Cera Stribley reveals the local expertise behind Melbourne’s most successful international design collaborations. 

Melbourne’s luxury residential market is becoming increasingly competitive, with boutique low- and mid-rise developments across the city’s affluent suburbs vying for the attention of a discerning downsizer and rightsizer audience. In this environment, a project’s success is often determined by the strength of the team behind it, and the ability to create something that feels genuinely connected to its place. 

Over the past several years, Cera Stribley has developed a distinct approach to high-end multi-residential design, bringing together internationally recognised creative talent with the local architectural expertise required to deliver considered, commercially successful homes. 

The practice’s recent collaborations include working with UK industrial designer Tom Dixon on Above Zero’s Rondure House, Dutch design practice Studio Piet Boon on JACMAX’s Boxshall and acclaimed US interior designer Kelly Wearstler on JACMAX’s Bridport in Albert Park. 

While each project has a distinct design identity, a common thread runs through all three: the careful translation of an international design vision into residences that respond to Melbourne’s context, construction environment and way of life. 

“Every designer brings their own way of thinking about space, materiality and experience,” says Bec DiNapoli, project architect for Bridport. “A big part of our role is understanding what sits behind those ideas and working out how they translate into a building that feels right for Melbourne.” 

For Cera Stribley, that process begins well before construction. It involves identifying the right creative partner for each project, then working collaboratively to integrate their vision across apartment layouts, material selections and architectural details.

On Bridport, Cera Stribley worked closely with Kelly Wearstler’s team to translate the designer’s layered, expressive interiors approach into nine bespoke residences in Albert Park. Apartment layouts were refined to balance the ambition of the design with the practical considerations of apartment living, while materials and finishes were carefully selected to preserve the character and richness of the original concept. 

“There’s a lot that happens between the initial concept and the finished building,” says DiNapoli. “We’ve worked closely with Kelly’s team to massage layouts and resolve details, ensuring the architecture and interiors are working together to create spaces that are a joy to inhabit.

“It’s a truly rewarding process,” adds DiNapoli. “Collaborations like this have the power to expand our horizons and help us grow as designers. Kelly’s team has been an absolute pleasure to work with, and the learnings have gone both ways.” 

The approach has delivered strong results across the practice’s portfolio. Rondure House’s penthouse achieved a record apartment sale for the suburb and the City of Boroondara shortly after launching in 2020.

Boxshall was more than 80 percent sold by completion and later recognised at the Bayside Built Environment Awards, receiving the Best of the Best award. Bridport attracted more than 700 expressions of interest during its pre-sales campaign, with four of its nine residences sold within three months of launch. 

As buyer expectations continue to evolve, Cera Stribley believes the future of luxury residential design lies in creating homes with a strong sense of identity – spaces that reflect a considered design approach while responding to the realities of everyday living.

For the practice, international collaboration is ultimately about bringing together different perspectives: combining creative ideas from around the world with local knowledge, technical expertise and a deep understanding of how Australians live.

Top image: Rondure House, Cera Stribley. Photo: Timothy Kaye.

For more information, visit Cera Stribley’s website.