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Overlooking the beautiful Sydney skyline and adjacent to the harbourside suburb of Woolloomooloo is this Darlinghurst apartment, an epitome of elegance and sophistication. It is located in a historic neighbourhood that has been revitalised, and likewise, this home is situated in a redeveloped period building.



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The original layout of the flat was stripped and rebuilt to create a more open and contemporary flow, with outdated features replaced and rich colour and texture implemented throughout. The makeover, envisioned by Sydney-based Kaiko Design Interiors, reveals a practical and inviting space, reflecting the taste and needs of the homeowner who does enjoy entertaining but most of all seeks serenity.


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A keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence are evident throughout this stylish and functional haven. A key aim of the new layout was to transition from the buzz of the city into a home that provides a peaceful escape from its surroundings. This is achieved through the use of colour – darker, warmer hues dress the walls, floors and upholstery in a departure from the minimalistic approach of many of today’s living spaces, instilling a cosy, welcoming mood.



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In addition, repeated lines and grooves were implemented in response to the building’s architecture, where external louvres of the façade cast dynamic shadows at different times of the day. These patterns are echoed throughout the apartment, becoming an essential design theme rather than just an occasional feature. They are reflected in the joinery, the wallpaper and the rugs and cushions.
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The living room appears more spacious than its true size since a pair of glass walls frame the wide window that stretches along the top half of the far wall. This expanse of glass offers panoramic views of the neighbourhood that are revealed slowly as you move into the room, part of the deliberate gradual move from the peaceful inner sanctuary to energetic outside life. A spacious balcony adjoining the living area serves as an extension of the space and maximises its natural light.


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Venetian blinds rather than curtains at the windows also lend brightness to the space, despite the plethora of dark colours. A large sectional sofa rests in the middle of the lounge, while the apertures serve as a backdrop for the sitting area. In a dynamic touch, a white checkered rug complements the dark wooden floor.



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A fireplace and other concealed elements throughout the apartment bring a sense of luxury and subtle comfort. A bold emerald-green artwork on top of the fireplace gives the illusion of a large crumpled piece of paper and serves as a focal point upon entering the apartment. The open kitchen on one side of the living area continues the essential design statement of blending dark colours with natural tones. Here, marble slabs with prominent veining in cloud-like patterns create a mood that is both intimate and dramatic.


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The solid-wood dining table is positioned in front of a large abstract painting, so the two contrasting pieces appear like an interesting installation. The metallic tones of two lustre lights hang low above the table, not only providing light for evening meals but also making the ceiling look higher and compensating for the absence of dropped ceilings in the flat.



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The main bedroom is a dynamic space in which different things catch one’s attention each time you move through it. It extends into the balcony through a glass wall, which lets in abundant light or can be closed off entirely by a row of bronze curtains. This dark hue with a touch of shimmer matches the rich gleam of a colour palette spanning brown, cream and dark grey.



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Ingrained with subtle swirls, the wallpaper behind the padded bed headboard adds layering and texture, and this motif is picked up on the floor by a decorative custom-made rug. The harmony of colour and texture offers a sense of immersion, which plays back to the designer’s original vision of creating a refuge from the city.



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The doors of each room, including the bathroom, are as high as the wall, creating a sense of grandeur in this relatively small space.



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Simply designed, the bathroom focuses equally on practicality and aesthetics, with dark floor tiles providing contrast to marble wall tiles and a plain white ceiling.
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Despite their unique features and design, all the spaces in the flat have a common warmth enhanced by a clever weave of underlying patterns and textures. Affording an inviting respite from the vibrancy of city living, this home is a compelling blend of beauty, comfort and mystery.



