Mansion February 2019

Mansion INCORPORATING NEWS FROM DOW JONES’

AUSTRALIA PLUS

12-page Interiors section

Lake Como

Villa Ponti fulfils a dream

Noosa

Paradise at a premium

Jamie Durie

Walter Barda’s natural luxury

Year in Preview The trophy homes to watch in 2o19

Issue 23 February 2019

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Contents

Noosa waterfront, page 30

Hamilton island upsize, aspen aspirations, style in wahroonga

1 3 l u x u ry

1 8 cov E r story

it’ll be business as usual for the ultra-prestige sector in 2019

24 ja m i E d u r i E

the natural wonders of sydney architect walter barda buyers will have the advantage as the market turns a corner

26 dolly lEnz

2 8 k a n g a ro o P oi n t 30 noosa

keen competition is pushing up prices in the laid-back retreat an 1880s terrace gets a contemporary design makeover

3 2 Pa d d i ngton

a striking new build inspired by the japanese minka style

3 4 brisbanE

main beach offers luxury living away from the holiday fray

3 6 g ol d coa st 38 lakE como 4 0 ru r a l

apartments in ‘the kirribilli of brisbane’ are in big demand

three friends live the dream of restoring an italian villa

Productive properties at both ends of nsw have been selling well

4 3 m a n s ion g l oba l 4 4 bac k Pag E 4 7 intEriors

malibu rarity, catalonian luxury, victorian revival

centennial Park is one of sydney’s most prized enclaves a clever rework rescues a home from design oblivion

5 6 P rod u c t

time to take stock with monotones and neutrals

58 my stylE

architect adam Haddow fulfils an abiding passion

nExt issuE:

march 9, 2019

a new European-style home designed by christopher doyle with gardens by ian barker in the quiet but in-demand inner-melbourne suburb of deepdene on tHE covEr

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Mansion AustrAliA

Editor turi condon Contributing editor jonathan chancellor Interiors editor david meagher Art director samantha yates Writers joel robinson milanda rout mackenzie scott Chief sub editor deirdre blayney Picture editor christine westwood Advertising michael thompson tel. 61 2 9288 3630 michael.thompson2@news.com.au

unsolicited manuscripts will not be considered.

Printed by PmP Print, 31 Heathcote road, moorebank 2170, for the proprietor and publisher, nationwide news Pty limited (acn 008 438 828), of 2 Holt street, surry Hills, nsw 2010 for insertion in The Weekend Australian on february 9, 2019

Editor’s letter last year was marked by the biggest top-end sales the market has seen – think the $100 million sale of the fairfax mansion fairwater in sydney’s double bay. but can the more subdued environment of 2019 deliver prestige sales to match? to some extent the ultra-prestige sector marches to its own drum, driven more by the availability of certain homes matching the rare buyers at this end of the market. in our cover story, jonathan chancellor writes that while sales and prices have eased for top-tier houses, we may see cashed-up buyers take advantage of the slower conditions to upgrade. in Queensland, noosa has been a market to watch. a run of double-digit sales started in 2017 and saw tennis legend Pat rafter and his wife lara sell their six-bedroom beachfront home for $15.2 million, while an $18 million sale last year at nearby sunshine beach was a record for the coast. also in Queensland, a japanese-inspired home by brisbane architect liam Proberts fuses the simplicity of japan’s minka-style houses with modern luxury. Proberts designed two adjoining homes in bardon known as the minka twins, with one of them currently on the market. meanwhile jamie durie looks at one of the naturalistic luxury homes by sydney architect walter barda, and dolly lenz picks 2019 as the year of the buyer, after a 10-year bull run for international prestige property. and if you want to live the dream, mackenzie scott has written about three australians who bought a run-down italian villa perched above lake como and gave it a new lease of life. in our interiors section, milanda rout visits a 100-year-old home in sydney’s bronte that was a “total abomination”, according to interior designer Edwina withers, who bought the house and has recreated it as a modern family home. we hope you enjoy this issue of Mansion Australia.

Turi Condon Editor

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Southwinds, a luxury Hamilton Island holiday stay on dianella close, is back for sale after a $2.5 million renovation that upped it from five bedrooms to seven. The renovation included new furniture, also offered in the sale.

The property has 680sq m of internal space and a 300sq m outdoor entertaining area. There’s a gourmet kitchen, and a lounge and bar area with a balcony overlooking the marina. upstairs are four bedrooms, including the master with marina views. There are also two private balconies. on the lower ground level is a second living area and another three bedrooms.

Queensland Sotheby’s agent wayne Singleton says this is one of the largest homes on the market. It has a $4.9 million price tag and after its relaunch last month has fetched around $2300 a night.

Luxury

mor eTon bay

Serene sanctuary The Greenhouse, a recently built eco-home at wights mountain, has been sold for $2.6 million.

The 2.4ha estate overlooks the rolling countryside in the moreton bay region north-west of brisbane. Its modern farmhouse was designed

by Shaun Lockyer architects and completed in 2017. The landscaping, designed by dan young, features drought-tolerant native plants.

Vendors Lee and Lee-anne Stevens run Healthy abode, a consulting and project management company promoting clean, simple living. They bought the block (now with dog-proof fencing) in 2015 for $650,000 and created their own sanctuary. The house has a functional one-level floorplan. There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a studio apartment, and an organic veggie garden. chooks can roam in the rear courtyard, and there’s an infinity-edge swimming pool. ray white new farm agents Hamish bowman and matt Lancashire sold the home.

The Stevens have spent $1.08 million on a 1980s cottage in the byron bay hinterland.

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Estate agent Barbara Wolveridge’s sales pitches over the summer break weren’t just tropical. The Queensland Sotheby’s agent is marketing modern-day mountain chalets in US skiing mecca Aspen.

The 11 Sky Residences at W Aspen are a shared ownership opportunity slope-side atop an 88-room hotel. A one-tenth ownership interest provides five weeks of use by each owner.

W Aspen and the Sky Residences are designed by award-winning design firm nemaworkshop in partnership with Rowland+Broughton Architecture. When completed in the US summer, the property will feature a rooftop bar and pool overlooking Aspen Mountain.

Wolveridge says the Sky Residences represent a statement of space and meticulous design that defies expectations.

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Luxury H u n t E r Va l l E y

Country idyll

wa H r o o n g a

Twenties style Alueria, the former home of architect C. Bruce Dellit – designer of the 1934 Anzac Memorial in Sydney’s Hyde Park – has been listed for sale.

The 1928 home on Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga, is an example of the inter-war Mediterranean movement and one of the few homes of that style remaining on the upper North Shore.

Dellit’s widow, Victoria, sold the home in 1946 for £4500, and it last traded in 1993 for $765,000. Chadwick Real Estate agent Penelope Prior has the listing, with around $3 million sought.

Set on a 1855sq m, the five-bedroom Italian Renaissance-style home features circular arches, tapered columns and a loggia, with sandstone terraces overlooking the swimming pool and tennis court. The former ballroom is now a family entertaining area and library.

Eden, a lifestyle estate at millfield on the fringe of the Hunter Valley wine country, has been listed for sale for the first time. the grand country homestead was master-built within 2.4ha gardens seven years ago, after the land traded for $349,000 in 2009. it has five bedrooms and a north-facing veranda looking across the property, which has a meditation garden, a rose garden, and a vegetable and herb garden, fruit trees and stables. the gardens, complete with a resort-style 15m infinity-edge swimming pool, are serviced by an underground watering system. the old sawmill houses a tea room and office.

Jurds real Estate cessnock agent shelly Jurd is marketing the property.

Dalkeith, one of the Mornington Peninsula’s oldest homes, has been listed for sale in Mt Martha.

The country manor was built around 1938. It was originally owned by Mornington farmer, auctioneer and member of parliament William Vale, who left the estate to his daughter Phyllis and her husband, Herbert Jackson. They renamed it Jackson Hill and trained horses there. They owned Helion, who won the 1955 Australian Cup, having run second to Rising Fast in the 1954 Melbourne Cup. In 1974 the coastal estate of some 34ha was reportedly bequeathed to three hospitals – the Royal Melbourne, St Vincent’s and The Alfred – which then onsold the property as a private home.

The two-storey gabled Tudor-style mansion with a garden by Edna Walling is set on 4ha. It has exposed beam ceilings, timber panelling and nine stone fireplaces. Peninsula Sotheby’s International Realty agents Rob Curtain and Danielle Vasins have a guide of $5.5 million to $5.8 million.

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Su r ry H I L L S

Happy blend an 1890s terrace with a contemporary fitout in Sydney’s Surry Hills has been listed by ballard Property agents mark Lowe and amanda cook with a february 23 auction date.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, on richards avenue in the heart of the bustling inner-city suburb, combines designer whitewashed floorboards with more traditional ornate pressed metal ceilings. The light fixtures have been extensively updated by light designers Space and eurolace, and Sonos speakers and surveillance cameras have been fitted.

There are separate formal and informal living areas and a rear kitchen, accessed through an internal courtyard, which opens to a garden with parking. around $2.85 million is expected.

The palatial Gold Coast home of entrepreneurs Matt Somerville-Smith and his wife Reia has hit the market. The couple – founders of specialist luxury yacht charter Charterworld. com – are asking more than $4 million for the home, which sits within the gated Serenity Shores estate at Helensvale. It last traded for $2.42 million in 2014.

Charlon Delos Angeles and Colleen Brunt at Prestige Property Agents Paradise Point have the listing.

Built in 2009 after it was commissioned by a Malaysian royal family, the palatial waterfront home was designed for waterfront entertaining.

There are four different outdoor terraces on the ground floor and a 12m infinity-edge pool.

