Brisbane-based developer Siera lodges Tapestry, Chevron Island apartment development plans
The Brisbane-based development and construction firm, Siera Property Group, are the latest in a wave of developers heading to the Gold Coast for the first time.
Seira, headed by the managing director and founder Brent Thompson, has laid plans on the sought-after Chevron Island for a 17-level project dubbed Tapestry, paying homage to the Island's new Home of the Arts precinct.
The plans by the local BDA Architecture will see 83 apartments built on a 1,518 sqm site at 39-43 Darrambal Street, toward the southern end of the island.
Thompson, who sits on the board of UDIA QLD and chairs the Brisbane City Council Policy Committee, sees it as a shift in thinking for the company, who made their name in the Queensland capital developing luxury townhouses in Brisbane's inner ring.
"Due to some council restrictions in Brisbane, we needed to identify a new opportunity where we could put a lot of effort in to what we’re delivering," Thompson said.
Thompson has spent a lot of time on the Gold Coast over the last 18 months, spending time understand the Gold Coast market, as well as the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, and why each market has been so desirable for different reasons.
"Spending time on the ground allowed us to understand what was coming to the market, what developers were saying, and who was buying sites and where," Thompson added.
He identified some nice beachside opportunities, but really wanted to create something that was targeted at a wider net, rather than the multi million dollar apartments that are limited to the fortunate few.
"We want the local owner occupier, who could be living in a medium-size house in the area, to be able to downsize or rightsize, or have others who just want to find a new lifestyle, and have the opportunity to do so without being priced out."
The 55 metre building will comprise 28 three-bedroom apartments and 55 two-bedroom apartments, around half of those with multipurpose rooms. There will be six apartments per level until level 14 where there will be five.
The two-bedroom apartments start from 84 sqm, while the three-bedroom units have internal living areas between 113 sqm and 141 sqm. Every apartment has a balcony of at least 10 sqm, as well as their own parking space.
There are 94 parking spaces across the two levels of basement parking, and 29 on the street level.
The street level will feature extensive raised planters and a water feature on entry to the lobby, where there will be a number of garden rooms and resident office space with a kitchen.
Crowning Tapestry will be a resident rooftop, complete with a resort-style swimming pool with day beds, a spa, and a pool deck. A barbecue and alfresco area, will sit in landscaping, as will dining surrounded by an edible garden. There's set to be a private dining space with a terrace and fire pit, a gym with sauna and steam room, and a lounging area with a lawn.
It was important for Thompson to go local with all of the intricacies that come with developing a project. He's used local architecture firm BDA, and is engaging local Gold Coast builders to deliver the project, despite Siera's previous experience in building their developments.
He's even gone a step further and, given the Gold Coast City Council's efforts to make Surfers Paradise an arts and cultural hub, has engaged local artist Tanya Blanchard to create a piece of artwork that will hang in the lobby when completed.
"There's a great local community on Chevron Island. It's a tight-knit community, while being ideally located just five minute walk from the international tourist hub of Surfers Paradise," Thompson says.
BDA says the architecture of the proposed development is sculptural and smooth-lined.
"A mixture of vertical blade walls and horizontal slab edges responding to available views and natural light. Cantilevered balcony’s protrude from the building body with curved edges softening the feathered edges," the submission to the Gold Coast City Council read.
"Colours and materials have been selected to create a lightly textured and timeless material palette. White render, concrete, glass and timber screening create a rich and layered coastal effect.
About the developer
Siera Group, a property development and construction company, was established in 2014 by Brent Thompson.
Their primary focus has been apartments and terraces in Brisbane. In the last seven years, they've developed more than 70 residential dwellings in key growth markets in South-East Queensland, with a total end value of $50 million.
One of the main focuses is to acquire premium sites within established community settings, with strong connectivity to lifestyle amenity, where they feel our investment in design can make a positive contribution.
