Apartments with breathtaking views, an amazing kitchen and spacious rooms are being priced at an eye-watering $8 million-plus in the new luxury Shelly Beach development.
Building on the boutique 'huddle' of eight penthouse-style apartments is expected to start in St Marys Bay early next year. Auckland-based development firm Vanguard & Co has budgeted $50m for the build, which includes the purchase of the 87 Shelly Beach Rd address in the exclusive inner-city suburb.
It bought the 1,890 square metre site in March for $7.25m.
Developer Michael Dallimore expects resource consent sign off by next month and construction to commence early in 2022.
The end result will be a four-level building, with 3-bedroom apartments ranging in size from 236sqm to 255sqm, all boasting sea views and outlooks towards the Westhaven marina, Rangitoto and the Auckland CBD.
Expensive views
The $33,000/sqm price tag will get buyers flexible media rooms, 2.9-metre ceilings, a full butler’s kitchen, and generous living and varied outdoor spaces.
Architects Monk Mackenzie have incorporated north-facing wrap-around podium terraces on the ground floor and winter gardens with hanging planters on levels two-and-three and roof terraces exclusive to top floor penthouses.
Each apartment will also have its own lockable basement garage for up to four vehicles or a "small boat", all with EV chargers.
Dallimore, who started Vanguard seven years ago, has a 20-year career in international property, including a stint with the real estate group Savills Plc in London.
He has worked with former property developer and arts patron Adrian Burr and also advised on high-density developments with Kainga Ora Housing NZ.
But it's Vanguard's first foray into high-end residences and he’s enlisted the help of wife Ella Dallimore – an interior architect and designer behind golf course Tara Iti’s ocean suites – to help create a sense of 'home and holiday'.
Ella Dallimore said internal elements of the development, such as lighting and joinery, are bespoke, using solid timber and natural stone with "sedimentary layers to evoke a coastal feel".
Co-primary residence
What the new development caters to, Dallimore said, is the trend towards lifestyle “rightsizing” and a focus on ‘co-primary’ residences, where people split their time among two or more homes.
While that will appeal to downsizers, it wasn’t just older buyers who were signalling interest, he said.
“Liveability is changing. Our market wants house-like proportions and spaces that are flexible and efficient, enabling rest and relaxation whilst also providing the ability for people to work from home.
"Apartments need to be rightsized, not downsized, and accommodate people’s passions and collections without space, privacy, storage and garaging compromises.”