The waterside formal dining hall seats 20, while the master bedroom – described as a presidential master suite as it comes with its own private office – is also near the water.

Set on a 1600sq m block, the home includes five bedrooms, five bathrooms and seven reception rooms.

a striking concrete home on an undulating block at Heathfield in the adelaide Hills was designed by melbourne-based architecture firm woods bagot to curve into the landscape. The vendors say it feels like a living sculpture. built in 2013 to showcase their art collection, it won a prestigious award last year from the South australia Institute of architects.

Located 18km south east of adelaide, the home has 650sq m of space split into two wings. one houses five bedrooms, while on the eastern side is the kitchen and a home office. a living and dining area divides the wings. on the lower ground floor there’s a home theatre and a wine cellar.

The 2.6ha grounds include a swimming pool, tennis court, pool house and entertainment pavilion, plus a produce garden and orchard.

South australia Sotheby’s agent Grant Giordano is marketing the home with $4.8 million to $5 million price guidance. It was first listed for $5.5 million two years ago. f e b rua ry 9 - 1 0 , 2 0 1 9 | T H e w e e k e n d au S T r a L I a n

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Year in Preview

While 2019 will bring more volatility, with the top end less vulnerable to the forces of change impressive sales are still on the cards

by Jonat H a n c H a nc El l or

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T

he froth has certainly come off the luxury home market in australia’s most prestigious suburbs. as the downturn escalated late last year, especially in sydney and melbourne, the forecasts for 2019 turned negative. but such is the nature of the top end that agents still expect impressive sales during 2019, especially with the don’t-have-to-sell, off-market offerings. christie’s international agent ken Jacobs has confidence in the luxury sector in 2019 despite the upcoming elections and negative media speculation. “while the lower markets have been impacted by changes in bank lending criteria, government regulation and international uncertainty, i feel the top end is less vulnerable,” he says. “these are conditions in which it is prudent to invest in quality assets.”

Jacobs, who secured the $100 million sale of fairwater in double bay – the fifth consecutive time he’d achieved sydney’s top sale of the year – says the 2019 trophy market will be contingent on what properties are offered to attract both active and passive buyers. “the reality is that the trophy end of the market is challenging every year so there is no reason to expect 2019 to be any different,” he says. this year will see upgraders seize the opportunity to pocket savings. they may well secure a sale at a discount on their expectations, but they will pick up plenty when they come to negotiate an upgrade, depending of course on where the downturn hits hardest. despite some big-ticket listings and the occasional record sale, the overall volume of prestige sales slowed considerably on 2017. melbourne’s inner east was the nation’s worst-performing housing market in 2018, according to researcher corelogic, seeing declines of more than 13 per cent. sellers simply withdrew. melbourne’s overall house value downturn reached 9 per cent by late 2018. the top quartile of the market led the decline with values down 11 per cent, while the lower quartile remained in subtle growth territory over the year at 0.5 per cent. toorak only mustered around 30 house sales of more than $5 million in 2018, compared with the 80 secured in 2017. the same volume contraction occurred in kew and Hawthorn, where former australia Post boss ahmed fahour failed to sell invergowrie, an 1851 bluestone mansion on one hectare. with the final settlements yet to be disclosed, Hawthorn saw 10 sales over $5 million last year, well down from its 25 in the more bullish 2017, while kew also saw around sold 10 above $5 million, down from 18. an indication of revised pricing needs to accompany 2019 listings, agents stress. a toorak home built in 2016 and snapped up for $8.6 million early in its marketing in 2017 is back for sale with a guide of $7.75 million to $8.5 million. the cloverdale avenue home was built by aristicon builders on its 370sq m block that sold with a knockdown home for $2.01 million in 2013. the sleek, modern residence has four bedrooms, including a master retreat with city views, marble ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. there’s a home office with garden views, as well as a living area that opens through floor-to-ceiling glass doors to a wraparound terrace and pool. an internal lift runs through all three levels to the basement, where there’s garaging for five cars, a home theatre with bar and a gym. rt Edgar toorak agent sarah case and rudy Van der berg are marketing the property. “there’s the old saying that if you buy and sell in the same market, you may sell your home for marginally less but you make it up on your next purchase,” case says. the gloss hasn’t entirely come off melbourne, with eastern suburbs agents expecting less pricey areas to shine. deepdene, for example, a quiet inner-city suburb, is expected to emerge in 2019 to compete with the more established prestige markets. the upper end of the market in deepdene has seen prices increase 111 per cent in the 10 years to 2018 – well up on the 77 per cent melbourne average, according to corelogic. it’s seen considerably stronger growth than the oft-mentioned suburbs of malvern, middle Park and canterbury. at deepdene, a new home designed by christopher doyle in gardens by ian barker may be the first house to break through the small suburb’s $10 million barrier. the European-style home on deepdene road, completed four months ago and featuring state-ofthe-art technology and security, is on a 1100sq m parcel that sold for $4.6 million in 2016. Entry is through a palatial reception hall with double-height coffered ceiling, limestone floors and an italian chandelier. the formal living and dining areas are to the south of the foyer, while to the north are the family living and sitting spaces, which open to landscaped limestone terraces. an alfresco terrace with barbecue kitchen and fireplace overlooks a solar-heated pool. a lift runs from the basement level, where there’s a home cinema, billiards room with wet bar, wine room, gym and five-car garage, up to the second level where the five bedrooms lie. marshall white agents James redfern and davide lettieri have a $10.5 million to $11.5 million guide. redfern says deepdene is “an emerging prestige location” with several large period homes being

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replaced by super luxurious family dwellings. “it is a very tightly held location very much sought after by executives with families who want substantial landholdings,” he says. “deepdene road is good value, as buyers looking for the same product in toorak would be paying more towards $13 million to $14 million,” he says. “some of the so-called prestige properties do not necessarily truly represent the real meaning of prestige and high quality. i think anything that is compromised, in terms of quality, size, location, will potentially struggle. if, however, the property is truly of exceptional quality, i do feel there is good demand. i see a drop off in supply and that will underpin value to a large extent.” redfern expects the trend to off-market sales will continue to grow, however he won’t dismiss the significant benefits of a campaign.

“Very often the buyers for these types of homes are not active buyers.” andrew baines at andrew baines & co south yarra noted recently that top-end sales are led by what he calls windfall buyers – “those who have had a significant increase in wealth due to a commercial position or stockmarket listing”. moody’s analytics predicts declines in sydney’s eastern suburbs, the priciest property enclave in the country, to nearly 7 per cent – a much bigger hit than in 2018, when prices there fell less than 2 per cent. but while interest from chinese buyers has slowed, local agent ben collier from the agency suggests the low australian dollar will keep other overseas interest strong. “by the end of 2018 we were seeing more inquiries and interest from a larger pool of potential overseas buyers – especially in the market over $4 million,” he says. collier, who is marketing a rose bay home, says there are plenty of buyers still looking at top-end sydney property, often for cash. “this is a segment of the market that thrives on confidence,” he says, adding that he expects 2019 to feed off the 2018 record sales. while it won’t be a fast-paced market overall, many blue-chip suburbs will register gains, while prices in other parts of the east are likely to stay relatively flat or even drop slightly, he says. He adds 20

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Opposite: Deepdene. Clockwise from top left: Cloverdale Avenue, Toorak; Stephen Akehurst’s Flinders home; Lynford at Hamilton; Tivoli Avenue, Rose Bay

that, despite any short-term falls, the overall gains of the previous five years still put sydney’s east ahead of the game. the freshest harbourfront listing is at rose bay, where property investor stephen burcher has listed on the tivoli avenue dress circle. burcher engaged bruce stafford architects to renovate, with a fitout from interior stylists Hare + klein. over four levels with an internal lift, the home has five bedrooms and unobstructed views across the harbour to the bridge. the 765sq m landscaped gardens slope down to a boatshed. collier has been telling buyers extended settlement terms are on offer as the burchers have yet to find their next home, which will be their city base following a recent $12 million Palm beach acquisition.

Victoria’s mornington Peninsula is seeing downsizer activity with steady sales success. the latest is the flinders home of stephen akehurst, which sold for around $11 million. the buyers are seeking to sell their James rigney-designed brighton home. it was first listed in 2016 with $12 million hopes through estate agent chantal Hooper. the record-breaking prices that emerged last year in melbourne and then sydney will ensure the year remains in the annals for some time to come. last year brisbane didn’t have anything close to its record-setting $18.48 million in kangaroo Point in 2017 through ray white agent matt lancashire. However Jamie Pherous, boss of corporate travel management, spent a record $11.5 million on a new farm block with intentions of building one of brisbane’s best homes. “confidence in the brisbane market is at an all-time high,” lancashire says. the city’s highest house sale last year came when

the Hawthorne home of arrow Energy chief executive shaun scott was bought by anthony yap, the Good Price Pharmacy warehouse founder, for $11.1 million. david and Garry Price at ray white sold the home, which was built in 2014 after scott paid $6.84 million for the 2135sq m riverfront parcel. a more traditional brisbane offering is the tudor-style lynford, currently listed by portrait artist claire stening and her husband Jim, the founder and managing director of bond specialists fiiG securities. the heritage-listed Hamilton home was built in the late 1920s. since paying $3.6 million in 2012, the stenings commissioned architect richard Groves to extend and renovate the windermere road property. a tennis court and pool sit in the 1505sq m grounds. ray white ascot agent dwayne ferguson has the listing. it was the sunshine coast that took the spotlight in Queensland. the highest Perth sale last year came when the 6580sq m superblock slated for taj on the swan sold for $17 million. it had been last sold to the oswal family by the developer warren anderson for $22.7 million. the biggest home sale came from dalkeith when media tycoon kerry stokes spent $11 million on an in-between home near his long-time mansion, which he is demolishing and rebuilding. adelaide’s top sale was off market. the 1885 korra weera on 3500sq m at marden, 4km north-east of adelaide’s cbd, sold for $5.3 million. the next highest sales were both at $5.2 million: a waterfront tennyson home and an off-market offering at unley Park.

