Prime Edition launch Jolson-designed Como Toorak apartments
Melbourne developer Prime Edition has launched its latest residential development Como Toorak, a collaborative effort between Prime Edition and architectural practice Jolson.
The Melbourne-based developer secured the high-profile 2500 sqm site at 2 Bruce St, an amalgamation of multiple blocks, from AFR Rich Lister Larry Kestleman for a record $26 million in 2022.
This $120 million project will comprise only 17 apartments, including penthouses, immersed in garden foliage and terrace planters designed by Paul Bangay.
The building's facade features vertical landscaping that softens the architecture and seamlessly blends it with the surroundings. At ground level, meticulously manicured shrubs and a mature tree with blossoming branches will add colour against the neutral tones of the structure.
Beneath the greenery, the building's crafted facade stands out with considered articulation, depth, and textures. Jolson prioritised architectural strength and an authentic character, incorporating premium materials such as handcrafted Spanish bricks, textured render, and column pieces integrated with deep, recessive balconies and garden beds.
“The building’s detail meanders between chiselled forms and curved edges from the exterior to the interior, creating a holistic design language and a distinct design identity,” Jolson Director Mat Wright said.
Como's entrance features large, artisanally made steel gates leading to an arrival lobby where a daytime concierge provides a hotel-like experience for residents and visitors.
Drawing on Jolson's architectural expertise in large-scale private homes, each of the 17 residences has been meticulously considered in every detail, incorporating a palette of natural materials, built-in joinery, custom-designed elements, and a rare generosity of space.
The interplay between gently sculpted contours and the precision of chiselled lines on the facade extends into Como's expansive corridors and living areas.
Expansive glazing maximises views, sunlight, and connections with nature, emphasising a sense of openness. Luxurious and long-wearing surfaces characterise each space, from oak floorboards to polished plastered walls, plush carpeting, natural stone, and textured porcelain tiles.
“The interiors emphasise using texture and form to create an enduring design response. We wanted each space to feel generous and crafted, considered and well planned. Everything should feel calm and imbued with a sense of identity,” Jolson Associate Jaclyn Lee said.
The penthouses, combining the aesthetic principles of the lower residences with the benefits of an elevated position, are wrapped in glass like a pavilion within a private garden terrace overlooking spectacular views across the grass courts of South Yarra Tennis Club and the city skyline.
Each penthouse is appointed with a large-scale kitchen surrounded by glazing for ample sunlight at the heart of the home. The kitchen features a concealed walk-in scullery and multiple dining and bar areas, complemented by stone benchtops and premium appliances.
Outside, the courtyard design aims to provide privacy and maximise natural light, with carefully selected greenery to emphasise texture, movement and softer elements—framed by carefully arranged paving and steppers.
Paul Bangay's landscape design captures the classic elegance of the area's ordered gardens and the vibrant character of Toorak today. The curved facades of Como are mirrored in rounded garden walls and paved areas, with textural foliage softening every space.
Prime Edition's $270 million pipeline of high-end residential projects, set to launch before the end of 2024, includes three other projects, another in Toorak, one in South Yarra, and another in Clifton Hill.
Como is slated for completion in 2025.