How Elenberg Fraser drew inspiration from Surrey Gardens when designing Arbour Park
Arbour Park, the newest residential apartment development in Surrey Hills, takes it's design from the adjacent Surrey Gardens.
Renowned architecture firm Elenberg Fraser designed the owner-occupier targeted development on Canterbury Road, to blend into the garden atmosphere that both Surrey Gardens and the wider suburb are known for.
They have maximised views of the tree canopy along Canterbury Road and the expansive green space of Surrey Gardens. The positioning of the building and the use of high floor-to-ceiling windows ensure that residents can enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds them.
To enhance the garden theme, landscaping experts Openwork have taken the concept further by creating private sanctuaries within each two or three-bedroom residence. The ground-floor apartments feature lushly planted courtyards, while broad balconies adorn the mid-level units. The upper-floor residences boast wrap-around terraces, providing panoramic views and a seamless connection to nature.
The stepped architectural form of Arbour Park is gently embraced by verdant greenery, establishing a harmonious equilibrium. The concrete façade gains a textured and sensory edge with its exposed aggregate finish.
Reade Dixon, Principal at Elenberg Fraser, expressed the firm's commitment to contributing to the city's landscape.
"We love the location. It's a project situated between two parks—a heavily landscaped entry verge off Canterbury Road and the significant Surrey Gardens behind us, an established landscaped park," he said.
"Our first step was to embrace the landscape and integrate it into the site, working closely with Openwork. Each residence offers private large courtyards for the ground floor, balconies with planters for the mid-level units, and expansive wrap-around terraces on the top floor, providing views to the north and directly over the parkland."
The architects have also introduced innovative elements to enhance residents' experiences. Rather than a common lift bank, each apartment is accessible via a personal lift, which takes residents directly to their apartment entry or to a small lobby shared with one neighbour.
"This experience is typically reserved for penthouse apartments, now we’re able to provide that for all the residents at Arbour Park,” Dixon added.
"We also have things like a vestibule with a key drop that supports the entry and allows you to personalise the entry into your residence. Beyond the dining rooms, studies, and living rooms, we have ancillary spaces such as butler's pantries, sculleries, and utility rooms for the laundry. All the conveniences you would expect in a house are now part of the apartment offering.
"We have a market that doesn’t want to gibe up their lifestyle, that’s attached to the things they love in their house, but are seeking the security and convenience that comes with multi-residential living."
Two and three-bedroom apartments still remain in Arbour Park. Prices for a two-bedder starting from $740,000, while the three-bed apartments are priced from $1.5 million.