Historic stoke House at new town was Hobart’s top sale. it fetched $3.55 million, bettering a $3.45 million sale at sandy bay and $3.3 million sale at taroona. with more than 20 rooms, the 1887 Gothic revival home was built by the then lieutenant Governor of tasmania, sir John dodd. canberra’s woodleigh, listed with record aspirations, remains for sale. the 7965sq m estate on mugga way is in the old red Hill heritage precinct on canberra’s Golden mile, where two homes previously fetched $7 million. berkely residential agent bill lyristakis is marketing the home, which set a record in 2000 when it sold for $2 million.

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Jamie Durie dESIgn

Lightly on the land

It’s rare to find an architect who has as much passion for the natural world as for building within it. walter Barda, principal of walter Barda design, first caught my eye more than 10 years ago with some very elegant seaside dwellings in the Palm Beach area of Sydney’s northern Beaches. These, along with his vast portfolio of extraordinary high-end naturalistic luxury homes, have seen him rapidly assume the status of “starchitect”, with a list of new clients all jostling to commission his talents.

Several years ago I was one of them, and the experience was one of the most creative and enjoyable journeys I’ve been on in my career.

A recent Barda project, poised above middle Harbour in north Sydney, looks like a seaside resort, yet it’s only 15 minutes from Sydney’s cBd. It’s the family home of a couple and their two adult children. Having travelled extensively and experienced high-end residential buildings around the world, they had an intuitive appreciation of quality materials and sophisticated detail. Time spent in Japan gave them an appreciation of natural, textural materials such as finely wrought timber and stone.

The home is family-functional and high-tech, but with all the warmth and tactility that nature can offer. “The project was to incorporate stateof-the-art systems and services, from security through home automation to commercial-grade kitchen facilities.” Barda says.

Its design lends the property a processional quality, with a series of stepped garden terraces beginning at street level and flowing into the interior as a sequence of spaces that gradually reveal the spectacular water view. But it’s a site that only a mountain goat would take on – filled with signature Sydney sandstone.

“The site had wonderful sandstone outcrops, which we decided to incorporate into the design as naturally occurring, sculptural features within the building,” Barda says.

“It was important that views from surrounding properties were to be preserved so the built form evolved as a courtyard, allowing a degree of transparency through the site.”

The house has been conceived as a series of excavated sandstone terraces stepping down the slope. Built over various levels, it is skeletal in form, with expressed off-form concrete and steel frames in finely tapered sections, eschewing bulkiness in scale in favour of a more delicate assemblage perched on a rocky base. given its waterfront location, it was important that the building had a recessive, transparent quality when viewed from middle Harbour.

The external render has a textured finish in matt taupe tones intended to emulate coral. The stair railings are a beautiful palisade procession of turned natural wood poles, and the roof is a majestic concave copper-clad sculpture lined with polished Australian blackbutt.

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JUSTIn ALEx AndER

Opposite: The home clings to its site at Middle Harbour. Left: Signature lush plantings. Above, clockwise from top: The oxblood exterior, curved rooftop and wooden stair rails. Below left: The serene water outlook

It’s all part of the Barda design dnA. He has some signature elements his clients can’t get enough of, but he always manages to incorporate an unexpected element of surprise that brings them joy and provokes conversation. on this project, one of the many such features is the tapestry of timbers carefully layered over the façade of the kitchen island to form a 3-d design of abstract, jostling boat forms.

Barda also has an extraordinary mental library of tropical plantings that he skilfully uses to inject lush landscapes into his projects’ antispace. It softens his seductive architecture at every corner, and gives his clients a rare 360-degree service that provides instant gratification, balancing nature and the built form in a manner that does full justice to the design.

“Rock-faced sandstone in quite monumental proportions anchors the building to its setting,” he says. “Finely profiled timber external cladding is painted oxblood and set within charcoalcoloured steelwork. A gently curved copper roof is a major feature of the design.

“All of these materials have an earthy palette and reflect the notion of architecture as an assemblage of sculptural and textural forms.

Internally the use of blackbutt joinery ceilings and a signature use of turned timber poles and fins, with luxurious silk carpeting, lend the home a very tactile, sensuous quality. Honed granite

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floor slabs have a timeless, aged quality. given its dramatic waterfront location, the idea of the building was conceived at the very beginning of our design process as an imagined mooring for the home, as a kind of habitable vessel became The Slipway House.”

Barda has a talent for green and the environmental consciousness to back it up.

Photovoltaic solar panels and hydronic floor heating have been incorporated into the design.

The courtyard captures a northern aspect, and the internal rainforest garden acts as natural air conditioning, maintaining a stable ambient internal environment. Solar passive architecture that plays to the north is another Barda trademark.

The home has a kind of restorative effect that is difficult to define, with it calmness and elegance reflected in the beautifully realised interior furnishings.

As an endorsement of Barda’s work ethic and demeanour, not only did this project’s clients throw a party to thank all involved, but former Barda clientele come together annually at one of his signature cocktail parties and share build stories with each other over champagne and the odd Aretha Franklin tune.

It’s a gathering I look forward to every year, and it seems the guest list will continue to grow as vigorously as the architect’s body of sumptuous natural design.

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Dolly Lenz

Local aspect

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Brian White buyers are already looking for opportunities in the markets that have been hardest hit by the recent adjustment. we believe the market change will be apparent by the end of the first quarter and now is the time to buy if you are trying to time the cycle. the bottom of the market comes about when there are enough buyers who’ve lost patience with the expectation of continuing falling prices. then the mood changes to one of uncertainty in the continuing inevitability of declining forecasts. ray white’s auction attendances towards the end of the last year jumped substantially – in one week alone we had more than 30,000 people at our auctions. we’ve also seen big increases at open for inspections in the new year. these spikes don’t necessarily mean increases in the number of buyers, but they do show increasing interest in what is happening in the market. all of this is in direct contrast with the sentiment that the property market is still going down. one thing to remember is that most sellers return to the market to buy, and estimates suggest that at least half the current vendors will upgrade with their next purchase. jEllis cr aig

Richard Jellis Four Seasons Residences in Miami. Low-taxing states such as Florida could see an influx of buyers 2019 outlook

Year of the buyer buoyed by low inventories and historically low interest rates, luxury market sellers have enjoyed an unprecedented bull market that has now lasted more than 10 consecutive years. this environment has led to a string of year-over-year price gains, providing sellers with the upper hand in their negotiations. the trend is finally coming to an end, with 2019 shaping up to be the year of the buyer. several factors will contribute to this changing dynamic as buyers finally gain the advantage and begin to dictate terms more than ever before. last year was certainly one for re-evaluating many luxury markets across the globe. several big-name projects were downsized or put on a hold as new developments saw a drop in prices and an increase in time on market. as we enter the new year, a number of factors on the horizon will make 2019 a turning point for a once red-hot market.

Rising Mortgage Rates throughout 2018, increasing rates negatively affected affordability, a major driver of consumer demand for housing in the us. rates should continue to rise as realtor.com has estimated that the rate for a 30-year mortgage will reach 5.50 per cent by the end of 2019.

Growing Inventory Virtually every major us market is expected to see an increase in stock this year. in new york city alone, 2200 new condominium units are predicted to hit the market in 2019, adding to the 33,000 new condo and rental units expected over the next five years. buyers should expect more choices and better terms as sellers vie for what promises to be a shrinking buyer pool.

Consumer Confidence in the luxury space, confidence is a major driver of demand for real estate. these luxury buyers do not need housing and are more motivated by portfolio diversification. while we saw record highs in the stock market throughout 2018, we experienced massive swings 26

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towards the end of the year. if the market continues to decline in 2019, consumer confidence will surely be affected. so what does this all mean for buyers and sellers? faced with these increasing headwinds, sellers will be forced to make concessions in order to secure a buyer. we advise sellers to adjust their expectations and to be flexible, specially those planning to replace the property they are selling. they need to realise they will be buying in a depressed market and may more than recoup any concession they made when they buy their new property. for buyers, this is an environment in which to pick up some great deals. we advise buyers to be aggressive when making offers and to make bids on multiple properties. no falling in love with any one property they will overpay for – buyers must think long term and buy property they definitely want to own. another wrinkle we’re keeping an eye on is the rapidly approaching us tax season. the jury is still out as to what impact the new tax law, which took effect in 2018, will have on buyer preferences. many taxpayers living in high tax states such as new york or los angeles were hit with an effective tax increase as their federal tax deductions for state and local income and property tax payments became significantly limited. will property sellers in lowtax states such as florida, seattle and nevada be the resulting beneficiaries? will we begin to see a new migration as residents in new york, for example, begin selling and buying in florida? real estate developers in florida are betting big on an influx of new buyers as they court potential buyers and brokers in high-tax states with all expense paid junkets, hosted promotional events and broker incentives. will the increased traffic be a trickle, a landslide or something in between? time will tell, but this is definitely something to keep track of throughout 2019.

