The 14-storey residential development is situated on a west-facing block adjacent to the cliffs of Kangaroo Point, with full views of the river and city and river the Brisbane River. The design’s unique façade references the river’s edge, and draws on the fissures and openings of the surrounding cliff, embedding the building in the landscape of Kangaroo Point.

The fully glass building features major city views from three elevations, and engages with the landscape via a specially-designed screening that provides a veil between living space and external spaces, while modulating the light and heat of the sub-tropical environment. Instead of thinking of them as apartments, we thought of each floor like a house in its size and connection to the outside. What we set out to achieve was a ‘Queenslander in the sky’ with all rooms opening to a veranda edge, providing cross ventilation while maintaining privacy.

Each whole-floor residence has a unique, pocket garden reminiscent of the cliff and river-scape. On the Main Street elevation, full-size trees and shrubs will grow up over two storeys creating a similar feel to a mature garden in a traditional house. Hallways connect with external spaces, and some floors face a slightly different angle, which creates complexity in the design as well as contributing to the individuality of each residence and house-like feel.

The design maintains the existing heritage building on the site, designed by Queensland’s first registered female architect — Elina Mottram, with external connections that open to the street and allow it to become part of the environment.