The curved bow of the Nautilus development is class leader in premium coastal living

Taking subtle cues from the dynamic symbolism of sailing, the enduring craftsmanship of shipbuilding, and its exquisite waterfront setting, the organic curvature of Nautilus’ form leans over the Shellharbour Marina precinct at Shell Cove with a sense of poised grandeur. This premium residential development fronting Shellharbour Marina has been designed by Smart Design Studio for Frasers Property, and is set to be completed in September 2023.

“The brief for this project was to create a landmark building within the Shellharbour Marina precinct,” explains Stephen Sharkey of Smart Design Studio. “We set out to create a monumental and timeless set of waterfront residences that captured the best of the surrounding environment. That includes views of the Illawarra escarpment, the Shellharbour Marina, the Shellharbour Beach and out to the Pacific Ocean.”

The project comprises 116 beautifully appointed residences sited across two edifices: Building A and Building B. The horseshoe-shaped Building A on the northern side of the development boasts premium apartments, most of which offer sweeping views of the waterfront thanks to the strategic curvature of the structure. Building B, on the other hand, caters to a more traditional residential living with a selection of classic dwellings. Both structures are connected and feature common facilities within two separate podium levels that boast soft landscaping, pool and seating area, as well as a private residential gym.

Designed with utmost attention to detail, the project reveals an intricate connection to the tradition of shipbuilding. “The project’s name – Nautilus – is most certainly a maritime reference,” explains Stephen. “That’s primarily driven by the form of the building, which has long, curving vertical precast blades braced by horizontal fins, which then repeat and rotate around the radius of the building. That sort of order reflects the craft involved in the building of a timber boat hull.”

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These contemporary nautical cues are seamlessly fused with the classical architectural tradition, defined by the notion of repetition and regular rhythm, both of which imbue a commanding sense of order. “The exterior reflects a modern take on classic design principles. It evokes the design language of Georgian terraces of London and Bath, and perhaps even the monumentality of classical Greek and Roman architecture,” Stephen describes, once again pointing to the concrete blades conceived to conjure up a Hellenic column structure.

This timeless approach is carried through the materiality of the development. “We have light concrete tones that reflect the sun-bleached colours of sand and seashells, and the reflective white hulls of luxury boats and sailing vessels,” Stephen explains. “The interiors boast beautiful pale timber flooring and light concrete-look tiles, mirroring the serene energy of the extended environment.”

Augmenting this powerful connection to the outdoors the floor plan of the development follows the dynamic order of the arched facade, designed to maximise the vistas across the Marina and out to the Pacific Ocean. In order to achieve that, it was paramount to incorporate minimalist products that enabled the design team to frame the views without obstructing them.

Stormtech was the natural choice. “Stormtech is a well-respected brand, and we frequently use them for their robust reputation, quality and customisable products,” Stephen says. “They have a great range of grate drain profiles that we work with in various scenarios, such as the tile insert drains for threshold areas where we try to minimise the visible disruption of the space.”

This project was no exception. “On the exterior, we used Stormtech's linear threshold drain 100TRTDiS,” Stephen says. “There are alternating bays of glazing that are six storeys high, and it was important for us to maximise the views outwards. That’s why, at the base of those six-storey glazed bays, we used Stormtech’s linear threshold drainage system. It’s highly effective yet very subtle.” Minimalist by design, Stormtech’s signature drainage system will not hinder the views, nor visually interrupt the seamless and meticulously designed curved contour of the building’s ocean-facing facade.

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“In the bathrooms we used one of Stormtech’s new products – a linear drain with an integrated shower screen support,” Stephen describes. “Our goal was to drain the bathrooms using one floor waste only, and so in order to make that happen, we needed to get drainage from both sides of the shower screen.” With Stormtech's integrated 120SCSTiiMTL® Shower Screen Support Smart Design Studio could set the shower screen within the drain itself, and then receive water from both sides. “This actually fulfils the need of the whole room,” Stephen summarises. “And there's no need for a secondary floor waste within the room.”

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“Stormtech has a broad range of fantastic finishes,” he adds. “And, especially on multi-residential projects, we can use the same product throughout and get consistent results across the whole project.”

Intertwining outstanding amenities with classicist architectural heritage, nautical inspiration and organic curvature that honours its geographical context, Nautilus’ self-assured sense of identity gracefully balances a sympathetic response to the site with the quiet luxury of premium apartment living. And in that, this exciting development demonstrates that residential living in one of NSW’s most sought after coastal locations should – and can – feel like smooth sailing.

Architecture & Design Team

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