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<a href="https://www.kaikodesign.com.au/">https://www.kaikodesign.com.au/</a> Photos: Kaiko Design Interiors &#8211; Darlinghurst Apartment

Sydney Sanctuary: Rich veins of colour bring modern warmth and serenity to a remodelled Darlinghurst flat

The birth of modern-day Sydney began under less-than-auspicious circumstances in the early days of 1788, the year when 11 British tall ships – comprising six convict ships, three store ships and two naval vessels – sailed into the waters of Port Jackson in south-eastern Australia. Following an exhaustive eight-month journey, the flotilla finally dropped anchor at the majestic harbour that would eventually come to be known as Sydney Cove. In all, some 1,000 souls – including 850 convicts – came ashore, planting a flag and claiming the land for the British Empire. Thus was set up a fledgling settlement that would be the first of the many penal colonies that would soon dot the continent.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-syndney-cove-1.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56301" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-syndney-cove-1.jpg" alt="Sydney Land The Down Under lowdown on Australia's sexiest city syndney cove" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-syndney-cove-1.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-syndney-cove-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-syndney-cove-1-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-syndney-cove-1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-syndney-cove-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-syndney-cove-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-syndney-cove-1-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
During the late 1700s and early 1800s, the British established farms across the country, while the discovery of gold in 1851 drew ever more settlers. Over the next 80 years, until the end of transportation, more than 160,000 convicted criminals would be sent to make a new life in what was then seen as the most remote of destinations.&nbsp;
Even today, the bulk of the New South Wales capital’s population are descendants of these hardly settlers, though foreign immigrants now account for roughly 75 percent of its annual population growth. Boasting a population of just over five million, the city’s contemporary incarnation is a far cry from the rudimentary village of its penal colony days. Now among the key financial hubs in the Asia-Pacific region, Sydney not only numbers among the priciest cities to live in globally, it also boasts a thriving tourism industry, with more than 3.5 million international visitors descending upon the city every year.&nbsp;
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Undoubtedly topping the must-visit lists of many of these intrepid travellers is the Sydney Opera House, one of Australia’s truly iconic landmarks and among the most photographed buildings in the world. Deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, its sail-like roof – though seemingly white at a distance – is actually made from more than a million cream-hued interlocking tiles. A true labour of love, it took 10,000 construction workers a staggering 14 years to complete. When it was finally opened (by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973), the project had cost a total of AU$102 million, more than 14 times its original AU$7 million budget.&nbsp;
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Occupying a prime location in Sydney Harbour, this opera house welcomes some 10.9 million visitors annually. They are drawn not only by the world-class musical performances hosted within, but also stunning views out across Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, the central business district and The Rocks, a particularly bustling nearby neighbourhood. Discerning epicureans should also make the time to dine at the Bennelong Restaurant, an eatery dubbed “the Holy Grail of Australian restaurants” by The New York Times. Fronted by floor-to-ceiling windows, its panoramic outlook and culinary treats have made it one of Sydney’s most popular fine-dining experiences.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-2.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56293" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-2.jpg" alt="Sydney Land The Down Under lowdown on Australia's sexiest city bridgeclimb (2)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-2.