Alcove is the latest venture for developer Barakat Properties, which has reinvented a row of industrial sheds into a lavish boutique retail community. The strip of retail studios, which date back to the early 1980s, is nestled amongst the hustle and bustle of Southport’s Ferry Road precinct and comprises of ten thoughtfully designed spaces ranging from 100-m2 to 150-m2. Each of the studios feature open-floor plans, double-swing front doors and individual porches, as well as onsite parking. Looks wise, the spaces boast a clean aesthetic with a modern Spanish influence, with upcycled brickwork and whitewash meeting soaring four-metre ceilings and huge light-filled arched windows.

Director of Barakat Propeties Joseph Barakat calls Alcove “community-inspired retail”. “We want to create a retail setting that is more than just a group of mixed shops,” says Barakat. “It is about delivering a retail precinct with a village feel. Barakat Propeties worked with Brisbane design studio Woodsters and Herron Coorey Builders to reimagine and recreate the space. Founder and lead designer at Woodsters Oliver Burscough says upcycling was a central focus of Alcove’s design. “We didn’t want to waste anything, so we reused as much as possible,” says Burscough. “We worked with the existing brick, and had custom-made steel arches which create a spectacular portal to each space, and allow natural light to pour in. Another important feature was the extent of the landscaping – each tenant has its own garden bed, and there are large concrete planter boxes and trellises with mature plants. This really helps create a welcoming, village feel.”

Retail tenancies are now open for Alcove. For more information on this boutique commercial space, head to the Alcove website.