First look exclusive: Third.i plot luxe Rushcutters Bay apartments

International developer Third.i is continuing its boutique push in Sydney's harbourside with its latest project.

Following on from their Muse development in Potts Point, Third.i, led by Ron Dadd and Luke Berry, has filed plans for a luxury apartment project in the neighbouring Rushcutters Bay.

The $21.6 million development at 51-57 Bayswater Road, submitted to the City of Sydney this month, will comprise 12 apartments above two retail tenancies on the ground level.

The 594 sqm site, currently home to an eight-level, concrete apartment building, sits at the corner of Bayswater Road and Ward avenue, on the border of Potts Point and Rushcutters.

Woods Bagot said the location presents an "outstanding opportunity to merge the development's rich Art Deco heritage with its natural surroundings, creating a harmonious blend of historical charm and modern amenities."

"Our design has aims to respond to its context in multiple ways: considering its precolonial history, responding to the surrounding built environment, considering site-specific opportunities, enhancing its streetscape, and addressing privacy and sustainability," Woods Bagot noted in their Design Statement.

"Designed with sensitivity to its natural and historical context, the proposed development draws inspiration from the rushes that once characterised the area, paying homage to its precolonial history."

Woods Bagot said it's evident in the treatment of the façade elements, the integration of water as a design element, and the use of native species for planting.

"The design also references the architectural motifs of nearby Art Deco buildings, incorporating key moves such as the horizontal band expression with vertical accents, the use of clear geometric shapes, marking the entries and using brickwork as a primary material."

The 12 apartments will sit across six levels and above two basement levels with 14 parking spaces, accessed by a car lift.

The two retail tenancies will front Bayswater Road.

Each apartment spans half a floor and starts from 121 sqm. They get larger further up the building, more like 140 sqm. Each unit has a balcony, at least 50 sqm, which will have a built-in spa.

There are two three-level penthouses, taking up three half-floors. The first level will be the main living space, which will have an additional butler's pantry in the kitchen and a multi-purpose room compared to the apartments below.

The second level will home the three bedrooms, the master with a balcony, and the private rooftop will be split down the middle, with each penthouse having a long plunge pool, outdoor kitchen, and alfresco space.

There is some space on the roof reserved for the whole building. That will have two alfresco dining spaces.

Woods Bagot said the proposed development places a deliberate emphasis on offering a range of apartment types tailored to meet the diverse needs of potential residents.

"With a focus on accommodating families, the development proposes a significant number of three-bedroom units, acknowledging the demand for spacious living environments suitable for family-oriented lifestyles."

The plans come just a few months before the expected completion of Nautique in Rushcutters Bay, the suburb's first major apartment development in over 13 years.

Nautique, which is being developed by JDH Capital, is a redevelopment of the former Vibe Hotel near Rushcutters Bay Park.