Aqualand Prestige has launched its first residential project, unveiling Boronia in Roseville as a boutique apartment development designed to reflect the character of Sydney's Upper North Shore while offering house-like living in a low-maintenance setting.

Designed by Woods Bagot with interiors by COX, the Larkin Street development is the inaugural project for Aqualand Prestige, the boutique and medium-density residential arm of established Sydney developer Aqualand Group, and is being delivered in partnership with Phoenix Property Investors.

The first phase of the project will deliver 111 residences to Roseville, a suburb where opportunities for new apartment developments have traditionally been limited, and targets buyers who want the ease of an apartment without surrendering the space and permanence of a family home. The project is aimed at downsizers wishing to remain in the area, along with families and professionals attracted by the suburb's established amenity and transport connections.

Woods Bagot’s design for Boronia takes its cues from the heavily landscaped setting of the garden suburb. Rather than dominating the site, the stepped and sculpted building form is intended to sit within the surrounding tree canopy, using masonry, stone and expansive balconies that lend each home a house-scale sense of proportion while creating a strong connection to the outdoors.

“The forms float among the canopies along the Larkin Street ridge to maximise the outlook across the green sea of the treetops,” comments Woods Bagot’s Jason Fraser. “The architecture is deliberately simple and understated, so that the detail, the craftsmanship and, above all, the landscape can be the hero.”

Aqualand-Prestige_Roseville_INT_603_Kitchen-Living_FINAL.jpg

The interiors, designed by COX, continue that relationship with the outdoors through a palette inspired by the flora of nearby Lane Cove National Park. Natural stone, handcrafted tiles and bespoke joinery are used throughout the residences, while kitchens feature premium Gaggenau and Bosch appliances. Penthouse residences include premium stone and reflective finishes.

“It is highly connected to the city, yet wrapped in bush and parkland,” says COX’s Brooke Lloyd. “We wanted the homes to feel like an urban retreat, where the boundary between inside and out simply dissolves.”

Landscape architecture by Ground iNK also reinforces the development's connection to its setting. Deep-soil planting zones have been incorporated to establish native species, including Blue Gums and Sydney turpentine, while existing mature street trees are being retained to preserve the neighbourhood's 1930s character.

The luxury apartments prioritise generous floorplans, with a significant proportion of three-bedroom homes complemented by a limited collection of four-bedroom duplex-style Sky Homes designed to provide the feel of a standalone house without the required maintenance. Shared amenities include landscaped gardens, a dedicated wellness centre and communal outdoor spaces intended to support everyday living rather than headline features rarely used by residents.

Aqualand-Prestige_Roseville_INT_701_PH_Kitchen_Cool-Scheme_FINAL.jpg

Boronia is also positioned to benefit from its proximity to transport and local services. Roseville railway station is within walking distance, providing quick access to Chatswood with its Metro, retail and dining, while the suburb falls within the NSW Government's Transport Oriented Development catchment. The location also offers convenient access to several well-known schools across the Upper North Shore.

Observing that Boronia has been designed as a considered progression rather than a compromise, Wayne Xiong, Executive Director of Aqualand Prestige, says, “These are heirloom-quality homes, built for decades of living rather than for the moment. Whether buyers are downsizing, raising a family or simply seeking more space, they are choosing the scale and craftsmanship of a fine house, in a suburb they love, with the ease and connectivity modern life calls for.”

Images supplied

Architecture News & Editorial Desk

Let’s connect!