First look exclusive: Orosi plan Rose Bay shoptop on key gateway site
Eastern Suburbs developer Orosi is taking on its largest project to date, filing plans for a new shoptop development in the gateway to Rose Bay.
It was last year that Orosi, led by Founder and Managing Director Hamid Samavi, secured the vast 3,000 sqm site, a two year-long amalgamation of several lots over The Avenue, Old South Head Road and William Street. Now they've submitted plans to the Waverley Council for a mixed-use development that will be the biggest development Rose Bay has seen in years.
Samavi told Urban the vision is to create an iconic landmark that serves as a welcoming gateway to Rose Bay.
"OROSI Rose Bay will set a new benchmark for architecture and sustainability in The Eastern Suburbs, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and curated retail spaces, including a Kosher café, an organic restaurant, and Sydney’s most iconic wellness centre," Samavi said.
The integrated developer, who serves as both the architect and builder of its projects, designed the building to offer 50 apartments spanning across a structure that ranges from four to five levels.
There will be 34 two-bedroom apartments and 16 three-bed apartments.
"The apartments are on the larger side, so they will suit a wide range of demographics, not just downsizers."
The building, across the road from the Royal Sydney Golf Club, will be divided into two adjacent, inter-connected buildings to reduce its overall bulk, setting back the development from The Avenue and William Street boundaries.
OROSI Rose Bay will replace a mix of commercial and residential properties from the mid to late 20th century.
Urbis said the demolition of all structures within the subject site would provide the opportunity for a cohesive, contemporary new development that complements the surrounding streetscape.
"The proposal would revitalise the site with new opportunity for residential, commercial and retail spaces, and reactivate the Old South Head Road street frontage with a cafe, restaurant, and a modest commercial space," Urbis noted in their submission.
"The proposed new mixed-use development has been designed to be complementary to the existing character of the surrounding streetscape, including its height, built envelope, inclusion of greenery and landscaping, utilisation of the existing slope, colour palette and finishes."
Orosi's push for a bakery-style cafe stems from the site's long history of having a bakery presence, dating back over a century.
The Rose Bay Bakery on The Avenue, pictured in 1920. Source: State Library of NSW
Samavi said the bakery currently operating from the development site is the only kosher bakery in Sydney.
"We wanted to respect the context of the site and keep the same kosher bakery which has become an important part of Rose Bay," Samavi added.
Orosi's largest development to date was in Bellevue Hill where they created a 25-apartment development on Bellevue Road. Their most recent completion was of Orosi South Cronulla, a collection of 18 luxury apartments, while currently they're developing a boutique building of just 11 apartments in Randwick.
"To us, luxury is not just about natural marble and exquisite finishes," Samavi said.
"We put a great deal of effort into sustainability, achieved through the passive design of the building to minimise energy consumption. This includes provisions such as double-glazed windows, UV-protected glass, proper insulation for the walls, and airtight joints for windows and walls, among other features.
"Additionally, each unit is equipped with a heat exchanger to ensure proper cross-ventilation at all times, thereby preventing any mould formation within the units. Thermal comfort and air quality is a priority for us, impacting residents as significantly as the quality of the finishes."