Leading Sydney property development firm Third.i Group and joint venture partner Pheonix Property Investors (PPI) have joined forces with Coles Group to create Balfour Place. This soon-to-be-released luxury, mixed-use development will span more than 7,000sqm and will be built on the existing Coles supermarket site in Lindfield, Sydney. 

Balfour Place marks the fourth joint venture between Third.i Group and PPI. The current DA approval of 7,091sqm of land allows for the creation of luxury residential apartments with private courtyards and rooftop gardens to be built atop the brand-new large-format Coles supermarket, Liquorland, cafe, and a heritage commercial space fronting the Pacific Highway. 

Luke Berry, Director and Co-Founder of Third.i Group says, “When Third.i Group started working with Coles, we quickly identified there was an opportunity to improve the residential elements of the DA. With the support of Coles and award-winning architects Rothelowman, we re-imagined the apartment layouts and created a mix of larger apartments – perfect for the downsizers and young families we see as the likely purchasers of our apartments.” Third.i Group’s proposal is to reduce the number of apartments from 70 to 62 to offer more space to residents and deliver less impact on neighbours and the community. 

“It’s fair to say that regardless of if you’re a downsizer or first home buyer, you will have everything you need at your doorstep – almost like having a private providore, barista, and wine sommelier to call on.”

“To be just a lift ride away from fresh food and produce, a barista brewed coffee and your favourite bottle of vino in our opinion is ‘perfection’ in apartment living and that’s exactly what we will be delivering at Balfour Place.”

Luke Berry, Third.i Group

CBRE has been appointed as the lead agent to market the development and Sales Director Ben Stewart said that exceptional convenience will underpin Balfour Place residences, with location amongst its strongest selling points. 

“The latest offering by Third.i Group has it all in terms of proximity to a train station and quality schools, as well as being positioned in a highly coveted north shore suburb, where new apartment developments are scarce, particularly for downsizers,” he explains. 

Ben comments, “Our market research has indicated that demand for high-end, conveniently located new apartments in the area is strong, with almost all initial enquiries coming from local residents. Further to this, studies show that ‘shop top’ developments like Balfour Place achieve an average 16% premium on prices compared to suburb averages so we see this project offering a similar dynamic to purchasers that secure an apartment early in the launch.  

Third.i Group is currently finalising the modifications to the current DA and plan to submit to the council in early October. The team is aiming to start the second stage of construction in the first quarter of 2022. Stage 1 of construction has already commenced with Coles Group managing the realignment of Balfour Lane at the rear of the proposed site before handing over the delivery of the mixed-use development to Third.i Group. 

Trent Winduss, Director and Head of Australian Investments at PPI says, “PPI and Third.i Group have enjoyed a close working relationship for a number of years and we are excited to add Balfour Place to our growing portfolio of Sydney joint venture projects including our luxury residential development Kurraba Residences and commercial precinct Blue & William in North Sydney. 

https://a-d.com.au/buying-living/market-insights/thirdi-group-and-ppi-join-coles-group-to-deliver-balfour-place-a-sprawling-mixed-use-precinct-in-linfield-sydney

Plans for a $180 million “shop top” development on Sydney’s North Shore are set to tap into increasing demand in the area from local down-sizers and young families for conveniently-positioned larger apartments. 

The Lindfield project will deliver a mixed-use precinct spanning a 7000sq m site of an existing Coles supermarket.

To be called Balfour Place, it is the fourth joint venture between developer Thirdi and private equity group Phoenix Property Investors and boosts the value of their current workbook to more than $700 million.

They have acquired the site and joined forces with Coles Group to develop the mixed-use precinct.

Thirdi director Luke Berry said the joint venture was working with community stakeholders and Ku-ring-gai Council to finalise a shared vision for the site before a planned sales launch of the project later this year.

“When Thirdi started working with Coles, we quickly identified there was an opportunity to improve the residential elements of the DA,” he said.

“So, with the support of Coles and architects Rothelowman, we re-imagined the apartment layouts and created a mix of larger apartments, perfect for the down-sizer and young families we see as the likely purchasers of our apartments.”

Berry said it planned to reduce the number of apartments from 70 to 62 to offer more space to residents and deliver less impact on neighbours and the community.

He said the modification of the existing DA was being finalised with a view to lodging with council in early October and start the second stage of construction in the first quarter of 2022.▲ Research indicates “shop top” developments like Balfour Place achieved an average 16 per cent premium on prices compared to suburb averages.

