Demonstrating how art can coexist with the functional in multi-residential developments, the twisting white strands of precast concrete are modelled on the intertwined roots of a Mimosa tree clutching the riverbank, formed carefully considered to minimise the mass of the material.

The integrated wall of art works as sunscreen, privacy screen and interior form maker for the residences. The east and west, Queensland sun-facing ends, are protected with glazed screens, thick blinds and expansive decks from the heat and glare.

ARCHITECT’S WORDS

Located on a corner block bound by Scott Street and Main Street in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, this site has a riverside location directly opposite the Brisbane CBD. Previously occupied by a late 1950s motel, purchasers Waterford Properties commissioned Jackson Teece to design a new iconic apartment building to provide studio-style luxury accommodation.

The new building, compromising 10 apartments over 15 stories utilises an asymmetric planning device to create a building form with a sinuous lack of 90 degree corners. An iconic public face for the building, in the form of a 400 tonne concrete screen to the eastern facade, presents a dramatic sculptural landmark to the busy traffic passing across the Story Bridge. This element creates an identity for the project with a pattern derived from the naturally found riverside Mimosa trees.

The northern and southern facades have a subtle deflected profile created by two large curves. Formed of cast concrete elements, and perforated with windows to bedrooms and amenities these blades of the building transition the form from the screened eastern facade to the filigreed western balconies. These balconies, seen from the CBD opposite give the building a strong horizontal rigour and provide private external spaces for each residence.

The building sits up off the site on a playful collection of tilted support columns, creating a natural ‘undercroft’ which acts as the concierge and reception lobby. Planning for the apartments creates distinct public and private spaces, separated by an arrival lobby. This lobby contains a glass decorative screen which makes subtle reference to the external concrete facade, and provides both privacy and cross ventilation to the apartments.

ACCOLADES

• 2011 AIA QLD State Chapter Awards: Job & Froud Award for Residential Architecture: Multiple Housing
• 2011 AIA QLD Brisbane Region – Residential Housing – Multiple Housing – Commendation
• 2011 AIA QLD Brisbane Region – Art & Architecture - Commendation

KEY INFO

CLIENT
Waterford Properties

BUDGET
$41 million

TIME TO COMPLETE
23 months

COMPLETION DATE
2010

SIZE
6500sqm

PEOPLE

PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS
Damian Barker (Architecture – Design Principle), Paul Brace (Interiors Director), Daniel Hudson (Project Architect)

PROJECT TEAM
Damian Barker (Design Principle), Paul Brace (Interiors Director), Daniel Hudson (Project Architect), Andrew Tesoriero, Claus Busseler, Jenifer Mahon, Simon Owen, Craig Stevens, Adam Laming, Bronwyn Rorke, Jill Gilmore

PROJECT MANAGER
McLachlan Lister

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Jackson Teece

PLANNER
Saunders Havill Group

ENGINEER
Aurecon

HERITAGE ARCHITECTS
Riddel Architecture

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
Wilson Landscape Architects

PRODUCTS

FAÇADE
Precast Concrete Feature Façade designed by Jackson Teece (JTA)
Off White precast concrete supplied by Precast Concrete Products Pty Ltd
 

WALLS
Precast concrete with Keim Mineral silicate paint, supplied by Research and Applied Technologies

MOSAIC TILES
Black Lustre, supplied by the Pool Tile Company

COBBLESTONES
Light and dark grey stone, snapped edge, supplied by the Pool Tile Company

GLASS BALUSTRADES
Custom Stainless steel and glass Balustrade, supplied by Thump

GLASS LOUVRES AND CURTAIN WALL
Fineline XT, supplied by AGP
SOFFIT (to main roof and penthouse)
Light grey shine, by Alucobond

FINISH (applied to columns)
Blast Grey on Sandtex by Resene

POWDERCOAT (to aluminium frames)
Dark Paint – Domino by Dulux

ENTRY PORTAL (ground floor – lobby)
JTA designed folded entry portal – Craig’s Engineering

FEATURE SCREEN
Custom profile to dressed tallowwood battens –by Screenwood

TILES
Arturo Granite Honed, supplied by Artedomus

WALLS
Black Colourback Glass by SAFA Glass
Plasterboard Class 5

FEATURE LIGHTING
Arcade Suurface Mounted Can, supplied by Masson

LIFTS
Polished stainless steel – Schindler Lifts

WALLS AND CELING FEATURE PANELS
Japanese sen – Sharps / MP Constructions

FLOOR TILES AND RECESSED SKIRTING
Ash fossil stone by Echo Tiles

CARPET (to bedrooms)
Plush Pile by Cavalier Bremworth

FEATURE SCREEN TO PRIVATE LOBBIES
JTA and UAP-designed laminated glass screen, supplied by Urban Art Projects

SLIDING GLASS SCREENS
Acid etched glass, with Dorma hardware

WARDROBES AND STUDY DESKS
Japanese sen – Poliform

FIREPLACE
Gas fire place by Realflame

DOORS
Japanese sen, supplied by Allstyle Doors and Windows

DOOR JAMS
Koto, supplied by Allstyle Doors and Windows

PLASTERBOARD WALLS AND CEILINGS
Class 5 finish Dulux natural white, supplied by KWA Blinds

AUTOMATED BLINDS
Aspect Blockout and Silverscreen Fabric, supplied by SAFA Glass

SINK
Zerox undermount, supplied by Blanco

OVEN, MICROWAVE, STEAM OVEN, COOKTOP
Gaggenau, supplied by Harvey Norman Commercial

DISHWASHER AND RANGEHOOD
Miele

WASTE DISPOSAL UNIT
Insinkerator

FILTERED WATER SYSTEM
Hydrotap, supplied by ZIP
TAP

Café, Kitchen Square, supplied by Roger Seller

REFRIGERATION
Liebherr, supplied by Harvey Norman Commercial

WINE FRIDGES (in study)
Vintec, supplied by Harvey Norman Commercial

BATHROOMS AND LAUNDRY
VANITY
Japanese sen, supplied by Poliform

VANITY TOPS
Calcutta Marble, supplied by Poliform

BASIN
Duravit undercounter

TAPWARE
Plano, supplied by Roger Seller

BATH
Napoli, supplied by Victoria and Albert

BATH AND SHOWER HARDWARE
Roger Seller

LAUNDRY JOINERY
Embossed laquer – Poliform

FEATURE STAIR (to Villa Apartment)
Curved plasterboard stair – Arden Staircases

POOLS TO PENTHOUSE AND VILLA
Charcoal Pearl – the Pool Tile Company

BALCONY
DECKING

Tallwood 190 by 19 – Boral

FINISH
Nature’s timber oil, clear – Integrain

BBQ
Integrated slimline – Electrolux

BBQ BENCH
Indian black granite – B+J Concepts

RETRACTABLE AWNING
Markilux – KWA

AUTOMATION AND LIGHTING
Home automation system: Switch Auto – Haymans / Q Electrical
General Lighting: Masson Lino – Haymans
Track lighting: Modular Bolster – JSB Lighting
Climate control: Mitsubishi – AMS