Property of the week: Penthouse, 601/12 Baptist St, Redfern
A Sydney site with a questionable past is reborn as a luxe residential environment ideal for indulging in dining out
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Long-term Sydney residents always had handful of not-so-glamourous nicknames for the building on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist Streets straddling Redfern and Surry Hills, but after a modern rebirth that’s all changed.
Once known as “Murder Mall” or “Methadone Mall”, the 1960s-built Surry Hills Shopping Centre was a magnet for colourful characters and questionable behaviour. Today, however, a $500 million facelift of the site — alongside a slow and steady gentrification of the two neighbouring suburbs — the prime corner property has been transformed into a luxury apartment complex Surry Hills Village by developer Toga Group.
The crowning feature of the 122-apartment project is the three-bedroom penthouse, fully completed and just released to market with a $7.5 million price guide.
Measuring 211sqm of internal space, with a 136sqm terrace complete with landscaping, the penthouse is the brand new brainchild of Surry Hills local Adam Haddow, director of architecture at award-winning firm SJB.
Victoria Judge, senior associate and co-interior design lead at SJB says Surry Hills Village sets a new residential benchmark for the southern end of Surry Hills.
“The residential offering is well-appointed, confident, luxe and bohemian. Smart enough to know what makes good living, and cool enough to hold its own amongst design-centric Surry Hills.”
Allan Vidor, managing director of Toga Group, adds that the penthouse is the quintessential jewel in the crown of Surry Hills Village.
“Bringing together a distinct design that draws on the beauty and vibrancy of Sydney; grand spaces and the finest finishes across a significant footprint, located only a stone’s throw away from the exciting cultural hub of Crown St and Surry Hills.”
Created to maximise views of the city skyline and parkland, the top floor apartment has a practical layout including a wide private lobby leading to the main living room, a sleek kitchen featuring Pietra Verde marble and a concealed butler’s pantry Sub-Zero Wolf appliances, full-height Aspen elm joinery panels hiding storage throughout, flamed Saville stone flooring, a powder room, and two car spaces with a personal EV.
All three bedrooms have large wardrobes and ensuites with bathrooms fittings such as freestanding baths, artisan penny tiles, emerald marble surfaces and brushed-nickel accents.
Additional features of the entertainer’s home include leather-bound joinery doors opening to a full wet bar with Sub-Zero wine fridge and Sub-Zero Wolf barbecue.
The Surry Hills Village precinct will open in stages until autumn next year and once complete, Wunderlich Lane will be home to a collection of 25 restaurants and bars plus wellness and boutique retail. The EVE Hotel Sydney will open later in 2024, offering guests an immersive experience in the precinct’s art, culture, and culinary offerings.
The Surry Hills Village penthouse on Baptist is now finished and ready to move into with marketing through Toga Group and inquiries to 1800 554 556.
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Crafted by Pandolfini Architects with interiors by Lisa Buxton, the Glen Iris residence pairs industrial-inspired design with refined contemporary living and a five-car showroom pavilion.
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A bold architectural statement in Melbourne’s inner east, this unique Glen Iris home marries sculptural design with sophisticated family living in a remarkable real estate relationship.
Conceived by Pandolfini Architects, with interiors by Lisa Buxton, the custom-built four-bedroom, two-level home was crafted for its current owners but is now coming to market for the first time.
Listed via an expressions-of-interest campaign with Marshall White agents Rae and Hugh Tomlinson and Mandy Zhu, 8 Erica Ave is on the market with price expectations of $7.5 million to $8 million.
Its dramatic street appeal sets the tone for what’s to come, because beyond the contemporary façade sits a modern residence unlike any other.
Pandolfini’s team brief was to create an inviting home made from hard-wearing materials, with a palette inspired by ancient ruins and old industrial buildings.
The result is striking, cantilevered terracotta brickwork and a patinated copper-screened exterior that borrows hues from the classic neighbouring cottages.
One within the home, the Erica Ave property unfolds across three interconnected pavilions positioned along the deep block. Long gallery hallways are framed by floor-to-ceiling glass to showcase garden and pool views, making the most of the 886 sq m site.
Raw, heavily textured walls create an industrial aesthetic inside and out, while curious “upside-down” arched windows introduce a creative architectural twist.
At the heart of the home, the central living and dining zone is divided by a sculptural fireplace rendered in hard plaster. High barn-style spotted gum timber ceilings rise above bush-hammered concrete walls with Roman travertine floors, and American oak joinery.
In the marble kitchen, there are premium Wolf and Miele appliances, a butler’s pantry, an integrated study nook, and a bespoke curved window that wraps around a custom-made banquette dining space.
Walls of glass frame the north-facing terrace where a heated swimming pool and spa are enveloped by private landscaped gardens with an integrated barbecue setting.
Within the front pavilion, the large parents’ retreat features built-in and walk-in wardrobes, a dresser, and a travertine ensuite with a freestanding bathtub, rain shower, and a dual-marble vanity. Also on the ground floor is a second bedroom and a media room with a built-in daybed and a picture window overlooking the yard.
One floor up via the curved staircase with skylight, there are two more bedrooms with terrazzo bathrooms, study spaces, and leafy outlooks.
Car enthusiasts not only have a single lock-up garage on Erica Ave, but an additional rear showroom-style five-car pavilion or grand studio accessed via Irymple Ave. It has a high vaulted ceiling, a concealed in-floor Maha car lift, a workbench, and a sink.
Added extras include a mud room, laundry with side access, in-floor heating and climate control within the engineered European oak floors, deluxe joinery, and CCTV security.
The Glen Iris home is within walking distance of Central Park Village, Harold Holt Swim Centre, and Gardiner Station, as well as popular schools including Sacré Cœur, Korowa, and Caulfield Grammar.
The Pandolfini-designed house at 8 Erica Ave, Glen Iris is listed with Marshall White for $7.5 million to $8 million via an expressions of interest campaign.
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