Balfour Place will comprise one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments with a private courtyard and roof top gardens built above a retail and commercial precinct with a large format Coles supermarket, specialty retailers and a heritage office space fronting the Pacific Highway.

Apartment prices are expected to start from $850,000.

The first stage of construction has already begun with Coles managing the realignment of Balfour Lane at the rear of the site before handing over the delivery of the mixed-use development to Thirdi.

Coles has signed an agreement for lease as the anchor tenant of the new mixed-use precinct.

CBRE sales director Ben Stewart who has been appointed to market the Lindfield development, said convenience was king for buyers and the location of Balfour Place would be a key drawcard.

He said new high-end apartment developments were scarce in the coveted North Shore suburb.

“Our market research has indicated that demand for high-end, conveniently located new apartments in the area is strong, with almost all initial inquiries coming from local residents,” Stewart said.

He also said the data showed that “shop top” developments like Balfour Place achieved an average 16 per cent premium on prices compared to suburb averages.

https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/new-shop-top-plans-for-sydneys-north-shore

Take a walk down the back streets of any inner Sydney suburb, and you’re likely to come across rows of 19th-century terrace homes embellished with ornate iron lace.

In their original state, these houses tended to be dark, poky places that lacked the natural light, cross breezes, and easy flowing layouts demanded of 21st-century architecture. Outdoor spaces, if there were any, were often no more than a skinny balcony and tiny courtyard.

In Pyrmont, the once-gritty industrial hub turned fashionable harbourside neighbourhood, a new collection of homes is putting a luxurious contemporary spin on the historic terrace form.

Paragon of Pyrmont by developer Third.i is a collection of 33 apartments and terrace homes, of which fewer than 10 terraces are still available off the plan. The newly completed terraces offer modern multistorey living with lift access from basement garages to all four levels, as well as private landscaped rooftop entertaining areas with sleek outdoor kitchens.

SJB’s architecture draws on the rich heritage of Pyrmont, which is still dotted with reminders of the wharves, sandstone quarries, factories and wool stores that once thrummed with life on the south-west fringe of the CBD.

Architect Adam Haddow, a director at SJB, says the homes fit with the rhythm of the streetscape without trying to be “historical”.

“You get the rhythm of a terrace house, with that small-scale repetitive nature, but this builds on it in a contemporary way,” he says. “One of the negatives about old terraces is that they are pretty dark, with small windows. Here, you have the inverse, with a really great opportunity for light and ventilation and operability of windows.”

Though the homes are not designed specifically for downsizers, they embrace many qualities prized by older buyers moving out of large family homes. The palette of materials, for example, is unashamedly high-end without pushing the envelope in terms of drama or edginess.

From the outside, bronze mesh screens and copper surfaces shimmer against the lush greenery of the common areas and a new public walkway that runs between the buildings. The interior architecture is designed with double-height voids, setback slabs, and skylights to ensure daylight penetrates the living spaces.

“There’s beautiful marble in the bathrooms, stone floors in the entries and timber floors in the living rooms,” Haddow says. “It’s a very quiet palette that gives people an opportunity to move in with their furniture, without it clashing. We made the interiors really calm so that when you step inside, there’s a change from the energy of the street.”

Private lift access to each level makes the terraces a viable long-term option for downsizers with mobility issues now or in the future. Elegant spiral staircases add a sculptural flourish.

Residents have some flexibility in how the layout can be used. Owners may choose to turn the entry level into a home office, for example, or guest accommodation.

“If a downsizer is still doing some work, they can have a study on one level and live on the other levels. It’s connected to the house, but it still feels like its own space,” Haddow says. “Equally, if older kids or family friends come to stay, they can be on a different level, so it doesn’t feel like you’re living with them but adjacent to them.”

For empty-nesters anxious about farewelling a sense of space, Paragon of Pyrmont offers much to soothe the nerves. En suites feature decadent free-standing baths. Each bedroom has built-in wardrobes. There are wine cellars in the oversized garages and wine fridges upstairs.

Third.i  has a reputation for harnessing new technology in its projects (Iconic Apartments Waterloo, The Gentry Alexandria, Kurraba Residences at Kurraba Point). Paragon of Pyrmont is no exception, incorporating Tesla Powerwall batteries and home automation, allowing owners to control lights, blinds, security, access and airconditioning remotely.

For Haddow, the loveliest aspects of the new residences are the private roof terraces, complete with hydraulic watering systems for lock-up-and-leave convenience.

