Conquest has officially announced the public exhibition of its landmark proposal for 100 Edinburgh Road, Castlecrag a design-led mixed-use precinct intended to honour the suburb’s architectural legacy while delivering the housing, amenity and essential services future generations will need.
Designed by internationally recognised architects FJC Studio, the $250 million proposal reimagines the former Quadrangle retail centre as a 13-storey mixed-use destination that draws on the enduring design principles of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, while introducing the modern infrastructure and lifestyle offering long sought by the local community.
At its core, the project is designed around a vibrant street-level experience, creating a contemporary village heart for Castlecrag with everyday convenience, social connection and design excellence at the centre.
A key feature of the proposal is The Piazza, a collection of open-air public spaces designed for dining, family gatherings and community interaction. The precinct will include a gourmet supermarket, curated specialty retail, high-quality cafés and restaurants, and dedicated medical suites to support local healthcare needs and community wellbeing.
“Castlecrag is hallowed ground in the story of Australian architecture. What we are proposing is the evolution of a masterplan that began more than a century ago,” said Conquest CEO and Founder Michael Akkawi.
“The Griffins stood for precision, beauty and harmony with nature. We are bringing that same commitment to this site, working with the very best architects, consultants and delivery team available today. We saw the potential here immediately and moved decisively, because we believe Castlecrag deserves a world-class outcome.”
Having secured the site in a decisive 48-hour transaction, Conquest says the increased scale of the proposal is a direct response to the changing needs of the community and the growing demand for greater housing diversity in the area.
The proposal increases the previously approved 38-apartment scheme to 150 new homes, including affordable housing, with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at addressing the area’s “missing middle”.
“People who have lived in Castlecrag for decades want the opportunity to stay in the community they love, but they also want choice,” Akkawi said.
“For too long, that choice has not existed. This proposal introduces one, two and three-bedroom homes that allow older residents to downsize locally, younger families to remain connected to their community, and future generations to access high-quality housing in a location of enormous character and value.”
Akkawi said the proposal reflects Conquest’s broader approach to urban renewal combining design excellence, housing delivery and essential amenity in locations where people genuinely want to live.
“At Conquest, we build where people want to live. We understand that not everyone embraces change, but on this site, opposition to renewal has held back progress for decades,” he said.
“It is time for the families of Castlecrag to experience a signature development that delivers the services, homes and public spaces a modern community expects. This is about creating a place where people can live, shop, gather and thrive and we have assembled the very best team to deliver it.”
The FJC Studio design features a four-storey podium anchoring the site, with two elegant residential towers rising above. The architectural language responds to the Griffins’ original principles by respecting natural contours, reinforcing landscape character and ensuring the built form sits as a considered extension of the surrounding Sydney bushland setting.
Conquest is a Sydney-based private equity real estate firm known for its dynamic approach to urban renewal and its focus on design-led, high-impact mixed-use and residential projects. Through a vertically integrated model spanning acquisition, planning, design, construction and delivery, Conquest is committed to creating places of lasting architectural, social and community value.
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