Raptis Group’s Pearl tower on the Gold Coast’s design flaw

Residents of a new luxury tower in a swanky suburb can be seen “urinating, showering and fornicating” by neighbours.

The Raptis Pearl tower on the Gold Coast. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Residents of a new luxury tower in the heart of swanky Main Beach can be seen “urinating, showering and fornicating” thanks to clear windows installed in their bathrooms.

The first residents of Raptis Group’s Pearl tower moved into the Main Beach Parade building in October but neighbours soon discovered clear glass windows allowed them to see directly into the bathrooms.

Images seen by the Bulletin show people showering, unaware they can clearly be seen.

It has sparked calls for the Gold Coast City Council to prevent a repeat of the design flaw when approving future high-rises.

One resident of the neighbouring Spinnaker Apartments said there had been several instances of unintended privacy breaches.

“This is a fundamental design flaw in the Pearl development by Raptis and also lack of oversight by Council,” they said.

“Spinnaker Apartment residents are looking out of their kitchens into new Pearl resident’s bathrooms watching them urinate, shower and fornicate.

“It was a shock to see people so close and intimate from the kitchen window when people first moved in.

“It’s one thing to see what people are eating for dinner, it’s another to see them showering or on the toilet (because it) kind of spoils your meal.

Residents of the Pearl tower in Main Beach can be seen from neighbour towers in their bathrooms. Picture: Supplied

“My concern though is not just for us and the kids, it’s also the new neighbours. Do they know we can see them showering? How embarrassing for them.”

The 30-storey tower was completed earlier this year, with apartments settled mid-year.

It is the latest project by the group, headed by veteran developer Jim Raptis

It was originally approved for 24-levels before being increased to 30.

A spokesman for Raptis Group said the tower had “been certified by all relevant building and design authorities” and insisted that “All apartment features comply with the Construction Code”.

“Raptis has been building apartments on the Gold Coast for more than 40 years and have always complied with the relevant building codes,” he said.

“It is alarming that a resident had their privacy breached by a neighbouring resident in the Spinnaker tower.

“Apartment living is synonymous with the Gold Coast.

“Across our city, apartment residents have the right to live freely and conduct their normal activities in their lounge, bedrooms, balconies or other areas without their privacy being invaded.”

Area councillor Darren Taylor said the incident underlined the need to better consider different elements of towers.

“We have the best intentions to protect people’s privacy in each development,” he said.

“We consider the privacy of those who are in the adjoining towers, however what this highlights is the opposite effect.

“This is something we need to understand and consider more appropriately going forward.”

Originally published as Raptis Group’s Pearl tower on the Gold Coast’s design flaw