Sydney House, the Sydney CBD's newest landmark, has been designed by not one, but two of Australia's most decoarted architecture practices.

BVN Architecture and FJC Studio joined forces to win the design competition for the project, a process required for new buildings in the City of Sydney local government area that cost over $100 million or exceed a certain height.

FJC Studio, led by Richard Francis-Jones, conceived the designs for the heritage podium and restoration of the original 1891 building, while BVN took care of 50-level protruding glass tower which will home 241 luxury apartments and a high-end hotel.

The former Pitt Street home of the City Tattersall Club is being redeveloped by joint venture partners <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/first-sponsor">First Sponsor Group</a>, a listed Singaporean developer, and the Melbourne-based developer <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/icd-property">ICD Property</a>, the developer behind several of Melbourne's tallest and most impressive apartment towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=12428 project_image_fid=312147]

The design of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/sydney-house-by-city-tattersalls-club-194-204-pitt-street-sydney">Sydney House</a>&nbsp;pays homage to the late Victorian architecture of City Tattersalls Club and interprets its Free Classical style with contemporary grace.

BVN Architecture, led by Principal, Phillip Rossington and Matthew Blair, designed the tower with interiors by BVN Principal, Sally Campbell.

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Seen from the street, there is an interplay between the arched windows of the heritage facades and the scalloped fenestration of the tower above.

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“The fenestration has a rhythm inspired and inflected by the arched windows of the historic facades, subtly linking the forms while delineating new from old," Rossington says.

"This complementary approach enriches the reading of the heritage buildings, so they’re appreciated in a new light."

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The craftmanship of a bygone era is reinterpreted through a considered design language that filters through all levels of the hotel and tower.

Residents, patrons and hotel guests benefit from new levels of amenity with the stepped volumes creating expansive terraces and floorplans that draw natural light deep into the tower. Skyline vistas are available at every level while the penthouses enjoy panoramic views east across Hyde Park to the Heads, west to Darling Harbour, and north toward Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=12428 project_image_fid=312146]

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Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director of FJC Studio, says Sydney House is a "remarkable ensemble of beautiful street facades and interior spaces across four eras, from Victorian Free Classical to today."

"We have adapted and restored three heritage buildings and designed a new contemporary infill building that completes the Pitt Street composition and defines the distinctive identity of Sydney House.

“The new infill facade is distinctly modern, with a depth, compositional character and material richness that complements the exceptional detail and beauty of the three heritage facades. The Victorian and Inter-War Palazzo-style heritage facades have been carefully restored and enriched through new modern adaptive elements. &nbsp;

“New entrances, awnings, and shopfronts are refined contemporary designs inspired by the geometry and grandeur of the restored Art Deco rooms within. This integrated architectural approach extends to the interiors where the restored late Victorian and Art Deco spaces are complemented by a new grand staircase and public artworks, creating a cohesive and enriched experience for occupants and visitors in a unique multi-era, mixed-use Sydney House.”

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Sydney House is being marketed through CBRE and is expected to launch later this year.

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Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director of FJC Studio, says Sydney House is a "remarkable ensemble of beautiful street facades and interior spaces across four eras, from Victorian Free Classical to today."

Joel Robinson

BVN and FJC Studio’s architectural vision for Sydney House

There’s nothing quite like a new penthouse listing.

Beachfront apartment developments, particularly at the southern end of the Gold Coast, are incredibly rare. This makes the penthouses that crown developments like Pipis even more unique.

Developer <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> has been working toward the completion of the luxury 11-level Golden Four Drive development, located on the sands of Bilinga Beach. They are anticipating welcoming residents at the end of 2025. Now, they've released a first look inside the luxury two-level penthouses, which are expected to set a new apartment record for this quiet beachside suburb.

Each penthouse spans 446 sqm of internal and external living space across the top two levels of the Ellivo Architects-designed building.

The Pipis Penthouse Collection is defined by high-end finishes, including natural stone, Navurban Balmoral and Plytec Blossom joinery, woodcut white-oiled natural timber, wool-textured loop carpet, and handmade feature tiles.

A sculptural spiral staircase serves as a striking focal point, complemented by a private lift offering seamless access between levels.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138311 project_image_fid=341447]

Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap almost entirely around the penthouses, framing panoramic views of the coastline. Each residence has been designed for indoor-outdoor living with four balconies and two entertainment areas, one of which is positioned on the rooftop and will be home to a private plunge pool with a sun deck.

