Zagga partners with Jamie Durie for Avalon Beach home

Leading boutique private credit investment manager, Zagga, has partnered  with award-winning, celebrity landscape designer, Jamie Durie, on his latest project, a luxury  home set to be one of Australia’s most sustainable builds.  

The waterfront home is located in Sydney’s highly sought after Avalon Beach and is the feature  of Channel 7’s new series, Growing Home with Jamie Durie. Based on comparable sales in the  area, local experts estimate an on-completion value in excess of $40 million. The project is due  to be completed by end of month.  

Zagga is the senior lender on the project and expects to deliver investors returns comparable to  its other investments, which average 9.80% per annum as at end October. 

Commenting on the construction financing, Tom Cranfield, Director, Investment & Risk, at  Zagga said the project reinforces the growing importance of private credit to deliver agility,  commerciality, and flexibility in funding Australia’s future homes. 

“This project is unlike any other in the market. We are thrilled to work with Jamie Durie, who is  internationally renowned for his design acumen, to bring this sustainable-first design concept to  life,” Mr Cranfield said.  

“Jamie has designed the property as his dream home. It oYers ultra-luxury comforts, ample  green space, and state-of-the-art sustainability features, which highlight the possibilities of  sustainable design in everyday living.  

“As a non-bank-lender, we could deliver agility and flexibility in funding and consider risks and  returns based on the build’s unique attributes and characteristics. Working hand-in-glove with  Jamie’s team ensured the best outcome for Jamie, as our borrower, alongside market-leading  returns for our investors,” Mr Cranfield said.  

The trophy-home comprises of five bedrooms, five bathrooms, multiple living rooms, a butler’s  pantry, a full floor gym and wellness room with a sauna and steam room, infinity pool, a self contained nanny’s quarters with its own external access, and a self-contained boat shed. The  property also benefits from its own deep-water birth, as well as a pontoon and private beach. 

Commenting on working with Zagga to bring his dream home to life, Jamie Durie said Zagga’s  specialist capabilities and dedicated team gave him the confidence to pursue his aspirations of  building a healthier home for his family and the environment.  

“I have a young family, and it was incredibly important to me to build a house without  

compromise,” Mr Durie said. “This means a responsible, ethical build with best-in-class  sustainability features that not only give my family the healthiest lifestyle, but also protect and  preserve Australia’s spectacular natural environment.  

“Working with Zagga has accelerated the project. It’s a mammoth build, going from an asbestos  shack to a state-of-the-art, sustainable home, but the team has been with me for every step of 

the journey, ensuring we get the best outcomes for all parties – on time and on budget.  

“I met with at least nine traditional banks and non-bank lenders on this project and Zagga stood  out because of its specialist capabilities and bespoke structuring of terms. For me, it has  highlighted the importance of partnering with specialists who can really judge the project based  on its individual merits rather than having to tick the boxes,”Mr Durie said.  

Planting the seeds for a greener future 

The Avalon Beach home is one of Australia’s first residential dwellings certified by independent  sustainability ratings agency, Green Building Council of Australia.  

The sustainable build saved 178 tonnes of CO2, which is the equivalent of taking 39 cars oY the  road or planting 7000 trees.  

A first-of-its-kind feature in Australia is the home’s geothermal heating and cooling system,  which means the home is self-sustainable and can be run entirely oY grid without fossil-fuel  energy. It also incorporates solar panels, rainwater tanks, and reduced carbon-concrete.  

Sustainability has been central to every design element, with interior features including  

carpeting made from recycled ocean plastics, VOC-free paint that can absorb carbon, and an  80 percent recycled kitchen with zero formaldehyde and carbon-free benchtops.  

“Private and non-bank-lenders will play a crucial role in bringing more sustainable builds to the  market,” Mr Cranfield said. “Strict lending criteria and increasing regulation mean traditional  lenders, like banks, are finding it increasingly challenging to invest in unique, innovative projects  like this one. This is providing private, nonbank lenders, like Zagga, access to A-grade  

opportunities, which historically have been the domain of the Big 4. 

“We expect this trend to continue as demand for sustainable living increases and the nation’s  housing shortage puts more pressure on developers and the construction pipeline.  

Commerciality, flexibility, and the ability to work closely with borrowers will be our point-of diYerence and competitive advantage,” Mr Cranfield said.  

Greenspace was an important element to the build. This included Jamie’s unique design vision  of a “growing home”. This includes an 85-tonne rooftop garden, extensive vertical gardens, and  over 3000 native plant species. Jamie has also brought the outdoors in with more than 180  indoor plants.  

“This home is the embodiment of years of research,” Mr Durie said. “It has allowed me to  showcase my creativity and passion for landscape design, while also working with global  leaders in sustainability and green technology to bring next-generation, sustainable living to  Australia’s shores. I am humbled to be showing others what’s possible in sustainable residential  design, while knowing I am building a brighter, healthier future for my family.”  

You can see the home come to life on Channel 7’s Growing Home with Jamie Durie.