To make the move from one property market to another is a huge step for any developer.
It often brings an element of uncertainty and unpredictability.
But the approach and due diligence by Siera Group’s Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson will be one that will breed optimism over pessimism in to the market, compared to other developers who have been jumping head first into one of Australia’s most in demand pockets for the last two years and are now facing challenges.
The Brisbane-based boutique developer have not only taken on a new project type, but a completely new location, by venturing down to the Gold Coast to tackle the booming apartment sector.
Thompson, who has a highly regarded CV as a board member at the UDIA, as well being a prominent developer around Brisbane’s inner-ring for many years, spent six to 12 months splitting his time between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, understanding everything about the local market, what people were buying, and what was being developed.
The result is Tapestry, a 22-level arts-inspired apartment tower, designed to be in keeping with Chevron Island’s growing standing at the cultural arts hub of the Gold Coast.
“What drew us to this site for Tapestry was really Chevron Island itself and the fantastic community that is literally on the doorstep of Surfers Paradise, in the heart of the Gold Coast,” Thompson said.
“Chevron Island is a tight knit community with a high street full of cafes, restaurants and boutiques, as well as nearby links to HOTA, the home of the arts precinct, which is just across the Green Bridge and just a short walk from Tapestry.
“After all the research and understanding Chevron Island as a whole, it really felt like it was the perfect place to deliver a project like Tapestry, where we’ve created this phenomenal amount of amenity and beautiful residences that locals will be able to move into and downsize.”
Thompson said what makes makes Chevron Island so great, and not just the community piece, is the locality and how easy it is to access everything on the Gold Coast from Chevron Island.
“We’re only a short, flat walk into Surfers Paradise, where you’ve got the beautiful golden beaches as well as an immense amount of shopping and retail precinct.
“We’re seeing a great deal of gentrification though Surfers Paradise, as well as Chevron Island, as we’re seeing this increased densification of these areas.”
Tapestry has been designed by the local architecture firm BDA, whose brief was to merge art with architecture.
The result is a striking building of 113 apartments, featuring a mixture of vertical blade walls and horizontal slab edges which respond to available views and natural light.
The local aspect in the creation of Tapestry was one of the key focuses for Thompson.
Aligning with the Gold Coast City Council’s efforts to make Surfers Paradise an arts and cultural hub, Siera also engaged local artist Tania Blanchard to create a piece of artwork that will hang in the lobby when completed.
Article source: www.urban.com.au