The kitchens are appointed with premium appliances, including an induction cooktop, combination steam oven, speed oven, ZIP tap, InSinkErator, built-in coffee machine, and a butler’s pantry with a wine cellar.

The penthouses offer four spacious bedrooms, one of which is an expansive master suite with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite.

Each penthouse includes four secure car spaces with EV charging, dedicated bike and surfboard storage, and a full-size laundry with an outdoor drying court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138311 project_image_fid=264308]

Pipis comprises just 17 half-floor apartments, as well as the two penthouses.

Residents of Pipis will have access to a range of private ground-floor amenities, including a 15-metre heated lap pool with a sun lounge deck, a fully equipped gym with rowing, biking, and reformer Pilates facilities, as well as an outdoor rain-head shower and dog wash station.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/pipis-bilinga-303-golden-four-drive-bilinga-qld-4225">Pipis</a> has been popular with owner-occupiers, downsizers, and investors from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast, while a handful of buyers have come from outside Sydney and Melbourne.

The highest settled sale price for an apartment in Bilinga is $4.6 million, in the recently completed Si Bilinga block, just a few doors down from Pipis.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=138311]

Pipis penthouses turn heads in Bilinga

The value growth in the unit market on the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/gold-coast-qld">Gold Coast</a> is starting to slow a touch, after a bull run that has stretched over five years.

Unit values rose 0.3 per cent in March, according to CoreLogic's Home Value Index, to reach a new record-high median of $836,000.

While still growing in value, the gains are softer than the 0.6 per cent growth in February and 0.5 per cent in January.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/gold-coast-qld">Gold Coast</a>&nbsp;unit market has been one of the best-performing in the country over the last five years. From the start of 2020 to the end of 2024, the median value of a unit has jumped 78 per cent, from $465,000 to $832,000.

<h2>What happened in the Gold Coast’s off the plan apartment market in March?</h2>

The Gold Coast off the plan unit market saw an increase in buyer demand in March.

Enquiries rose by 13 percent in March compared to February. Excluding January's large spike in enquiries, the March figures were the highest they’ve been in the past 12 months.

Views of Gold Coast projects in Q1 2025 were the highest since Q2 2023, with Surfers Paradise, Main Beach, and Palm Beach capturing the lion's share of the views.

Ashwin Property Director Tony Ashwin has seen strong demand in the northern Gold Coast at Kelyin and Kinstone's latest waterfront release in their Serentiy 4212 masterplan in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/helensvale-qld-4212">Helensvale</a>.

The new release,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-townhouses/serenity-lakeside-villas-helensvale-6-lake-serenity-boulevard-helensvale-qld-4212">Lakeside Serenity 4212</a> Waterfront Villas, comprises just&nbsp;16 absolute waterfront homes, each with direct water access and a private pontoon.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149142 project_image_fid=324622]

The four-bedroom residences, featuring premium finishes and expansive lake views, have drawn significant interest from both local downsizers and Brisbane buyers seeking a coastal lifestyle with easy city access.&nbsp;

“The northern suburbs of the Gold Coast are in extremely high demand,” Ashwin says, highlighting that Helensvale is central to this growth.

“Helensvale is the only Gold Coast suburb with both heavy and light rail connections, offering residents easy access to Brisbane and the rest of the Gold Coast.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149142 project_image_fid=324623]

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/builders/resort-homes">Resort Homes</a>&nbsp;is well advanced in construction of the homes, which will be ready for occupancy in Q3 2025.

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Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/qld/high-demand-and-limited-supply-in-northern-gold-coast-drives-buyers-to-helensvales-lakeside-serenity-villas">High demand and limited supply in Northern Gold Coast drives buyers to Helensvale's Lakeside Serenity Villas</a>

Construction is also gathering steam at DD Living's popular&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/burly-residences-north-burleigh-264-268-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads">Burly Residences</a> in North Burleigh. The luxury beachfront development will comprise just over 100 high-end apartments, introducing a new standard of residential amenities to the area.&nbsp;

Designed by renowned Japanese architect <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/koichi-takada-architects">Koichi Takada</a>&nbsp;with interiors by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">MIM Design</a>, Burly Residences will offer two, three, and four-bedroom apartments alongside two levels of six-star resort-style amenities. These include multiple swimming pools, a gym with a Peloton room, and private dining areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134791 project_image_fid=328212]

Gowdie Management Group is handling the construction of Burly Residences and is expecting to complete the build in 2027.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/qld/construction-commences-at-devines-luxury-burleigh-tower-burly-residences">Construction commences at Devine's luxury Burleigh tower, Burly Residences</a>

The pipeline of new apartments was also topped up in March. The most impressive plans came from <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/main-beach-qld-4217">Main Beach</a> where&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/gdi-group">GDI Group</a>&nbsp;is planning a luxury apartment development on Cunningham Avenue.

