At One with Nature
A tribute to the verdant landscape of Bellevue Hill, Florian’s sculptural facade is defined by its undulating, organic contours. The material palette reflects a profound connection to natural beauty, combining gently textured concrete with intricate masonry. Guided by biophilic design principles, Florian’s facade is adorned with cascading greenery, fostering a seamless dialogue with nature and enriching the living experience at every turn.
A Lush Oasis
Draped in verdant foliage from every angle, Florian’s lush landscaping creates the impression of a building intertwined with nature. From towering palms to cascading vines, the plant species have been selected for their ability to thrive in the coastal climate, crafting a year-round sanctuary of rejuvenation and tranquillity.
Outdoor Living
Florian’s outdoor spaces celebrate the charm of a traditional Australian garden, blending relaxation and entertainment with effortless style. Ground-floor residences extend to expansive courtyards framed by lush greenery, perfect for hosting or unwinding. Upper-level residences feature generous balconies, thoughtfully designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living and alfresco dining experiences.
ARCHITECTURE by
cdarchitects
A conversation with
ZIAD CHANINE, founder
How did the surrounding area inform the design?
One of our highest priorities was celebrating the unique topography of the site and bringing the greenery of Bellevue Park down through the site, weaving it into the built form. This approach allowed us to create a seamless connection between the natural landscape and the development, enhancing both the aesthetics and liveability of Florian. The site’s exceptional location also heavily influenced our design. It’s perfectly positioned – just a short stroll to Bellevue Hill shops and town centre in one direction, and to Bondi Beach and its vibrant lifestyle offerings in the other. A key design attribute was to ensure the apartments captured their unique outlooks, whether toward the park, Bondi Beach or Sydney Harbour.
Could you talk us through the material palette?
The material palette for Florian was thoughtfully curated to align with the design vision and its strong connection to the surrounding natural environment. With the development consisting of three separate building elements, the greenery of Bellevue Park flows seamlessly through the site, weaving into the common areas and softening the presentation of the built form. To complement this lush, green approach, we chose a neutral white palette to give the buildings a timeless and elegant character. A standout feature is the shark-nose slab edge detail around the perimeter of each floor, which provides an opportunity to integrate landscaping elements seamlessly into the design.
How has sustainability been of consideration?
The architectural style emphasises passive design principles, ensuring the orientation of the buildings maximises northern aspects to capitalise on natural light. This, combined with carefully designed openings and layouts, facilitates cross-ventilation, reducing reliance on artificial lighting, heating and cooling. The development also incorporates rainwater harvesting systems as a core sustainability feature. With the site being heavily landscaped, this water reuse system will provide irrigation to support the lush greenery throughout, reducing water consumption and maintaining a thriving landscape year-round. Solar energy harvesting is another significant aspect of the project, integrating photovoltaic systems into the design to reduce reliance on external power sources. Furthermore, the selection of materials was made with sustainability in mind, featuring high-performance glazing and durable, low-maintenance finishes.
What is your favourite aspect of the design?
It’s honestly difficult to pinpoint a single favourite aspect of Florian’s design because so many elements come together harmoniously. The site itself, with its unique shape and topography, heavily influenced the architectural form. Despite the challenges, I believe the outcome is remarkable, especially in how we’ve managed to create a built form that feels light and integrated rather than heavy and imposing. The way the building is broken into distinct forms, softened with curved edges and detailed slab edges, is something I truly admire.
A Sense of Bliss
Nestled within a serene parkside sanctuary, Florian intertwines nature’s beauty with architectural elegance. The stunning poolside retreat offers panoramic views of verdant tree canopies, evoking the feeling of a luxurious resort. Here, every detail is thoughtfully designed to immerse residents in a tranquil, nature-inspired lifestyle.
LANDSCAPING by
WYER & CO
A conversation with
ANTHONY WYER, founder
What is your vision for Florian’s landscaping?
The landscape was always an integral component of the architectural design, with the built form set within an encompassing landscape and seamless interaction between indoors and out. The architecture has considered the integration of landscape, providing generous zones for gardens, mass planting and outdoor amenities, ensuring places for both generous entertaining and quiet respite. Enhancing the amenity of all future residents has been a priority and using a wide range of native and exotic planting that will thrive in the long term was critical. The site is located in a central and convenient location, so creating a sense of separation and seclusion from the bustle of eastern suburbs living was an element we prioritised. Beautiful mature trees and a refined plant palette lend a tranquil vibe to the whole property.
How does the landscaping create a connection to nearby parklands and vegetation?
The project builds upon the existing mature trees and vegetation lining the northern, southern and western boundaries. Generous garden areas are proposed along all boundaries to build upon the existing vegetation and create larger and more meaningful landscapes. The northern boundary in particular focuses heavily on re-vegetation, utilising the dense existing vegetation as the backdrop to the communal pool and outdoor spaces.
Could you talk us through the plant selection?
With a general trend towards native planting, we have been careful to integrate a highly robust and diverse planting palette that is tailored to each area. Each garden area represents a new challenge, factoring in sun, shade and wind. We have also sought to create subtle layering and variation in texture. Palms feature heavily in the design due to their versatility, providing verticality and scale against the development, whilst still ensuring light and warmth to the pathways below. Spillovers such as Cissus ‘Ellen Danica’, Trachelospermum jasminoides and Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’ feature heavily, draping over the balcony planters – further integrating the landscape and built form.
What kind of lifestyle will these outdoor spaces create?
We wanted the landscape to provide respite whilst connecting users to the environment around them. Located so close to Old South Head Road, making the garden feel expansive yet private was a strong focus in all garden areas. With any development of this scale, privacy not only between adjoining properties but individual neighbours is vital.
