Luxury on Every Level at Rocabella by GRAYA
Behind The Design
Rising among the coastal homes of Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast, Rocabella responds to its surroundings while asserting a distinct identity. Positioned along the iconic Hedges Avenue, the dual residences emerge with a warm, sculptural presence that sets them apart.
We’re proud to once again partner with award-winning property developer GRAYA, following previous collaborations on projects such as Dune, Kloud, and Chalk. Rocabella marks a departure from the company’s previous work. Neither a standalone home nor a traditional apartment, the project introduces a new way of living. With a vision for longevity, the homes embrace materials such as Antique Bronze tapware, Silver Travertine, and textured render, each selected for its inherent character and ability to endure over time.
Spanning five levels, each residence features four bedrooms, an entertainer’s level, a rooftop pool, and a private lift, combining luxury and convenience while maintaining a strong sense of individuality. We sat down with Rob Gray, Founder and CEO of GRAYA, to go Behind the Design of this contemporary project.
Rob explains, “This is a really different product for us as a company, and something we haven't delivered before. It's not a standalone house, but it's not an apartment either. This one is something that I like to call a villa, and a lot of people confuse it for a duplex.”
A dual residence composed of two mirrored homes, Rocabella balances the scale and privacy of a luxury house with a striking sense of verticality. Each level is thoughtfully defined, with generous openings and balconies that allow the building to breathe and connect seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.
Walk the length of Hedges Avenue, and you’ll find homes speaking in a dozen architectural dialects; Rocabella speaks in its own. Its design language is warm, tactile, and defined by soft curves, drawing on European influences that feel both timeless and deeply attuned to its coastal setting.
“There's a common trend around sunny Queensland at the moment for European architecture, and it's something as a business we really resonate with too, but we like to think that we like to pull a lot of ideas from a lot of different areas and put our own GRAYA touch on it,” shares Rob.
Natural stone features prominently across the façade and throughout the interiors, lending a sense of permanence and craftsmanship. An exterior palette of concrete brick, breezeblocks, and cascading planters softens the threshold between inside and out, while lush greenery brightens the building’s soft, sandy tones.
Textures are layered with intent, where neutral tones meet refined surfaces, and every finish is chosen as much for how it feels as for how it endures over time.
The home’s layout is carefully considered to balance moments of retreat with spaces for connection. From the ground floor housing the garage and a home office, to level one with three bedrooms for guests or children, the design unfolds across three additional levels: one dedicated entirely to the master suite, another to the kitchen and living, and a rooftop level that Rob describes as “the backyard,” complete with a bar, alfresco area, and swimming pool.
Despite its narrow footprint, Rocabella achieves a remarkable sense of scale, all interlinked by a sculptural spiral staircase at the centre of each home.
“So level three is the heart of the home, where the kitchen, living, and dining, look out to the ocean,” explains Rob.
A space that feels both simple and deeply refined, it is anchored by a Silver Travertine island, with the natural stone wrapping seamlessly over the sides, into the sink, and echoed in the opposing rangehood.
As Rob shares, “One of the most important decisions you'll make when designing a home is the kitchen island benchtop, and it's something we really focus on as a company.” From the Antique Bronze Elysian Commercial Pull-Out Kitchen Mixer to the Imari Speckle Finger Mosaic Tile and curved cabinetry handles, the space achieves a quiet sense of luxury with a playful edge.
The full-floor primary suite takes on the feel of an open, airy hotel suite. “We haven't put a dividing wall between the bathroom and the bedroom; we really wanted to imitate that hotel resort style, lifestyle. Something that I really love about this bathroom in particular is the ABI Antique Bronze tapware,” he shares.
Complete with an enclosed double shower and the Ukiyo Acrylic Freestanding Bath, the wet area is layered with visual interest. Antique Bronze fixtures anchor the soft, spa-like palette, introducing warmth and a sense of quiet opulence.
These rich tones carry through to the upholstered bedhead, centring the room and drawing the eye out toward the blue ocean beyond.
Throughout every level and detail of Rocabella, GRAYA steps beyond the expected to deliver a home distinct from its surroundings. The architecture, layout, interiors, and finishes are all thoughtfully considered, cultivating an ambience that feels entirely its own.
Reflecting on the project, Rob describes Rocabella as a shift in the area’s architectural direction, encouraging more expressive, design-led developments over traditional apartments. “As a business, we really hope to see more luxury villas like this emerge around Mermaid Beach.”
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