Dolly Lenz heads New York-based Dolly Lenz Real Estate and last year sold more than $US500 million worth of luxury US and international homes. dollylenz.com

i expect melbourne’s prestige housing market to be subdued in 2019, especially compared with the bullishness of 2012-2017. i see the market up to $6 million, which would include 90 per cent of the properties in the cities of stonnington, boroondara, Port Phillip and bayside for example, staying very much in demand, even if buyers cannot borrow as much as they once could have. in the $10 million to $20 million category, little is ever made public as most properties are sold by private negotiation. i cannot imagine anything other than a reduction in supply at this level as sellers will simply withdraw if they perceive demand has weakened. a federal election is never good for real estate either as people tend to sit on their hands, unsure of whether proposed property-related legislation will be delivered as promised or modified. on a brighter note, a buyer for a house once worth $5 million with $2 million equity in a house once worth $3 million may well see value in moving upmarket now that prices have moderated. with melbourne experiencing continued record net migration and travelling time always at a premium, the inner suburbs will continue to be seen as very desirable. r ainE & HornE

Angus Raine Prestige property markets above $10 million were star performers in 2018 and we expect this trend to continue in 2019. buyers at this level, such as tech entrepreneurs and investment bankers, haven’t needed to rely on financial institutions to fund their real estate acquisitions, so they aren’t affected by the lending regulations that have put the squeeze on other buyers and investors. moreover, properties in prestige suburbs are tightly held and thus tend to hold their value. these markets will be spirited in 2019 as demand will continue to outstrip supply. continuing share market volatility may underpin some prestige property markets in 2019. stockbrokers and futures market traders make healthy bonuses in these conditions and some of this money is sure to find its way into prestige property markets. in 2017, it was announced in the federal budget that foreign and temporary tax residents won’t have access to the capital gains tax (cgt) principal residence exemption. savvy expat vendors are selling prestige properties in anticipation, possibly allowing some buyers to snap up a high-end home. and with the federal election set for may, the possibility of proposed changes to negative gearing or the capital gains tax exemption could stymie prestige property sales.

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BALDIVIS, SANDALWOOD ESTATE If you dream of a country escape but need to remain close to the city, this incomparable property is for you. This truly rare offering features a main residence with seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, plus two standalone cottages.

The dwellings sit proudly amongst a private 10 hole golf course, huge bird aviary, below ground swimming pool, floodlit tennis court, two powered pavilions, and expansive manicured lawns and gardens. The very finest in luxury country living has been brought to the city, less than an hour away from the heart of Perth’s CBD.

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AUCTION THURSDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 (UNLESS SOLD PRIOR)

The entertaining opportunities are endless. Picture a round of golf amongst friends followed by a relaxed evening meal by the sparkling swimming pool. Perhaps there’s a family wedding or important birthday to celebrate? With two powered pavilions on the grounds plus a grand main residence, it’s the perfect place to host the most memorable of events. With two separate self-contained cottages, there is the opportunity to transform the property into a function and events facility, or even a bed and breakfast (subject to council approval). You will be amazed by the bountiful space this stunning estate offers.

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ACTON COT TESLOE PH: 9384 6999 ACTON.COM.AU

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WILLIAM PORTEOUS PROPERTIES INTERNATIONAL PH: 9386 8800 PORTEOUS.COM.AU

Kangaroo Point

Below: Two views of the Walan residential tower, whose design was inspired by the Kangaroo Point cliffs

joEl robi nson

Apartment buyers increasingly want a piece of ‘the Kirribilli of Brisbane’ brisbane buyers have had kangaroo Point high on their apartment acquisition list in recent times, with both new developments and conversions on offer. walan, a $60 million residential tower on scott street, is the latest addition to the market. the Gbw Group development was designed by bureau Proberts and constructed by Hutchinsons builders. the apartments offer views across the river to the Eagle street Pier and city skyline from the front balcony, and from the rear residents can see the bright lights of new farm. the average sale price has been $4 million. “kangaroo Point has long been considered the kirribilli of brisbane,” says simon caulfield, an agent at Place kangaroo Point.

“Growing infrastructure, with an abundance of walkways, parklands, the kangaroo Point cliffs, and more restaurants and cafes are complemented by the arrival of Howard smith wharves and the anticipated Queens wharf.” caulfield, who handled the sales for walan, sold 11 of the 14 apartments off the plan in 2016. three, including the penthouse, were kept by the Ginardi family, who run Gbw Group. “the buyers were mainly families with children still at home,” caulfield says, adding that the practical four-bedroom plus study and media room apartment has defied the perception that only wealthy retirees buy at that price point. walan’s design was inspired by the iconic natural elements of the kangaroo Point cliffs. a heritage house, retained and restored on the site, houses amenities such as lap pool, gym and kitchen. caulfield and colleague courtney maguire are marketing a resale in the 18-level tower. residence 8 spans 300sq m, with a 60sq m balcony off the main open-plan kitchen, living and dining area that features a teppanyaki grill and outdoor fridges. the master suite is in a separate wing from the other three bedrooms. it has its own walk-in wardrobe and ensuite with travertine wall slab and a 28

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Aiming for the heights bath with views to southbank. the external gardens in each apartment, which hang off the second living area, create a vertical forest on the building’s exterior. there have already been successful resales in the block. “we had high demand leading into the settlement of walan prior to christmas,” caulfield says. one couple took advantage of the interest, selling residence 5 just 24 hours after they settled. they sold for $4.5 million, making a profit of 10 per cent. walan is likely to be the last development on scott street, which is separated from the brisbane river by kangaroo Point Park.

“Exclusive locations like scott street are fully exhausted due to its unrepeatable location, therefore opportunities are increasingly rare,” caulfield says. an earlier development on scott street achieved similarly strong results. the tightly held silverwells north block, a conversion of the heritage landmark silverwells, is still one of the priciest apartment blocks in brisbane. completed in 2010, the apartments sit in the historic silverwells manors on the corner of scott and main streets.

terry Peabody, the founder of transpacific industries, spent $7 million on a four-bedroom, two-level apartment with pool. craggy range winery director mary-jeanne Hutchinson, wife of builder scott Hutchinson, the chairman of Hutchinson builders who constructed the building, paid $7.65 million for the ground floor apartment. sale prices for all 14 of the silverwells apartments topped $4 million. there have only been two sales in the past five years, one in 2015 that fetched $4.6 million and another that sold for $4.675 million a year later. walan represents the second time Gbw and bureau Proberts have worked together in recent years – the two teamed up to deliver the award-winning development silt, also in kangaroo Point. last year, ray white new farm agent Hamish bowman secured the sale of the three-bedroom penthouse crowning the Holman street block of seven whole-floor units almost underneath the story bridge for $1.8 million in a quick 17 days. bowman says kangaroo Point is definitely gathering momentum as a suburb to aspire to, and rightly so. “it’s starting to be mentioned in the same breath as new farm and teneriffe, which are both in the $2 million median price club,” he says. bowman had a large number of inquiries on the silt penthouse due to its architectural appeal and design. “stock like silt is in short supply in inner brisbane as one of only a handful of buildings with whole-floor offerings,” he says. inner brisbane has seen its price per square metre soar in recent years. bowman says the premium end has always been around $10,000 per square metre for the internal area of a new apartment. “that benchmark is now moving up to around $12,000 to $13,000 per square metre, and for the most ultra premium we are seeing for the first time $15,000 per square metre.”

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Absolute beachfront.

• Only 5 f ull f loor a p a r t ment s rema i n • Ul t ra - l ux ur y b o ut i que d evel o p ment of ju s t 2 2 re s ide n ce s • Full f loor a p a r t ment s have 3 b ed s a nd 3 ensui tes • E xec ut i ve offi ce + powde r ro o m • Desi gner ki tc hen w i t h b ut l er ’s p a nt r y • E x p a nsi ve l i v i ng a rea a nd 45sq m of pr ivate ve ra n da h • St unni ng v i ews no r t h to Sur fers a nd So ut h to Co o l a ngat t a • Li festy le fa c i l i t i es i nc l ud e covered ro ofto p heated l a p p o o l a nd re c re at io n a re a • All thi s o nl y mi nutes’ wa l k to Bro a d b ea c h b i st ro s, b a rs a nd St a r C a s in o

