A developer-architect partnership is transforming some of the Gold Coast’s most complex sites into premium residential developments, with three major projects at Palm Beach, Surfers Paradise and the Nerang River progressing through approvals worth more than $350m combined.
Macquarie York and Plus Studio’s collaboration has delivered planning outcomes – securing a 50 per cent height uplift for their landmark Cirrus development at Palm Beach, and navigating approvals for developments on additional sites that present opportunities including a 10m-wide block between the Gold Coast Highway and Jefferson Lane.
With development applications now lodged for Azariah and Rana at Palm Beach, alongside a minor change application for 30 levels in lieu of current DA approval secured for the 17 level Sunset Residence tower on the Nerang River, the partnership is aiming to demonstrate how strategic collaboration can deliver housing supply while elevating architectural standards across the city’s waterfront precincts.
The partnership’s success centres on mastering the Gold Coast’s stringent design excellence requirements – a planning mechanism that determines whether major developments seeking height uplifts receive approval.
Macquarie York and Plus Studio have collaborated to deliver several projects, including Rana at Palm Beach with 60 two- and three-bedroom apartments.
To gain additional height under the City Plan, developments must demonstrate an “excellent standard of appearance” for built form and street edge, satisfying numerous criteria within the planning framework beyond having good design.
This includes reinforcing local identity and sense of place, protecting elements such as local character and scenic amenity and ensuring views from popular public outlooks to the city’s significant natural features are retained.
Macquarie York chief executive Roy Skaf said they were not interested in replicating neighbouring benchmarks, but rather focused on setting new ones, creating new markets within existing ones.
Azariah at Palm Beach has a 10m-wide site between the Gold Coast Highway and Jefferson Lane where an ageing weatherboard house will make way for nine full-floor coastal apartments over 13 levels.
Sunset Residence on the Nerang River is one of three major projects progressing through approvals worth more than $350m combined.
At Sunset Residence, minor change applications increased the waterfront tower from 17 to 30 levels. Rana at Palm Beach delivers 60 two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Plus Studio director Danny Juric identified a formula for success.
“Behind every successful project is an outstanding client, an outstanding site and an outstanding design team,” he said.
“With Roy Skaf at Macquarie York, we’ve had that alignment every time.”
Azariah at Palm Beach has a 10m-wide site between the Gold Coast Highway and Jefferson Lane making way for nine full-floor coastal apartments over 13 levels.
Mr Skaf said a crucial element was early integration of planning expertise.
“True collaboration means shared risk and shared reward,” he said.
“Respecting design integrity, understanding commercial realities, as well as the critical placemaking requirements of the council are all essential.”
Mr Juric said the developments gave him the opportunity to return to the architecture itself.
“To sketch, to test ideas and find creative solutions where others might not,” he said.
Minor change applications increased the waterfront tower from 17 to 30 levels at Sunset Residence on the Nerang River.
Mr Juric said by unlocking complex waterfront sites, they were increasing dwelling supply.
“While these are luxury apartments, when people buy them they release houses in the suburbs,” he said.
“This is a vital part of how the city evolves – identifying and unlocking sites for new dwellings, and ensuring a quality outcome is realised.”
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