Boutique apartments set to take over Mermaid Beach

Famous for its boutique, low-rise projects, there's been a wave of development applications in the last four weeks in the exclusive beachside suburb.
Boutique apartments set to take over Mermaid Beach
The proposal for 3 Petrel Avenue. Image credit: BDA Architecture
Alison Warters March 23, 2022

With buyer demand still booming, the Gold Coast property sector is set to ease the apartment shortage, delivering on more than 2500 units across 20 new tower projects.

One area that has been especially popular with developers is Mermaid Beach. Famous for its boutique, low-rise projects, there's been a wave of development applications in the last four weeks in the exclusive beachside suburb.

It's a battle to be as close to the beachfront. Hedges Avenue is one of the most expensive strips of real estate on the whole of the Gold Coast, with some of the states most expensive homes just off the sand.

Just south of Hedges is Albatross Avenue. Also beachfront, the strip has become a more viable option for developers, with land prices slightly more affordable than the neighbouring Hedges Avenue.

A local developer recently lodged plans for a boutique four-unit development at 90 Albatross Avenue.


The plans for 90 Albatross Avenue. Image credit: BDA Architecture

BDA Architects has designed the project, with each apartment spanning a whole floor. The development will also feature a partial additional level, which will home the resident's communal amenity, including a plunge pool, an open barbecue, terrace seating and a powder room.

The apartments all have three bedrooms, each with with walk in robes and ensuites.

A few rows back from the beach is the popular Petrel Avenue, where there's also been two development applications lodged in recent weeks.

Bespoke developer Revilo Projects, who focus on boutique, high end stock, has lodged plans for a three-storey development at 3 Petrel Avenue, with just three apartments.


The plans for 3 Petrel Avenue. Image credit: BDA Architecture

There will be two three-bedroom apartments along with one four-bedroom apartment, with each residence occupying a full floor.

BDA Architects is creating the apartments with a soft colour palette, with white batten screening, timber soffits and natural stone, creating a coastal facade offset by the subtle curves of the built form.

Private open spaces have been incorporated for each apartment, with the ground floor apartment taking advantage of a large podium terrace, and the upper two apartments with the luxury of private roof top terraces.

These large, liveable apartments will cater for the down sizer or larger families looking to move closer to the beach.

Up the road at 84 Petrel Avenue, developer SK2 Property has also had BDA put together plans for four whole-floor apartments.

Embracing sub-tropical design objectives and delivering a residential building of a contemporary, minimalist coastal form and character, the main indoor living areas are oriented toward the street frontage of Petrel Avenue, leading out to expansive outdoor living spaces.


The plans for 84 Petrel Avenue. Image credit: BDA Architecture

The group recently lodged plans for a similar three-storey residential build at 33 Albatross Avenue.

At the southern end of Petrel Avenue is Chairlift Avenue East, where MAYD Group will be creating something special with eight apartments.

Plus Architecture has designed the four-storey building at 13-15 Chairlift Avenue, which will have two three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartments on the ground level, spanning just under 300 sqm. Wrapped in private courtyards and terraces, each apartment will also home its own private plunge pool.    

Levels two and three will also feature two apartments, this time with a three-bedroom, three-bathroom, plus multi-purpose room configuration. Each apartment sits across 204 sqm of floorspace, opening out to a southern facing 20 sqm balcony.


The plans for 13-15 Chairlift Avenue. Image credit: Plus Architecture

Level four is home to the two penthouse apartments, each with exclusive access to their own private rooftop terraces. Spanning 200 sqm internally on the fourth floor, most of the living areas occupy this space. The rooftop terrace incorporates 39 sqm of internal space and a further 140 sqm of terracing, complete with their outdoor kitchen and plunge pool.  

Alison Warters

Alison Warters is a property journalist for Urban, based in Sydney. Alison is especially interested in the evolution of the New Build/Development space, when it comes to design innovation and sustainability.

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