Sydney’s Rhodes East redevelopment to focus on biophilic design
The winning design for the Parramatta River precinct will be a mix of retail, dining and residential options
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Rhodes East in Sydney’s inner west is one step closer to rejuvenation on the Parramatta River foreshore with the announcement of the design competition winner for 25-27 Leeds Street.
The winning proposal is by award-winning architectural firm SJB and Land And Form and is based on biophilic principles, with landscape integrated throughout the collection of buildings, which will offer a mix of retail, dining and residential options across a 6,000sqm site.
Director of Land and Form Ro Iyer, said the design allows the public and private spaces to transition from the natural foreshore into more urban spaces.
“The public domain embraces the unique geographical setting and confluence of where the Parramatta River meets Rhodes,” Iyer said. “The foreshore design represents this transition from natural to urban, creating an iconic destination that looks to restore and enhance important ecological assets and allow people to actively engage with the Parramatta River, setting a high-quality precedent for the Rhodes East Precinct.”
The residential development has been designed for maximum solar comfort. At least 85 percent of apartments will have desirable outlooks, with residences facing internal courtyards still enjoying glimpses of the river.
SJB and developer Billbergia have come together again on this site, having already successfully teamed up on nearby Rhodes Central.
“SJB has a long-running connection with Rhodes, completing the first masterplan for the regeneration of the suburb in 2005,” director of SJB Nick Hatzi said. “Our proposal for Leeds Street opens up new connections to the water and reflects SJB’s approach to permeable and civic-centric mixed-use development.”
SJB and Billbergia won Development of the Year – Mixed Use at the recent Urban Developer National Awards for Industry Excellence for Rhodes Central.
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Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is selling his Northern California estate, which was listed Monday for $24.5 million.
Located in Atherton, an extremely affluent town northwest of Palo Alto and about 30 miles south of San Francisco, the 3.36-acre property is made up of three parcels that Schmidt acquired over the years, according to public records and Compass, who has the listing.
Schmidt, 69, and his wife, businesswoman Wendy Schmidt, purchased the main home in 1990 for $2 million, according to public records accessed via PropertyShark. They remodelled the 1969 home in 2007, and at that time, bought a neighbouring parcel of land, allowing an expansion of the main house and the addition of a guest house, according to Compass, who holds the listing. A third parcel was later acquired, on which the Schmidts added an English garden house and landscaped grounds overlooking the Eastern Hills.
“Finding three contiguous parcels in Atherton is rare. Even rarer are those with views of the Eastern hills,” said listing agent Katharine Carroll of the reSolve Group at Compass. “The location of this residence is ultra private, at the back of a cul-de-sac with the main house built into a hillside that provides privacy and very good security.”
Across the estate, there are five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and six half bathrooms.
The 5,265-square-foot main house also offers a number of private outdoor spaces on its upper level, including a large terrace off the primary suite, another large terrace off a secondary bedroom, plus a third smaller terrace and two balconies.
Behind the main house is a patio with a pool and spa. For even more outdoor space, there’s an entertaining pavilion, an open lawn and an outdoor fireplace area near the guest quarters.
The grounds themselves are also a standout feature, with an array of mature plants and specimen trees. The upper portion of the property’s landscaping is designed around an Amdega-designed conservatory, which was imported from the U.K. Around the greenhouse, there is a garden of raised beds and fruit trees, Carroll said.
“From the moment you step onto the grounds, it feels as if you’ve been transported to a private botanical sanctuary,” she said.
Schmidt served as Google’s CEO from 2001 to 2011, and then became the company’s executive chairman until 2015. He could not be reached for comment.
This article first appeared on Mansion Global
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
