New apartments take home cinema to the sociable rooftop

The pool and gym are operating, and so is the bbq area, so the residents in the Divercity development in Sydney’s Waterloo are eagerly awaiting the opening of their residential roof top cinema.

Developed by Becton, the roof top cinema is complete but is it the final stage of acoustic testing.

Rooftops cinemas is a relatively new trend as developers seek something cutting edge.

The development manager of Divercity (pictured below) Michael Hermans says the cinema was making a statement.

Hermans says the rooftop cinema, as well as the other facilities on offer have been a massive draw card for rentals.

“Out of the 80 rental properties we have in the building, 90% were leased before we even settled the property.

“All the facilities are a massive draw card for rentals, it definitely helps with demand," says Hermans.

Residents can potentially save $40 a month on cinema fees, as well as the overpriced candy bar.

The screen is approximately 2.5 metres wide by 1.5 metres high and the area could comfortably hold up to 100 people.

The space can be used as both a rooftop cinema and a barbeque area for parties and functions.

Residents of the 650 apartments and townhouses will also have access to a resident’s only tepanyaki bar, pizza oven and yoga studio.

Associated noise issues with an outdoor cinema means there will only be two movie nights a month and will exclusively be for residents and guests.

It’s up to the body corporate what flicks will be screened, with Hermans saying a mix of classics and latest releases will most likely be on the cards.

The rooftop trend has also been seen in Melbourne with The Block Sky High apartments also jumping on the wagon with a rooftop BBQ area and an outdoor cinema.

Hermans, who is originally from Melbourne, says the rooftop trend is well received down south even though it’s a lot cooler.

“The weather in Sydney is far better, it offers more of an outdoor lifestyle.

“I think it’s a great idea, it’s new, a little quirky, and people like those sort of things.

“It can only get positive feedback," says Hermans.

All residents in many new high rises are entitled to access rooftops in a trend towards democratisation of the previously sealed off upper levels.

Montrose (pictured below) – a 10-level development comprising of 104 apartments in North Sydney – was among the first apartment complexes that marketed resort-style resident rooftop access, including a rooftop cinema.

Last November Curtis Field, director of project marketing at Colliers International, which has been marketing Montrose, told Property Observer a rooftop cinema was still fairly unusual for an apartment project in Sydney, with the trend starting in Melbourne's entertainment district retail terraces.

He says the cinema was included in the design to appeal to younger couples and singles who are expected to show interest in Montrose, and he says it will “add some vibrancy” to the project.

The cinema is made to feel like a home cinema and can be booked through the body corporate.

Field says apartments are getting smaller and therefore residents are using the rooftops as common areas for entertaining.

“It offers added value of views and amenities that they [residents] don’t have to pay for.”

The multi-stage Divercity is scheduled for an early 2015 completion.