How Nedlands apartment development, Rivean Residences, was planned: Five minutes with Blueways Development Manager Paul Simpson

The partnership between Aria Land and Blueways Group has led to a suite of new Nedlands apartment developments with Rivean Residences proving to be the most popular so far.

Construction is underway at Rivean, which is already over 50 per cent sold. Completion of the 28 Giorgi-designed apartments is slated for 2023.

Urban sat down with Blueways Development Manager, Paul Simpson to get some insider information on the popular Perth development

Max Kwok: Rivean Residences is a cooperative effort between Blueways and AriaLand. What strengths do each party bring that add value to the project?

Paul Simpson: Blueways brings its property development experience in Melbourne and substantial capital strength, whilst Aria Land contributes its expertise experience in Perth, where it has established a track record of the development of highly regarded and awarded high-end residential developments.

MK: What are the highlights of Rivean and what is attracting buyers to the project?

PS: Rivean’s architects are Giorgi, with whom Aria Land has collaborated in the development of what are considered Perth’s most exclusive residential projects, Ten Bellevue and Echelon, which were both awarded HIA Australian Apartment of the Year and WA Apartment of the Year. Giorgi’s name is highly regarded in Perth, and has been an attraction to buyers, most of whom emanate from Perth’s western suburbs, where Giorgi’s architecture is best known and sought after.

Rivean is at the river-end of Broadway, and enjoys wonderful vistas ranging from Kings Park, the CBD and over the Swan River. These views have proven a great attraction to buyers, in addition to the amenity of the Broadway café and retail strip, and the nearby UWA and Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre.

MK: What were the goals you set out for the architect team at Giorgi?

PS: A contemporary outcome was sought, with clean lines. The balustrade glazing is frameless, to lighten the façade, which features planters on various floors and building corners. Giorgi was asked to provide oversized two and three bedroom residences, including two top-floor penthouses. The foliage is designed to be viewed from both inside and outside the development, to further fit in to the leafy Nedlands environment.

The development was also designed to cater for those who may want to work from home, and so most apartments enjoy studies or study nooks, whilst the ground floor features a Business Hub. The residents’ parking bays and storerooms are also over-sized, which differentiates the development to all others on offer.

MK: Where have buyers for Rivean come from, and who is the development appealing to?

PS: The development is designed for down-sizers, primarily local residents moving from a larger, older home, typical of Nedlands and adjacent suburbs. The proximity to UWA and the QEII Medical Centre has also attracted interest from academics and the medical profession. 

However, this being the first development in Nedlands under the recently introduced town planning allowing residential buildings of 6 levels in small pockets of the suburb, many of Rivean’s apartments are only half the price of a typical Nedlands house. This has provided an entry to the aspirational buyer, who was previously precluded from the western suburbs market due to the house pricing reflecting its exclusivity.

MK: How does Rivean Residences stand out compared to your other upcoming Perth projects?

PS: Most of our other developments also entail a number one bedroom/study apartments, particularly those closer to the UWA and Medical Centre. Rivean residences are larger on average, both internally and in terms of balcony or terrace size. The gym facilities are larger, and the number of residences is fewer, adding to Rivean’s exclusivity. Being closer to the river, its views are also sought after.

MK: Were there any challenges during the development process that had to be overcome? How did you handle the lockdowns?

PS: The merits of the architecture and new living opportunities of lock and leave, no maintenance accommodation won the approval for our four Nedlands developments and was achieved over a six month period. 

The speed of the sales uptake has supported the recent town planning changes; Rivean and our other developments in Nedlands are satisfying a home sector which previously didn’t exist. The approval process wasn’t affected by COVID, as WA has been fortunate in avoiding the long lockdowns of other states. COVID did, however, allow us to include design features in our apartments, such as a separate study or desk space to accommodate working from home, the new normal following COVID.