THE SOVEREIGN APARTMENTS

The apartments sets a new benchmark in luxury waterfront living. Every facet of these expansive, customised residences has been meticulously considered: the magnificent views, immaculate gardens, sublime materials, finishes and state-of-the-art technology.

“Our brief from the client from the get-go was, ‘I do not want this to look like an apartment building’,” says Sandra Browne, director at Cottee Parker Architects. “That’s why we came up with the idea of two pods.

“We split the complex in two, which broke down the scale and allowed it to relate a lot better to the other buildings on the island. It also gave a sense of ownership to the residents.”

There are two penthouses and two sub-penthouses, all with four-bedrooms and a study. The four remaining units have three bedrooms, plus a study. Each dwelling is single-storey and occupies an entire floor.

“It does feel like each is an individual house because they occupy the entire floor plate and get daylight in from all sides,” explains Browne.

“They also have the same accommodation as you’d expect in a large house. Even though they are downsized, they’re all [three or four bedrooms], multiple bathrooms, multiple living areas.”

Six of the apartments have their own exclusive rooftop areas, while two ground floor residences have private yards with plunge pools. Balconies provide 180-degree views to the water, yet privacy has been maintained via floorplans and orientation.

“The apartments are oriented to the street and the water, and the side elevations are more closed down,” says Dee Passenger, Cottee Parker associate and the project’s interior designer. “Where we do need to have windows, they’re screened with privacy screens so you don’t look onto neighbouring blocks.”

For design inspiration, the Cottee Parker team considered The Sovereign’s beachfront address and looked to luxury yachts and resorts.

“We wanted to create a place that felt like home and welcoming and warm, but we also – given its location – really wanted it to feel like you were always on holiday,” Passenger says. “So, the master bedrooms have almost been designed like hotel suites with open planning and these really grand bathrooms on the balcony edge.”