Iglu Mary Street is a 414 bed student accommodation facility occupying a tight urban site in Brisbane’s CBD. A slender tower is setback over a 2-storey podium accommodating communal facilities.

Residents enter into a lounge that opens onto a lush vertical garden that is connected to the upper level via a generous double-height space and open stair. The upper level contains a range of internal and external communal spaces including a north facing verandah overlooking Mary Street. Within the setbacks sub-tropical planting creates a verdant garden environment that frames the spaces. Full-height operable glazing blurs the boundary between interior and exterior space and together with the double-height space provides cross-ventilation and natural light penetration deep into the building. 

A compact rectilinear tower floor plan accommodates three 6-bed cluster apartments and two studio apartments with living rooms positioned to capture the available views.

Through the interplay of pattern, texture and colour, the tower presents a distinctive and animated façade to the skyline. Windows are arranged in an alternating vertical and horizontal pattern that reflects the variation in the study rooms. Sunshades are located on all windows exposed to direct sunlight and provide depth and texture to the facade. Coloured blinds contrast with the dark metallic cladding and provide privacy and control glare. Their position will vary throughout the day resulting in a dynamic and ever changing facade.