Brisbane-based Aria Property Group has unveiled the winning design of their proposed residential tower project in South Brisbane. Koichi Takada’s waterfall inspired design was the winner of the competition that saw four architectural firms (Koichi Takada, Elenberg Fraser, Rothelowman and Woods Marsh) vying for the opportunity to design the tower project.
Aria has submitted a new development application for the striking 33-storey residential tower located at 77 Hope Street, South Brisbane.
The winning design by Koichi Takada Architects fosters all elements of Brisbane City Council’s ‘Buildings that Breathe’ guidelines. Featuring a design scheme that boasts endless hanging gardens and overflowing planters that creep up the sides of the building, the tower incorporates unique sub-tropical style design elements and offers a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments totalling 216 units.
Koichi Takada has proposed a 118-metre high waterfall that runs the full length of the western elevation of the tower. Water will start off on the rooftop pool deck and slowly cascade down the tower via glass panels, visually dividing the tower into two parts. As the waterfall reaches the podium of the tower, just like a natural waterfall, the water will dissipate with a misting effect created on the podium’s green walls and ground level planting.
In addition to contributing to the maintenance of the plants and providing a visual clue to the water features in the design, the misting will carry down to the public domain creating a cooling effect to pedestrians and visitors to the retail section. The waterfall and green walls will be illuminated at night.
Architectural design features include expansive green walls covering large portions of the tower’s facade, especially on the long west-facing side, which is heavily shaded using screens and green planting. The greenery will incorporate a misting irrigation technique to cool the air as it passes through the green facade.
Most of the apartments face north-east towards the city and enjoy cross ventilation. An open and naturally ventilated western corridor allows access to the majority of apartments and also reduces energy consumption in an otherwise temperature controlled area. According to Koichi Takada, natural ventilation makes for a healthy building environment and contributes to sustainable building initiatives.
Inspired by the Queensland design vernacular, large architectural screens make up a defining feature of the building’s facade, rooftop feature and ground floor awnings. A dramatic work of natural art has also been proposed throughout the common corridors of the tower using light from sunrise and sunset, amplified by tinted glass to create a continually changing ambience for residents on their way in or out of the building.
As part of the development proposal, Aria Property Group will also create a new urban common park next to the tower underneath the railway lines.
The planned rooftop recreation deck features a myriad of indoor and outdoor residential amenities, delivering views over Austin towards the Brisbane River and CBD. The 1040sqm rooftop has 40 per cent indoor amenity including gym, yoga room, change rooms, theatre, and bookable dining rooms equipped with a full commercial kitchen. External amenities include a 50m lap pool, BBQ area, built-in seating, sunken lounges and landscaping.
