Sky-high grand statement
Two-storey penthouse the crowning glory of the luxurious Neue Grand tower
A super-sized penthouse in an exclusive St Kilda Rd development is setting a new standard for luxury apartment living in Melbourne, with sky garages, a private rooftop pool and panoramic views across the city and Port Phillip Bay. Developer Growland has revealed plans to combine the top two floors of its Neue Grand development at 613 St Kilda Rd into a threestorey, 710sq m luxury residence, with an asking price of $23,888,888. Architecture firm Rothelowman designed the lavish 20-storey tower of 17 “whole-floor” residences and the penthouse, each with a glass-walled garage for residents to display their luxury cars next to their living rooms. Growland CEO Ronald Chan said the decision to combine the top two floors was driven by growing interest in the prospect of “supersizing” plans for the existing apartments, which are already a generous 355sq m.
“We have seen a strong response to the first release of apartments from local and international buyers,” Mr Chan said. “Space is at a premium in worldclass cities like Melbourne, and buyers at this end of the market want the spatial dimensions of a luxury house, with the convenience and amenity of an innercity apartment.”
The layout of the penthouse will be customised for its buyer, but the current floorplan comprises two open-plan living areas, four bedrooms with en suites, a study and a 158sq m rooftop terrace with a pool, kitchen, barbecue area and entertaining zone. The double-storey “sky garage” has space for four cars, plus an additional two spots in the basement carpark.
Neue Grand’s sky garages are a first for the southern hemisphere and headline a suite of state-of-the-art features introduced by Growland to elevate Melbourne’s luxury apartment market to match that of Singapore, New York and Miami. The German-engineered lift receives the vehicle at basement level, then sends it up to the correct floor, automatically sliding it into the private sky garage adjacent to the living room. Residents drive into the basement carpark and then exit the vehicle to make the same journey skywards in one of two private passenger lifts, which delivers them discreetly to their personal lobby. Interiors have been designed to highlight the sense of light and space with open floorplans, high ceilings and walls of glass.
These provide the perfect canvas for luxurious finishes — a combination of distinctive stone, marble, warm timber and lustrous metals — and the latest Gaggenau and Liebherr appliances. The master suite is the ultimate private sanctuary, fitted with a spacious walk-in wardrobe and dressing area, en suite with double shower and bath and expansive views of the city. Heating, cooling, lighting and blinds are controlled by hi-tech home automation wiring, which is set up to service all manner of smart home devices.
All Neue Grand residents have access to a suite of on-site amenities, including a state-of-the-art gymnasium, private dining room and club lounge. Concierge services range from day to-day personal admin tasks such as managing deliveries and booking taxis, and extends to co-ordinating household staff, personal trainers, stylists and beauty therapists as well as event planning and pet care. All facilities and services can be reserved or summoned via a smartphone app. “What’s unique is the scale and standard of communal amenities for only 18 residences — the concierge will be able to offer a level of service that you couldn’t get even in a hotel,” Growland residential development director Kevin Parker said.
“Neue Grand will appeal to buyers that are typically hard to impress; they want to see something they have never seen before and they will spare no expense for the sake of quality design and avant-garde opulence.”