The first tower of R.Iconic, an $850-million multiresidential complex in South Melbourne, has been finished, marking the completion of the first stage of the project.
Two towers will be established on the site at 259 Normanby Road, designed by Plus Architecture (lead) in collaboration with Design Office, interior designer David Hicks, and landscape architect Paul Bangay. The first completed tower, which stands 31 storeys tall, contains 451 apartments and five townhouses. It has already won a Design Excellence Award at the 2023 Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Victorian Awards for Excellence.
The building features a pronounced sloping glass facade atop a brick podium.
Image:
Tom Roe
The building features a pronounced sloping glass facade atop a brick podium. Ian Briggs, director of Plus Architecture, said the distinctive, angled facade was selected to create a noticeable visual landmark in South Melbourne, while the brick podium was integrated to reflect the materiality of the surrounding context.
“Referencing the masonry of the existing neighbourhood, the building is like a sculptural object, engaging and evocative in its expression. It will serve as an important wayfinding device that’s visible from across the city and the bay, a gateway to the emerging CBD South precinct, and, importantly, a new destination for the wider community in an area that does not yet have a commercial centre,” Briggs said.
“The building language of R.Iconic’s brick base podium and glass towers speak to its unique location. The towers and their deliberately distinct ‘sliced’ built form are contemporary hallmarks that physically represent this idea of transition.”
Perched above the podium of the completed tower is a rooftop garden designed by landscape architect Paul Bangay.
Image:
Tom Roe
Perched above the podium of the completed tower is a rooftop garden designed by landscape architect Paul Bangay. The 1-acre garden contains a 300-metre running track, a gym, a playground, private dining pods and a heated pool.
Once complete, the second tower will contain 41 storeys and a further 424 apartments. The project developer, R.Corporation, has articulated its aspiration for the site to become a “village hub” for the wider public. The vision includes shared workspaces, innovation labs and hospitality spaces.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