“Being able to be up there amongst this garden is pretty unique in the city,” he says. “I’ve got a rooftop garden, and it’s really fantastic to feel connected to the landscape.”

When Third.i enlisted the design smarts of SJB architects and Richards Stanisich interior designers five years ago; they had no way of knowing a once-in-a-century pandemic was just around the corner.

Luke Berry, Third.i’s director of sales and marketing, says feedback from buyers is that terrace homes offer the kind of separation between spaces that’s ideal for the new normal.

“We had no idea about COVID or the impacts of working from home or lockdown living,” Berry says, “but the feedback we’re getting is that families can spread themselves out across three or four floors, including that private rooftop where you can go and get great sun and good elevation. For inner-city living, it ticks every box.”

Beyond the Paragon of Pyrmont precinct boundary, the gentrified neighbourhood is spoilt for choice with dining and entertainment options, from hole-in-the-wall cafes to posh pubs and fine dining. The casino’s dizzying array of entertainment and food options is two blocks away.

It takes less than 20 minutes to walk across Pyrmont Bridge to the Queen Victoria Building and Pitt Street Mall. Chinatown, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo’s buzzy new bars and restaurants are also within easy reach.

On the opposite side of Pyrmont, the Sydney Fish Market has been earmarked for a glamorous revamp that will introduce new open spaces and pave the way for a waterfront path from Blackwattle Bay all the way to Woolloomooloo.

Berry says the terraces and apartments have appealed to downsizers from around Sydney, as well as younger professionals and people who love inner-city living. The future Pyrmont metro station is another big drawcard.

“The area is really coming to life.”

Newcastle median sale price up 7.4 per cent in three months with Sydney buyers behind rise

Newcastle house prices are growing at a rate of $2000 each week as NSW’s second largest city experiences one of its strongest property booms yet.

Unprecedented price growth is being driven by a shortage of stock, low interest rates, housing demand in coastal communities and Sydney buyers.

Real estate agents and developers are reporting “incredible” demand for property from Sydney buyers who have been priced out of their market and are also searching for a better lifestyle.

This has seen the Newcastle median house sale price grow 7.4 per cent in the past three months to $690,000 — or about $2300 per week.

The median sale price for houses in Newcastle is $690,000 and $540,000 for apartments.

Apartments have grown 6.9 per cent in the previous three months to $540,000, according to realestate.com.au.

Ray White Newcastle principal Darren Penn said the market had been “ridiculous” in the past three months with March having the highest buyer activity he had ever seen.

“We had a 250-300 per cent increase in our sales volume than a typical March,” he said.

Mr Penn said while Sydney buyers remain active, they had dropped off slightly due to many

frustrated with Newcastle’s surging house prices.

“Sydney buyers really have no one else to blame for the surge in house prices but themselves as they are bringing in a lot of money,” he said.

The Ray White principal said he expected the coming months to be favourable towards sellers because there were under 800 properties on the market in Newcastle — 400 fewer than last year.

Thirdi Group’s upcoming Stella development has been very popular with Sydney buyers.

“This has seen many buyers look towards developments as there is not enough stock to go around,” he said.

Developer Thirdi Group saw lots of Sydney buyers purchase in their Eaton and the nearly completed Stella developments in Wickham. The group’s director of sales marketing Luke Berry said Sydney buyers were fed up with paying a lot to live on the city fringes.

“Newcastle is appealing because it is not just cheaper but also allows them to get a brand new apartment in the inner city near the beach,” he said.

“We’ve had buyers renting old two-bedroom units in Bondi for $1500 per week and are relocating to a brand new three-bedder for half the price.”

Mr Berry said there has always a trend of people leaving Sydney for more affordable areas, but has been sped up by Covid-19.

The Stella development is due to open in the coming months.

“The ability to work from home has made Newcastle a great location as Sydney buyers can work remotely for most of the week and commute by train for a day or two,” he said.

Mr Berry said the majority of buyers relocating from Sydney had been young families and first homebuyers, but added there had been a trend of parents also following their kids to Newcastle.

This trend will see Thirdi look to target both demographics with their new Dairyfarmers project in Wickham and an over 55s development at Merewether Golf Course that will launch in the coming months.

“We are designing these products to be attractive to Sydney buyers,” Mr Berry said.

Former Sydney resident Anthony Wood recently moved into Thirdi’s Eaton on Union development at the end of last year.

“Dairyfarmers will have high quality finishes and also spaces that will allow buyers to work remotely.”

