Batemans Bay: Sydney designer James Alexander-Hatziplis transforming the bay

An architect playing a key role in the transformation of a major south coast town has suggested it may become like Sydney’s Double Bay, rather than “Canberra 2.0” or Surfers Paradise.

James Alexander-Hatziplis is planning multiple major developments for Batemans Bay.

An architect and designer who is playing a key role in the changing face of Batemans Bay has suggested the town could become like Double Bay, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, as opposed to “Canberra 2.0” or Surfers Paradise as some residents fear.

James Alexander-Hatziplis, the managing director of Sydney-based architect firm Place Studios, is involved in the planning of four major apartments and mixed-use development projects in the Batemans Bay area.

One project is a proposed a four-storey residential apartment for 20 Heradale Pde, Batemans Bay, with plans now sitting with Eurobadalla Council.

Another potential project has designs under consideration, with the remaining two are in early stages.

While the DA sitting with council will exclusively be residential, Mr Alexander-Hatziplis’ said his other plans were “mixed-use”. “This means they will be a mix of residential and commercial,” he said.

James Alexander-Hatziplis' plan for 20 Herald St, Beach Rd is with local council.

“The bottom floors will be used for things like shops, services and so on and the top floors will be used for living spaces.”

Mr Alexander-Hatziplis could not reveal exact locations of the other developments, however, he assured one project would be “great” and will be on a spot of land with a lot of potential.

The Calile Hotel in Brisbane has been a huge inspiration for James Alexander-Hatziplis' buildings.

A major inspiration for Mr Alexander-Hatziplis’ building designs has been the ‘Calile Hotel’ in Brisbane, with each of his buildings having a similar aesthetic.

“It’s a mixed use, commercial hotel with a very similar aesthetic to the buildings we want in Batemans Bay,” he said.

But it wasn’t just Mr Alexander-Hatziplis’ love for the coastal town which made him want to help “grow” it with designing major developments – rather, he said he saw a massive need for more housing.

“People are using residential accommodation as tourist accommodation,” he said. “Homes are being bought and being used as Airbnbs and that is only worsening the problem.”

Airbnb reveals currently 300 homes in Batemans Bay are used on their app for temporary accommodation.

Mr Alexander-Hatziplis said more “high-end” hotels would solve this issue.

“If we were able to deliver a series of high-end, quality purpose built hotel accommodation, that would take the pressure off existing housing,” he said.

The architect also said the costal town was in a unique situation, with it being the closest beachside urban area to Canberra and being a four-hour drive from Sydney.

“You can’t really say that about any other places,” he said. “People from Canberra, Sydney – they holiday in Batemans Bay or they’re straight up moving to the town.”

James Alexander-Hatziplis and his wife, Marie-Claire, working at Place Studios in Sydney.

The rapid growth in population and development has raised concerns from some Batemans Bay residents, who say the town is turning into “Canberra 2.0”, or “another Surfers Paradise”.

However, the Sydney based designer has assured residents this would not be the case.

“Batemans Bay will not turn into the Gold Coast,” he said.

“The closest thing I can see the bay becoming in the future would be something like Double Bay.”

Mr Alexander-Hatziplis said he was excited to be part of the changing face of Batemans Bay.

“Batemans Bay is growing, it’s really exciting and we can’t wait to see where these developments take the town,” he said.