Multi-billion-dollar developer GURNER™, in joint venture with investment house Wingate, has unveiled a first look at the Gold Coast’s most anticipated new luxury resort precinct, La Pelago, after recently gaining planning approval for its ambitious $1.7 billion, four-tower master plan.
Launching to the market later this year, the “Resort Residences” will be the first stage available in the project, located throughout the first 28 storeys of the project’s first tower called ‘Aquia’, which will soar 65 levels into the sky, and have a total end value of $1 billion.
The “Private Island” address, inspired by some of the world’s most exclusive private Archipelago resorts, has been imagined as a series of island precincts among a vast expanse of sparkling blue lagoon pools, with private bookable lounges and private dining areas, cabanas, sundecks, swim-up bars, restaurants and soaring mature palm trees over a three-level resort podium, to create a concept unlike anything else in Australia.
Architecturally designed by international architect firm, Warren & Mahoney, with interiors imagined by GURNER™’s own in-house interior design team led by Italian designer, Simon Brugaletta, and with the star power of globally renowned SWA – the landscape designers behind the Beverly Hills Hotel and Los Vantanas in Mexico, two of Tim Gurner’s favourite hotels – designing the lush tropical landscapes that will bring the 12,000sqm site to life, La Pelago brings a stellar international design team to the fore.
Inspired by nature’s organic forms and everchanging sand dunes, Aquia is defined by its sweeping curves and natural symmetry. Its façade of shimmering glass reflects the hues of the Gold Coast sun, creating a form that appears to shift and morph as you approach from different angles.
The Resort Residences will feature a series of one, two and three bedroom residences ranging from $525,000 up to $1,800,000 and sized from 60sqm – 200sqm.
The resort-style experience will start in the lobby where residents can arrive in their own private sanctuary, with cascading water features setting the scene for what lies within. A Porte Cochere entrance will lead to a private concierge where residents can choose to have their car valet parked and shopping taken directly into their residences.
Aquia boasts an unprecedented dedication to residents’ amenity including an exclusive private wellness club, the three level resort-style podium deck with its ‘private island’ Archipelago of pools, lagoons and relaxation areas, and direct access to a signature restaurant, bars and cafes located throughout the tower and on ground level.
The Aquia tower also will house the yet-to-be-announced global hotel brand which is rumoured to be circa 185 rooms across levels 29 – 42, which is set to offer a level of luxury not on offer today anywhere in Australia.
Tim Gurner said “ I have never been so excited to launch a project, as this concept is something truly different and iconic for Australia that we believe will really take the residential market by surprise.
“ We have made the brave call to launch the project amid the current global uncertainty due to huge interest and demand from our sophisticated investor database and past clients who can see through the next few years and are very excited by the fundamentals of the Australian property market and especially the Gold Coast.
“ With now almost no supply in the pipeline for Gold Coast due to construction pricing, but with demand still incredibly strong, our sophisticated investors know that in 2-3 years we will be in a rental crisis that will push rents and therefore pricing to a level not seen before.
“ We have been monitoring construction pricing to determine when it settles which we now believe it has; and with little to no larger projects on the horizon, we think trades will look at the next 12 – 24 months and realise most of the jobs they had planned to work on are now not progressing and they will need to price on new work at a competitive rate again.
“ Everything about La Pelago represents a relentless pursuit of perfection and point of difference. We have scoured the globe to uncover the world’s very best examples of private resort living, bringing everything together into one private sanctuary.
“ We want our clients to own something that has never been done before in the world and cannot be done again. A truly irreplaceable investment and home.
“ The Gold Coast is experiencing one of the most exciting periods in its history. Over 40,000 people moved here each year in 2020 and 2021, and with 70 kilometres of pristine sandy beaches and 300 days of sunshine per year, it’s not hard to see why.
“ The vision for La Pelago really came together in 2020 when I was in lockdown at home with my family in Melbourne, thinking there has to be a way to bring an unparalleled resort lifestyle into a residential setting in Australia that’s only 2 hours from Sydney and Melbourne as opposed to 6 hours to Bali or Fiji.
“ While we are still finessing the details of the amenities and service that will be on offer, we have spent over 18 months ensuring that there is nothing else like it, not only on the Gold Coast but anywhere else in Australia.
“ We want La Pelago to be the defining destination of the Gold Coast, not just known for its architecture and amenity, but the experience from the moment the valet first opens your car door, through to the designer retail precincts and sky-high restaurants that will be the name on everyone’s lips when they launch to the public,” he said.
“ It’s a collection of my most out-there ideas and “what ifs” brought to life.”
Managing Director of Wingate Property, Mark Harrison said “La Pelago represents the latest investment for Wingate across a track record of almost 20 years. We believe that the offering is unique to the Gold Coast and represents a unique investment opportunity.”
“Wingate sees the La Pelago and joint venture with GURNER™ as a strong alignment between our two brands, with a longstanding and discerning commitment to quality and longevity.”
Gurner General Manager of Sales Evan Cathcart “ Aquia’s Resort Residences have been envisaged to seamlessly mirror the relaxed and laid back lifestyle that the Gold Coast is so well known for. The interiors are light, bright and beachy, while allowing the stunning water views and white sandy beaches to be the hero.
“ We have already experienced an overwhelming level of enquiry while we finalised our permit and architectural planning earlier this year so we don’t expect this first release to be on market for any period of time.
“ We know the market demand exists, we have been speaking to potential buyers every step of the journey and know there is a huge push towards a more nomadic life where buyers may have a house in Sydney, one internationally and another in the Gold Coast. Many of those buyers have simply been waiting for something of this scale.”
Gurner General Manager of Sales Deb Wiltshire said “ Being able to tell the story of Tim’s visionary ideas and creativity to clients through the lens of things that have never been done before on a residential design scale in Australia, and knowing that we have the delivery track record to back it up, is exhilarating, and La Pelago certainly takes the cake in terms of a level even we’ve never attempted before.
“ After selling out Saint Moritz in Melbourne I never thought we would be able to create something that was so unique again but La Pelago has taken it to a completely new level.
“We have been overrun with interest from local owner occupiers, lifestyle buyers and investors from all across Australia. It’s still early days but we believe this will sell incredibly well and quickly based on the level of enquiry to date,” she said.
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