Plans for an approved 15-storey development adjacent to the heritage-listed Shafston House on Brisbane’s River in Kangaroo Point have been recently resubmitted to Brisbane City Council. Originally designed by Rothelowman Architects and approved in March 2023, the newly submitted 25-storey proposal has been developed by Kerry Hill Architects (KHA).
Orchestrated by developer Burgundy Group, the original proposal at 23 Castlebar Street included 37 apartments within a tower directly adjacent to the 1851 Shafston House residence, whose design has been shaped by contributions from Queensland Colonial Architect FDG Stanley (1880s) and Robin Dods (circa 1904). Downslope from the residence, two low-scale river homes were planned to be constructed in front of the historic 1919 Wards Building.
KHA’s proposal, submitted by Verso Development Group, seeks to increase the number of apartments within the tower to 48. It includes two “river homes” within the approved location and seeks conversion of the Old Postal Depot into a single “guest house.”
According to the submitted documents, “The design process has utilised a carefully curated ‘whole of site’ master plan approach, to suitably integrate and celebrate heritage features within the contemporary built form landscape.” Historic buildings on the site are intended to be repurposed as “communal space for residents,” with the Wards Building serving as a gym and wellness facility, and the Orderlies Building accommodating a residents’ lounge.
The tower facade is designed with full-height stacked sliding screens to balcony perimeters, which are designed to filter sunlight when open and mitigate direct sunlight when closed.
Designed by PWP Landscape Architecture, the proposed landscape plan is centred around a pool within the historic lawn at the site’s centre. Revegetation is planned around the west of the site. In the tower, a subtropical planting scheme is proposed within planters, small gardens and vertical green walls.
KHA noted that the design will not only deliver “additional supply and diversity in the Brisbane housing market,” but will create several community benefits. These include heritage revitalisation of the Shafston House site, delivery of a portion of the Brisbane riverwalk infrastructure and increased recreational amenities, “with greater activation of the lawn and open spaces across the estate, and the establishment of a private marina on the site to further encourage the use of the Brisbane river.”
The application can be viewed online.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
