Domain Prestige - March 06, 2024

When international visitors come to stay, I take them to Balmoral Beach in Mosman for a swim in the harbour. It’s a unique experience for those from other countries – you float out in the crystal-clear waters and look back at one of Sydney’s most treasured and beautiful art deco buildings, the Bathers’ Pavilion. Known as the grand old dame of Balmoral, the heritagelisted venue is one of the few remaining examples of Spanish mission architecture in Sydney, and such an experience sums up the attraction of one of the most coveted suburbs in the country. Yes, there are some impressive homes, like the one for sale on this week’s cover, but for me it is its physical setting that is its greatest asset. Leafy streets and plenty of parkland leading down to the harbour. The nature-inspired cover home was designed with this in mind, intertwining the build with the landscape.

Editor: Josephine Huynh

Editorial producer: Hailey Coules

Group picture editor: Kylie Thomson

Senior designer: Colleen Chin Quan

Graphic designer: Emma Drake

National magazine editor:

Group content director: Mark Roppolo

Chief marketing officer: Rebecca Darley

Chief executive officer:

By KATE FARRELLY

Mosman

Sydney 1c Kirkoswald Avenue

$26 million-$28 million

5 3 2

Private sale

Agent: Atlas Lower North Shore, Michael Coombs 0407 980 443

Designed by architect Koichi Takada with interiors by Justine Hugh-Jones and gardens by Myles Baldwin, Palm Frond Retreat is one with nature and captures idyllic, tree-framed views over Balmoral and Edwards beaches, which are just a few minutes away by foot. Choose from four living zones and four al fresco areas, including a sun deck adjoining the infinity pool.

Listed

Toorak

Melbourne 22 Stonnington Place

Whittingham

Hunter Valley 119b Minimbah Drive

Expressions of interest

Agent: Jurds Real Estate, Cain Beckett 0458 282 824

Described by heritage architect Robin Graham as one of the country’s finest rural mansions, Minimbah House is close to vineyards and restaurants. Built in the 1870s, with updates including a pool house in Paul Bangay-designed grounds, the property could be a grand home or a commercial opportunity.

Byron Bay

Byron Shire 21 Brownell Drive

Expressions of interest: Close 3pm, March 12

Agent: Marshall White Stonnington, Marcus Chiminello 0411 411 271 Social tennis followed by a long lunch under the poolside pergola, movie nights in the home theatre and evening soirees in the New York speakeasystyle bar and lounge are yours for the taking at Stonnington House, a lavish, Stephen Akehurst-designed home close to top schools, shops and eateries.

Expressions of interest

Agent: Byron Bay Real Estate Agency, Liam Annesley 0417 780 795

Capturing views to the ocean, this three-storey Wategos Beach home would work equally well as a permanent residence or a holiday escape.

Albany, Western Australia

Maitraya remains a well-kept secret, a tranquil sanctuary nestled gracefully along the shores of the Southern Ocean, providing an unparalleled oceanfront haven.

▪ 650 acres of beachfront land adjacent to a nature reserve.

▪ Six kilometres of uninterrupted beachfront with whale-watching views.

▪ Large 8-bedroom homestead.

▪ 5-bedroom Fisherman’s Lodge and 2-bedroom Aviator’s Cottage.

▪ Accommodates 30 or more guests comfortably.

▪ Private 1000m airstrip and helicopter pad.

▪ Offers a theatre, tennis court, and gym.

▪ Features a sprawling indoor heated pool, spa, and sauna for relaxation.

▪ Private lakes, creeks, and ponds on the property.

