The hottest trend in the Sydney luxury apartment market isn’t one particular feature, but can be identified, broadly speaking as the "wow factor." The extra mile and detail has become big business for developers of top-end towers and sumptuous low-rise apartments alike.
Fueled by downsizing baby boomers and time-poor, tech-savvy professionals, today’s luxury market is less about maintenance and more about the highest quality amenities and features, once the sole domain of five-star resorts.
More:Sky-High Towers, Amenity-Rich Buildings Altering Skylines Around the World
These aren’t afterthoughts either, going well beyond standard barbecue areas, pools, gyms and gardens. The bar has been raised as high as a tower’s designer-landscaped rooftop oasis, as virtuous as their dedicated yoga rooms and on-trend as their open-air cinemas.
Alongside concierges are resident-only private dining rooms, temperature-controlled wine cellars, deluxe surround-sound cinemas and thousand-book libraries.
Under construction or due to begin shortly, the apartments within all the towers are being sold off the plan now.
The Miller, 221 Miller St., North Sydney
Construction has started on The Miller, which represents a green oasis in the heart of North Sydney thanks to its rooftop courtyard and garden.
Renowned architects Peddle Thorp & Walker have accommodated every need of the home buyer and prospective tenant by maximizing the city and water views available in all directions.
The apartments have floor-to-ceiling picture windows to maximize natural light and stunning views while frameless glass balconies enhance the outlook. The stone, white-and-grey benchtops complement the charcoal cabinetry of the kitchens for a sophisticated finish.
The addition of a 24/7 concierge and the rooftop green space, which captures the sunrise over the harbor to the east and the sunset over the city to the west, is designed to create a harmonious and welcoming vibe among residents.
The tower, due for completion in late 2018, is within meters of North Sydney’s central business district.
Number of units: 169 Price range: A$870,000 to $969,000 (US$650,000 to US$723,000) for a one-bedroom, A$999,000 to $1.95 million (US$746,00 to US$1.46 million) for two bedrooms, A$1.5 million to A$3.1 million (US$1.1 million to US$2.3 million) for three bedrooms, A$1.731 to A$1.794 million (about US$1.3 million) for four bedrooms Developer/architect: Yuhu Group (Australia)/Peddle Thorp & Walker Apartment sizes: One-, two-, three- and four-bedrooms Features: City and water views in all directions, 24/7 concierge, gymnasium, internal restaurant and a residents' courtyard on the rooftop and green space for outdoor entertaining and socializing Website: TheMiller.com.au
The sky is the limit for luxury residential developments in #Australia https://t.co/9c1sRsmElg pic.twitter.com/lMB9LT6C73
— Mansion Global (@MansionGlobal) March 14, 2017
Golf House, 228A Elizabeth St., Surry Hills
The iconic heritage Golf House, in Surry Hills, makes way for a stunning new, copper-detailed residential tower that will provide a noise-free sanctuary to residents, thanks to PTI Architecture, who has collaborated with fashion designer Collette Dinnigan to create the residences.
Large, enclosable winter gardens provide year-round entertainment options for residents with the architecture and interiors focusing on luxury and efficiency. Two-bedroom apartments feature separate laundries.
Underground parking will be provided for all two- and three-bedroom apartments, installed with the latest number-plate reading capabilities for complete security. The ground floor has space for a retailer and café while the rooftop is a private space for residents, with views towards the iconic Sydney central station clock tower. It’s due for completion in April 2018.
Number of units: 46 Price range: From A$1.15million (US$860,000) for one-bedroom apartments, from A$1.75 million (US$1.31 million) for two bedrooms and about A$2.7 million (US$2 million) for three bedrooms Developer/architect: Trinvass Pty Ltd /PTI Architecture in collaboration with Collette Dinnigan Apartment sizes: One-, two- and three-bedrooms Features: East-facing apartments, which are a stone’s throw from the central business district and Hyde Park, will feature Blackbutt timber flooring, integrated fridges and dishwashers in the Carrara marble kitchens, and floor-to-ceiling windows that open out to winter gardens. Residents can enjoy a private landscaped roof deck Website: TheGolfHouse.com.au
Calibre, 10-14 Cooper St., Surry Hills
Generous is the only word to describe the Calibre, a fitting name for these 10 oversized house-like apartments. Designers Koichi Takada Architects have applied their renowned Japanese sensibilities and timeless style to the project that gives Calibre a light and airy aesthetic.
Its exterior of undulating glass and screened façade will sit like a soaring bamboo forest in the streetscape. The sensitively designed building will maximize sun, air and views, providing a prestigious sanctuary for its residents on the city fringe.
Embracing size and scale, all apartments will feature floor-to-ceiling glazing, oversized balconies and additional basement storage. Kitchens will feature Miele appliances with marble benchtops, oak floors and timber veneers with accents of inlaid brass. A communal garden rooftop with barbeque and entertaining facilities is available to all residents and their guests, while the penthouse owners will have their own private, 132 square meter rooftop entertainment area.
