"El Parasol": First look at new apartments planned for Maroochydore's centre
The Maroochydore CBD is set for a new apartment development that has been inspired by the ocean and will serve as a "metaphorical umbrella".
The 12-level building at 15-17 Ocean Street, Maroochydore, is being planned by building firm Rocking Horse Constructions, who had Ferro Chow Architecture create the unique design for the project which they are calling El Parasol.
El Parasol will bring 53 apartments to the heart of the Maroochydore CBD, in a pocket that hasn't had much supply in recent years.
There will be 16 two-bedroom apartments and 32 three-bed units, half of which will have their own study. Four four-bedroom apartments occupy the penthouse level on level 12.
There are communal facilities on level three in the form of a swimming pool and spa with cabanas, a gym, and a kitchen and dining area.
The ground level will have a hospitality venue, while level two and the other half of level three will home four two-level office spaces.
There will be 128 parking spaces, 82 for the apartments, 14 for visitors, 15 for the retail space, and 17 for the offices.
Ferro Chow wrote in their documentation submitted to the Sunshine Coast Council that their architectural vision is to seamlessly weave multiple dwellings, a vibrant food and drink outlet, and flexible office spaces into a harmonious, multi-residential community.
"Our vision is to create a thriving, interconnected community that embodies the spirit of Maroochydore while embracing the beauty of the ocean’s forms and the patterns of life in a vibrant, evolving city," the report read.
“El Parasol, an embodiment of an ‘umbrella: providing shelter from the sun,’ symbolizes our inspiration. Drawing from the dynamic lifestyle and mixing multiple uses, our project is poised to transform Maroochydore’s celebrated landscape."
Ferro Chow, led by Jared Chow, said the building integrates seamlessly into a vibrant entertainment precinct surrounded by various retail and commercial establishments.
"The street-level experience is thoughtfully curated, boasting an activated and landscaped podium with abundant greenery for screening, fostering a strong connection between common areas and the lively street."
They said El Parasol employs earthy, pared-back materials, sculpting a form that is both sculptural and sensitive to its coastal landscape.
"The use of off-form concrete, timber, and rammed earth contributes to a natural, organic aesthetic, further enhanced by hanging planters and perimeter planting, reducing the building’s mass."
The project, on a 2,190 sqm site which is currently a retail strip, will sit directly opposite Big Top Shopping Centre.
The new plans are a scaled-down version of the plans approved back in 2020. That had 66 apartments and 44 short-term accommodation units across a larger 4,200 sqm site.
Rocking Horse Constructions is led by building veteran Alex Schiavo and is currently building Sorano House, the luxury Kangaroo Point apartment development.