▪ Includes a private art collection, priceless sculptures, and antique furniture

M:

DESIGN DIGEST

ARTFUL DISPLAY

The timber Bright Beads Art Pendant Light from Marz Designs is offered in six configurations, but can be tailored to other preferences. This customisation invites creativity, akin to making jewellery as a child. marzdesigns.com

Bygone beauty

These designs brim with retro charm and detailed artistry that evoke a nostalgic era. Compiled by

PAULINE MORRISSEY

CHECKMATE Designed to stand the test of time both in its quality and its check motif, CURIO’s heirloom-quality blankets are made of premium Australian fine merino wool and offered in various vintage-inspired colourways. curiopractice.com.au

RENEWED CLASSIC Double has reimagined the classic ’70s shag rug, moving past those often seen at grandma’s house, with its new ultra-soft, high-pile rugs. These fuss-free rugs are machine washable and stain-resistant, and available in neutral bone, brown, steel blue and olive. double.online

FEELS LIKE HOME Lana Launay shows detailed craftsmanship in the Feels Like Home Floor Lamp, a cosy highlight of her sculptural lighting catalogue. It’s made from natural materials like parchment paper and oiled beechwood. lanalaunay.com

By JIL HOGAN

FOREIGN AFFAIR

39.2076° N, 8.6259° W

Portugal’s

The Harvest House is a modernist stunner that lives in harmony with the landscape and its residents.

Retreating to a country home is a chance to immerse yourself in nature, so it stands to reason that it should share a strong connection with its natural environment.

This ethos is behind the design of The Harvest House. Located in central Portugal, about an hour from Lisbon, the stunning modernist architectural gem is listed for sale with Fantastic Frank Lisbon.

Sellers Manuel Pelicano Antunes and Paula Santos Ferreira say the home and surrounding space resulted from a simple idea: to live in harmony without damaging the landscape.

The walls are a mixture of lime, cement and sand from the land, which is practical and also forges a direct connection to the house’s environment.

“Before creating the project, we carried out a dowsing study to evaluate the earth’s energies and identified places to live or have animals, the most suitable places for building a house, and water reserves,” Antunes says.

For the home, award-winning Portuguese/ Norwegian firm Cerejeira Fontes Architects was

engaged. Its design takes its cues from the architecture of Alvar Aalto and Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Portuguese capital.

“Our reference was and will always be the headquarters building of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon – a project from the ’60s by architects Ruy Jervis d’Athouguia, Pedro Cid and Alberto Pessoa –as well as the surrounding park, designed by landscape architects Antonio Viana Barreto and Goncalo Ribeiro Telles,” Antunes says.

The house was built between 2008 and 2010, and the resulting design beautifully blends simplicity, lightness of space, natural materials and beauty with a focus on the relationship between indoors and outdoors.

A sculpturesque wooden pivot door welcomes you into the main living space. The expansive living room has large windows and seamlessly connects to the kitchen and dining area.

On one side, the living spaces lead to a terrace, garden and pool. On the other is a wing with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Throughout are design features that enhance the connection between inside and out. Ample windows provide panoramic 360-degree views of the expansive estate and beyond. A skylight in the living room allows in natural light, as does another in the stunning bathroom.

“For this bathroom, we imagine lying in the bathtub looking at the sky, which at night is especially inviting due to the faint light pollution,” Ferreira says.

“The room gives a feeling of depth. The squares of the wood give rhythm and softness, as if allowing us to glide and want to look at everything. The windows appear as large natural paintings, conveying a feeling of wellbeing and contact with nature.”

The final room in the home is circular with blue walls, serving as a tranquil meditation space overlooking a pond.

The commitment to honouring the environment carries through the home, from an

LUIS NOBRE GUEDES

ALMEIRIM

While appearing simple, the well-considered “nest” design by Cerejeira Fontes

Architects has the central tenets of lightness, beauty, the use of natural materials and a strong indooroutdoor connection.

eco-conscious design to mindful use of local materials, including ceramics and lioz marble.

“It is a house inspired by the simple houses of the Portuguese region of Alentejo and its balconies that filter the heat, serve to rest the body and also support the display of local products,” Ferreira says.

