Think all off-the-plan apartments are modern and minimalistic? Think again.
In a property market that has long embraced the safety of the "blank slate" a new generation of Australian apartments is stepping out with confidence.
No white bathrooms at 450 Gore Street in Melbourne. Image: realestate.com.au
Across the country, architects and developers are leaning into colour, sculptural form and crafted materiality to make homes that feel as expressive as they are functional.
From retro-inspired elegance on the Gold Coast to colour used as atmosphere in Fitzroy and playful, low-maintenance facades on the Brisbane River, these three new projects show how bold design can elevate everyday apartment living.
Colour where it counts
In the leafy backstreets of Melbourne's Fitzroy, colour isn’t just aesthetic; it’s atmospheric. 450 Gore Street – the latest collaboration between Neometro and Edition Office architects – is a limited release of 18 residences tucked between Gertrude, Smith and Brunswick streets.
Here, colour is used with calm conviction. Outside, green metalwork set against sculpted concrete settles into the plane-tree canopy, reading as part of the streetscape rather than over it.
Inside, the palette shifts from verdant to vivid: each apartment features red-tiled bathrooms with rich red marble surfaces creating daily moments of delight. What could feel bold elsewhere feels at home here – an elegant conversation between form, colour and the neighbourhood’s green heart.
Now under construction with basement works underway, the development offers a mix of signature lofts and two and three-bedroom apartments starting from $1.39 million. High ceilings – some soaring to five metres – and generous terraces bring openness and light, while the building’s green-on-concrete palette grounds it firmly in its leafy context.
Above it all sits a residents-only rooftop retreat with an infinity pool, sauna, fire pit, private dining pavilion, BBQ terrace with edible garden, and a work-from-home lounge with privacy pods.
Developed and built by local film Big Projects, The Frederick channels the Coast’s retro golden-era glamour – nostalgic yet utterly contemporary.
For the love of retro
A short walk from Nobby Beach on the Gold Coast, The Frederick is a new boutique development by Plus Architecture with interiors by YSG Studio that reimagines retro spirit for a new generation.
YSG Studio brings its signature style to The Frederick. Image: realestate.com.au
Outside, the building’s soft-but-striking form – curved balconies and slender fins – nods to retro coastal glamour while inside, the interiors are an elegant mix of soft forms, brass accents, natural timber and pastel coastal colours. Together, they create a blend of mid-century poise and beachside ease.
Beyond the look, it’s Gold Coast apartment living with real allure: a limited collection of two- and three-bedroom apartments plus a ground-floor Beach House villa, with wraparound balconies, sculptural kitchens (many with integrated dining), European appliances and premium finishes.
It's (not) all a facade
In Brisbane’s Bulimba, Watts & Wright – a new development by Spyre and Cavill Architects – brings a sense of craftsmanship to the last remaining riverfront site on Byron Street.
The boutique collection of 15 residences is defined by its terracotta breeze block facade – a self-colouring, low-maintenance material that needs no paint, designed to weather beautifully in Queensland’s sun.
The mix of terracotta and breeze blocks at Watts & Wright make a statement from the start. Image: realestate.com.au
The mix of lattice and solid blocks capture the duality of tropical architecture, balancing protection and openness, filtering air while creating a dynamic play of light. From inside, views open wide to the river; from outside, the screen reads largely as solid – preserving privacy unless viewed straight on at the same elevation.
Beyond the facade, Watts & Wright offers a rare riverfront address on a corner position with expansive northern and eastern river views. It's the only Byron Street building to rise five storeys, offering spacious three- and four-bedroom residences (including two bespoke penthouses) and shared amenities including an elevated infinity pool and spa with city outlooks.
True to Spyre’s ethos of "never to be repeated" developments, Watts & Wright honours the site’s boatbuilding heritage – translating craftsmanship into contemporary elegance.
Are you interested in exploring Australia's new off-the-plan apartments? Check out our dedicated New Homes section.
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