Fit for a rock star
These apartments offer an unparalleled level of luxury, writes Sandra Goodwin
An array of luxurious amenities, highly lauded architects and a “resident rock- star” interior designer are just a few of the reasons the developer of The International apartments is adamant they’ll be unrivalled in New Zealand.
Core marketing has just commenced but, of its 88 penthouses and one to three- bedroom apartments — worth more than $ 200 million — more than half have already sold. Residents enjoying city, park or harbour views from their Princes St ridge- top perch get premium amenities.
These will include a library, private dining room, wine cellar, boutique cinema, gym, outdoor terrace with heated pool, cafe by Ponderosa Group and concierge service.
Developer Gary Groves of Sanctuary Group says: “If one of our residents wants to swap over what’s in their wardrobe for the change of season they can even send their Prada and Gucci outfits or the like down to dehumidified, temperature- controlled storage in the basement.”
The concierge based in the vaulted triple- height lobby will be able to arrange everything from drycleaning to dog- walking.
Gary says: “I’m confident that Auckland is ready for international- standard apartments. There simply is nothing else in Australasia that has these specifications.”
His mission to create this country’s premier design includes a white steel and alloy exoskeleton that cantilevers off the building, skirting conservatories, including particularly large ones on the building’s corners. Bounded by glass balustrades, these will be true all- weather indooroutdoor spaces able to be completely closed off from the elements by sliding closed exterior glass stackers.
The 3.6m height between existing concrete floors will facilitate extraordinarily generous threemetre apartment stud height.
Gary believes Auckland’s apartment market has come on in bounds from pre- Global Financial Crisis days when most apartments built in the CBD or fringes targeted investors. THE INTERNATIONAL, 9 PRINCES ST, AUCKLAND CITY. ON OFFER: OPTIONS: A: B: C: D: E: BODY CORP: INSPECT: SCHOOLS: CONTACT: ON THE WEB:
“The market’s matured now to a stage where owner- occupiers are seeing high- end quality apartments as a bona fide option. Some of the residences we’ll be delivering here are as large as a typical house.”
Rufus’ interiors for these air- conditioned, centrally heated apartments favour streamlined natural materials including wide- board timber flooring and extensive use of vein- cut natural stone.
There are some car parks beyond those included in apartment pricing available to purchase for $ 150,000 each.
Building work is scheduled to start later this year for completion in early 2018.