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in 2017 when noosa broke through the $10 million barrier for the first time, with another stellar sale following in quick succession, the foundation for the 2018 prestige market was laid. last year saw four sales at this level and higher. there were 13 sales above $5 million around noosa shire, and 100-plus sales above $2 million. five years earlier there were around 30 sales over $2 million. secluded beachfront homes, canal homes, low-rise apartments on Hastings street and hillside villas have been snapped up, with brisbane buyers competing with escalating interstate buying interest. in the prestige market, laguna, a 32ha beachfront estate with a five-bedroom home, sold for $10.75 million through dowling neylan real Estate in late 2017. that was followed a week later by a waterfront in the heart of noosa bought by accountant anthony bell and wife kelly landry for $10.301 million. the Paul clout-designed Hia Queensland home of the year on 1230sq m has six bedrooms, a 25m infinity pool and its own private beach. tom offermann real Estate agents John dover and tom offermann sold the home. the bull run of quick double-digit sales continued throughout 2018. offermann and Eric seetoo from tom offermann real Estate secured $15.2 million for the opulent beachfront property of tennis legend Pat rafter and his wife lara. the six-bedroom home was designed by John burgess and built under rafter’s eye on a 1285sq m parcel around a central infinity pool. it was bought by semi-retired tasmanian burger entrepreneur david Hales and his wife louise. the offermann agency then quickly sold a webb road, sunshine beach, home on a 3595sq m ocean-front parcel for $18 million – a sunshine coast record. agent nic Hunter marketed the hotel-style residence, which has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a commercial kitchen, tennis court, pool, cabana and guest cottage. Hunter says it rivals the best houses on the east coast after a back-to-bare renovation by designer david Hicks. there was a quiet sale, too, of the noosa Hill holiday home of david Evans, the former Essendon bombers chairman, and wife sonya, who bought the little cove property, noo-Jee, in 2015 for $5.75 million. the two-level, four-bedroom home was designed by architect noel robinson and built by master builder ken morrow. the Evans family sold for $11.2 million then bought a $14 million five-bedroom belmore terrace home with 23m pool before it even hit the web, through offermann and Hunter. offermann expects 2019 sales activity to remain strong due to low interest rates and an easing of some lending restrictions, although he expects a slight cooling-off ahead of the federal election. “the election will cause some people to sit on the fence for a couple of months, and then it should be business as usual,” he says. noosa has registered a compound capital growth rate of more than 9 per cent average for houses over the past three decades, according to rEiQ research – the highest growth of any shire in the state. and it wasn’t just the ultra-prestige segment that performed well. there were 12 sales over $5 million in 2018, the highest on record in the area and the only time the noosa shire has seen double-digit figures in that bracket in one year. the priciest home below $10 million was on the waterfront witta circle, where a Hamptons-inspired home just two years old sold for $8 million. designed and constructed by noosa builder tony fitzpatrick, it is built around a central courtyard and oriented to look out across the water. the main living area opens to a covered deck and a lap pool flanks the side of the home, which traded for $4.01 million in 2010 before its rebuild. century 21 agents david conolly and adam watts sold the home. director John stainton, creator of The Crocodile Hunter, and his producer wife Judi bailey are looking to take advantage of the buoyancy of the seaview terrace market. a few doors down from the rafter residence, they’ve listed their Gabriel Poole-designed home, newly renovated by brisbane-based troupe studio. the master suite with private terrace spans the whole top level. there are four bedrooms, four bathrooms, an executive home office and a rear courtyard. dowling neylan agents adrian reed and darren neal are asking $4.3 million for the home, which last sold for $1.5 million in 2000. most of noosa’s headline sales have been on or close to the beach, but last year cintamani, the former noosa hinterland retreat of us-based music producer and songwriter mike chapman, sold for $4.25 million through seetoo and offermann. chapman bought the 35ha property for $8 million in 2007. cintamani was built by austrian tennis champion thomas muster in the mid-1990s and features a championship tennis court. the single-level, five-bedroom retreat offers more than 1400sq m of living space. a music room and studio were a big attraction for chapman, who famously helped pen tina turner’s hit song Simply the Best. muster paid $1 million for the parcel in 1994 and sold his newly built home for $7.6 million in 2002 to stephen walker, co-founder of debt collection agency collection House.

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Pieces of paradise The small-town ease of Noosa now comes with a big-town price as buyers jostle for position

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Noosa Jonat H a n c H a nc El l or

Clockwise from left: The HIA Queensland home of the year; Witta Circle; Seaview Terrace; Pat Rafter’s house; Noosa from the air

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Paddington

Left: The surfboard-shaped kitchen island and cloud light.

Right: Entertaining area. Bottom: Orange and green ’70s sofas

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A stunning transformation has brought an 1880s terrace into the 21st century when architect chris bosse, the founder and asia Pacific director of architecture firm laVa, bought a terrace house in sydney’s Paddington in 2014, his task was to create a modern light-filled abode behind its 1880 walls. since its dramatic renovation, tivoli terrace has become one of sydney’s most photographed design properties. the terrace had been bought for $1.135 million as a threebedroom home that had barely been updated from the 1970s. “the key move was to open up the kitchen and living room corner wall into the courtyard,” bosse says. Every square centimetre of the 70sq m tivoli street parcel could then become living space. the idea was to make the kitchen literally the centre of the house. “it has an unusual shape, with the courtyard stepping out sideways rather than in the back. that gave me the opportunity to create an indoor-outdoor entertainment area focused around the smEG kitchen and surfboard-shaped kitchen island. “it feels light, open and airy, and contemporary – quite the opposite of a traditional terrace house.” bosse designed the island and kitchen cloud light himself. “i wanted to use furniture designed either by myself, by legends or by my peers,” bosse said.

He says there’s a bit of time-travelling going on in the furniture, from Victorian times to danish modernism. “i chose lighting from louis Poulsen and karim rashid to david trubridge.” the kitchen appliances were designed by marc newson and the bathroom was done by ross lovegrove. bosse converted the three small bedrooms upstairs into two good-sized bedrooms. “agents are always pushing for more bedrooms, so someone had built this third bedroom,” he says. “i didn’t like how it took light away from the stairway and circulation space, and saw an 32

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Renovation by design

opportunity to create a second living room. we furnished it with togo sofas in lime green and orange, designed in the ’70s.” bosse had the help of his partner, landscape architect jennifer kwok. “there’s always yin and yang in every partnership,” he says. “i was very focused on the contemporary transformation, but the result has a very warm and east-west kind of feel.” over the past two years the renovated home has been a lucrative rental, grossing around $85,000 a year. bosse says that his favourite feature is the sliding doors and screens, which allow infinite variations in the space, from open and semi-open to closed. “in winter we love the contemporary fireplaces on both levels,” he says. tivoli terrace is the only Paddington property to have featured on the front cover of Grand Designs Magazine. it has also appeared in a spread in new york’s Design Magazine. bosse reckons such expansive coverage stems from the fact that australians have always been fascinated by terraces. “and maybe that’s related to the English heritage,” says the German-born architect, who has offices in Germany and Vietnam as well as australia. He founded laVa with tobias wallisser and alexander rieck in 2007. louisa jackson at the bespoke agency langulin is selling the home, with plans that include an attic conversion. she has a price guide of $2.3 million. sales of two-bedroom Paddington terraces last year ranged from $1 million to $2.78 million. bosse, who is working on client projects across five continents, is yet to decide on his new sydney abode. “sydney is my home and i can’t wait to get my hands on the next project,” he says. “maybe a different typology, maybe a beach house?”

t H E w E E k E n d au s t r a l i a n | f E b rua ry 9 - 1 0 , 2 0 1 9

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Bardon

A traditional Japanese house style inspired the design of this Brisbane home

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scot t bu r rows

Inside out

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Opposite: Liam Proberts’ Minka-style house. This page: The interiors were styled by Coco Republic to enhance the property’s open feel

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n innovative two-storey house in brisbane designed by local architect Liam Proberts of bureau Proberts takes the Japanese minka style and marries it with the contemporary luxuries expected in prestige new builds. one of two adjoining properties dubbed the minka Twins recently built at bardon, is made almost entirely of glass and wooden battens.

The home has been listed through emily rogers at Position Property with $1.85 million hopes.

Proberts says minka houses, meaning “houses for the people”, are characterised by their simple structure, which offers the possibility of being completely open on all sides. He says the design suits life in brisbane’s subtropical climate while also meeting the needs of a modern family.

The two-level home was a collaboration between Proberts and Story developments, a brisbane-based development company headed by marvin d’souza. Story developments is building another two standout homes in nearby Graceville.

The bardon home was recently furnished by coco republic Property Styling, which accentuated the modern, raw aesthetic with a contemporary fitout. agent emily rogers says the styling makes the property look immediately liveable and will help to maximise its sale price potential. a stone path leads from beatrice Street to the ground-floor entry, which has exposed concrete floors and ceilings, neutral tones and sliding glass walls. Internal gardens are featured throughout.

The central living room is framed by two outdoor patios that connect to the dining room and kitchen, which has miele appliances, an integrated fisher & Paykel dishwasher, stone benchtops, ample cabinetry and a kitchen island. outside, one patio overlooks established gardens and a pool. kristy-Lee michael, coco republic’s Queensland property stylist, says they were motivated to maintain the minimalist, Japanese-

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inspired aesthetic of the design. “for me, it was vital that our styling did not detract from but would rather enhance the immaculate carpentry and open atmosphere of the property,” she says.

“The building really invites a connection between internal and external spaces; we didn’t want the furniture to conflict with this.

It was important that the outdoor furniture continued the story from inside to out.” michael says furniture placement is a key consideration in a property like this.

“Story developments allowed us free rein on space planning. It was a fine balance between enhancing the architectural qualities of the space and creating an environment suitable for modern living.

The formal living area was specifically arranged so as not to affect traffic flow, from the large swinging plywood doors at the entry through to the glass stacking doors at the rear of the house. you get a real feel for the design, being able to move through it with ease.”

She says that because of the striking external façade, which allows the upstairs living area to be partially visible from the street through the batten screening, they needed to consider the placement of the furnishings. access to the upstairs level is via a winding, floating staircase that overlooks an internal garden. It leads to the four bedrooms, which are connected to a balcony by a timber-floored breezeway with sliding glass doors.

The main bedroom upstairs features floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a private balcony, adjoining multi-purpose room, and an ensuite with double vanity and a rain shower.

The property is about 7km from the brisbane cbd and a short walk from the riverside Jubilee Park. rogers said this was “a rare opportunity to experience luxurious, contemporary family living in the heart of one of brisbane’s most popular inner-city neighbourhoods”.

She says the minka design is a masterstroke in providing muchvalued separation and togetherness for the occupants while also connecting the outdoor and indoor areas.

“Set high on the hill in a tightly held, highly desired tree-lined street, and only moments to top-performing schools and the Paddington lifestyle precinct, this thoughtfully crafted, brandnew residence has been impeccably designed and flawlessly finished,” she says.

It’s the second time Proberts has built a pair of houses. In the late 1990s he owned a set on Paddington’s royal Street with his wife cathryn. He said at the time that on a small block you have to use every inch – referring to the garages that open from the front and through to the courtyard at the rear of the house and the sliding doors to the lounge.

The couple’s first purchase at bardon was an old home on a 715sq m parcel on rosewood Street that they bought in 1999 for $184,500, before building an eco-friendly home in 2001.

They lived in that four-bedroom property for the next 13 years, before buying again one street over for $705,000. The redundant home, which has a swimming pool with a clear viewing panel to the courtyard, was sold for $1.275 million.

