Two ambitious modernist development proposals are raising the bar for architectural design in Palm Beach, one of Gold Coast's most dynamic development hotspots. The projects represent a significant step forward in contemporary residential design, featuring cutting-edge architectural elements and sustainable living concepts that could reshape the area's skyline.
The first project, called "Crescent," is a sleek four-story development that showcases minimalist design principles with distinctive tapered slab edges. This contemporary scheme will house 37 apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms, strategically positioned on a 2,234-square-meter site that spans four lots between Tallebudgera Drive and Murlong Crescent. The location places residents directly across from the southern sandy banks of Tallebudgera Creek, offering prime waterfront proximity in what's considered the city's premier midrise urban renewal area.
Developed by a Gold Coast-based entity led by David Sipinkoski, the Crescent project emphasizes climatically responsive architecture built over a low-set basement foundation. The building incorporates four residential levels topped by a communal rooftop recreation area. According to planning documents, the elevations feature a sophisticated combination of architectural elements, including the signature tapered slab edges, decorative screens, and elevated landscaping designed to enhance the building's architectural distinction and contribute to local identity and sense of place.
The apartment distribution in Crescent strategically caters to diverse household needs, with just under 60 percent of units allocated to one and two-bedroom apartments, while the remaining units offer three-bedroom configurations. This mix aims to address varying lifestyle requirements and different affordability levels across a wide range of household types. The development will provide an impressive 1,455 square meters of communal open space, featuring landscaped terraces, gardens, and an extensive rooftop amenity area complete with a pool, hot and cold spas, zen garden, yoga deck, herb garden, and barbecue facilities.
To accommodate residents and visitors, Crescent will include 92 parking spaces distributed across two basement levels. The current site at 34-36 Murlong Crescent and 77-79 Tallebudgera Drive houses a collection of aging one and two-story unit blocks built between the 1960s and 1970s, all of which will be demolished to make way for this modern midrise development.
At the opposite end of the Palm Beach strip, another significant project is taking shape under the leadership of Robert Steer's Steer Developments. This nine-story tower, named "Jardin," will contain 40 apartments exclusively featuring two and three-bedroom configurations. The Plus Studio-designed building is planned for a 1,242-square-meter site with frontage on both Gold Coast Highway (1221) and Jefferson Lane (234-236).
Jardin draws its design inspiration directly from its French name, meaning garden, by embracing landscape architecture as the central design feature. The development showcases a sophisticated tiered facade treatment along Gold Coast Highway that incorporates cascading greenery flowing down the building's exterior. This green cascade is complemented by vertical planting features running up the building's central spine, creating a living wall effect that changes with the seasons.
The Jefferson Lane side of Jardin receives equally thoughtful treatment, with generous landscaping at ground level enhanced by two additional vertical spines of greenery that create natural corridors up the building's facade. Combined with an architectural language inspired by French coastal living traditions, these design elements work together to create what planners describe as a refined and contemporary building that makes a meaningful contribution to Palm Beach's evolving architectural character.
Jardin's amenity offerings include a 133-square-meter communal recreation area positioned on the ground level adjacent to Jefferson Lane. This space will house a fully equipped gym, swimming pool with deck area, barbecue facilities, and a sauna for resident use. The project addresses parking needs through two basement levels containing 73 resident parking bays, supplemented by seven ground-level visitor spaces to accommodate guests.
Both developments represent significant transformations of their respective sites. While Crescent will replace the aging mid-century apartment blocks, Jardin will require the demolition of three existing houses currently occupying the site's three separate lots. If approved, these projects will contribute to the ongoing evolution of Palm Beach as a premier residential destination, combining innovative architecture with sustainable design principles and comprehensive amenity offerings that cater to modern lifestyle expectations.
