How Bates Smart designed the completed South Yarra development, Capitol Grand

Capitol Grand boasts an elegant design characterised by its distinctive form, which comprises a series of slender elliptical floorplates, allowing the tower's surfaces to play with light and shadow
How Bates Smart designed the completed South Yarra development, Capitol Grand
Alison Warters July 28, 2023ARCHITECTURE

The Toorak Road and Chapel Street intersection is one of the most popular in Melbourne. It's at the centre of South Yarra's cafe, restaurant and bar scene, while also being a main street into the Melbourne CBD.

Standing at the gateway to Melbourne's eastern suburbs is Capitol Grand, the completed residential tower by Larry Kestelman's LK Property Group.

At the core of Capitol Grand is renowned architecture and interior design practice Bates Smart. With a rich history dating back to 1852 and a string of prestigious awards to their name, Bates Smart portfolio includes some of Melbourne's finest, including The Melburnian, 150 Clarendon Street East Melbourne, Freshwater Place, and Crown Metropol.

Capitol Grand features an elegant design characterised by its distinctive form, which comprises a series of slender elliptical floorplates, allowing the tower's surfaces to play with light and shadow, offering a unique perspective from every vantage point.

Roger Poole, Chairman of Bates Smart, said the façade is a combination of reflective high-performance glass and a fine metallic finish, divided into graduated groupings that draw the eye upwards, bringing pattern and variety to the façade.

"The design modulates the view, providing a unique perspective from each residence and an ephemeral presence for external viewers., Poole said.

“At the upper levels, the penthouses occupy a singular ellipse that allows for unobstructed panoramic views of the CBD through to Port Philip Bay, the Dandenong Ranges, leafy Toorak and down the historic spine of Chapel Street."

Bates Smart's Director and Interior Designer Jeff Copolov said, inside the apartments, lobbies, and residential amenity areas they have curated a timeless and contemporary interior design.

"Schemes are comprised of modern restrained colour palettes able to provide a neutral backdrop to residents’ varied furniture and artwork collections. The finishes are rich, layered and textural. The detailing is crafted and bespoke. Materials are high quality with a luxurious feel," Copolov said. 

One, two and three-bedroom apartments are still available in the completed South Yarra tower, with prices starting from $579,000.

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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