Luxury residential developments are changing city skylines across Australia.
The lure of the inner city pied-à-terre is as strong as ever, with baby boomers, offshore buyers and investors indulging in a low maintenance, sky high, lifestyle that wants for nothing.
More:Luxury Warehouse Living Growing in Popularity in Australia
Whether they purchase in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth, this new generation of skyscraper offers buyers world-class architectural design, house-like proportions, custom interiors and amenities that would not look out of place in a five-star resort.
Below, Mansion Global profiles the best apartments money can buy in a selection of Australia’s finest sky high luxury towers. While each tower is unique, they all share common traits: the most luxurious of designs, an abundance of amenities and a bird’s eye view from the heart of the city.
Under construction or due to begin shortly, the apartments within all the towers are being sold off the plan now.
One30 Hyde at 130 Elizabeth St., Sydney
Overlooking Sydney’s iconic Hyde Park is Ecove’s One30 Hyde, a 38-story, prestige residential tower with northeast views over the central business district to Sydney Harbour beyond.
The Bates Smart-designed tower has been compared to the residential towers of London and New York that line the city’s most iconic public parks.
Classically designed, the apartments will feature marble, granite and timber with large expanses of glass and high ceilings to take advantage of the views, which takes in the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Apartments will all include kitchens fitted out with Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and splashback, integrated fridge warming drawer and a wine cabinet.
Jointly developed by Ecove and Hong Kong’s Aoyuan Property Group, the project’s marketing manager Sue Ballesty says One30 Hyde was designed to reflect its incredible location and pay homage to Sydney’s most beautiful public park. It is scheduled for completion in 2019.
Number of units: 140 Price range: A$1.068 million (US$820,000) for one bedroom, A$2.188 million (US$1.67 million) for two bedrooms and A$3.128 million (US$2.39 million) for three bedrooms Developer/architect: Ecove and Aoyuan Property Group/Bates Smart Apartment sizes: One bedroom, two bedrooms, three bedrooms Features: Entry to the exclusive building is via a glamorous foyer finished in marble, granite and plush chevron rugs. There is 24-hour concierge and a high-speed elevator giving residents access to their apartments, basement parking, meeting room, gym, steam room, sauna and 20m lap pool. Website: one30hyde.com.au
88 Melbourne at 88 Queensbridge St., Melbourne
A landmark 56-story residential tower designed to act as a visual gateway to Melbourne’s central business district, this development uses the street number 88, symbolizing good luck in Chinese culture. 88 Melbourne converts the features of a luxury hotel into an apartment tower, with the top 13 floors dedicated to larger three-bedroom residences, sub-penthouses and two full-floor penthouses.
Designed by award-winning architect Rothelowman in conjunction with interior designs by KPDO, 88 Melbourne is inspired by hand-crafted jewelry and the art of origami. The three-dimensional, diamond-patterned façade is designed to shimmer during the day while an integrated LED installation visible at night, will make it the first residential tower in Melbourne to feature a full-height LED lighting design.
Apartments will have high ceilings and spacious floor plans and European-inspired interiors finished in soft luxurious textures. The kitchens have granite benchtops with timber laminate cabinetry and high-end appliances by Miele or Sub-Zero and Wolf.
Construction of 88 Melbourne is expected to be completed in late 2019.
Number of units: 252 Price range: From A$1,649,800 (US$1.26 million) to A$4,009,800 (US$3.06 million) for three-bedroom apartments, from A$7 million (US$5.3 million) for half-floor penthouses and $15 million (US$11.5 million) for a full-floor penthouse Developer/architect: New Sky Group/Rothelowman and Kerry Phelan Design Office Apartment sizes: One-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom apartments and penthouses Features: A double-height full floor will be dedicated to residential amenities, including a 19-meter indoor lap pool, spa, steam room, sauna, private dining room, catering kitchen, outdoor barbecue area and private wine cellar. Website: 88melbourne.com.au
443 Queen St., Brisbane
The final riverfront site to be developed on the edge of Brisbane’s central business district will be a distinctly luxurious subtropical affair.
