Sunland Plans Residential Towers at $1.3bn Gold Coast Masterplan

ASX-listed developer Sunland has lodged revised plans for four residential towers at its $1.3 billion masterplan on the Gold Coast.

The 42-hectare former dairy farm is set to be redeveloped into an urban village — “The Lanes” — delivering 17,000sq m of new retail space, a boulevard, outdoor amphitheatre and four residential towers.

The revised scheme removes plans for four permit-approved commercial buildings and increases the number of apartments from 298 to 310. Sunland initially lodged an application for the project in late 2018.

The end value of the four residential towers is $231 million.

The developer has appointed ex-Zaha Hadid designer Contreras Earl to design the four mid-rise towers, which are strikingly similar to the built form of its “champagne flute” skyscrapers in Brisbane.

“The [towers] represent a sculptural design language which takes its inspiration from the patterns and geometry found in various plant life,” Sunland managing director Sahba Abedian told The Urban Developer.

“This is where any similarity to our previous design concepts ends.”

▲ Sunland's 42-hectare masterplan will include four residential towers, retail village, parklands and a "waterfront promenade". Supplied.

Ranging in height between 10 and 12-storeys, the four towers will offer one, two and three-bedroom apartments overlooking the newly-named “Lake Unity” and ground level retail.

Each building captures lakefront, city skyline and hinterland views.

Sunland’s revised application triggers council assessment by increasing the height of one of the towers to 12-storeys — above the masterplan’s approved height limit.

The developer has also lodged separate plans for a 4,460sq m childcare centre as part of the masterplan, offering space for 162 children.

Abedian said that the medium-rise typology was first explored by the developer at its Marina Residences development in Benowa.

“It will be particularly influential in its role as a catalyst for further mid-rise development in the [area],” architects Contreras Earl said.

▲ The four residential towers in context. Supplied: Sunland, Contreras Earl.

Brisbane firm Blight Rayner has designed the retail component, which includes an outdoor dining court, retail “spine”, food market and a variety of retail outlets.

The retail scheme will function as a “town centre”, the developer said in its application to council, describing the larger masterplan as a new mixed-use urban community in the Gold Coast.

Sunland acquired the 41.9-hectare Mermaid Waters site in 2014 from the Scheinberg family for a record $61 million. The Scheinberg family offloaded a property portfolio worth about $350 million at the time.

Pending council approval, the apartments will be launched to market early next year while construction is anticipated to take place concurrent to the construction of the retail village in late-2020.