The pair went about turning their second home into a modern Queenslander with what locals would recognise as an ashgrovian quality – referring to a variety of Queenslander built between the late 1920s and world war II in the adjoining suburb of ashgrove. drawing on the home’s subtropical setting, Proberts designed it so that it overlooked the neighbouring bush reserve from its 760sq m ridge-top site. clad in vertical black slats, the home – dubbed bardon House – won the award for new residential architecture Houses at the 2017 Queensland architecture awards.

The intention was to make the indoors feel part of the landscape. materials such as timber and stone were used throughout to enhance the outdoor feel. and rather than placing the veranda at the rear off the living room as many such houses do, Proberts made the veranda itself the living space, removing any disconnection from the outside.

Since setting up his architectural practice in 1990, Proberts has also worked on the brisbane Powerhouse masterplan, the Iceworks development in Paddington and even wahat al karama, a war memorial in abu dhabi.

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Gold Coast JoEl robinson

Main chance

A luxury apartment in one of the boutique towers of Main Beach is a guarantee of classy living away from the holiday fray

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M Left and below: M3565. Opposite, clockwise from bottom left: Oscar on Main penthouse pool; living area of Oscar on Main penthouse; Sea on Main Beach Parade. This page, bottom: Sea on Main Beach Parade

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ore than 25 years after the last luxury residential tower was completed on the sand on the Gold coast’s main beach, passionate property developer katie Page built the boutique residential block m3565. that was in mid-2017. now the newest entrant to the main beach precinct, the sea complex – to be built by developer louis Zenonos just a few blocks away – is providing some more choice.

Page secured the first sale in m3565 late last year but narrowly missed out on main beach’s highest apartment sale price for 2018. that mantle went to Zenonos, who sold the sixth-level sub-penthouse of the bayden Goddard-designed sea for $5.6 million to rich-lister tony Quinn and his wife christina. the founders of the ViP Petfoods empire, which they sold for $410 million in 2015, were buying back into main beach, having sold their 19th-level apartment in the nearby axis building for $2.115 million earlier in the year. ray white surfers Paradise agent robert Graham is confident that the main beach prestige market will stay strong. “all indications are that the luxury apartment segment in main beach will continue in 2019 just as strong as it ended in 2018, with significant buyer activity, shorter days on market than the Gold coast’s average and a long list of notable sales,” he says. “the selling out of the sea development and the ongoing sales in m3565 have instilled confidence and reconfirmed to the national marketplace that main beach is one of the most in-vogue beachside suburbs on the eastern seaboard.”

Graham says there has been a distinct void in main beach since 1990, when the last luxury whole-floor apartment building was constructed. “the demand has been there, however until now there has been no option apart from buying older-style developments such as the ocean isles, where the last two sales we handled were $5.75 million and $5.35 million, with the need to undertake substantial $1 millionplus renovations.”

Graham secured the $5.5 million sale of the fourth-floor apartment in m3565 last year, the first in the block. the new apartment spans 315sq m and has four bedrooms with views over beach and ocean, as well as four bathrooms, and a beach-facing, fullwidth balcony off the living space.

Graham is now marketing the apartment above, with a $5.75 million guide. He says boutique apartment blocks such as m3565 and sea resonate with high net worth individuals who don’t want 500-plus other occupants in a building full of holidaymakers and positioned above mixed-use commercial dining space.

“High on the buyers’ checklist is innovative, classy living with an emphasis on space,” he says. “Gone are the days of multiple living areas; today it is all about wide, usable balconies that combine indoor and outdoor living, which is what the beachside lifestyle is all about. a connection to the beach and not being on the 60th floor of a mega high-rise is what buyers are chasing.” the seven-level m3565, designed by sydney architect Virginia kerridge, contains five apartments, with Harvey norman chief executive officer Page set to keep the $10 million, two-level penthouse. kerridge says the use of contemporary finishes such as tinted concrete, timber shutters and zinc ensured the building was different from anything previously seen on the Gold coast.

Zenonos has no intention of hanging on to the penthouse in his sea development, and has listed it with $9.75 million hopes. the 705sq m apartment across the top two levels of the building was designed by Gold coast architect bayden Goddard. accessed through a private foyer, it has four bedrooms and an ocean-facing balcony. the second level is dedicated to the master suite, which also has a balcony flanked by a private lap pool. michael kollosche at kollosche Prestige is marketing the apartment. it’s important for boutique towers such as m3565 and sea to front the beach as they do not have the presence to soar over surrounding buildings like some of main beach’s more established towers of power. in 2011, melbourne company director and racing enthusiast Peter devitt set the main beach record, paying a heavily discounted $9.2 million for the five-bedroom liberty Panorama penthouse, which sits off the beach. it was first listed in 2007 with $16.5 million hopes, then $15 million in 2008 and $14 million in 2009. over two levels with a private lift, it tops the Gold coast’s first elliptical-shaped high-rise, completed in 2001. with 1200sq m of space, it was bought off the plan from mirvac for $3.29 million in 2000. in 2016 the devitt family accepted $3.35 million for their 26th-floor apartment in silverpoint, main beach, bought for $1.65 million in 1989. sold by ray white agent robert Graham, it has four living areas and four bedrooms, each with its own balcony. kollosche is marketing the two-level penthouse crowning oscar on main with an $8.95 million guide. the sprawling 910s qm apartment has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a private rooftop swimming pool, sauna and outdoor kitchen.

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Lake Como m ac k E n z i E s c o t t

The Italian job

Restoring a mid-century villa was a dream project for three friends

Escaping to a small village in northern italy to live in a secluded lakeside villa may sound like the plot of a movie, but for a melbourne trio it became a reality. on the picturesque shores of lake como lies Villa Ponti. Hidden down a series of winding roads and tracks, the three-storey, eight-bedroom property sits 7km above the lakeside town of bellagio, with stunning 180-degree views of the water. for author barbara biggs, it was a dream project. to make it a reality, she approached her friend Jan owen, chief executive of the foundation for young australians, and her husband david James, who were happy to get behind the idea. a four-year search for the right property took the trio from sicily to rome, Venice and florence. they stumbled upon the villa online, and its seclusion and unique design was exactly what they were looking for. “when you spend quite a bit of time in italy, you almost get tired of seeing all the italian villas,” laughs James. “it becomes a bit of a cliché, so it was refreshing to see mid-century architecture done with a nautical theme sitting on the edge of a cliff.” they began negotiations, and before the ink had dried on the contract in July 2017, they got to work. the restoration was sympathetic to the home’s original design and aimed to retain as much of its structure as possible. renaming the villa to honour the original architect, the renowned Gio Ponti, was also a mark of respect. a man of many talents, Ponti is often cited as one of most influential italian architects of the 20th century. before his death in 1979, the 87-year-old built an impressive body of work that included dozens of designs executed in 13 countries. He is also known for launching and editing one of the world’s leading architecture magazines, Domus, of which he produced more than 500 editions. He was also an accomplished interior designer, painter and writer. as a friend of the original owners, the fossati family, Ponti offered his services.

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the villa took two years to build and was designed to look like it was floating on the clouds. it was visually inspired by the ocean liners of the time, incorporating funnels, lights, and wooden panelling and flooring. over the years, however, many parts of Ponti’s vision fell into disrepair. most of the outside plaster on the northern wall had come away due to the elements, which meant painting the interior walls was close to impossible. when the trio first inspected the property they needed torchlight, as most of the window shutters did not open and the rooms were in darkness. “we didn’t even know how much light was in the rooms!” says biggs. “it was depressing, but then we thought, with that view the light has to be amazing. when we got all the shutters open and fixed, every room just shone with light. we have 180 degrees of light – the sun rises on the far east of the building and sets on the far right.” on the other hand, parts of the home were in pristine condition. not a single tile in either of the original bathrooms was cracked and they remain a time capsule. not all was retained, though. despite being in good condition, the kitchen was entirely replaced with rich cherrywood cabinets and a brass island bench that took five months and three craftsmen to install. “the kitchen was a whole saga in itself, including knocking a gigantic hole in the wall to bring the cedar forest visually into the kitchen area,” says biggs. all the modern essentials – plumbing, electrical and heating –were also replaced. the scale of the project was massive, costing double the trio’s budget. while coy about the details, they say the renovations were as expensive as the villa itself. biggs now lives full time in the downstairs apartment once used as staff quarters, while owens and James visit as much as they can. the main house can be rented through airbnb. “Every time we go there we are literally gobsmacked by this incredible space,” says owens. “How on earth did we get such a beautiful place? what a privilege and a gift to be a guardian of this wonderful piece of architecture.”

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Opposite: Villa Ponti sits above the town of Bellagio on the edge of Lake Como.

Above: The villa’s interiors are flooded with light. Below, from left: A sun-dappled terrace; cobblestone driveway; owners Jan Owen, David James and Barbara Biggs

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Rural estates JoEl robinson

Greener pastures

Buyers have been showing keen interest in productive country properties at opposite ends of New South Wales

farming properties in the new England and riverina districts of nsw enjoyed strong capital growth during the past year off the back of improved cattle, sheep, lamb and wool markets. land values in the two regions have risen quite substantially, says chris meares at meares & co. “there’s been a drop-off of interest out of china. However interest from the uk, Europe and america remains strong,” he says. “it is anticipated that this strength in values will continue into the near future.” in new England, several blue ribbon properties changed hands. one of the most notable was isla, a 1318ha grazing property at tenterfield that had been held by the Jeffrey family for several generations. tenterfield sits 200km inland, nestled in a valley astride the Great dividing range. spread across 40 titles, isla, with its shaded timber cattle yards, three creeks and a number of spring-fed and catchment dams, was working 400 head of cattle. bruce birch and andrew starr from ray white rural sold the property in just 37 days to local grazing interests. birch says the quick sale was testimony to the quality of the property. “isla boasted scale and a level of production difficult to find in the tenterfield district,” he says. the agents had more than 30 inspections. the homestead, set among established country gardens, dates back to the late 1800s. a historic barn has hosted many family weddings. “new England property sales enjoyed a marquee year in 2018, with several blue ribbon properties sold,” birch says, pointing out that much of new England escaped the ravages of the drought that has gripped the state. “East of the Great dividing range, coastal weather patterns provided rainfall beneficial to production and for many months the north-eastern corner of nsw was the envy of the rest of the eastern seaboard,” he says.