The A$375 million (US$287 million) tower, spanning 43 levels, has been designed by Queensland’s Architectus and Singapore-based WOHA. The apartments "splay out," offering greater cross-ventilation while maximizing natural light to suit the Queensland climate.
Apartments will be spread over two slender towers clustered together, with the project’s podium section to feature golden sandstone to match the city’s historic Customs House nearby. Breezeways, covered outdoor passages, and hanging gardens will punctuate the tower all the way up.
Construction is expected to begin mid to late 2017, with completion forecast for mid to late 2020.
Number of units: 246 Price range: A$577,220 (US$441,000) for one bedroom, A$1.135 million (US$870,000) for two bedrooms and A$1.95 million (US$1.5 million) for four bedrooms and A$6.5 million (US$5 million) for the penthouses. Developer/architect: Cbus Property/WOHA and Architectus Apartment sizes: One-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom apartments and four-bedroom skyhomes. Features: As well as their front-row seat to the riverfront, residents will have access to a 25-meter salt water infinity pool, triple height atrium entrance, indoor and outdoor yoga rooms, private dining areas and cabanas. Website: 443queenst.com
Realm Adelaide at 9 Austin St., Adelaide
At 132 meters in height, Realm Adelaide is set to become South Australia’s tallest residential tower, when building gets underway this year.
It will take shape above the existing Renaissance Arcade and include the restoration of the 1858 Assay House, which will be the site for the tower’s bar and restaurant.
Its golden geometric exterior, architect Callum Fraser said, will stand out on the Adelaide skyline, creating a strong architectural statement in the city. The striking feature will be achieved through the use of custom-perforated screens, which filter the sun and cool apartments from Adelaide’s heat while paying homage to the city’s history.
The most prestigious homes will be the 18 three-bedroom apartments and two double-story penthouses, which will each have four bedrooms, a private deck and rooftop spa. The penthouses will span 440 to 455 square meters.
The building’s amenities will be unprecedented for Adelaide, with two areas dedicated for residents. Level 8 will include a CrossFit enabled gym, climbing wall, two private function spaces, game room, outdoor terrace and 25-meter lap pool and spa, while a second premium area on Level 39 will be restricted to premium apartments.
Construction of the tower is expected to begin by mid 2017 and completed by 2020.
Number of units: 320 Price range: From A$1.185 million (US$900,000) for three bedrooms and A$5.5 million (US$4.2 million) for the penthouses. Developer/architect: Parallel Property/Elenberg Fraser Apartment sizes: One-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom apartments and four-bedroom penthouses. Features: Residents will enter the building via a five-star hotel-style lobby which features inlaid stone and golden highlights. Premium apartment owners will have exclusive access to a 500-square-meter well-being zone and entertainment area on Level 39, which will include an indoor yoga studio, rooftop spa, steam room and sauna, barbecue and circular lounge area. Website: realmadelaide.com
Civic Heart at 99 Millpoint Road, South Perth
Civic Heart’s 35-level tower, has three luxurious styles of apartments but it is the premium apartments—the Sky Homes between level 26 and 35 and the Penthouses on level 36—that offer the most impressive space, finishes and views to the central business district, Kings Park and the Botanic Gardens.
A mirror image of each other, the two four-bedroom penthouses occupy the top floor and have house-like proportions with 484 square-meters of internal space and 189 square-meters of balconies.
Designed like a luxurious vertical village, residents have access to everything at their fingertips, including a three-level podium, a neighborhood shopping center, medical center, café, post office and childcare facilities, in addition to the private residents-only amenities.
Construction is underway and the tower is scheduled for completion in mid 2018.
Number of units: 294 Price range: From A$1.79million (US$1.37 million) for Sky Homes and A$7.85million (US$6 million) for penthouses. Developer/architect: Finbar/SS Chang Architects Apartment sizes: One-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments and four-bedroom penthouses. Features: Private residential facilities include a 25-meter wet edge pool with deck and cabanas, barbecue areas, gym, two putting greens, wellness center, private theater, game room, dining rooms, sauna, steam room, business centre and wine cellar. Website: civicheart.com.au