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-2-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-2-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-2-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-2-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-2-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-2-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Directly across the waters of the Circular Quay is yet another of the cosmopolitan metropolis’ signature sights – the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The widest long-span and fifth-longest spanning-arch such construction the world has ever seen, its arch-based design has seen the structure colloquially dubbed ‘The Coathanger’ by many locals. Interestingly, the day before it opened in 1932, the bridge’s strength was tested by placing 96 train engines along its length. The initial toll then was just three pence for a horse and rider and six pence for a car. Today, that sum has soared to four dollars during peak hours, yet it remains the main route for commuters crossing between northern and southern Sydney.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56294" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb.jpg" alt="Sydney Land The Down Under lowdown on Australia's sexiest city bridgeclimb" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bridgeclimb-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
For tourists, though, it affords a thoroughly unique sightseeing means in the form of the BridgeClimb, an opportunity for daring visitors to scale the metallic arches to the summit of the bridge morning, noon and night. Though perhaps not for the faint of heart – or those suffering from acrophobia – those hearty hikers brave enough to reach its apex are gifted with breath-taking views of the city below.&nbsp;
One of these sights, lying just under its north reaches, is Luna Park, a heritage-listed amusement park fronted by a gigantic smiling face. Welcoming visitors since 1935, the vintage appeal of this quirky venue remains largely unchanged despite several million-dollar upgrades over the years. A sure-fire hit for families, there are enough attractions and rides to keep the little ones entertained for the day.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-koala-animal.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56298" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-koala-animal.jpg" alt="Sydney Land The Down Under lowdown on Australia's sexiest city koala animal" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-koala-animal.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-koala-animal-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-koala-animal-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-koala-animal-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-koala-animal-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-koala-animal-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-koala-animal-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Another option for family-friendly fun – Taronga Zoo – lies a short 15-minute drive away. Once again abutting Sydney Harbour, this 100-year-old institution boasts a sterling reputation for conservation and rehabilitation. In all, more than 4,000 animals across 350 different species can be found here, many of them officially endangered in the wild. Roughly a quarter are indigenous to the continent, including the requisite koalas and kangaroos. A vast complex, it takes at least three hours to cover its acreage, with the zoo even offering a sleep-over option as part of its Roar and Snore tour.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bondi-beach.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56292" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bondi-beach.jpg" alt="Sydney Land The Down Under lowdown on Australia's sexiest city bondi beach" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bondi-beach.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bondi-beach-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bondi-beach-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bondi-beach-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bondi-beach-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bondi-beach-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sydney-Land-The-Down-Under-lowdown-on-Australias-sexiest-city-bondi-beach-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
No trip to Sydney would be complete, however, without a visit to one of the countless sandy beaches that lie just outside the city proper. The most famous of these is, undoubtedly, Bondi Beach, a wildly popular spot for surfing, swimming and sunbathing throughout the year for locals and tourists alike. Dotted with an expansive selection of cafes, restaurants and retail venues, it’s a world away from the urban jungle lying just a few kilometres distant.&nbsp;
It’s also the starting point for a scenic coastal walk hugging the cliffs between Bondi and neighbouring Coogee beach. An easy six-kilometre stroll, it passes through several smaller beaches, bays and ocean rockpools. If you’re lucky, you might even have the opportunity to glimpse the occasional pod of whales or dolphins frolicking in the waves off the coast, so be sure to bring a camera along.&nbsp;

