Hidden gems in amazing Grace

Artist impression of the Grace development, 70 Sale Street, Auckland City. Render / supplied

GRACE VICTORIA QUARTER, 70 SALE ST, AUCKLAND CENTRAL

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ON OFFER: 10-storey building sheathed in glass and boasting extensive views. Rooftop retreat with dining room-lounge-kitchen; terrace with 360-degree views and garden. A) 1-bed, 1-bath, 46 to 52.2sq m (plus 7 to 15sq m balcony) from $540,000. B) 2-bed, 1-2 bath, 67 to 95sq m (some with balconies up to 32.5sq m) from $720,000. C) 3-bed, 2-bath, 111-129sq m (plus 37 to 37.5sq m balcony) from $1.675 million.

INSPECT: Display suite Sat/Sun 11am to 3pm; enter via 115 Cook St.

ON THE WEB: gracevq.co.nz

SCHOOL ZONES: Freemans Bay School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College.

CONTACT: Brad Roebuck and Karen Spires, Bayleys, 021 766 180 (Brad) or 027 273 8220 (Karen).

*Parking is $85,000 for a single, $115,000 for a tandem, or $70,000 for a stacker.

The developers of a landmark Victoria Quarter junction are promising new apartment building Grace's sculpturally curved design sheathed predominantly in glass will be a head-turner.

Grace Victoria Quarter will soon start rising on a prominent site not far from Victoria Park. The pet-friendly building on the corner of Sale St and Cook St just down from the revitalised City Works Depot will offer 107 one-, two- or three- bedroom apartments.

Little Projects' general manager of sales and marketing, Fergus Humphries, says: "We want to do something that's going to have a real impact; a design-driven building emphasising that residential development can be beautiful.

"Grace is on a prominent, unique corner site with no real obstructions, which delivers great harbour and city views."

Those views and the corner site's Victoria Quarter location close to the city, Wynyard Quarter, Victoria Park, Freemans Bay and Ponsonby prompted purchase of the site and its incumbent red-brick two-storey former factory eight years ago. Kiwi company Location Group bought it and is developing Grace in a joint venture with Little Projects.

Location Group's extensive development history includes the Vert apartments at Ponsonby Bowling Club. Little Projects is one of Melbourne's leading private property development companies having delivered more than 1800 apartments in Melbourne. This joint venture is its first foray into the New Zealand market.

The 10-storey U-shaped building will wrap around a central "secret garden" where residents can retreat from the bustle of life to take time out amid subtropical planting with a water feature.

Image 1 of 7: Residents and friends can gather on the rooftop for panoramic views. Renders / supplied

Fergus says on nice evenings residents and their friends can head to the rooftop terrace to make the most of its panoramic city and harbour views and barbecue area.

This open-air terrace forms part of the Residents' Rooftop Retreat, which will boast 360-degree views around Auckland. The rooftop area will include a dining room-lounge and kitchen, which residents can book for dinner parties or small get-togethers.

Fergus says: "All our residents' amenities are designed as an extension to residents' own apartments. People might only have a dining table which fits four people but they can book this dining room to host a larger dinner party."

He knows from personal experience the sense of community these sort of residents' amenities foster, as he and his wife live in Little Projects' Melbourne Building Ilk with their 2-year-old daughter and twin 11-month-old boys.

The name Grace references the elegance of the building's design. It'll present as an undulating sheath of curvaceous glass, maximising light into apartments. Core construction will be concrete.

It's been designed by Little Project's Melbourne-based architects Cox Architects in conjunction with their Auckland affiliate Opus Architecture. It will be built by New Zealand builders Macrennie Commercial Construction, and landscaping is by Sola.

Fergus says: "Our design incorporates a double-height entry atrium featuring a sculptural spiral staircase, which will create a real sense of arrival."

The entrance will be flanked by two retail tenancies, likely to attract a cafe or restaurant.

Apartments will include two-level "terrace sky homes" and will have balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise light and views. They'll feature 2.55m living area ceiling height, Miele appliances and custom-built kitchen and bathroom cabinetry.

It's planned the buildings on site will be demolished this June, kicking off construction. Grace is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2018.