ART+ UNVEILS MAJOR ART ACTIVATION AT FORUM DOUBLE BAY

One of Sydney’s newest premium workplace destinations has unveiled a major art activation designed to transform the traditional office experience.

Contemporary art curator ART+ has partnered with Forum Double Bay to deliver a curated art program throughout the recently opened workspace, anchored by a large-scale mural from Australian artist Vicki Lee in the building’s central atrium.

The collection also includes works by internationally recognised artists Sebastian Magnani, Alan Walsh, Terry O’Neill, Tyler Shields and Alexander Calder, creating what the partners describe as an art-infused environment that integrates culture into the everyday workplace experience.

Rather than treating art as a decorative addition, the program has been designed to form part of the building’s identity, creating moments of inspiration and engagement throughout the day for members and visitors alike.

ART+ founder Jay Lyon said the collaboration reflected a shared vision between the curator and developer to create workspaces that offer more than desks and meeting rooms.

“This is a unique moment to shape the way people experience workspace: not just as a place to work, but as a place to be inspired. Fortis and Art+ share that vision,” he said.

The activation comes as workplace design continues to evolve, with premium operators increasingly incorporating hospitality, wellness and cultural experiences into office environments as businesses seek to attract employees back into physical workspaces.

At Forum Double Bay, the result is a workplace that combines flexible office accommodation with a carefully curated aesthetic experience, positioning the development as a destination rather than simply a place to work.

Artist Vicki Lee said public art had the power to create an emotional connection with a space.

“What I want is for people to walk in and feel something; a connection, a surprise, a moment of beauty. That’s the power of public art,” she said.

Forum Double Bay recently opened at 377 New South Head Road and has been delivered under the development management expertise of Fortis. The project follows the success of Forum in Melbourne’s Cremorne and is operated by The Commons.

According to the release, all works within the building have been leased as part of the curated program, highlighting Fortis’ commitment to creating boutique workplace environments that blend design, hospitality and culture.

The collaboration also reflects the growing role art is playing within commercial real estate, where developers are increasingly using curated collections and commissioned works to create distinctive environments that foster creativity, community and a stronger sense of place.

For ART+, which specialises in sourcing and commissioning contemporary artworks for luxury residential, commercial and hospitality projects, the Forum partnership represents another example of art being integrated into the fabric of a development from the outset rather than being added after completion.

When an estate has been carefully curated by its wealthy owners for more than a decade, the next custodian knows they’re in for a treat of a retreat.

Food-packaging entrepreneur Ted Nathan and his wife, Jenny, purchased the original 25ha Ravensdale Farm in Yarramalong Valley for $1.35 million 12 years ago according to title records.

Since then, the pair have reportedly invested more than $5.5 million to acquire several neighbouring parcels in order to create a contemporary compound now measuring more than 49ha.

Today’s Ravensdale Farm and Retreat, about 24kms from Wyong, is now a dual-estate 12-bedroom, 11-bathroom luxury landholding.

The property is expected to sell for about $30 million via an expressions of interest campaign with Cullen & Royle agents Deborah Cullen and Richard Royle.

Alongside the modern three-storey five-bedroom farmhouse, there is a long list of “must have” resort-style amenities and productive farmland primed to produce a passive income.

Framed by a 4m wraparound veranda, the sophisticated main residence has several outdoor spaces for homeowners and their guests to soak up the bucolic backdrop, lush paddocks and established gardens.

Inside, the homestead features multiple living spaces for grand scale entertaining inside and out, a library, a home office, private cinema, games room and accommodation designed for large families or a steady stream of weekend guests.

Custom made for hosting year round, the expansive estate also includes a sports bar with a commercial-grade kitchen, a championship size tennis court which can be transformed into an alfresco cinema when the mood strikes.

Additional spaces designed for fun include a sunken fire pit, a hidden garden with a European-inspired pétanque court, a pickle ball court and a private paddock dedicated to major events and functions.

There is also a separate second residence, Ravensdale Retreat, devoted to guest stays or potential short-term accommodation.

The bonus residence is set up to provide a fully self-contained experience outside of the main home when needed. It has a choice of bedrooms, a spacious living area, an outdoor pavilion, pizza deck, and its own pool.

Beyond its weekender credentials, Ravensdale Farm lives up to its name. A working farm, the estate has cattle infrastructure, fertile pastures featuring Kikuyu and Rhodes grasses complemented by high end irrigation and water systems, as well as land management systems designed for efficiency and long-term resilience.

The land can comfortably support cattle and horses – currently home to approximately 40 cows and calves, plus horses – and has productive fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, a chicken coop and a restored century-old barn.

Surrounded by the rolling green hills of the Yarramalong Valley, Ravensdale Farm and Retreat is approximately a 25-minute drive from Wyong and around 90 minutes from Sydney with coastal hotspots like Terrigal and The Entrance are within easy reach.

Ravensdale Farm and Retreat is on the market with a price guide of $30m via an expressions of interest campaign with Cullen Royle.

ART+ UNVEILS MAJOR ART ACTIVATION AT FORUM DOUBLE BAY

A new collaboration between ART+ and Forum Double Bay is bringing museum-quality artworks and a large-scale mural into the workplace.

Built up over more than a decade, Ravensdale Farm and Retreat blends luxury living, resort-style amenities and productive farmland across almost 50 hectares.