Sydney Land The Down Under lowdown on Australia's sexiest city syndney cove

Sydney Land: The Down Under lowdown on Australia’s sexiest city…

Peered at on an on-screen map, Australia seems somewhat set apart from the rest of the world. Indeed, in many ways – geographically, culturally, zoologically – it most certainly is. It is its singular nature, however, that most appeals to overworked Hongkongers, many of whom are simply entranced by its vast wide-open spaces and low population density.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-42618" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Spacious-interiors-at-this-Sydney-home.jpg" alt="Spacious interiors at this Sydney home" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Spacious-interiors-at-this-Sydney-home.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Spacious-interiors-at-this-Sydney-home-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Spacious-interiors-at-this-Sydney-home-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Spacious-interiors-at-this-Sydney-home-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Spacious-interiors-at-this-Sydney-home-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Spacious-interiors-at-this-Sydney-home-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Spacious-interiors-at-this-Sydney-home-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Of all the Oceanic cities and resorts, it is Sydney that seems to be the biggest draw for second-home-hankering Hongkongers and, thankfully, now seems to be the perfect time to invest. According to industry statistics, real estate prices in the city – Australia’s most populous – fell by 1.4 percent in November last year. Tellingly, this was twice the size of the national decline in house prices and took the total fall in the value of the city’s average residence to 8.1 percent for the year. While this was a cause of continuing concern for existing homeowners, it was music to the ears of would-be buyers.
And top of the list for any suitably wealthy would-be buyer would be Mastery by Crown Group, a stylish new development in one of Sydney’s most upmarket locales – Waterloo, a recently gentrified suburb some three kilometres to the south of the city’s central business district.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-42616" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney.jpg" alt="Mastery by Crown Group in Sydney" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Set on O’Dea Avenue, one of the suburb’s most desirable addresses, the site was developed by Crown Group, an award-winning local architecture / real estate business, and consists of five linked buildings, together housing 384 luxury apartments. Given its upmarket positioning, it should be no surprise that this bespoke complex also boasts a rooftop pool, several gyms, a number of restaurants and a host of boutiques.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-42620" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Expansive-outdoor-patios.jpg" alt="Expansive outdoor patios" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Expansive-outdoor-patios.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Expansive-outdoor-patios-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Expansive-outdoor-patios-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Expansive-outdoor-patios-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Expansive-outdoor-patios-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Expansive-outdoor-patios-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Expansive-outdoor-patios-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
More surprising, however, is the breadth of the vision that guided the site’s development from the outset. Indeed, it took three unique talents – Iwan Sunito (Crown Group’s CEO) and two award-winning Japanese architects, Kengo Kuma and Koichi Takada – to bring the project to fruition. Collectively, they refined the building’s unique “stacked forest” conceit, creating what resembles a 19-storey vertical garden, with plants and foliage sprouting across all the exterior surfaces.
Explaining the thinking, Kuma says: “Our intention was to create a warm and natural atmosphere for the whole community. In order to achieve this, the upper volume of the tower segues into the lower part of the stepped terraces, creating an intimacy between the building and passers-by. This is further enhanced by the wood-clad eaves that run across the façade. Ultimately, the ubiquity of this vegetation has created what we call a vertical urban forest.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-42619" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sumptuous-bedroom.jpg" alt="Sumptuous bedroom" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sumptuous-bedroom.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sumptuous-bedroom-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sumptuous-bedroom-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sumptuous-bedroom-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sumptuous-bedroom-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sumptuous-bedroom-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sumptuous-bedroom-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
With ‘green luxury’ very much the driving principle of this whole Sydney development, it is a concept equally apparent in both the exterior of the buildings and the interiors of each individual apartment. This sees each residential unit fitted with wall-to- wall glass windows, which run from the living room to the bedrooms, ensuring that a generous measure of natural light permeates every nook.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-42615" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lush-foliage-at-Mastery-by-Crown-Group.jpg" alt="Lush foliage at Mastery by Crown Group" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lush-foliage-at-Mastery-by-Crown-Group.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lush-foliage-at-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lush-foliage-at-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lush-foliage-at-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lush-foliage-at-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lush-foliage-at-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lush-foliage-at-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
As to the rooms themselves, these are large and airy throughout, while also benefiting from deliberately understated and minimalistic wood finishing, inevitably bringing to mind – surely intentionally – the Japanese heritage of the lead architects. Even within the confines of such tasteful, subtle luxury, however, a sense of being close to nature persists, largely thanks to the fetching array of greenery that blooms in every recess. It’s a feeling that only intensifies should you step out onto one of the extensive balconies, all of which are judiciously festooned with a living carpet of lush foliage and multihued floral arrangements.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-42617" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sleek-interiors.jpg" alt="Sleek interiors" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sleek-interiors.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sleek-interiors-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sleek-interiors-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sleek-interiors-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sleek-interiors-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sleek-interiors-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sleek-interiors-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Giving his own take on the concerns and priorities that shaped the project, Takada says: “We were all deeply motivated by many aspects of the natural world. By creating genuinely eco-friendly apartments, we wanted to positively regenerate Waterloo – once home to an array of disused warehouses – and transform it into a truly organic and health-enhancing green neighbourhood, with a resort-style space for refined residents at its very core.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-42614" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Greenery-is-a-key-design-conceit-for-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney.jpg" alt="Greenery is a key design conceit for Mastery by Crown Group in Sydney" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Greenery-is-a-key-design-conceit-for-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Greenery-is-a-key-design-conceit-for-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Greenery-is-a-key-design-conceit-for-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Greenery-is-a-key-design-conceit-for-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Greenery-is-a-key-design-conceit-for-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Greenery-is-a-key-design-conceit-for-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Greenery-is-a-key-design-conceit-for-Mastery-by-Crown-Group-in-Sydney-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Nowhere are these elements more apparent than in the plant-strewn water feature that dominates the central courtyard from which the complex radiates out. With a clutch of close-packed bamboo trees ringing the stylised waterway, it is surely a knowing nod to the exquisite groves of Arashiyama, one of the most popular tourist attraction in Japan’s 2,500km-distant Kyoto prefecture – a little bit of Asia tucked away in Sydney, Australia and a home away from home for any high-net worth Hongkonger.
Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay 
Images: Crown Group

