NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD
Only five of the beautifully designed 105 apartments at Grace Victoria Quarter are still available for sale, writes Sandra Goodwin
Scaffolding has started to come down from around Grace Victoria Quarter, revealing the curvaceous architectural form that has helped ensure only five of its apartments are still available for sale. “It’s majestic, isn’t it?” says Andrew Weipers, general manager of Reside Projects which partnered with Melbourne-based developer Little Projects to create the development.
“We couldn’t be happier with the way it looks.” Andrew believes the architecture, location and residents’ amenities are key factors which explain why only five of 105 apartments are available now, approximately three and a half months out from settlement. All one-bedroom and three-bedroom residences have sold out leaving only a smattering of two-bedroom apartments either on Level 7 or 8.
Some have covered balconies and all have one car park included in their pricing, which ranges from $1,055,000 to $1,265,000. Views vary from CBD to the Ponsonby-Freemans Bay ridge and round to the harbour bridge.
Construction is advanced on the building which offers 10 levels of apartments above car-parking on the apex of Sale and Cook St in Victoria Quarter.
It’s been designed by international design practice Cox Architecture and Opus Architecture in New Zealand. The design resembles a sinuously curved screen following the line of the corner site with horizontal bands of frameless glazing achieving the soft curves and strong form.
Andrew says: “We put a lot of faith in Cox when they first designed the building and said ‘the curves are really important and something that we need’. That trust has been rewarded. It’s unique and iconic.”
Two-thirds of Sale St’s scaffolding is down and the balance will come down over the next six weeks. The panoramic harbour and city views from the rooftop terrace are currently only available to those in hard hats while Grace Victoria Quarter remains an active building site.
Andrew says: “It’s a quintessentially Auckland CBD view with the harbour bridge and the water but what also stands out is the connection to the CBD. That view back to the Sky Tower when you’re standing on Level 10 feels like it’s right on your doorstep.”
Standing on the rooftop it becomes crystal clear why the developers were excited by this site back in planning stages, when the central city was starting to spread west.
It’s 500m from the waterfront on the fringe of Ponsonby, Freemans Bay and the CBD. It’s walking distance to Victoria Park, New World Victoria Park and all the central city’s workplaces and offerings including Wynyard Quarter and City Works Depot.
Many buyers have been young professionals or those downsizing from houses around this area.
Private amenities all residents will have access to include the Rooftop Retreat. Its enclosed lounge-dining area with kitchen opens out to the rooftop terrace. There’ll also be a residential entrance lobby featuring a double-height sculptural staircase and the garden the building centres around, with water feature and subtropical landscaping.
Andrew says those amenities will be significant milestones on the path to completion. The developers have signed off the first two levels of apartments as completed, with kitchens and bathroom fit-outs continuing above that.
This means prospective buyers can view a completed two-bedroom apartment on site, styled by high-end furniture supplier Soren Liv.
Macrennie Commercial Construction is building Grace Victoria Quarter and Andrew says settlement on residences is expected to be towards the end of August 2019.