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Saint Moritz Apartments by GURNER GROUP
Developed by GURNER GROUP in collaboration with interior designer David Hicks, the bayside Saint Moritz Apartments in Melbourne’s St Kilda redefine luxury living in Australia.
Located within Saint Moritz, a luxury development in St Kilda’s Grand Esplanade Building, the Saint Moritz Apartments occupy a premium site opposite Port Phillip Bay, a 20-minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD. Given the project’s bayside location, GURNER GROUP wanted to pay homage to the coastal aesthetic of the area, seeking inspiration from a Miami building by renowned architect Renzo Piano. “We really wanted to explore where luxury could go in this setting and I think we’ve managed to achieve that,” says Deborah Wiltshire, sales and brand director at GURNER GROUP.
As soon as you enter the marble-clad lobby, you’re struck by the apartment’s elevated luxury. To the right is a grand living and dining space with six-metre-high ceilings and a void that offers panoramic views of the bay. The kitchen matches the grandeur of the entry, with a 5.5-metre-long island bench in Calacatta marble and refined finishes. From the lobby, one can also turn into a secondary living area and main bedroom which is currently set up as a games room but could be transformed into a separate apartment. A helical staircase leads to the first floor, which contains a main suite with dressing room, bathroom and sauna, two additional bedrooms with ensuites and a laundry towards the rear.
The design is pared-back and opulent, inspired by a modern Scandinavian aesthetic. “The material palette is neutral,” says Wiltshire. “We wanted the design of the exterior and interior to sing, so it’s about keeping the palette incredibly simple and sophisticated. The apartment intrinsically has the ultimate luxury of space and light so it was our job to accentuate that and add to it with a beautiful palette of materials.” The space is dominated by Calacatta marble and herringbone timber flooring which echoes the colour of the sand from the bay, paying homage to the building’s location.
To complement the luxurious material palette, fittings such as tapware and hardware – in particular, tapware from Vola – enhance the feeling of quality throughout the residence. “David Hicks was very focused on all elements of this apartment speaking to pared-back luxury and the Scandinavian-inspired design of Vola and its history of quality suited our vision perfectly,” says Wiltshire.
The Danish brand was also selected for its longevity, timelessness and reliability. “At Vola, we have spare parts going all the way back to that first Vola tap made in 1968,” says Carsten Hartmann, Vola’s Asia Pacific area sales manager. “We see the beginning of a tap as a solid piece of lead-free brass on marine-grade solid stainless steel, and manufacturing this way is unheard of in our industry. But making it like this means that it’s going to last generations.”
Vola is the perfect choice for the landmark apartment development. “I am most proud of the fact that we managed to change the luxury landscape in Australia in terms of what a development can be,” reflects Wiltshire. “It’s an unbelievable place to be able to call home.”
Interior design by David Hicks. Developed by Gurner Group. Tapware by Vola.