Green Housing: Escape from high-rise HK with this lush Sydney home

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-3969 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1603_travel101_Feature_Image-600x397.jpg" alt="1603_travel101_Feature_Image" width="968" height="548" /> 
Sailing, it seems, is still the preferred route for many arrivals to Sydney. It’s a tradition some 200 years old, from when the British dispatched convicts down-under-wards on a no-expenses eight-month passage aboard whichever flimsy frigate came to hand.
Today’s maritime visitors have clearly been offered an upgrade. The harbour is full of gigantic super-liners, with passengers spending less than two days ashore – a bit of change from the lifetime tariff enjoyed by their 19th century forebears.
The food and sleeping arrangements are also a notch or two up from those offered to those sheep stealers and cutpurses of yesteryear. Given the state of the modern cruise industry and today’s oceanic travel enterprises, however, it might be worth requesting some testimonials to that effect.
In truth, though, the world is now beating a path to Sydney’s door and largely on a voluntary basis, too. With the city’s look and feel soaring, the tourists have poured in. It’s a development that has delighted the locals. Whether in sport, culture or civic pride, the Aussies are a competitive and proud bunch. Nowhere is that more true than in Sydney. And so long as Sydney is beating Melbourne – at pretty much anything – that’s fair dinkum, as they say in these parts.
While both cities lay claim to being Australia’s leading metropolis, the Olympic-boost Sydney received from hosting the 2000 Games opened a gap that, as yet, shows no signs of closing. And, as Sydney-siders will inevitably ask you, just which city is home to both the iconic Opera House and the Harbour Bridge?
Those cruise visitors, then, have clearly got it all wrong. Two days is nowhere near enough to sample everything Sydney has to offer. It’s a city that should be savoured, a location you can truly immerse yourself in.
Assuming you’re not staying on a boat of any description, the choice of accommodation is endless. Business and tourist hotels abound – as well as the more funky option of a night in the likes of the QT – but Sydney is also very much an Airbnb type of place, with a wide number of rentable apartments to be had.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-3970 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1603_travel102-600x351.jpg" alt="1603_travel102" width="915" height="603" />
While location is important, so too is style. Will it be the superb Victorian suburbs of Paddington and Darlinghurst that catch your eye? Or, perhaps, the more upscale, secluded villas of Rose Bay or Surrey Hills?   Then, again, there is also the array of modern luxury apartments springing up around Darling Harbour and Walsh Bay. Wherever you choose, just make sure you’re connected to the superb local transport system – a well-planned interchange of trains, buses and ferries. A rechargeable Opal card, covering all these options, is really the first thing any visitor should invest in.
Inevitably, as with all of those cruise ships, Circular Quay will be the starting point for most tourists, with the inevitable first decision being whether or not to climb Sydney Harbour Bridge. Many do. Often at dawn, occasionally in fancy dress. In fairness, it’s a once in a lifetime experience and one that’s well within the physical capability of the vast majority of visitors.
The walks are meticulously managed, with (you’ll be glad to know) a particular emphasis on safety. Connected to a secure cable all the way to the top and back, the only risk is a touch of vertigo. There’s also “short” version of the walk – 150 minutes versus 210 – and pre-booking is pretty much essential. Oh, and don’t overdo the tinnies the night before – every would-be bridge walker is breathalysed before being allowed up.
Of course, if you opt to not walk over the bridge, you can always stroll across it, via the free-to-access pedestrian walkway. The views are just as spectacular and you still get to wave to all the cruise ship passengers. And they will all wave back.
As to what’s at the other end of the bridge, well, there’s Luna Park for a start. This is one spot where you have to spend at least half a day before you can even think about leaving Sydney. It’s one of the most quaint and old-fashioned theme parks in the world, famous for its clown’s face entrance (very Stephen King). While Luna Park may not match up to the high-octane rides of Disney or Universal, it is full of charming funfair attractions and an atmosphere that more than makes up for it.
Back across the harbour and Sydney Opera House (SOH) looks resplendent in full sail, while almost certainly waiting for you to board. As with the bridge, there is a big difference between those who actually go inside SOH as opposed to those who just have their photo taken with the unmistakable landmark in the background.
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You really should make the effort to explore the interior, though, taking in a performance or just joining one of the behind-the-scenes tours. It’s not just opera. Ballet, theatre and orchestra all feature heavily in its comprehensive programme, as well as a number of contemporary music concerts. Once you’ve done that, you can then join the throng outside and enjoy the open-air bars and restaurants clustered around the most visually stunning backdrop in the world.
