Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin - Property
Luxury Redefined
A detailed design process unpacked and reconstructed the concept of what constitutes luxury living to deliver a new benchmark at Drift in Main Beach.
When the developer of Drift in Main Beach delivered a brief to “imagine that which has not been imagined before”, architect Danny Juric took a moment to pause.
The Director of Plus Architecture’s Gold Coast and Brisbane division admits the challenge of establishing a new benchmark for the city was unlike any that had come before. “The challenge was to deliver what has not been delivered before, so the growth for us has been in working out how to go there,” says Danny. “For me, the starting point was to stop and define what luxury really is.”
A year-long design phase saw Danny working closely with GDI Group’s Dean Gallagher, a second-generation developer with a meticulous eye for detail and a passion for design.
The result is a landmark building that’s set to rise 30 levels on a prime north-facing site at 16-18 Hughes Avenue, moments from the surf and a short stroll to Tedder Avenue.
The exploration that unfolded during the design took the concept of luxury far beyond the limestone benchtops, Venetian plaster, and organic brushed brass tapware. “We went through this process of exploring the sensory effects of engaging with the building,” says Danny, “the feel of the materials, the sounds they produce, and the emotions they evoke.”
Case in point is the vaulted hallway in which residents decompress as they transition from the outside world into the Wellness Spa where a heated pool and magnesium spa, cold therapy pool, infrared sauna, gymnasium and steam room await. “As you step into that passage an emotive response takes place,” says Danny. “The passage is calming, it’s quiet, the light is dim, and you feel the temperature drop. It’s a very sensory experience.”
Privacy and space emerged as crucial factors in designing the ultimate luxury apartment, with careful consideration given to creating spaces in which residents and their guests can choose to interact or retreat.
Half-floor residences offer 262m2* with three bedrooms, each with an ensuite, open-plan living and dining, a kitchen with a butler’s pantry, and the choice of an additional media room or study.
Full-floor 531m2* four-bedroom residences have a multi-purpose room and a home office, while an impressive 1,019m2* two-level penthouse has five bedrooms and a rooftop terrace.
But it’s the finer details that elevate Drift to benchmark status by working to eliminate minor inconveniences to make the entire living environment more enjoyable.
Drift will have an onsite concierge service, ensuring dry cleaning and parcels are safely delivered while a cold room provides storage for groceries. Pet friendly features include a dedicated dog wash station with a separate lift entry for pampered pooches.
The location also played heavily into the design process, with the north-east aspect capturing an uninterrupted view over Norfolk Pines to the ocean as well as the beauty of the Broadwater. Windows were added to ensuites and walk-in robes to expose the sparkle of city lights as you prepare for an evening out. “This is a building which has been designed with a 360-degree appreciation and different parts of the building respond differently to the views,” says Danny. “It’s very different to what’s happening at Burleigh, Mermaid Beach, and Palm Beach where there is only one main view to focus on, pure east to the water.”
GCB Constructions began a 25-month building program in September, installing the piling platform and rig in preparation for top-down basement construction. Momentum on site has inspired confidence in a market where many others have stalled. “Drift is being built - this is a real project with real delivery timeframes,” says Danny. “That level of confidence is a luxury in itself.”
“For me, the starting point was to stop and define what luxury really is.”
For more information please contact Duncan McInnes 0418 761 822 duncanmcinnes@kollosche.com.au Corey Gilmore 0416 217 774 coreygilmore@kollosche.com.au
- Danny Juric
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