Elements Budds Beach - Apartment Review
What began as BDA architects' angular vision of 50 units has transformed into something quite different under Cottee Parker Architects' guidance. The pre-2018 concept, complete with its mid-height sky garden, has evolved into a more ambitious curved tower of 29 levels housing 87 units. It's fascinating how architectural visions can shift so dramatically - though I suspect the increased unit count wasn't purely an aesthetic decision.
The Height and Amenity Story
Taking full advantage of its unlimited height zone positioning, the tower rises to a respectable 29 levels - quite substantial for a 1000-square-metre site. The crowning glory is the rooftop pool and dining space, which, while I'm generally skeptical about elevated pool decks (Usability due to wind speed at higher levels), might actually be worth braving the elements for those sunset views.
Unit Design Analysis
Levels 3-14: The Foundation Floors
The lower levels present an interesting quartet of units per floor: three 2-bedroom units occupying the northwest, northeast, and southeast corners, with a more generous 3-bedroom unit claiming the southwest corner. The north-facing units include a Multi Purpose Room (MPR) - a flexible space that could serve as anything from a home office to that gym equipment storage room we all pretend we'll use daily.
The western units emerge as the clear winners in the layout lottery, despite their solar challenges. There's been an attempt at sun protection with some modest sun hoods to the main bedroom, and the balconies do provide some shelter to the living areas. Though I do wonder if the designers have ever experienced a Gold Coast summer afternoon.
The eastern units could use some refinement - they skip the luxury of an entry space, dropping you directly into the living area, and the laundry situation is reduced to a cupboard affair. That said, the overall planning for the floor is competent, even if some elements feel like they were designed with the marketing brochure in mind (I'm looking at you, oversized kitchen bench).
Levels 15-21: The Evolution Zone
As we ascend, the layouts show some genuine improvement, particularly in the northern side. The northeast corner unit trades its MPR for a proper entrance - a worthwhile compromise - while the northwest unit gains both a bedroom and keeps its MPR (reduced in size), emerging as one of the more thoughtfully planned options in the building.
A notable feature of the eastern units is their indoor-outdoor kitchen bench concept. It's clever, though you might need to invest in some particularly tall bar stools if you plan to actually use it for dining.
Levels 22-26: The Sub-Penthouse Collection
The sub-penthouse floors offer 4-bedroom units with MPRs, as one would expect at this level. While these floors generally require less scrutiny (at this price point, they'd better work), the entrance design still raises an eyebrow. The flexible master bedroom positioning between east and west aspects is a nice touch - because not everyone wants to enjoy warm sunset from their bedroom.
The Verdict
Elements represents an interesting study in architectural adaptation. While some aspects could use further refinement (those eastern unit entrances, for instance), the overall planning shows competence and occasional moments of inspiration. The curved form brings a fresh perspective to the streetscape, even if it did require some internal planning gymnastics to achieve.
For those considering an off-the-plan purchase, I'm available for detailed unit-specific reviews and contract analysis. Because sometimes it helps to have someone translate architectural ambition into practical reality.