Keeping the Circular Quay as your orientation point, a stroll to the Botanical Gardens should be next on your to-do list. The gardens celebrate their bicentennial in 2016, two centuries of providing a rich, varied and colourful, haven of peace within the city. Follow the park round to Mrs Macquarie’s Point, a finger of land jutting into the harbour offering spectacular views of the Opera House and bridge.
As to the identity of the Mrs Macquarie in question, she was the wife of Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales between 1810 and 1821. The couple’s influence was extensive and it was they who set about turning the crime-ridden shantytown into a modern, civilised urban development. It is thanks to the couple’s championship of culture and beauty that Macquarie is still a name that resounds across the city today.
Whether as much attention is being paid to the Macquaries’ guiding principles as the city continues to expand, though, is something of a moot point. The new Barangaroo development on the edge of the Central Business District (CBD), for instance, has met with considerable opposition from residents in Millers Point with regard to the consequent loss of social housing. Nothing, however, is standing in the way of the city’s determination to create an ambitious commercial, residential and leisure suburb in this primest of waterside locations.
It’s a process that Darling Harbour – one wharf along at Cockle Bay Point – has already undergone. Some 10 years ago this thriving area of the city was very different, with none of the apartments, restaurants and attractions that characterise it today. Now it’s an unmissable item, whether for a visit to the Maritime Museum (with its impressive replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavour), The Star complex (with its theatre and casino) or the trio of Merlin-operated attractions – Tussauds, Sea World and Wildlife.
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This is where your Opal card really starts to come in handy. From Darling Harbour alone, you can enjoy ferry access to the Manly beaches, Watsons Bay and the mightily impressive Tarronga Zoo. On a Sunday, you can travel on as many ferries as you want to for less than US$1. This is why you’ll find yourself bobbing from one point of interest to another, especially if you’ve allowed yourself more than two days in town.
As with many New World cities, Sydney is very keen on its own admittedly short history, with many museums offering insights into its birth and growing pains. Recommended is the Sydney Museum, which is notably strong on Admiral Arthur Phillip’s post-1788 colonisation of Australia, the conflict with aboriginal tribes and later development of the settlement.
Equally striking – if not more so – is the Justice and Police Museum (only open on Saturday and Sunday), which provides a stark résumé of the criminal underclasses of the city in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Then there’s the Hyde Park Barracks Museum, with its recreation of a prisoners’ half-way house dating back to the aforementioned Governor Macquarie’s time.
For an actual “walk through time,” though, it’s back to Circular Quay and a stroll through The Rocks, the site of the homes of the very first settler-built homes. Once notorious as a crime and disease-filled ghetto, The Rocks is now home to restaurants, bars, galleries and numerous shopping opportunities.
With the forethought to book ahead, a visit to Susannah’s Place, a preserved terrace street, provides an authentic insight into living conditions endured by Sydney families for more than 150 years.
It goes without saying, you really ought to check out what sporting events are taking place during your visit. Aussies take their sports exceptionally seriously and a trip to Sydney Cricket Ground for a Test or a Big Bash game definitely won’t disappoint. Similarly, Australian rules football will baffle and excite, while a day at the races may deplete your wallet. A game of rugby – of either code – will certainly get you fired up.
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Out of town, Sydney offers another marvellous gem in the Blue Mountains, some two hours drive west. Again, no visitor should pass up an opportunity to take in the Three Sisters rock formation or a journey to the valley floor via the Katoomba Scenic funicular railway. You should also make a point of visiting the Featherdale Wildlife Park en route. Here you will get the chance to see an array of indigenous animal life in a sympathetic setting. No journey to Oz, after all, is complete without a koala-kangaroo-possum selfie.
The Australians, of course, love the outdoor life and why wouldn’t they? They are, after all, blessed with a climate that all but guarantees the hottest of summers and the mildest of winters. The top of any sun worshipper’s checklist, then, will be the renowned Bondi Beach, the legendarily expansive stretch of sand set in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. While parking may be a problem, and getting your surfboard aboard a bus is far from ideal, the locals would be outraged if you came all this way and missed the beach off your itinerary.
The barbie on the beach is a well-established Australian tradition, so join in with a bucket of prawns and a cold one if you get the chance. If you have been fortunate enough to be in Sydney on December 31, then pick your vantage point early in order to fully appreciate the 12-minute firework display that welcomes in the new year pretty much before anywhere else in the world. Except, maybe, for Melbourne and Kiribati – and those two locations are well behind Sydney in pretty much every other respect.

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