ApartmentsChris ThomsonWed 11 Nov 26
Otello’s $120m Timber Tower Begins to Rise in Adelaide’s North-West
South Australian developer Otello has broken ground on a $120-million timber-framed tower in Adelaide’s inner-west as it won support for a three-building project it is co-developing in the inner north.
The $120-million, 10-storey Flowe apartment tower at Bowden will be built around a cross-laminated timber superstructure supplied by NeXTimber.
Otello managing director Daniel Harris said building in timber would create homes that felt calm, warm and connected to nature.
“As one of the final residential projects to complete the precinct, it’s a building designed around natural light, balance and wellbeing,” he said.
Each apartment is designed for natural cross-ventilation, with open breezeways in place of enclosed corridors, and full-width balconies.
Designed by Fieldwork, Flowe will be a fully electric building with on-site solar and EV charging.
To rise at 18–26 Gibson Street, Flowe will have one, two and three-bedroom apartments and be anchored by a fitness and health club.
Jaytex Construction will build the tower, which will have a multi-level concrete podium and double basement.
Harris anticipates completion in late 2028.
Meanwhile, a three-building apartment project at North Adelaide put forward by Otello and partner multi-state developer Fortis has been recommended for approval.
The proposal for a site at 185-189 Archer Street was considered by SA’s state commission assessment panel on November 11. The panel will publish the result of its deliberations this week.
Planned for a 3873sq m site that runs through to Ward Court, the project would have a wine room, health centre and circular swimming pool on the ground floor.
In her report to the state panel, Department of Housing and Urban Development senior planning officer Joanne Reid said the project followed the strategic intent for the site of lower-scale buildings at the streetfront and taller buildings behind them.
North Adelaide is set amid, and Bowden fronts, the ring of park lands that surrounds the Adelaide CBD.