Former Sydney resident Anthony Wood and his family moved to Thirdi’s Eaton development in Wickham last December after being priced out of the Sydney housing market and craving a better lifestyle.

“Our move to Newcastle has seen us get significantly more bang for our buck,” he said.

“We’ve also been able to achieve a lifestyle similar to North Narrabeen on the northern beaches.”

Mr Wood added the dream of owning their own property combined with living on the beach and near the city made the move worth it.

See full article here

Warada, 63-83 Walker Street, by Woods Bagot.

A proposed blood red, 27-storey North Sydney tower, inspired by the waratah, is being billed as “a new sculpture in the heart of the city.”

The curved tower designed by Woods Bagot incorporates a through-site link, a central atrium space, and flexible office floor plates. In total it will have 33,000 square metres of gross floor area.

In planning documents before North Sydney Council, the architects explain how the design references the waratah, New South Wales’ official floral emblem, which is a symbol of resilience and regeneration – and an analogy for the post-pandemic renewal of North Sydney.

VIEW GALLERY

Warada, 63-83 Walker Street, by Woods Bagot.

“Surrounded by existing multi-storey commercial towers, the proposal seeks to strengthen North Sydney’s position as a major commercial centre by introducing a new premium commercial offering to the mix,” Woods Bagot’s design report reads.

Developed by Thirdi Group and Couloumbis Property Group, the $191 million tower will be built at 63-83 Walker Street, a site formed through an amalgamation process involving 21 owners and 31 lots across two freehold and two strata buildings.

Ethos Urban notes in a report that “It constitutes one of the last remaining significant redevelopment sites in North Sydney.”

The design of the office space aims at creating diverse workplace experiences that are more attractive than working from home.

Planning documents describe “A new approach to spatial layout that encourages a porosity of movement through divisible lobby and workspaces with separable cores.”

With landscape architecture by 360 Degrees, the tower will include multiple outdoor work spaces, including roof gardens and a street-level urban outdoor room.

The building will be called Warada, the Eora word for the Waratah

A proposed blood red, 27-storey North Sydney tower, inspired by the waratah, is being billed as “a new sculpture in the heart of the city.”

The curved tower designed by Woods Bagot incorporates a through-site link, a central atrium space, and flexible office floor plates. In total it will have 33,000 square metres of gross floor area.

In planning documents before North Sydney Council, the architects explain how the design references the waratah, New South Wales’ official floral emblem, which is a symbol of resilience and regeneration – and an analogy for the post-pandemic renewal of North Sydney.

VIEW GALLERY

Warada, 63-83 Walker Street, by Woods Bagot.

“Surrounded by existing multi-storey commercial towers, the proposal seeks to strengthen North Sydney’s position as a major commercial centre by introducing a new premium commercial offering to the mix,” Woods Bagot’s design report reads.

Developed by Thirdi Group and Couloumbis Property Group, the $191 million tower will be built at 63-83 Walker Street, a site formed through an amalgamation process involving 21 owners and 31 lots across two freehold and two strata buildings.

Ethos Urban notes in a report that “It constitutes one of the last remaining significant redevelopment sites in North Sydney.”

The design of the office space aims at creating diverse workplace experiences that are more attractive than working from home.

Planning documents describe “A new approach to spatial layout that encourages a porosity of movement through divisible lobby and workspaces with separable cores.”

With landscape architecture by 360 Degrees, the tower will include multiple outdoor work spaces, including roof gardens and a street-level urban outdoor room.

The building will be called Warada, the Eora word for the waratah.

https://architectureau.com/articles/north-sydney-tower-inspired-by-the-waratah/

AS THE scaffolding comes down from the Stella apartments in Wickham, developer Thirdi Group is turning its attention to the final piece of its West End precinct puzzle. The Stella on Hannell complex, which the Newcastle Herald toured on Tuesday, is the company’s third development in the suburb. It is two months off completion. Construction started in early 2018 and despite the impact of COVID-19, has pressed ahead with little delay. More than 1000 people have worked on the project. The development’s presence in the skyline and external look is slowly being revealed as scaffolding is taken from the upper levels, as are sweeping harbour and city views. Stella on Hannell features two 14-storey towers with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units. Only 16 of the 149 apartments remain unsold and are expected to be snapped up over coming weeks. Thirdi director Luke Berry said more Novocastrians had bought into Stella than the group’s past projects.

