From hotel to high-end apartments: The transformation of the Kings Cross Crest Hotel into Omnia
The famous Kings Cross intersection, crowned by the iconic looping Coca-Cola sign, is a cherished landmark etched into Sydney's collective memory.
It's been a permanent fixture since the mid 1970s, while the neighbouring apartment tower, Horizon by Harry Seidler, is one of Sydney's, if not Australia's, most notable buildings.
It was important for developer Greenland Australia to bring something iconic to the renowned intersection, the gateway to Kings Cross.
Their Victoria Street glass tower, Omnia, completed in 2018, serves as a modern counterpart to the historic area. The tower stands as a curvaceous hourglass on a tiled podium, an elegant nod to the renowned Coca-Cola sign.
The development, completed at the end of 2018, finds its home on the grounds of the former Crest Hotel. The metamorphosis from a hotel accommodation to luxurious residential living required substantial transformation, encompassing partial demolition of existing structures, combined with significant alterations and additions.
Designed by the award-winning architects Durbach Block Jaggers, in collaboration with interior designers SJB, Omnia is home to 135 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Each benefits from panoramic vistas that stretch across the Sydney CBD skyline to the west, while to the east, views of Elizabeth Bay, Watsons Bay, and the iconic North and South Heads are on offer. Many of the apartments offer dual-level layouts and L-shaped sections, with the design strategy also welcoming an abundance of natural light into each.
The ground floor boasts a supermarket and specialty retail stores, while level one houses a selection of outlets.A lobby concierge and state-of-the-art security system enhance the sense of comfort and exclusivity, while below ground a basement car park caters to the residents' and business owners' needs.
Omnia presents manicured open-air podium gardens, adorned with lush greenery and barbecue facilities. A communal garden also occupies the space between the podium and tower, not only beautifying the streetscape but also invigorating the grand intersection with life and lush landscapes.
The strategic location places residents within a stone's throw from the Kings Cross train station or a 10-minute walk from the heart of Sydney's CBD.
Top-tier restaurants such as Ms G’s, The Butler, Cho Cho San, and Apollo, along with the Woolloomooloo Wharf dining precinct, beckon food aficionados, while recreational facilities like Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Pool, Rushcutters Bay Park, and Centennial Park are also within proximity.
For families, Omnia's proximity to prestigious institutions including St Vincent’s Potts Point, Ascham Girls, Cranbrook, and Scots College offers a compelling advantage.