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He notes that 2019 has brought a decline in conditions for some areas as performance pastures struggle to handle the intense heat. birch says buyers are chasing increased production and secure rainfall, both trademarks of new England. rural specialist sam triggs at inglis rural Property says new England and the riverina region in the south of nsw were popular due to generally consistent rainfall meaning they presented lower operational risk. He notes, however, that rainfall patterns do differ. “new England receives more summer rainfall whereas the south is more winter dominant,” he says. new England acquisitions were led by Gina rinehart, John corcoran from the uk and Jim litchfield from southern nsw. farmers on the liverpool Plains experiencing the extreme dry looked to diversify into livestock production. the new England region only just edged out the riverina in sales activity in 2018. triggs says riverina properties sold strongly around young, cootamundra, Jugiong, Holbrook and wagga wagga. they’ve been selling for $3500 to $4000 per acre, and sometimes north of $4000 per acre. “the south west slopes is very popular due to its location on the southern corridor [Hume Highway] from sydney to melbourne,” he says. the riverina’s snow-fed murrumbidgee is recognised as a more reliable river than those in northern nsw, meares suggests. at Holbrook, south of wagga wagga, the historic forest Vale was sold late last year by the watson family. the buyer will be only its third owner since it was settled more than a century ago. the watson family patriarch, the late ian watson, was a key player in the beef industry for five decades. He sat on the board of meat and livestock australia. the family bought the property, which fronts the Hume

Above and opposite, top three: Isla, a grazing property with a three-bedroom family homestead in Tenterfield, NSW Below: Birubi, a cattle stud at Borambola with a 1903 homestead Opposite, bottom two: Historic Forest Vale at Holbrook, on the Hume Highway south of Wagga Wagga

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sta bl Es

A place in the sun

Highway, in the late 1990s when they needed to expand their stud. over time it became injemira beef Genetics as the watsons saw its potential. forest Vale consistently ran 950 commercial breeders, turning out steers for the European union market. the 1136ha property was originally part of the iconic kinross station, owned by the pioneering ross family. the early 1900s homestead with gardens adjacent to billabong creek has kept its Victorian period architecture.

Elders albury real Estate agents david Gittoes and reg coulston sold the property, which with 95 per cent arable land is also suitable for crop growing. they had given price guidance of around $11,000 per hectare. another big cattle stud sale in the riverina was the tynan family’s birubi at borambola, which fetched $4.1 million. the 432ha property, home to the limousin and lim-flex studs, was established in the early 1990s by the late sydney car dealer michael tynan and his wife annette. they initially bred limousin, and then angus. a birubi bull was judged grand champion at the 2018 sydney royal show. the property with 1903 homestead, was sold by webster nolan real Estate agent david nolan. “the total riverina region is one of the most diverse agricultural areas in australia,” he says. “it’s a very mixed agricultural region, and is based on both dry land and irrigated agricultural enterprises,” nolan notes, adding that the buyer pool is as diverse as the agricultural pursuits. the corporates are there as there is scale and size, while mums and dads are wanting to increase their holdings to support more family members. nolan believes 2019 will see land values remain strong, even though he thinks they’ve plateaued. “commodity prices and the lack of listings will see the demand for land remain and current levels,” he says.

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there’s an emerging trend for horse acreages in the sunshine coast hinterland to be snapped up by buyers from south of the border with equine interests. local agent ann Ellison from Zeb realty says her buyer pool is dominated by city dwellers who are downsizing and seeking a lifestyle escape. “buyers from the nsw highlands tend to look for horse properties,” Ellison says. those looking to run cattle in the hinterland are generally downsizers from the west of Queensland.

“Generally speaking, 85 per cent of our buyers for sunshine coast lifestyle estates are baby boomers from brisbane, farmers downsizing from western Queensland, melbourne and sydney, and the occasional expat returning to australia. “the other 15 per cent are local buyers who are already enjoying the sunshine coast lifestyle, more often than not moving up into the hinterland from the coastal fringes such as noosa, sunshine beach and buderim. they visit the sunshine coast hinterland for a little getaway and immediately appreciate our cooler climate.”

Ellison, along with her husband stuart, is marketing balmoral at montville (pictured), a high-end horse estate on a spread over 5ha. on the property is a country home that looks east across the countryside as far as the ocean 28km away. mooloolaba is on the coast. a classic australian homestead blended with European influences, the home has four bedrooms, a study, a Hamptons-style kitchen and three separate living areas. french doors open onto covered verandas that overlook cottage-style gardens reminiscent of provincial france or the verdant English countryside. also within the grounds are cleared paddocks for horses, a rustic old shed that has been converted into a two-bedroom guesthouse and a 9m sandstone swimming pool.

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Downsize to more

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Originally published on mansionglobal.com

ba rc el ona

london

Monument to Modernism

located in the heart of the city just off Kensington church Street, Vicarage Gate, a restored Victorian terrace, is a sophisticated blend of traditional and modern. The kitchen, stairwell and basement of the luxury complex have been updated with all modern conveniences and have a slick contemporary feel, while the dining and reception rooms retain their classic fireplaces, elaborate chandeliers and original wall mouldings. large sash windows and added skylights flood the home with light.

The 810sq m, five-storey home has six bedrooms and seven full bathrooms. as well as a heated indoor pool, treatment room and gym, there is a small garden, an elevator for easy access to all floors, and a study.

The property is sandwiched between Kensington Gardens and Holland Park, with easy access to the Science Museum, the natural History Museum and the Victoria & albert Museum.

James Gow of Strutt & Parker has it listed for £19.5 million ($34.7 million).

Jon el l e M a n n Ion

Positioned at the top of casa burés, one of barcelona’s best preserved buildings in the catalan Modernist style, this two-floor penthouse apartment in the eixample district offers contemporary living with classic catalonian style. It was built between 1900 and 1905, and first owned by one of Spain’s most successful textile merchants, Francesc burés, who used it as his main residence, company headquarters and rental apartments.

The intensive renovation of the century-plus-old building, now on the market for €3.525 million ($5.62 million), took a 50-person team more than 100,000 hours over three years to complete. The painstaking process required them to not only remove and restore the original wood beams, but also to renovate tens of thousands of stained glass and mosaic pieces. broker liza Kjellberg of lucas Fox says the combination of historical details and striking aesthetic features make the property “like a museum”.

Inside the penthouse, an updated contemporary style with white walls, modern appliances, and an uncluttered open space are the perfect foil for historic details such as restored ceiling paintings and ornate flooring. Warm wood floors and a skylight give the second floor a light-filled atmosphere, while the scenic balconies of the firstfloor windows offer glimpses of the eclectic catalonian city.

Spread over two floors, the 229sq m penthouse includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms. a 20m rooftop pool offers residents a view of the city’s skyline, including the Sagrada Família and the Mediterranean. on the ground floor there’s a spacious communal area with a large kitchen and dining room, a private wine cellar, a laundry room, and a fitness centre with pool. casa burés was designed by Francesc berenguer i Mestres, a friend and assistant of the influential architect antoni Gaudí.

a $uS125 million estate owned by entertainment mogul ron Meyer is now the most expensive listing in the exclusive beach enclave of Malibu, california. If it sells for its asking price, the contemporary, glass-covered home will set a record in los angeles county, according to listing broker Kurt rappaport of Westside estate agency.

Meyer, 74, nbcuniversal’s vice chairman, acquired the property in 1997, using an eponymous trust. It’s not clear how much he paid. Spanning more than 1208sq m, the home was designed by famed late architect charles Gwathmey, one of the so-called new York Five. It has ocean views, a gourmet kitchen, a theatre, a gym, a home office, and a master suite with a two-storey panelled library and a gallery. also on the 1.2ha estate is a swimming pool, two guesthouses, a tennis court and a spa house.

“You can’t build a house this large in Malibu anymore,” rappaport tells Mansion Global. “This is like buying one of the most important artworks in the world.”