“The walls are a mixture of lime, cement, and sand from the land, which allows good thermal behaviour and avoids paint, varnish, et cetera. The sand gives a texture and colour similar to the soil of the place where the house is located. The wooden roof and frames provide welcome, comfort and charm.”

The house is in the Santarem district, an area with large farms dedicated to wine production and breeding Lusitano horses. Some of The Harvest House’s 20-hectare estate is currently devoted to high-value organic farming, supplying renowned restaurants and hotels.

While Lisbon is not far away, Santarem is a place for a slower, more mindful way of life.

“In this part of the country, life tends to be calmer, and you can enjoy walks in the countryside or going to the beach. The food is healthier due to its proximity to producers and there are several organic farms,” Antunes says.

“[The Harvest House] is a multipurpose space, for work, but also for rest and silence, where you can cook and welcome friends. What makes it truly unique is the ‘nest’ atmosphere, simplicity and care for small details. All spaces are used, which allows the house to be lived in daily.”

Almeirim

Santarem, Portugal The Harvest House €3.95 million ($6.514 million)

3 2

Agent: Fantastic Frank Lisbon, Miguel Blanc +351 914 164 659

CITY BEACH

City Beach is what it says on the label: a charming beachside suburb a short drive from the Perth CBD. By PAULINE MORRISSEY

Picture a place where dawn breaks with the sun casting its golden hues over four kilometres of pristine beachfront, where two iconic rock groynes stand as guardians of the surf, and where the salty air mingles with the lively chatter from seaside cafes.

Here lies City Beach, a West Australian gem perched on the Indian Ocean’s edge, embodying the quintessence of a life well-lived.

The charm of City Beach extends beyond its shores. Almost half its landscape is devoted to parks and gardens, including the grand Bold Park.

This green belt, comprising the Swanbourne Reserve, Cottesloe Golf Club, and Wembley Golf Course, forms a natural cocoon around the suburb, crafting an antidote to urban sprawl.

Living large in the west

Shore Property director Scott Swingler says City Beach is the only suburb offering large blocks on the coast between Fremantle and Hillarys. This anomaly has safeguarded its spacious appeal.

“Our coastal lifestyle comes at a lower cost per square metre than Scarborough, thanks to our larger lots and zoning,” Swingler says.

“For comparison, properties in Swan Valley or Cottesloe are about double the price for similar sizes, despite being further from Perth.”

Swingler believes City Beach’s current market undervaluation signals promising future growth.

The recent Domain House Price Report shows a median house price increase of 36.1 per cent to $2.45 million over five years.

“People tend to buy real estate for lifestyle and investment, and City Beach covers both these elements entirely,” Swingler says.

“It’s fascinating to see buyers from abroad or the east coast scratch their heads at the value found here, incomparable to other coastal suburbs in Perth.”

Serene and salty suburbia

Joanna Anastos, a proud local, underscores City Beach’s family-friendly nature.

“Having grown up in Dalkeith, my decision to put down roots in City Beach was driven by its ideal suburban qualities for raising a family,” she says.

“It’s a place where safety is paramount, neighbours become friends, and the beach is a central part of our lives.”

For Anastos and other locals, to live in City Beach is to live a good life characterised by splendid weather and simple pleasures.

“The reasons to love living here are manifold, from the comfort of wide streets, the invigorating sea breeze, the melody of birds, and the mesmerising sunsets,” Anastos says. “Nothing beats grabbing the best coffee from the beachfront cafe Voyage Kitchen or having a private path directly to the beach.”

Christou Design Group’s City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club building is now a City Beach icon.

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City Beach

Perth 28 Challenger Parade

$10 million

5 5 6

Expressions of interest: Close 5pm, March 13

Agent: Shore Property, Scott Swingler 0403 344 649

Unveiling arguably the best ocean vistas in southern City Beach, Horizon House covers three storeys, serviced by a lift. It has a north-facing pool and al fresco area for unparalleled leisure.