“More local downsizes and local investors are buying into our developments than when we first started,” he said. “When we first came to town, it was predominantly out-of-town investors under- pinning the sales. “This time round we’re more established, we’ve got a track record and reputation, and there is an appetite for apartment living that wasn’t here seven or eight years ago. At the moment it’s probably 60:40, owner-occupiers to investors, where it was the other way around before.” The two and three-bedroom apartments left vary from between $660,000 to more than $1.2 million. Architect Luke Mahaffey said constructing two towers rather than one allowed more sight lines of the harbour from nearby buildings to be maintained. “Breaking it into two towers provides not only benefits and a level of amenity for residents here, but it also helps with the character of the area and you’ve still got views from … surrounding developments,” he said.

Thirdi Group has previously built the West and Eaton on Union apartments, which along with Stella form part of the company’s four-development West End precinct. The ‘T’ of W.E.S.T will be a development on the former Dairy Farmers Corner site in nearby Newcastle West. Mr Berry said those plans were being drafted and a development application would be lodged in June. The yet-to-be-named development would “bookend” the area, he said, given the site is at the western end of a stretch of properties where buildings can rise 90 metres.

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7169299/stella-views-from-this-new-development-at-wickham/

The Kurraba Residences located on the harbour in Sydney, are impressive residences that offer a unique and luxurious living environment. The interiors of the penthouses and residences were designed by Mathieson Architects and exude luxury, elegance, modernity and openness.

We have already written blogs and articles about the impressive projects of Mathieson Architects. In our summer edition of 2020 you could read more about the spectacular Costa Brava villa. Today we take you through the penthouse and flats of the Kurraba Residences in which Mathieson’s typical and most important characteristics such as openness, modernity, proportion and light are central.

With the right use of light, proportions, materials and handcrafted details, a sense of understated luxury is created

Kurraba Residences is a collection of luxury boutique residences on Sydney Harbour at Kurraba Point developed by Thirdi Group. Consisting of residences and penthouses, these homes offer a unique and majestic living environment. Mathieson Architects provided the interior design, which was visualised by LAAN Studios. Luke Berry of property developer Thirdi Group commissioned Mathieson to design, among other things, a penthouse of international allure and to take advantage of the spectacular views of the city and port. The penthouse is about 430 m2 in size and runs over two levels.

With the right use of light, proportions, materials and handcrafted details, a sense of understated luxury is created – in both the penthouse and the other residences. The unique experience begins when you enter the private lobby with lift. At this entrance level, there is a formal living and dining room, kitchen and butler’s pantry. The private area includes a sitting room with fireplace, library and wine cellar. The private living quarters are generous to say the least, with a 250 m2 private garden terrace and pool with spectacular views. This level is connected to the private bedroom level by a large stone staircase and lift. Here you will find four bedrooms, each with its own dressing room and ensuite bathroom. The master bedroom is one of the most impressive and beautiful rooms in the penthouse. It is located in a vaulted glass room. The adjoining dressing room has glass cabinets and the ensuite marble bathroom has a sculptural bathtub.

The homes were given a contemporary look with lots of light and open spaces that flow into one another. A feeling of space, cosiness and exclusivity is central and is enhanced by a modern and luxurious interior design with quality materials and both sober and interesting colour combinations. ‘These homes are designed as the ultimate entertainers; a place that brings people together with seamless transitions to alfresco terraces overlooking the shimmering water. They represent everything that is best about exclusive living at Kurraba Point,’ we hear. Kurraba Residences is a true architectural and exclusive masterpiece.

https://imagicasa.be/en/story/exclusive-living-at-sydney-harbour

8. Thirdi Group

Well-known for delivering large-scale residential projects in Sydney and Newcastle, Thirdi Group has become one of Australia’s leading property development firms.

With a development pipeline exceeding $500 million, Thirdi has established its place on this list as a recognised industry leader.

The group’s experience in delivering beautiful homes and investment properties are key reasons for their ongoing success.

Among these projects is the harbourfront development, Kurraba Residences, which launched last November.

The $170 million development, designed by SJB Architects and Mathieson Architects paid homage to the classic 1920s apartment buildings on the Kurraba Point headland, with views of Sydney Opera House and the Botanical Gardens.

In another collaboration with SJB, Thirdi will complete construction on their Mount StreetResidences development in Pyrmont next month. Following the success of their Paragon at Pyrmont project, Mount St will offer five timeless inner-city four-bedroom homes with floor-to-ceiling glazing, a two-car garage and a sophisticated design.

https://www.urban.com.au/news/nsw/10-developers-to-watch-in-nsw-in-2021?utm_source=vero&utm_medium=email&utm_content=control&utm_campaign=Januar