After a long day in the city, there could be nothing better than stepping straight from the train into a lift and up to the door of your home. The easiest commute imaginable – not to mention the speediest.
That’s exactly what’s in store for the residents of Elevate Hume Place, a 20-floor tower above the new Crows Nest Metro Station.
This access to Sydney’s Metro network places the development just a seven-minute train ride from the CBD and a four-minute ride from Chatswood.
Connectivity like this has attracted pre-sale interest from overseas investors, says Luke Berry, the co-founder of developer Third.i Group.
“We’ve been blown away with the level of inquiry and to date we’ve had nearly 4000 inquiries,” he says. “It’s crazy.
“I think the foreign buyers, particularly in Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo, are familiar with the impact that transport infrastructure has, and that’s why there’s this enormous interest from foreigners to buy one of these off the plan.”
Elevate Hume Place is the first stage of a master-planned precinct that is designed to revitalise Crows Nest on Sydney’s lower north shore.
Berry describes the development as a legacy project for his company and a once-in-a-generation opportunity for buyers.
“I honestly think that the Metro is the defining factor of our property,” he says.
“Not only are you getting this beautiful, architecturally designed home or investment, it’s built on top of a piece of transport so within minutes you are in the heart of a city or in areas like Chatswood, for food, shopping and lifestyle.
“That’s going to be the biggest thing that people realise when they see our property.”
With interior design and architecture by Woods Bagot, Elevate consists of a range of residences, some with home office or flexible spaces.
The upper-level Skyhomes have penthouse-style floor plans spanning up to 218 square metres, with outdoor terraces of up to 102 square metres that include private plunge pools and al fresco bars.
Buyers can also choose from the Urban or Panoramic apartments. Each Urban apartment features a winter garden or balcony, while the Panoramic residences offer private balconies and winter gardens.
Views of the city or out to the harbour can be seen from the seventh floor and above.
For those who are dubious about the noise conditions that come with living above a train station, Berry says there are seven floors between the underground train platform and the ground floor of the building.
“Any noise that you would pick up would be the normal urban noise of cars or buses that go past the property, but even that you don’t hear or experience because you’re seven stories above it,” he says.
“There’s an enormous distance and structure between any impact of the metro and for the residents.”
The designers were inspired by the blue-gum forests that once occupied the site, and worked closely with the local Indigenous community.
The green facade takes its cues from nature and this is complemented by the landscaping designed to spill over the terraces and sprout from the rooftop garden.
For Woods Bagot pricipal Jason Fraser, the highlight of building is the sense of community it will have.
“The location is so unique – it has the village character of Crows Nest that everyone loves, but is also serviced by the new infrastructure and resulting activation and improved public domain of the new Metro,” he says.
“The homes are designed to elevate the living experience, planned to allow people to adapt their homes in ways that best suit them.”
Features include “facades that promote increased natural light and increased ventilation, [and] social zones to bring people together as a community”, Fraser adds.
“The design has considered the best outcomes at a precinct scale, a building scale and a personal home scale to make the experience connected and wholly exceptional.”
Shared facilities have been baked into the design of the building, beginning with the lobby and retail stores on ground level.
Just above, on the first floor, is the wellness centre, while the crowning touch is the rooftop pool deck that shows off the best of the views.
Residents of Elevate Hume Place will also have access to a concierge, a residents-only wine room and electric car sharing.