Hover

Adelaide Hills

Aldgate, 100-106 Milan Terrace

The Gatehouse at Aldgate - 1860

Years ago, this charming stone building was utilised as staff quarters for the historic homestead known as “Prestonfield”. It was also the first point of entry for visitors, now known as “The Gatehouse”. Having been owned, loved and improved by the current family for many years, the time has come for new custodians to take over this unique property on the edge of Stirling in this highly desirable location in the Adelaide Hills. The property was in need of restoration when it was purchased back in 2003. After years of hard work and an architectural addition of a bespoke conservatory, bathroom and laundry (completed in 2007) it is now a comfortable 2-bedroom country cottage on 15 acres of remnant bush. Here, a stunning bushwalk through native flora and fauna is right on your doorstep. Meander through the bushland and enjoy the native orchids that bloom throughout the year, it has to be seen to be believed.

For Sale Expressions of Interest - $2,000,000

View Contact Agent for Viewing Details adelaidehills.harcourts.com.au

Kerry Macaulay

0427 898 141 kerry.macaulay@shorlandre.com.au

Georgia Shorland

0413 907 990

georgia.shorland@shorlandre.com.au

STYLE

A world of possibilities

Decorating with confidence and sophistication can entail a global search for the right materials and objects.

By HELEN HAWKES

If life is a journey, a curated home is one that tells a story of that voyage. For prestige home owners, that tale is not only multilayered but global.

“In a well-travelled person’s house, international materials or pieces show a level of confidence and sophistication that adds distinction to a home,” says Melbourne-based interior decorator Simone Haag.

“It’s a way of connecting with and interacting with the space in a more personal manner and, like art, is an extension of a collection.”

While many owners of luxury homes collect smaller items from abroad, Haag specialises in sourcing historic and modern furniture, rugs and art on international buying trips and curating an entire interior.

“I bring pieces out of Instagram and into the real world,” says the uber-stylist, who reveals that clients often budget seven figures for a project.

Haag recently returned from Milan where she bought unique pieces for a home on Spring Street in the Melbourne CBD.

Among the treasured items is a Hannes Peer coffee table that features a map of Venice laid out in tiles and now sits in the main living room area.

“The client honeymooned in Venice and this piece created a real, relevant moment,” Haag says.

“Because the coffee table isn’t a singular monolithic form, but a series of wedges, it can also shapeshift and interact differently with other pieces in the room.

“We also acquired KINK Fantastico Onyx table lamps designed by Peer that only got better once installed and illuminated.”

As owners invest more in location-scouting for projects, Haag also makes regular trips to Los Angeles where she finds mid-century modern collectable objects and art – including sculptures by Anthony Bianco.

In Paris, her favourite finds have included a tapestry from Kolkhoze, side tables by JeanFrederic Bourdier and an Isac Elam Kaid console.

“Clients do need to have the appetite to invest in a piece sight-unseen, especially when it can be

the price of a small car,” Haag says. “But it’s a contract of trust based on a curator’s portfolio.”

Of course, for those who prefer to do their own choosing, there are international collectors such as Patrizia Castorina and Ugo Cocchis of Castorina in Fitzroy, who import immaculately restored original 20th-century Italian designs.

Global flavour is, by definition, sourced from around the world, so if you have an overseas home, it may have pieces from a growing list of globally recognised makers close to this home.

Flack Studio, also in Fitzroy, will use work by some of its stable of creatives for the new Los Angeles home of music star Troye Sivan.

Haag says that, as the world becomes smaller, sourcing pieces internationally is what can truly set a residence apart.

“It’s where the magic happens.”

TOM BLATCHFORD

Simone Haag decorated this Spring Street home in Melbourne’s CBD with furniture and objects sourced in Milan.

49 MacGillivray Lane, Macclesfield South Australia

A 9-acre architectural lifestyle estate with rolling views over Longview Vineyard and only 45 minutes to Adelaide CBD