A three-storey walk-up on Pacific Street, Main Beach, is set to be transformed into a sculptural 28-storey residential tower following Gold Coast City Council approval for a new development by Arena Property.
The project, named Bella Vie — French for “beautiful life” — is a new addition to Plus Architecture’s growing coastal portfolio, and will bring 72 high-end residences to a 1,010 sqm site at 47-49 Pacific Street, just a block from the ocean.
Designed as a standalone building, the form wraps fluidly around the tower, inspired by the movement of coastal winds and the erosion of headlands. The external finish includes pale concrete, timber-look cladding, and natural stone, with a tiered, four-storey podium that appears to cascade into the street with layered greenery.
According to Plus Architecture’s Project Lead Jana van Wijk, the intent was to avoid a conventional “front-facing” apartment block.
“Rather than prioritising a single street facade, we’ve conceived Bella Vie as a homogenous form that presents beautifully from all aspects,” she said. “The design creates an intimate, pedestrian-scaled experience while maintaining the development’s heroic presence.”
The lower half of the building will contain 56 quarter-floor two-bedroom apartments, each with an additional study or multipurpose room. The upper levels shift to 14 larger half-floor three-bedroom residences. At the summit, two four-bedroom penthouses will feature private rooftop terraces over 120 square metres each, including pools, outdoor kitchens, and firepits.
Resident amenities are distributed throughout the building rather than consolidated into a single level. On Level 18, there’s a private dining room, wine cellar, sunset terrace, boardroom-style work hub, games area, and yoga deck. A 91-square-metre gym and Pilates space is also included. Podium-level wellness offerings include a sauna, swimming pool with spa, cold plunge and hot pools.
Principal Chrisney Formosa says the design responds to Main Beach’s demand for lifestyle-oriented housing.
“Main Beach has a unique character defined by its emphasis on lifestyle, wellness, and privacy,” she said. “The development responds directly to the community’s desire for sizable living spaces and seamless connection to coastal amenity, from morning beach walks to evening ocean views.”
The project also marks a symbolic return for Plus Architecture, whose Gold Coast studio was first established in Main Beach. Bella Vie will join two of their previous local developments — Drift Residences and Lagoon — both of which were also medium-scale towers designed with a boutique feel.
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Bella Vie’s approach appears aligned with a broader trend on the Gold Coast, where older low-rise blocks are making way for slender, view-oriented towers aimed at downsizers and professionals seeking a more private coastal lifestyle without the density of Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach.
Despite being one street back from the beachfront, the standalone position and compact site area have allowed the design to prioritise view corridors from every side — a rare opportunity in such a tightly held pocket of Main Beach.
The development approval comes as the suburb experiences growing interest from both local and interstate buyers, with limited available land and changing planning dynamics putting pressure on older housing stock.
Construction timelines and builder details are yet to be announced.
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