Timeless living in the heart of Double Bay
Inspired by 1920s art deco design, with sculpted curves and grand proportions, the building has reset the benchmark for the harbourside suburb.
As reported by Jessica Golding | Full story here
Double Bay residents are used to the best. The best shopping, the best dining, and footsteps away from what can arguably be described as one of the best harbours in the world.
It’s no surprise they expect the same when it comes to their homes. For the owners of the 26 apartments at 1788 Residences, what they want is what they get.
“Anything you can imagine, they request it and it has to be provided, you can never let them down,” says Fred Alam, managing director of Cavil Group, which manages the property on Cross Street in the heart of the suburb.
Completed in December 2020, the luxury development by SJD was designed by celebrated Australian architecture firm Bates Smart and set new price records for the suburb when it commenced selling off the plan in 2017.
An on-site concierge is on hand to assist residents with “anything and everything”, says Alam, from restaurant recommendations to laundry pick-ups, while cleaners keep the communal areas pristine and landscapers tend to the plants on their spacious balconies.
“All the legwork is taken care of by our team,” he says. “They just sit back and enjoy life.”
When it comes to enjoying life in Double Bay, there is no shortage of options. A short walk can get residents to the popular cafe Indigo, Neil Perry’s Margaret, artisan bakery Baker Bleu, the high-end fashion and homewares boutiques of Transvaal Avenue, and the new Woolworths. “Everything’s literally at your doorstep,” says Alam.
“It’s a great location,” agrees Adrian Sicari, managing director of Ultra Building Co. “They can walk to the shops, to the beach, to the ferry, it’s very close to the city.”
Sicari’s team were the builders behind 1788 and says no expense was spared in bringing Bates Smart’s vision to life. Inspired by the jewellery design, industrial design and fashion of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, he describes the overall feel as one of “modern grandeur”.
“You’re talking about high-class, high-detail, high-finish, luxury apartments,” he says. “All the detailing, construction and behind-the-scenes of how the apartment building operates is industry-leading.”
Classic slimline Spanish bricks were used on the exterior, while the large apartments feature marble, timber veneer, ornate metalwork and high-end appliances. A finished basement provides a secure place for residents to park their luxury vehicles.
Despite the building’s central position, set-back windows and planter boxes on the outer edge of the balconies create a sense of privacy. “You feel very comfortable that no one is looking in,” says Sicari.
While the development has proven particularly popular with eastern suburbs downsizers, residents aren’t compromising on size, with some choosing to merge two apartments to create one large, house-like space.
“You’ve got all the qualities of a house in an apartment that you can lock up anytime, fully secured … and have no problems with security or maintenance,” says Sicari, whose team also worked with buyers to customise their homes to suit their individual needs and tastes.
Ultra Building Co is now in the process of constructing part two of the project, Encore 1788, next door. Consisting of just 15 apartments, which are currently for sale off the plan, the Bates Smart-designed building is inspired by 1920s art deco design with curves, marble, wide timber flooring and rounded coffered ceilings.
While Double Bay has always been renowned for its “glitz and glamour”, Alam says the harbourside suburb is in the midst of a renaissance.
“I think you’re going to find in the next two or three years, Double Bay is going to explode again,” he says. “It’s going to be the go-to destination for food, entertainment, everything.”
Both he and Sicari believe that 1788 Residences has set a new standard for the sought-after neighbourhood.
“It has reset the benchmark for Double Bay and other developers are trying to emulate it,” says Sicari. “It hasn’t been done yet.”