‘Treehouse’ Tower Unveiled for Brisbane River Bend

Plans have been filed for a residential tower draped with subtropical greenery and rising 14 storeys from a prominent bend in the Brisbane River.

The proposal comprises 62 apartments in a treehouse-inspired tower design anchored by a sculptured architectural trunk base.

It is earmarked for a 1792sq m site at 92 Kingsford Smith Drive in the city’s inner-north suburb of Hamilton.

Property records show the site was acquired in 2008 for $3.86 million by an entity linked to Brisbane developer Denis Tomasel.

The developoment application has been lodged with the Brisbane City Council under the same entity with architectural plans prepared for Brava Property Group.

According to a planning report, the proposed tower represents “a high-quality, subtropical design befitting of the site’s prominent location at the northern entrance to the Brisbane inner city”.

The scheme has been designed by Myers Ellyett Architects to represent the concept of “a sub-tropical tree, extending up from the ground through a trunk, branches, canopy and tree house”.

It takes its design cues from its surrounds—including nearby Hamilton Hill and the Brisbane River—as well as the city’s climate and outdoor lifestyle.

“The proposal … responds to its unique and prominent location,” the report said.  “[It] draws inspiration from the site’s visual character and the concept of a canopy tree.”

Under the plans, a mix of 20 two-bedroom and 42 three-bedroom apartments would be offered, each entered via private gated “sky gardens” that provide security so doors and windows can be left open allowing for cross ventilation.

As well, a rooftop terrace would provide 1048sq m of communal recreational space—including dining space, a barbecue area, swimming pool, gym, yoga lawn, seating and landscaping.

Parking for 140 vehicles and 64 bikes is planned across three basement levels.

On the corner of Kingsford Smith Drive and Hunt Street, the site “draws the eye with long views from the river, road, and adjoining suburbs”, a design statement said.

“Marking the gateway into Brisbane’s inner city, the site occupies an unobstructed location on the fork of the Brisbane River and Breakfast Creek.

“The architecture responds to the natural and urban influences, creating a distinctive architecture adorned with greenery,” it said.

“Living in subtropical Brisbane is an experience of living on a veranda. Half indoor, half out. It’s a life that embraces living with gardens and greenery. This idea is at the heart of the project, drawing on the power of nature to create better places.”

The site—just to the east of the Breakfast Creek Hotel and the under-construction pedestrian green bridge—is in a high-density residential zone including development from 7 to 25 storeys.

“Therefore, the 14-storey outcome is in keeping with the community’s expectations for the site’s inner-city location … with recent council and EDQ (Economic Development Queensland) documents identifying a continued evolution of the locality,” the planning report said.

The Queensland capital’s Olympic era is beckoning and with it further urban renewal in Hamilton as well as nearby Albion, Bowen Hills and Newstead.

Plans were recently filed for a 17-storey tower comprising 199 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across the road from the iconic Breakfast Creek Hotel, which was built in 1889.

Two 23-storey towers with a total of 560 build-to-rent apartments also have been proposed for Hamilton’s Northshore precinct, an area earmarked for the 2032 Olympic athletes village. It will mark Canadian-owned Brookfield’s debut play in the emerging Australian build-to-rent sector.