<img alt="First look: GDI Group plot two-level apartments in Main Beach" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Cunningham.png?VersionId=O8Zo4guRXRsWLaxXreN8Xix7ySPEPKo0" />

Approaching completion of their Drift Residences nearby, GDI Group is planning a 23-level building with just 10 two-level apartments, each featuring three bedrooms on the lower level and an open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area on the upper level.

Amenities will include a wellness centre and a pool, with Bureau Proberts designing a contemporary addition to Main Beach’s evolving skyline.&nbsp;

GDI is expected to oversee construction, having brought the build for Drift Residences in-house, a popular choice for developers in the current build environment.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/qld/first-look-gdi-group-plot-two-level-apartments-in-main-beach">First look: GDI Group plot two-level apartments in Main Beach</a>

Another builder-developer, the Brisbane-based <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">BPG Developments</a>,&nbsp;also has a new project on the horizon.

They are planning a return to the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>&nbsp;with a 14-level tower on a double-block site across the Gold Coast Highway and a prized entry from Jefferson Lane.<img alt="First look: BPG Developments returns to Palm Beach new apartment market" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/gold%20coast%20da.png?VersionId=2WnKIURE0J1ceRTfRntCUamzdrHV0DxR" />

The new development will include 71 two- and three-bedroom residences, three two-level townhouses, and resident amenities such as a pool and wellness space. Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/plus-architecture" target="">Plus Architecture</a>, the project draws inspiration from Queensland’s coastal vernacular.&nbsp;

Situated next to the recently completed Village Palm Beach and near other upcoming projects, this development will add to the growing apartment supply in the sought-after Palm Beach market.

BPG completed Sable on Palm Beach, just up the road, in 2019.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/qld/first-look-bpg-developments-returns-to-palm-beach-new-apartment-market">First look: BPG Developments returns to Palm Beach new apartment market</a>

From the start of 2020 to the end of 2024, the median value of a unit on the Gold Coast has jumped 78 per cent, from $465,000 to $832,000.

City Beat March 2025: Gold Coast unit market continue to grow, but gains slow

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/scion">Scion Group</a>&nbsp;has officially broken ground on its new development that will reinvigorate an underutilized block of land just off Station Street.

Scion held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the occasion which was attended by industry partners.

The development, Chatham, at 2-6 Chatham Road, will feature 62 apartments across a six-level building designed by MX Architects. The building will activate the street level with four retail spaces that will complement the wider local area.

<img alt="Chatham" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="220879ad-2d40-458f-bbf2-edddeea9b396" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-04-01%20at%202.45.57%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=2zAb7AzTF9yikEZhfA_.csF8KAX.BhO6" />

There will be around 860 sqm of communal open space for residents, across the ground floor and rooftop, which will include terrace decking, seating, and barbecue facilities.

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The site, formerly home to a service station, carwash, and mechanical workshop, underwent extensive remediation before construction. Scion acquired the land in 2021 for $14.1 million, securing a position with frontages to Chatham Road, Dickson Avenue, and Dickson Lane.

<img alt="Chatham" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="59e8d604-be31-4a20-a2c1-9df2c8677b84" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-04-01%20at%202.46.02%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=9dBYZMIg53z6f5JaFtHqs8not71CjT6s" />

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/chatham-west-ryde-2-6-chatham-road-west-ryde">Chatham</a>&nbsp;is the first new apartment development in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/west-ryde-nsw-2114">West Ryde</a> with the new 10-year Latent Defects Insurance offered by Resilience Insurance.

The insurance, which is taken out by the developer, protects apartment owners for any structural or waterproofing issues that may occur within the first 10 years of the building's completion.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/what-is-latent-defects-insurance-and-is-it-bringing-confidence-to-the-off-the-plan-apartment-market">What is Latent Defects Insurance and is it bringing confidence to the off the plan apartment market?</a>

It is the second project where Scion, a family-run builder-developer with over three decades of experience, has been able to give LDI to its residents.&nbsp;

They're soon to complete The Sterling in Lane Cove North, the first development in that area to have LDI.

