Realm Adelaide: The record-breaking luxury apartments within Adelaide's new tallest residential skyscraper

A city more accustomed to single home living, Adelaide is now ushering in a new era of apartment living with the luxury end of the market being accommodated  in a new development. 

Realm Adelaide will become home to 310 luxury apartments, and the 40-storey skyscraper will become the city’s tallest residential tower once completed in April.

The first of two penthouses at Realm Adelaide sold for $5.2 million, setting a record as the most expensive apartment sale in Adelaide. Urban Activation agent Ben Small says the five-bedroom, double-storey penthouse will be occupied by a local family. He expects more locals to take an interest in the remaining penthouse, which is on the market for $6 million. 

“We have received overwhelming feedback that Realm is exactly what local downsizers and investors are looking for,” Small says.

Six sub-penthouses have also sold, but buyers shouldn’t despair – Realm Adelaide still offers the lavish Sky Residences on level 21 and above. These residences have access to the impressive amenities on level eight including a pool, spa, gym, barbecue area, lounge and dining areas. Unlike residents in park apartments below, those in the Sky Residences will also have use of hot tub, sauna, steam room, cabanas, yoga and massage areas on the rooftop.

The chance to design such a landmark building was not to be missed, says lead architect James Harbard.

“The big hope, and the way I saw this tower, was that it could be a watershed moment for the city, if done correctly,” he says. 

“Fifteen years ago that happened with the Eureka in Melbourne and started a tide of private development and  investment in the city. 

“Obviously Adelaide doesn’t quite have the same capital and ambition or population that Melbourne did, but at the same time it’s a really beautiful city.”

Designers behind Realm Adelaide took heart from Melbourne and Sydney, where the loosening grip on the great Australian dream of a detached house is fuelling city apartment living. 

“I was surprised how open-minded people were to living in the city,” Harbard says. 

“I think we underestimated how big a gap in the market there really was. People are really keen to live among it.”

Standing at 132 metres tall, Realm Adelaide’s exterior and interior pays homage to its site history as Assay House, built in the 1850s. An assay office measured the purity of gold and it was at this site that Australia’s first gold coins were minted.

This unique heritage proved fruitful design inspiration for Camille Guss, interior designer at Elenberg Fraser. Deft touches of gold and recurring coin-sized circles can be found throughout the interior and exterior.

“It’s just so nice that we can use these golden tones in a tribute to Adelaide’s heritage and not just whack up a new tower that has no relevance to its location and its history,” she says.

“We tried to bring the gold and circular coin motif through in a not overly, obvious way, but in a subtle way to bring it through the building’s interior and exterior in a nod to the site’s heritage.”