‘Bright lights, big city’ has long been the anthem of urban hubs. Cities like New York, Bangkok, London and Sydney all offer cutting-edge, fast-paced lifestyles backed by daring and future-focused architecture. However, Crown Group’s latest projects are taking a different approach: complementing the ever-present hum of city living with biophilic residential developments, encouraging us city-dwellers to create sanctuaries at home without sacrificing proximity to the CBD.

Waterfall and Mastery are both situated in the city fringe suburb of Waterloo. Nestled between Redfern’s low-rise, leafy community and the high-rise, ultramodern developments of Green Square, Crown Group combine the best of both in these two projects. Waterfall and Mastery were designed with a keen focus on luxury finishes, natural elements and wellness to introduce a slower, calmer way of living within Sydney’s inner-city communities. With over 53 high-profile industry awards to the Crown Group name, these new developments are sure to embody the best combination of architectural elegance with exemplary biophilic features.

“We’re introducing a new era of luxury urban living with these projects that create communities and connects people to the natural environment, which can lead to a more wellness-focused lifestyle,” adds CEO and co-founder of Crown Group, Iwan Sunito.

“With many employees planning to continue working remotely in the future, the worldwide trend of biophilic design and its evidence of improving overall wellbeing at home is needed now more than ever.”

Designed by Adam Haddow of award-winning design studio, SJB, Waterfall is a AUD$400 million project by Crown Group that opened in 2020. It comprises a sculptural 20-storey tower adjacent to three lower-rise seven-storey towers, one of which is adorned by a seven-storey waterfall. This waterfall is the tallest of its kind in Australia, and was designed by Dirk Slotboom of Waterforms International, famous for projects ranging from the MONA Gallery to the Great Gatsby film set. With landscape design by Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects, the abundant light and natural features create an urban oasis for the 331 luxuriously appointed apartments.

Being such a ground breaking development, it is no surprise that Waterfall has been shortlisted for the 2021 NSW Architecture Awards (Multi-Residential). The development truly encourages slower, biophilic living, blending the interface between residents, neighbours and the community at large.

The exterior boasts ribbed concrete panels, glass finishes and green walls, as well as an artwork commissioned from Mika Utzon Popov at the southern entrance, in natural hues made from pre-cast structural concrete with a weathered finish. For residents, highlights of the relaxed, resort-style ambience include a rooftop infinity pool and open-air movie theatre with a six-metre high green wall and views over the Sydney CBD.

Crown Group and SJB have truly left no stone unturned when it comes to thoughtful touches, marrying high-end residential living with both wellness and the liveliness of city living.

Since its launch in 2017, Waterfall by Crown Group has been highly sought-after by urban dwellers, investors and design enthusiasts alike. One final two-storey, three-bedroom penthouse remains in the residence – boasting expansive city skyline views and an oversized rooftop to match.

Looking introspectively over Sydney’s cityscape, a composite of lush greenery and evolving residential developments, this penthouse is unlike any other.

To Crown Group’s Director of Sales, Prisca Edwards, the final penthouse is one of the best in the residential development’s luxury penthouse collection.

“Unique to this penthouse apartment is its oversized rooftop entertainment balcony, capturing spectacular city skyline views and a space which just screams amazing, special times for family, friends and loved ones,” Edwards comments.

Around the corner from Waterfall is another slow-living inspired project by Crown: Mastery. A AUD$500 million development by Kengo Kuma, Koichi Takada, Silvester Fuller, Mastery is an inner-city escape with 374 apartments across five buildings. The theme of biophilic living continues here at 48 O’Dea Avenue, obvious at first glance with a living wall embedded in the exterior: the first ‘stacked forest’ of its kind in Sydney. The green motif carries through to the externally visible rooftop gardens, offering a piece of the oasis to residents and neighbours alike.

Waterfall and Mastery both exemplify the way that architects, landscape designers and developers can come together to create high-end spaces that make the most of the site while importing the tranquillity of the natural environment. With innumerable features that enhance quality of life and living, Waterfall and Mastery lead the way in a new era of biophilic residential design.

Photography by Martin Mishkulnig.