick, which ideal location enjoys&nbsp;bay views.

The project, dubbed&nbsp;EVA,&nbsp;Elsternwick Village Apartments, has the joint backing of the real estate investment trust giant Dexus, who manage a portfolio of over&nbsp;$30 billion&nbsp;and funding partner Solido, who went in 50/50 as the senior&nbsp;consulting financing facility for the development.

Comprising 100 apartments set for completion in early 2023 by the builder and developer, EVA puts residents in the heart of&nbsp;the&nbsp;&nbsp;lifestyle-centric Elsternwick Village from its&nbsp;Glen Huntly&nbsp;Road location.

There&#39;s been a conscious effort to give residents convenience, with retail located at the foot of the building.

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Residents will also have access to EVA&#39;s onsite amenity, including a private gym and a number of outdoor spaces.

The apartments have been designed by Via Architects&nbsp;to be as open plan as possible, letting in as much light through extensive windows, maximised by high ceilings.

Most apartments are centred around the kitchen&#39;s island bench. The kitchen&#39;s have been designed in the popular Hamptons-style, complete with engineered stone benchtops and&nbsp;fitted with&nbsp;European&nbsp;ILVE appliances.

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Each apartment features a balcony or an outdoor terrace.

Prices start from $599,000 for the one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments with a parking space. Two-bedders start from $849,000 and&nbsp;three-bedroom, two-bathroom with two parking spaces start from $1,135,000

The location is one of the main drivers of enquiry so far. Elsternwick, famed for its cafe culture and bar scene, is a short trip in to the Melbourne CBD from Elsternwick Station, just a few hundred metres from EVA.

With construction underway by&nbsp;Pitard, access for&nbsp;display viewings are available via appointments.

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&nbsp;

The location is one of the main drivers of enquiry so far. Elsternwick, famed for its cafe culture and bar scene, is a short trip in to the Melbourne CBD from Elsternwick Station, just a few hundred metres from EVA.

Why funders have confidence in Pitard's Eva Elsternwick mixed-use apartment development

The Sydney-based developer, Sun Property Group, are breaking in to the Melbourne apartment market, and they&#39;re starting in one of the Victorian capital&#39;s most blue chip suburbs.

SPG has just launched Euroka, a boutique collection of apartments in the heart of Toorak.

Euroka, at 5 Brookville Road, is inspired by Melbourne&rsquo;s iconic Roy Grounds House &ndash; once home to one of Victoria&rsquo;s most influential modern architects.

The renowned architect and design firm, Carr Design, has created the 10 luxury apartments, which includes two ultra-luxury penthouses. Euroka will feature&nbsp;a distinctive geometric fa&ccedil;ade, taking cues from the rich texture of local neo-brutalist architecture. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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The theme of&nbsp;Euroka&nbsp;is &lsquo;welcome to the light&rsquo;, with the developer given permission from the Aboriginal Council, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, to use the name.

Sun Property General Manager, Cameron Johnson, said there&#39;s a big difference in what can be developed in Sydney and Melbourne.

&quot;In Sydney&#39;s it all about trying to create apartments that will get glimpses of the harbour, or views of the city,&quot; Johnson says.&nbsp;

&quot;In Melbourne, those opportunities aren&#39;t quite there, the topography is very different, Melbourne is very flat.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=109759 project_image_fid=185217]

&quot;So you have to find different opportunities, in design, craftsmanship, size, quality etc. You need to be able to underpin the same level of distinguishment than what you can achieve in Sydney simply by having higher apartments with views.&quot;

The sleek low-rise apartments &ndash; set over three levels &ndash; feature linear shapes, beautiful glazing and what appears to be almost &lsquo;floating&rsquo; concrete, softened by landscaping.

The site, located at 3-5 Brookville Road is set back from the road and will be nestled behind landscaped gardens. Deep sculptural planters will provide privacy to residents, while its dramatic entry will include a 16m reflection pond.

Natural light has been a strong theme in how&nbsp;the apartments have been arranged. Each apartment has been created to be like its own private gallery, with oversized floorplans extending outdoors to large terraces or private courtyards.

The apartments at Euroka&nbsp;are generously sized, with a three-bedroom floorplan measuring around 160sqm. The project will have two penthouses, each with an expansive floor plan measuring 260 sqm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=109759 project_image_fid=185218]

Construction on&nbsp;Euroka&nbsp;is due to commence in February, with a completion expected by June 2023. &nbsp;

Sun Property has been developing primarily in Sydney&#39;s affluent Lower North Shore area, with projects in Neutral Bay, Mosman&nbsp;and Willoughby recently.

&ldquo;It is the right time for us to expand what we offer to our customers into a different city &ndash; there are great schools, excellent services and wonderful surroundings in Melbourne&rsquo;s south-eastern suburbs,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;What influences our design is the customer &ndash; we really drive towards trying to understand what it is they are looking for and how they want to exist in their home.