Chatham is expected to complete in 2026.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134269]

Scion breaks ground on Chatham, West Ryde's first new apartment development backed by Resilience Latent Defects Insurance

Sydney Anglican Property (SAP) will deliver two major housing projects that will bring nearly 260 social and affordable homes in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/bankstown-nsw-2200">Bankstown</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/regents-park-nsw-2143">Regents Park</a>.

The successful bids, under the first round of the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), means Sustainable Development Group, SAP's development partner, will now draw up development application plans for the much-needed social and affordable housing in Sydney’s south-west.&nbsp;

SAP CEO Ross Jones said that these projects are about more than just housing—they are about serving both congregations and the wider community.&nbsp;

“At SAP, our mission is to use church property to meet the needs of both current and future generations,"&nbsp;Jones said.

"We’re thrilled that these projects have been supported. They will provide secure homes for those in need, &nbsp;as well as vital ministry and community facilities for our growing congregations.&nbsp;

“We have been blessed with properties across Greater Sydney, provided through the faithfulness of previous generations. We now have an opportunity to activate these properties through the provision of social and affordable housing along with concurrent upgrading of church facilities to cater for the needs of modern churches."

The&nbsp;two projects are part of a wider urban renewal program across the Anglican Church’s Sydney Diocese aimed at activating church properties with a range of integrated social infrastructure.&nbsp;

“A lot of hard work and prayer has gone into making this happen, and securing these projects with the Housing Australia Future Fund has been the key to unlocking the feasibility of these developments. Now, we look forward to delivering the new homes and community spaces these areas desperately need.”&nbsp;

<img alt="Bankstown Chapel Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d5e6f56-1a2f-46b1-80f2-69d9101257da" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bankstown%20Chapel%20Road%20Elevational%20View.jpg?VersionId=Bw5KATdsWs8KDO05oNCfaQph4YpgONSh" />

A new era for Bankstown&nbsp;

On the current site of St Paul’s Anglican Church, Bankstown, SAP will deliver:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>A brand-new church and ministry centre—a modern space for worship and community use with &nbsp;seating for up to 500.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>185 social and affordable housing units for essential workers, seniors, and women over 55. • A preschool to support young families.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Retail and commercial spaces, creating a vibrant new local hub.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A family-sized apartment for the church’s Senior Minister and his family.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Rev Peter Ko, Senior Minister of St Paul’s Bankstown, is excited for what this means for the congregation &nbsp;and the community:

“St Paul’s has been a part of Bankstown for over 100 years, and we’re committed to remaining here for &nbsp;generations to come. Our current facilities are no longer fit-for-purpose, but this redevelopment ensures &nbsp;we can continue serving the local community while also helping address Sydney’s housing crisis. We’re &nbsp;incredibly grateful for this opportunity.”&nbsp;

A new chapter for Regents Park&nbsp;

At Regents Park, the former church site on Edwin St and Kingsland Rd will be transformed into:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>74 social housing units – for single women over 55 and families in need of a stable, secure home.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Over 500 square metres of communal space (including a roof-top terrace) to foster connection among residents and host community-building activities organised by Anglicare and the church.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Rev Mike Doyle, Rector of St James Berala (which oversees Regents Park), sees this project as a new way to bless the community:&nbsp;

“With the site no longer used for gatherings, we wanted to ensure it is a blessing to our local community. And what better way to do that than by providing homes for those who need them most? This is the &nbsp;Anglican Church committing itself to the good of Regents Park. I can’t wait for the day when new &nbsp;residents move in – we’ll be ready to welcome them into a neighbourhood we love to call home.”&nbsp;

<img alt="Regents Park" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8528b904-9771-4a75-9a28-3f25b4f404a8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Regents%20Park%20Exterior%20View_2.jpg?VersionId=i.ZgEUvr88RebnZvgDc8aYzU.TAHmhgm" />SAP is partnering with Sustainable Development Group (SDG). SDG’s Managing Director, Richard Ollerhead said these significant projects demonstrate SDG’s mission to see faith-based landholdings activated through the delivery of essential social infrastructure.&nbsp;

“Under God, we consider it a great privilege and joy to continue our close partnership with churches, SAP and the project teams in the development of these community assets,” Ollerhead said.&nbsp;

“We are excited about the long-term transformational impacts these projects will have for generations of &nbsp;seniors, workers, children and families.”&nbsp;

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