Calibre is due for completion in early 2019 and will be released to the market on June 24.
Number of units: 18 Price range: Studios from A$860,000 (US$635,000), one bedroom from A$1.045million (US$770,000), two bedrooms from A$1.8 million ($US1.3 million), three-bedroom penthouse from A$6 million (US$4.43 million) Developer/architect: Icon Oceania/Koichi Takada Architects Apartment sizes: Studios, one-and two-bedroom apartments and a three-bedroom penthouse with media room Features: Expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing feature in all apartments, as do large balconies, kitchens with Miele appliances and marble benchtops. The entire top floor is a three-bedroom penthouse and comes with a media room plus a private rooftop and pool Website: CalibreSurryHills.com.au
Buyers would be salivating for this #Sydney spot for location alone. It also happens to have an exquisite home https://t.co/2PD9wJfZC5 pic.twitter.com/CQFfCBh4b1 — Mansion Global (@MansionGlobal) May 21, 2017
The Burcham, 6-8 Crewe Place, Rosebery
Stable Properties are turning the 1918 Wrigley’s Gum Factory into an industrial chic high-tech haven. The project includes the restoration of two existing buildings and the construction of two new towers, all with a distinct industrial flare and internal features, such as polished concrete floors and high ceilings.
Inclusions are both green and cutting edge, with residents’ amenities a high priority. Access to the homes will be via a keyless biometric fingerprint recognition. Residents will be able to use their smartphones to gain access via SMS and Bluetooth from anywhere and electric car charging facilities will be provided.
Operating on what is effectively its own grid, wholesale electricity will be purchased to supplement the power it generates from its own large solar panels.
A Jamie Durie-designed communal space, known as Wrigley Common, will include an outdoor cinema and provide residents with space to relax, tend to the garden or practice yoga. It’s due for completion in March 2018.
Number of units: 99 Price range: From A$790,000 (US$586,000) for a one-bedroom, from A$1.095 million (US$860,000) for two bedrooms, from A$1.695 million (US$1.19 million) for three bedrooms Developer/architect: Stable Properties/Allen Jack + Cottier Apartment sizes: One-, two- and three-bedrooms Features: Apartments will combine industrial-style finishes, such as polished concrete floors and soaring ceilings with cutting-edge technology, including solar power, an embedded energy network, electric car charging and biometric fingerprint recognition for access. A residents’ garden and rooftop terrace will feature an outdoor cinema. Website:TheBurcham.com.au
Bombora, 2-4 Marlo Rd., Cronulla
Not all downsizers want to transition out of their familiar surroundings and into a skyscraper, which is why the luxury Bombora development is expected to appeal so strongly to the residents of Cronulla in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.
The Vic Lake Architect-designed beachfront building has made the most of its 38-meter frontage with full-width north-facing balconies. The exclusive 10-apartment building offers a variety of floorplans that feature large living areas, plenty of wall spaces for artwork and European details in the kitchens including Gaggenau appliances and Liebherr Fridges.
Extra thought has gone into the house-like additions, such as secure double- and triple-car garages, plus private courtyards and lawns for ground floor apartments. The project is due for completion at the end of 2018.
Number of units: 10 Price range: A$2 million (US$1.5 million) to A$3.7 million (US$2.7 million) Architect: Vic Lake Architecture Apartment sizes: Two-, three- and four-bedrooms Features: Bombora apartments are unusually large, house-like apartments designed specifically for buyers looking for beachfront luxury. Full-length balconies, European appliances and stone benchtops are some of the luxury inclusions to make residents feel at home Website:BomboraCronulla.com.au
Loftus Lane, 5-18 Loftus St., Sydney
A more intimate offering for apartment dwellers, Loftus Lane dares to introduce a new laneway lifestyle in the heart of Sydney a mere 200 meters from iconic Circular Quay.
Bordered by Loftus Street and Young Street, the project is deliberately village-like in both feel and scale with 106 apartments spread across three low-rise buildings. Two of the apartment buildings are 13 stories; the other will be nine stories. No building has more than 50 units.
Each building has been designed by its own award-winning architect, offering a luxury level of detailing and finishes to make residents feel like they have the space of a house but convenience of an apartment. In the center of Sydney’s cultural precinct, residents will be a short walk from the city’s most famous icons, including the Sydney Opera House, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Customs House and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Number of units: 106 Price range: From A$1million (US$740,000) Developer/architect: AMP Capital/ MAKE Architecture, Silvester Fuller, SJB Apartment sizes: One-, two-, three-bedrooms and penthouses Features: One-third of the apartments will have harbour views, while others will overlook Macquarie Place Park, the Royal Botanic Garden and Jessie Street Gardens. A network of laneways will provide a new street-level experience while the adjacent heritage-listed 1860s wool store, Hinchcliff House, will be converted into a three-story retail and dining venue, including high-end fashion, hole-in-the-wall cafes and basement bars Website:LoftusLane.com.au