Esplanade Brighton Beach
Esplanade Brighton Beach is a pair of timeless, highly sculptural apartment complexes defined by curved forms, natural materials and a strong connection to their coastal environment.
Esplanade Brighton Beach by Wood Marsh unfolds as a unique and unexpected visual journey. Defined by refined detailing and a restrained material palette, the residences balance sophistication with warmth, drawing directly from the character of their surroundings.
Located at 26 and 28 Esplanade in Brighton, the project was conceived as a highly crafted response to bayside living. Wood Marsh designed the architecture and interiors to feel cohesive and timeless, with every element carefully resolved to support an elevated yet effortless lifestyle.
“The residences and interiors were approached as a work of art in terms of being something completely unique and unexpected,” says Marco Zerbi, senior associate director and head of interior architecture at Wood Marsh. “The core design ambition for the Esplanade interiors was to create something timeless – something that was cohesive and deeply connected to the environment.”
Natural materials sit at the heart of the design language. Timber, stone and brass were selected for their subtle beauty and ability to age gracefully over time, while a consistent palette creates a calm, harmonious atmosphere throughout.
The collaboration allows buyers to envision themselves within the residences, and clients are incentivised by the opportunity to curate their own furniture package with the support of Golden’s design services.
Sculptural stone elements are paired with refined metal detailing, and softly curved walls guide movement through the spaces, encouraging moments of discovery as light shifts across textured surfaces throughout the day. “The curved walls create a space that feels unique,” Zerbi says. “The shape of the windows is quite organic and sculptural and creates interesting and attractive plays of shadows and light throughout the apartments.”
To help prospective buyers envision how the residences could be lived in, developer SC Land commissioned renowned Melbourne-based interior design studio Golden to curate a bespoke furniture selection for residences at 28 Esplanade. The collaboration allows buyers to envision themselves within the residences, and clients are incentivised by the opportunity to curate their own furniture package with the support of Golden’s design services.
SC Land selected Golden for its refined yet approachable design sensibility and its ability to create interiors that feel elevated without losing warmth or comfort. The studio approached the curation as an extension of the architectural intent, selecting pieces that respond directly to the geometry, materiality and atmosphere of the homes.
“These residences were conceived as highly crafted environments, where every material and detail has been carefully considered – from the stone selection and timber finishes through to the joinery, fixtures and the way each space is resolved,” says Chenghan Tan, director of SC Land. “Because of that, it felt important that the furniture carried the same sense of intention.”
Golden founders Kylie Buhagiar and Alicia McKimm drew inspiration from the surrounding coastline, layering soft sandy tones, warm sage notes and tactile finishes to create a relaxed yet sophisticated environment. Rather than referencing bayside living literally, the studio interpreted the character of Brighton Beach through subtle colour, texture and form. “We wanted to create spaces that felt calm and sophisticated, but also made reference to the coastal environment and the relaxed nature of the locale,” Buhagiar says.
The curation places particular emphasis on sculptural forms and rounded silhouettes that complement the architecture rather than compete with it. Softer edges, textured fabrics and organic shapes echo the curved geometry of the residences, reinforcing a sense of fluidity and cohesion throughout the interiors.
“These residences were conceived as highly crafted environments, where every material and detail has been carefully considered – from the stone selection and timber finishes through to the joinery, fixtures and the way each space is resolved.”
“The decision wasn’t about being decorative for decoration’s sake,” Tan says. “It was about ensuring the furnishing lived up to the craftsmanship of the project. Golden understood that instinctively. Its approach aligned with our desire to create homes that feel enduring, elevated and deeply considered rather than styled in a more generic or transient way.”
“The furniture selection enhances the architecture by adopting similar gentle curves and geometries, as well as textures and fabrics that are softer,” Zerbi says. “Everything has been designed in a way that feels bespoke and tailored around the user rather than being something standard and off the shelf.”
Scale and proportion also play an important role in the experience of the apartments. Large rugs ground living zones, layered textures add depth and warmth, and carefully selected furniture pieces create balance within the open-plan spaces. Every element has been chosen to support the architecture while helping future residents understand the possibilities of living within the homes.
“We wanted to create spaces that felt calm and sophisticated, but also made reference to the coastal environment and the relaxed nature of the locale.”
The result is a collection of residences that feel highly resolved and intentionally crafted from every angle. Through the collaboration between Wood Marsh, SC Land and Golden, Esplanade Brighton Beach demonstrates a considered approach to medium-density living – one where architecture, interiors and furnishing work together to create homes that feel timeless, tactile and deeply connected to place.
For buyers, the curated furniture offering provides a rare opportunity to experience the residences exactly as envisioned: calm, sophisticated and ready to inhabit.
