Avra: 'Not your typical beachside residence' set for Bondi Beach

The beach is everything at Bondi. Its colours and textures shape the lifestyle, the fashion and the architecture.

A newcomer will soon slip into the folds of this hip coastal neighbourhood. Avra is a three-level collection of 18 residences, including three penthouses, by developer Clutch.

Inspired by the shape of waves, the building will have a distinctive sculptural form that naturally fits into the Bondi vibe.

“The form had been inspired by the beachside setting with wavelike sculptural forms that define each dwelling,” says PBD Architects director Paul Buljevic.

“The spirit of movement is captured within the flowing forms and soft tonal edges.”

Clutch is the name behind six other developments and it has built a reputation for high-end apartment complexes in Rose Bay, Bondi Junction and Bellevue Hill.

With Avra, the company has pulled in a group of expert designers including PBD, Woods Bagot for interiors and Myles Baldwin Design for landscaping.

To meet the brief for something that went beyond the catchphrase of “barefoot luxury”, Woods Bagot interior designer Tracey Wiles leaned into her 20 years of experience working on hotels and villas in Europe.

“I just clearly remember Clutch coming to us and wanting something that is not your typical beachside residence,” she says.

“They were very conscious about the privileged location that it has and the demographic it would actually appeal to.

“We’ve worked with Clutch before and we have a really good relationship – and when they were looking for something different, my initial response was like a European villa.

“A seaside villa in Capri or the south of France or somewhere like that, with a level of sophistication that needs to go with the price point, the location and everything else.”

The result is a look of elegance infused with a coastal feel.

It can be seen in the curved spaces, light-filled rooms and soft colour palette. It sets the mood for relaxation, and this can be felt immediately from the point of entry, Wiles says.

“As you come off the main street and close that busyness behind you, it’s got a very spa-like entrance and this was very important to us,” she says.

“It’s great being in the heart of Bondi and having that hustle and bustle, but when you’re moving into your residence, you want to close the door behind you. So there’s a long transitional area.”

Each residence has been designed to be individual.

For some, this means generous family rooms that connect through to the living areas. For others, particularly the penthouses, it translates to large, free-standing walk-in wardrobes or library and study spaces.

“These residences have such grandeur and scale that they feel like true private homes,” Wiles says. “Down to the finest detail, we’ve considered every aspect.”

The large floorplates of this building have been designed with central light wells to allow for maximum light penetration. These also allow cross-ventilation, so residents can catch those refreshing beachside breezes as they blow through.

A feeling of privacy and space has been underlined by  individual lobbies for each home, and generous proportions inside and on the balconies.

The overriding themes of sculpture, air and texture can be seen inside and out.

Within, the textures borrow from the sandy grains of the beach – such as the marble found in the kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces.

The timber detailing found in the facade, such as the soffits and battens, accentuates the gentle look of natural materials.

These architectural and interior design details serve a dual purpose of functionality and style, Buljevic says.

“Avra is unique in that the architecture not only stands as an expression of a sculptural, flowing form, but each key design move also serves a practical and pragmatic purpose,” he says.

In the heart of the suburb, Avra is positioned just one block back from Bondi Beach Park and the golden sands of the famous beach itself.

It is one of Australia’s most iconic locations, where people from all walks of life enjoy the sun, sand and surf.

Everything that makes Bondi so liveable is just mere metres away – the Harris Farm Markets, the Bondi Markets and a plethora of cafes, restaurants and bars.

All of this is located just eight kilometres from Sydney’s CBD, which can be accessed within half an hour by bus or 20 minutes by car.

At a glance

Avra

135–155 Curlewis Street, Bondi Beach

Architect: PBD Architects

Developer: Clutch

Interior design: Woods Bagot

Number of residences: 18: 15 three-bed residences; three four-bed penthouses

Prices: Three-beds from $8m; four-bed penthouses POA

Completion estimate:  Q1, 2027

Agent: CBRE Residential Projects/Stewart Residential, Ben Stewart 0412 753 740

Open for inspection: Display at 155 Curlewis Street, Bondi Beach, opening Saturday, September 28