M aT eo TaT e

l I Z luc K I nG

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MalIbu

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Centennial Park Jonat H a n c H a nc El l or

City oasis the tightly held homes of centennial Park have long featured on lists of sydney’s top properties. indeed, ever since Federation a vantage point overlooking the park has been highly prized. the best are found on martin and lang roads, which directly face the public parklands proclaimed by governor lachlan macquarie in 1811. Eighteen of centennial Park’s top 20 house sales have been on these two streets, and starting in 2006, six have broken the $10 million barrier. last year tech billionaire and atlassian cofounder mike cannon-Brookes and his wife annie secured a $16.5 million record for Braelin, set on a 2149sq m parcel on lang road, which they bought for $12 million in 2015. a single-storey 1918-era mansion designed by architect donald Esplin for sydney’s lord mayor, sir allen taylor, it was sold to philanthropic couple Brian and Gene sherman by the agency’s Ben collier. cannon-Brookes and his family then headed to double Bay with the $100 million Fairwater in their sights. the crossways, one of the finest Federation 44

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arts & crafts home in australia, holds second place on the centennial Park property podium. the Zavattaros family paid $10 million for the 1800sq m holding on martin road in 2006. it sold again for $12.75 million in 2017. designed in 1908 by B.J. waterhouse for surgeon dr Gordon craig, the home now sits amid gardens designed by Paul Bangay. it was renovated in the 1990s by architect Espie dods for then owners, former mcGuigan wines director James smiley and his wife Jane. murralla, on martin road, holds third place, fetching $12 million in 2015. it had been the longterm residence of former australian industrial relations commission president Justice deirdre o’connor and her barrister husband michael Joseph. the restored Queen anne mansion, which sits on 2300sq m with a championship allweather tennis court, pool and two-storey stables, was built after the block fetched £486 pursuant to the 1905 centenary Park sale conveyancing act. it was best known as the home of the late celebrity-maker Harry m. miller, who bought it for

$220,000 in 1973 and sold in 1979 for $567,000 to gynaecologist dr robert diamond and his wife, Elaine. in 1977, miller hosted Prince charles there for christmas drinks. miller joined writer Patrick white and other centennial Park residents in Jack mundey’s green ban protests during the early 1970s after the state government announced plans to bulldoze many houses and turn centennial and moore parks into a concreted olympic venue. murrulla was the inspiration for the family home in white’s 1973 The Eye of the Storm. it was offered as a $6000-a-week rental late last year. the six-bedroom sibylla on lang road is also for rent at $6000 per week. it was a rental, too, during the ownership of Elizabeth dangar, the late doyenne of australian market research, who named the house after her daughter. dangar transformed the Federation home into a modern version of an italian renaissance villa. in 2000, her koi carp died while tenanted for $25,000 a week by director George lucas while he filmed Star Wars: Episode II at the nearby Fox studios.

centennial Park’s popularity with celebrities saw The Voice Australia judge Boy George rent lactura, one-time home of former tV executive david leckie and wife skye, in 2017 for around $7000 a week. three significant trophy homes are now for sale in the area. warwick, a modernised Federation property (above) that radiates charm, has been listed through Ben collier. the martin road home was once owned by the university of nsw, which used it as a residence for its vice-chancellor. walsholme, on lang road, has a rooftop tower and terrace with wet bar. the home with 4m pressed metal ceilings has been listed through Ballard Property. the third listing, centennial House on martin road is with sotheby’s. notable for its Palladian symmetry, it has been modernised by architects tobias Partners, who sought to create a contemporary dwelling that would sit comfortably among its more traditional neighbours. it has had $2.1 million spent on it since it last traded, for $8 million, in 2009.

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Interiors Mansion AUSTRALIA

Showroom quality

A renovation that serves a dual purpose

Mono dreaming

It’s there in black and white – plus neutrals

Speaking volumes

Architect Adam Haddow spreads the word

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Stor y by M I L A N DA ROU T Photo g r a ph s by T OM F E RGUSON

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JOINT VENTURE

Giving a century-old house compromised by years of unsympathetic use a design overhaul also gave its owner a chance to bring her work home in the best possible way

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A 100-year-old house with two kitchens, multiple bathrooms and five bedrooms across the ground level and a separate apartment in the roof. Or, as interior designer and the director of kitchen and bathroom company Boffi Studio Sydney, Edwina Withers, describes it, a total abomination.

“People couldn’t see the potential because it had been so compromised over the years,” she says of the house she bought in Sydney’s Bronte. “But we had lived in several homes that had already been completely modernised. As a designer it frustrated me that I couldn’t put my touch on it, I couldn’t use my skills. So I always dreamed of having a home that we could renovate – a complete project. That was the aim. This house obviously had a lot of issues but it had great bones.”

It took two years, multiple development applications, and a lot of expertise from Withers, her architect Justin Long and landscape designer William Dangar to transform this eastern suburbs “abomination” into what it is today: a contemporary family home with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen (just one), and living space that is framed by steel and opens out to a pool and entertaining area.

“The idea was to restore the old house but have something very contemporary with the new addition, which was the top level and the back part of the house where the new kitchen and the living area is,” says Withers. This included demolishing the top floor (which housed the separate apartment), and rebuilding the second level to include the master bedroom, ensuite and lounge (aka adults’ retreat) area. The finished home is now spread across three levels, with plenty of space for Withers, her two children, Jasper, 9, and Lucia, 13, as well as their beloved cat Coco.

The project was professionally satisfying for Withers on a

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The clever restoration gave new life to the old house while adding a modern element in the top level and at the rear. The result is a substantial and contemporary family home

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The home’s transformation included extensive use of Boffi products, including Salvatori stone and Depadova furniture

number of levels. Not only did she get to do some interior design, she was also able to use all the products she works with on a daily basis at Boffi. This included Salvatori stone and Depadova furniture.

“Boffi is an Italian brand that dates back to the 1930s,” she explains. “It is really architectural and beautiful, and that is very well esteemed in the design industry. I brought it to Australia after I finished up my [interior design] consultancy business, so [on this house] I got to work with all the beautiful products that I represent. So the design was a combination of previous experience and the product.”

Kitchens are at the heart of what Withers does at Boffi – which was handy because the kitchen is also very much the heart of her home. “I am known for cooking and my kitchen is simple and contemporary, but it is also very functional,” she says. “I do a lot of entertaining and people come and gather around the island [bench] and it is a nice transition from there out to the pool and deck area.”

The entertaining is not just for friends either – it is for clients too. “It is a second showroom, to be honest,” Withers says. “Clients love it. It is all very well to come in and see elements of what we do in the showroom but to see it in a complete home is great.”

She doesn’t even mind if this means having to keep her house tidy all the time. “That’s okay because I have a bit of OCD anyway,” she says, laughing.

This close attention to detail also meant that undergoing the design and building process herself instead of for a client proved a bit more challenging. “I probably found it quite difficult to finalise some decisions with the layout,” she says, “because you are so close to it and your heart is in it, whereas when you are working with a client you can be more concise as you have deadlines. I laboured over it for far too long.”

That said, Withers wouldn’t change a thing and would do the whole thing again in a second. “I loved it,” she says. “I would just like to do it again without as many restrictions. I would like to do a build from scratch, but what is lovely about this house is that we have retained the old part of the home so it has the character I don’t think you can achieve with a new build.”

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Etc. SA M YAT E S

Quiet achievers Spare, clean and timeless, mono tones and neutrals lend understated elegance 1. R U G Black Hole rug by Daniel Malik, 250cm diameter in 100 per cent New Zealand wool. designerrugs.com.au 2. C H A I R DC09 wood chair by Inoda + Sveje in black-stained ash.

Also available in walnut or oak. greatdanefurniture.com

1.

2.

3. L I G H T Conical uplight by Henry Wilson cast in polished gunmetal bronze. store.henrywilson.com.au/ collections/bronze/products/ conical-light 4. A R M C H A I R Arflex Leafo armchair by Jaime Hayon, available with or without arms. poliformaustralia.com.au

5. L I G H T Louis Poulsen special edition PH5 pendant light Mini in polished copper and white, designed by Poul Henningsen. www.cultdesign.com.au 6. C U S H I O N Murranga (bush potato) cushion designed by Dino Wilson of Jilamara Arts and Crafts, NT. koskela.com.au 7. S T O O L La Chance Bolt stool in natural beech wood with orange lacquered ring. livingedge.com.au 8. C A B I N E T Yee SP01 flexible storage system by Metrica. Steel-framed bench combines with multi-dimensional storage elements in a choice of colours and finishes. spacefurniture.com.au

3.

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Etc.

5.

7.

6.

4.

8.

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My Style A DA M H A D D OW, D I R E C T OR , S J B

A NSON SM A RT

OW N ER OF T H E A RC H I T EC T ’ S BOOK SHOP

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grew up in a rural country town with no bookshop. We had a library, but nowhere to buy books. I think book ownership became quite a luxurious thing for me. As a consequence I have a bit of a habit of hoarding books – I literally cannot get enough of them.

I truly believe books have a massive influence on your life; they direct you, make you think and reconsider. There is a slowness to books, which in the contemporary context is such a luxury.

The closure of the longstanding architecture bookshop Architext in Potts Point left a bit of a hole in my soul. It was more than a bookshop, it was really the centre of the architectural community in Sydney. But I had never considered owning a bookshop until I walked past [what is now] our shop on my way home from work one night. It was in a terrible state, but it was such a remarkable space.

I went straight home and mentioned to my husband that I had found a shop and wanted to open an architectural bookshop. I signed the lease the next day.

The bookshop is for anyone interested in design. We have everything from kids’ books about cities and design to the latest monographs on the world’s best architects.

From signing the lease to opening the shop was a five-week turnaround, so I had to get drawings to our builders fast.

It was so liberating designing for myself – I didn’t have to convince anyone. I just made decisions that I loved. I think that delight and beauty are words we don’t talk enough about in architecture and the shop aspires to communicate these feelings. The whole fitout is made from Australian hardwood. I’m a massive fan of using locally grown sustainable timbers. Not only are we protecting native forest but we’re accessing uniquely Australian colours – the yellows and pinks you get from Australian timbers are incredibly beautiful.

T H E W E E K E N D AU S T R A L I A N | F E B RUA RY 9 - 1 0 , 2 0 1 9

Exclusive to

Johanna Collection - Designed by Justin Hutchinson for Kett February is the best time to buy beautiful Kett sofas, dining, occasional, bedroom and outdoor.

See in store for details.

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Collingwood Cheltenham Sydney Brisbane Perth

03 03 02 07 08

9281 9532 9317 3254 9415

1999 0464 3011 0000 2522

Open Monday - Sunday www.coshliving.com.au

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