"The brief was to design the best residences in the world": How David Hicks designed ICD's Aspire Melbourne penthouse collection
Including penthouse apartments in a building can be a way for developers to differentiate their building from others in the area.
ICD Property went all out at their new Melbourne tower Aspire, engaging Australian-born designer David Hicks to craft the penthouse collection.
Weaving together eras, textures, styles and cultures, the David Hicks’ signature balances eclecticism with opulence, Hicks established his eponymous studio
20 years ago and has since worked on a number of significant projects spanning the residential, retail, hospitality and commercial sectors.
For Aspire, the three-bedroom penthouses are the crowning jewels of Aspire, with Hicks setting out to elevate the living experience in the 208-metre tall tower to new heights.
“Aspire is a word that is often in my vocabulary. Without it we cannot achieve greatness. I am constantly pushing for greatness, and better and more advanced outcomes in my life," Hicks said.
"With this project we have certainly done this, using our skills as penthouse designers to bring the best in design from around the world to Melbourne. We have a beautiful, international city that deserves this type of project and the offering is exceptional.
“ICD came to me with the brief to design the best residences seen in the world. I believe we have achieved this through our design."
Hicks said he drew inspiration from contemporary penthouse buildings of New York, along with modernists of mid-century America who honed their skills pushing the boundaries of design.
"We wanted Aspire to be a celebration of the architectural form and the views, whilst providing a subtle, yet textured and, somewhat understated, glamorous interior palette that could adapt to any further decorative addition," Hicks said.
Each space embraces Aspire Melbourne’s architectural curvature. Timber flooring lays underfoot, sourced from Europe, with boards that are wider than the standard for a more refined finish.
In the kitchen, white marble mimics the dappled shadows cast by light. Range hoods make a sculptural statement in polished stainless steel, complemented with uplighting concealed above the splashback. Together with fridges and a washing up area, a butlers’ pantry ensures mess is kept out of sight, completed with luxury in mind, featuring Gaggenau appliances.
“We wanted to keep the palette of materials simple, light and sophisticated. More natural, subdued tones were selected along with beautiful natural stone and timber to create a layering of texture and pattern, in a subtle way," Hicks said.
Upholstered wall panels can be selected in either cream or grey, adding a softness to the bedrooms, while floor-to-ceiling glazing frames the Melbourne skyline vistas, providing viewpoints across multiple spaces in the homes.
The bathrooms are as equally luxurious, with black marble baths taking centre stage, carved with a fluted finish.
From the soaring heights of the upper levels, residents of The Aspire Residences will be the fortunate few, with a unique perspective across the sprawling city below.
While The Aspire Residences have access to the hotel-quality amenity of the Aspire Melbourne tower, including the indoor pool and Whiskey Parlour, the city’s finest restaurants, boutiques and parks await exploration, with very few being able to call Flagstaff Gardens their front garden.
