Highlife Property Group has unveiled Sabi House, a design-led commercial development set to bring a new calibre of contemporary architecture to Byron Bay’s Arts and Industry Estate.
Located at 8-10 Acacia Street, Sabi House will comprise just 12 commercial spaces designed for the growing community of creatives, makers, independent retailers and modern businesses shaping the precinct.
The project marks Highlife’s first move into the commercial sector, extending the boutique developer-builder’s design-led approach beyond its residential portfolio into a new category of work.
Designed by OH Architecture, Sabi House offers a distinctly different interpretation of the traditional industrial workplace.
Drawing on Mediterranean architecture and Byron Bay’s creative culture, the project combines sculptural form, natural materials and abundant greenery to create an environment that feels more like a considered destination than a conventional commercial estate.
At its centre, a dramatic sculptural archway frames the arrival, where generous glazing softens the transition between public and private spaces.
Warm, curved forms and an understated material palette give the building a distinctive presence on Acacia Street, setting it apart from the surrounding industrial context.
Highlife Property Group Co-Founder and Director James George said Sabi House was conceived in response to the changing character of Byron Bay’s industrial precinct and the businesses increasingly calling it home.
“Byron Bay’s Arts and Industry Estate has developed this incredible ecosystem of independent businesses, designers, makers and entrepreneurs, and we wanted Sabi House to feel like a natural extension of that.”
“The idea was to move away from what people traditionally expect from an industrial development and create somewhere that reflects the quality and ambition of the businesses operating within it,” James said.
The project has been designed around flexibility, with generous proportions, abundant natural light and adaptable spaces suited to studios, showrooms, offices, ecommerce, wholesale, wellness studios, independent retail and boutique hospitality.
Rather than prescribing a single way of working, each tenancy can evolve around the needs and identity of the business within it, allowing occupants to shape their own space over time.
At ground level, shared spaces bring tenants, customers and visitors together, creating a sense of community and energy that extends beyond the individual tenancies.
These communal areas are intended to encourage collaboration and connection among the businesses that call Sabi House home, reinforcing the sense of shared purpose that defines the wider precinct.
The project arrives as Byron Bay’s Arts and Industry Estate continues its evolution from a traditional industrial area into one of the region’s most distinctive commercial destinations.
The estate is now home to a growing mix of established brands, independent studios, wellness businesses, hospitality venues and emerging enterprises, all drawn to its creative energy and increasingly polished built environment.
Sabi House has been designed as a natural extension of that community.
Its Mediterranean influences, considered materiality and strong connection to the outdoors reflect Byron Bay’s relaxed character and longstanding culture of craftsmanship and entrepreneurship.
The result is a building that feels authentic to its surroundings rather than imposed upon them, offering tenants a workplace that speaks to the identity of the region as much as it does to their own businesses.
With just 12 spaces on offer, Sabi House represents a rare opportunity for businesses seeking a considered, design-forward home within one of Byron Bay’s most sought-after commercial precincts.
As the Arts and Industry Estate continues to attract a new generation of creative and entrepreneurial tenants, Sabi House is positioned to set a new benchmark for what a commercial development in the area can look and feel like.