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&ldquo;We present a design and an idea of what it can be &ndash; but what we are willing to do is to take that extra step and work with the customer very collaboratively to deliver a home that meets what they want and need.&rdquo;

Sun also has another site in Toorak, closer to Hawksburn Village at&nbsp;226-228 williams road Toorak. The 16 apartments, a mix of two and three-beds, will be more atune to trying to find a younger customer, as well as some downsizers, Johnson says.

They are looking to further pad out their Melbourne pipeline in the next six months.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=109759]

Euroka, at 5 Brookville Road, is inspired by Melbourne’s iconic Roy Grounds House – once home to one of Victoria’s most influential modern architects

Sun Property Group make first move in to Melbourne with luxury Toorak apartment development, Euroka

Pearl Main Beach is set to soar 31&nbsp;levels in to the sky&nbsp;from its prime Main Beach Parade location when it is completed in mid-2022.

The apartment tower of just 80 residences, which has two and three-bedroom apartments which start from 95 sqm, was designed with a nod to its position just across the road from the beach.

Apartments, and the extensive amenity, all have floor-to-ceiling windows, to take in views either of the beach and the Gold Coast Skyline, or back to the hinterland.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106752 project_image_fid=182210]

The brief was&nbsp;to create a statement entry, starting the luxury resident journey&nbsp;as early as possible.&nbsp;

An American design firm, who specialises in six-star international residences, created the luxury lobby, with a brief to set the scene of the luxury that Pearl will bring residents.

There&#39;s&nbsp;soothing pearl hues, accented by high-end finishes, as well as&nbsp;opalescent accent walls and a true hotel-style concierge desk.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106752 project_image_fid=182206]

Every apartment has a balcony to capture the views. They act as an extension of the open plan kitchen, living and dining area, which acts as the hub of the apartments.

The kitchen is the heart of the apartment.&nbsp;Designed with a&nbsp;crisp white palette, the kitchen&#39;s are&nbsp;fitted with stone benchtops and Miele appliances, and offer the ultimate open plan space, with an island bench with sink facing the living area.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106752 project_image_fid=182207]

Bedrooms are set away from the living space, but also feature full-height glass for sunrise and sunset.

The considered internal design includes well-appointed ensuites and walk-in robes.

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Residents will have high-end amenity throughout the tower, the most impressive the rooftop swimming pool and&nbsp;recreational facilities with skyline views.

On the same&nbsp;level is&nbsp;a dining area with wine cellar, available for private bookings.

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There will be also be a&nbsp;gym and a residents lounge.

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Apartments, and the extensive amenity, all have floor-to-ceiling windows, to take in views either of the beach and the Gold Coast Skyline, or back to the hinterland

Inside Pearl, Main Beach apartments, designed to take in extensive views

The high-end South East Queensland developer, Forme, has been given the green light for its next luxury Gold Coast apartment development.

Dubbed Sea, the boutique apartment building follows the rhythms and designs as their sold-out Goodwin Terrace projects Norfolk and Luna.

Demand was so high for Norfolk, which recently settled as one of the Gold Coast's most expensive apartment developments, that Forme boss David Calvisi put together the same team to create a similar-style project slightly further south on The Esplanade.

He had&nbsp;Koichi Takada again handle the architecture. His designs for Norfolk made the building a hit on Instagram. The curved facade even became one of the famous Bondi-based Aquabumps prints.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=99968 project_image_fid=187434]

Interiors have again been directed by the Melbourne-based interior design firm Mim Design, headed by the interior design queen Mim Fanning. The design approach came from the coastline just across the road.

Sea comprises half-floor apartments, each spanning 240 sqm and homing&nbsp;three bedrooms, three bathrooms, two car spaces and a panorama of beach, ocean, skyline and headland views.

Full-floor apartments of around 480 sqm are configured to include three ensuited bedrooms, a multi-purpose room, media lounge, home gym, walk-in wine display bar, and a&nbsp;lifestyle space with a fireplace and butler’s pantry.

Residents are afforded exclusive access to an array of in-house amenities including a pool, sauna, ice baths, gymnasium and pilates studio, and an alfresco dining terrace serviced by an integrated barbecue kitchen ensconced by idyllic gardens.

Sea is crowned by a 790 sqm, two-level penthouse.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=99968 project_image_fid=187431]

Forme director David Calvisi said Sea translates to a sophisticated statement of inspired design, refined social amenity and considered lifestyle opportunities to become an outstanding destination in its own right.

“Sea is the very essence of beachfront living embracing our coastal climate, contemporary comforts and relaxed vibe in an unequivocally refined, intuitive and practical composition for the astute purchaser.”

Sea is set&nbsp;to launch in December,&nbsp;with a number of apartments already secured in the pre-release phase through JLE Projects.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=99968]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=99968 project_image_fid=187420]

Dubbed Sea, the boutique apartment building follows the rhythms and designs as their sold-out Goodwin Terrace projects Norfolk and Luna

Forme get green light for Sea, their latest luxury Burleigh Heads apartment development by Koichi Takada

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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