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Paragon

Paragon

Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit

Paragon is a residential building on a prized corner of Melbourne’s CBD that tells a multi-layered narrative of the city’s past, present and future.

Designed for metropolitan living, Paragon creates a sense of identity for its residents by transforming a piece of the Melbourne cityscape into an urban sanctuary.

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Location

Melbourne, Australia

CLIENT

Beulah International

COST

$110 Million

GFA

24,604sqm

COMPLETION

2021

TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS

Wurundjeri people

Awards:

  • Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Awards, Award of Excellence - Best Tall Building by Height, 2023
  • The Urban Developer Awards, Finalist - Development of the Year - High Density Residential, 2022
  • World Architecture Festival, Shortlisted - Completed Buildings - Housing, 2022
  • Interior Design Excellence Awards, Finalist - Residential Multi, 2021
  • Urban Development Institute of Australia VIC Awards, Finalist - Excellence in High Density Development, 2020
  • See all
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit

Previously the home to Melbourne’s Celtic Club, the facade of the original heritage building was respectfully protected, restored and celebrated.

The glass tower rising above it features an elegant Celtic-inspired diagonal grid patterns across the reflective surface. Adjacent to the heritage facade at ground level, a regular grid reflects the datums of the traditional architecture, but in a minimal more orthogonal manner.

Though the tower rises to 48 levels, it has a deliberately small-scale residential density. The original scheme of 280 apartments was reduced to 227 to allow for with a maximum of 6 apartments per floor.

Site constraints meant that floor plates are shallower than typical apartments, allowing for greater levels of natural light and excellent corner vistas.

The implementation of a vertical solar panel system boasting 128 panels spanning 158sqm installed on the core walls proved not only innovative, but to be an attractive value-add and offer an energy cost savings.

Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit

Urban Forest

Unfurling across three storeys, a living green element serves as the backbone of all the common linked areas. This conservatory-like space provides relief between the main tower and heritage facade. The lush sanctuary, complete with refined terrazzo and outdoor seating, offers a tranquil escape from the bustling streetscape below. 

Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit

Communal Spaces

A wellness oasis offers an array of luxury amenities for rest and relaxation, and a series of formal and informal zones blur the line between the public and private domain to present an exclusive club for residents.

High quality amenities are a core benefit for users of the building, providing a place to gather, meet, and form community. Groups can occupy the space and enjoy the variety of uses, including a fully equipped gym, swimming pool and entertaining areas. Extending the amenity further, a library, private theatre and screening lounge add a high level of detail and function.

Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit

Interiors

Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit

Paragon is a residential building on a prized corner of Melbourne’s CBD that tells a multi-layered narrative of the city’s past, present and future.

Incorporating the facade of the former Melbourne Celtic Club, Paragon juxtaposes old and new, while capitalising on a small footprint within an elevated site.

Built for metropolitan living, its design is about creating a sense of identity by transforming a piece of the Melbourne cityscape into an urban sanctuary. Elegant and tranquil, a selection of large, individually conceived residences and penthouses embrace materiality, refined detail and unobstructed Melbourne views.

Unfurling across three storeys, a living green ‘urban forest’ provides relief between the main tower and heritage facade, serving as the backbone for the common linked areas.

High quality amenities are a core benefit for users of the building, providing a place to gather, meet, and form community. Spaces including a gym, swimming pool, library, private theatre and screening lounge add a high level of detail and function.

Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit

Wrapped in walls of glass, considered architecture opens expansive sightlines to capture the essence of the location, immersing interiors in natural light.

Paragon’s interior has been designed to step away from the bustling city streets below. Light is cast through glass and reflected across mirrored and polished surfaces to naturally illuminate common spaces.

Organic textures used across refined forms are complemented by warm timber floorboards and brushed metal surfaces. Luxurious natural stone and poured terrazzo give Paragon’s interiors a dynamic depth and layering.

A series of formal and relaxed zones blur the line between public and private domain to present an exclusive club for residents. Paragon’s impressive lobby offers a distinct sense of arrival, and the resident amenities include a contemporary bar, restaurant, lounge and outdoor terraces.

The sculpting of spatial volumes created a ‘jewel box’ compact city site. This generated a sense of drama in the efficient floorplates with simple monolithic forms extending from floor-to-ceiling, looking sensational and bold, defining the space.

A lavish material palette of honed marble, ebonised timber and refined vertical batten wall panels surround the spaces while velvet and leather upholstery, oak flooring and smoky mirror finishes add to the moody ambience of the design.

Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit
Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit

Leadership Team: