‘Right Time, Right Place’ for Two-Tower West End Project

Builder-developer Michael Emanuele’s Zen Group is behind the plans for a two-tower apartment project at 24 Duncan Street in Brisbane’s West End.

Emanuele said he had assembled a high-calibre design team to help realise his ambition of creating a livable lifestyle community on the former industrial site. 

Fine Grain founder Simon White worked alongside Brisbane architect Duncan Betts, who has established the new design practice Betts & Partners, to design the 202-apartment project. 

The towers would be linked with a sky bridge to connect the two distinct rooftop amenity zones, comprising three rooftop pools, a fitness centre, private dining rooms, cinema room, resident lounges, library and a complete wellness offering with hot and cold plunge pools, yoga, pilates, sauna, treatment room and a contemplative garden.

Emanuele’s family business acquired the 4190sq m site and shed in October last year for more than $13 million, in what Emanuele said was a “right place at the right time” moment.

The builder-developer has been in the industry for almost 40 years, and follows in his father’s footsteps as a builder of some 50 years. 

“Securing that property was a big win for me and then it was really about how do you do the site justice,” Emanuele told The Urban Developer. 

“It’s nice to be able to produce something that I’m really going to be proud of. 

“We’ve built investor grade stock where you maximise GFA and cram [apartments] in to maximise profit, that has been where the market has been for a long time.”

▲ The 202-apartment development would be connected by a sky bridge, enabling residents to use the 2600sq m of rooftop amenity.

Emanuele said initial plans were for 11 apartments per floor, which had been scaled back to eight apartments per floor. The towers would comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. 

“I wanted to build bigger balconies and bigger living areas for residents, with lots of amenity … and support a livable life,” he said.  

“I want to be purposeful in bringing my own experience to this.  

“Our family has been developing and building residential apartments since the early 70s, so seeing the opportunity to create something special, like this project is, allows us to bring to market more value for the community, at a time when it is needed most.”

The project is aimed at downsizers, young couples and families with amenities and open space to cater to this demographic.

“All metrics right now stack up to say that this project is going to hit the market at a time when it's most required to provide affordable living in an area desperate for accommodation.

“We opted for a smaller footprint and larger units, to give it a sense of openness and more space for the residents and gardens, so rather than maximising site cover and building little boxes we went up, creating an appealing balance that ultimately can be delivered in this difficult market.”

Emanuele said the builder-developer aimed to deliver the project to market by the end of 2026, subject to council approval.