Essence Apartments

Essence Apartments brings together vibrancy and intimacy in a residential development that keeps the comfort of its residents at the centre of the design. Developed by Blackburne Property Group and designed by Hames Sharley, the building holds a landmark corner site at Davies and Shenton Roads in Claremont, Perth, responding to the public open spaces around it, including the Claremont Football Oval.

The scheme reads as four distinct façades sitting on a single plinth, giving each elevation its own character while holding a coherent overall identity. A densely landscaped courtyard on Level 1 acts as a sanctuary from the intensity of apartment living, helping to stabilise temperatures at ground level and channel cooling breezes around the residences. At street level the ground floor engages the public realm with a café, grocery and liquor store along Shenton Road, plus commercial shopfronts to Davies Road and Shenton Walk.

Inside, apartments are planned for open, light-filled living, with floor-to-ceiling glazing framing views across the neighbouring parks and greenery. A rooftop level offers residents a shared retreat, complete with a private dining room, a fully equipped caterer's kitchen, a wine cellar and outlooks towards the city and river.

The development spans roughly 24,000 m2 and was completed in 2019 with a construction value of around USD 56 million.

Credits: Hames Sharley (architect); Tim Boekhoorn (design architect); Alex Quin (project architect); Charlotte Kennedy (principal interior designer); CAPA (landscape); Blackburne Property Group (developer); BGC Construction (construction); photography by Douglas Mark Black.