Bel Riva is a boutique apartment development comprising 9 luxury units on a narrow north-facing site on the Parramatta river in Drummoyne. The project included excavation into sandstone for a two-storey underground carpark, a swimming pool sitting just above the river water level on the edge of the site, and a jetty for mooring boats.

The site sits on a bend in the road and used to house a service station for the old Gladesville Bridge (before it was rebuilt as the large-span concrete structure which exists today). The apartments take advantage of framed views of the bridge, the local marina, the river, and district views on all sides. 7 out of the 9 apartments are fully north facing, while the 2 smaller units facing south are complimented with large outdoor terraces.

All the units exceed the minimum standards set out in the NSW Apartment Design Guide, with excellent natural light, natural ventilation, large storage areas in the basement, and over-sized outdoor spaces. The building nestles itself in between two other apartment developments, fitting in to the scale of the street but utilising the slope of the site and the mansard-style roof to conceal 5 levels of building in a predominantly 2-3 storey area.

The apartments include high-quality but minimal finishes and lighting design to allow each owner to add their own signature to the interiors.

Architect Mark Szczerbicki Design Studio

Photography by Tom Ferguson

Styling by Holly Irvine Studio