Banc Tower, Toowong Unveiled

Residential developer Ideal Property Australia is lifting the bar for bespoke new Brisbane apartment developments, with the unveiling of a soon-to-be launched luxury riverfront tower that will feature a basement wine cellar and tasting room for residents among its suite of facilities.

‘Banc‘, to be developed on a prime Coronation Drive site at Toowong near the Regatta Hotel, will feature 33 ultra high-end apartments that Ideal director John Li says will set a new benchmark for inner Brisbane apartment living.

Banc has been designed by multi-award-winning WMK Architecture, project architect for Sydney’s iconic Barangaroo Headland Park Cultural Space, with interior design by fellow Barangaroo consultants SJB.

The project marks WMK’s Brisbane debut after completing numerous signature buildings in Sydney, Melbourne, India and New Zealand.

Banc’s apartments will feature cutting edge interiors together with premium finishes and fittings including Gaggenau appliances, three-metre deep verandahs, timber ceilings and natural stone floors and benchtops.

A suite of lifestyle facilities designed to deliver a 5-star hotel experience at home includes a wine cellar and tasting room, infinity-edge podium pool and accompanying barbeque terrace set amid lush sub-tropical gardens and cascading stair water features.

Ideal has appointed luxury agents Hutton & Hutton to market Banc, which is due to be formally released for sale in November. Expressions of interest are currently being taken.

Prices for two-bedroom apartments will start from $899,000, with three-bedroom apartments to start from $1,390,000.

The 15-level tower features a range of contemporary floorplans ranging in size from 105sqm up to 453sqm, all offering panoramic river and city views.

The building will also offer a private residents’ foyer with direct pedestrian connection to Coronation Drive, providing immediate access to the Regatta Ferry Terminal, riverside Bicentennial Bikeway and nearby Toowong Village’s cafes, restaurants and shopping.

At podium level, two ‘Garden Homes’ will each feature three bedrooms, two living rooms, 12-metre frontages and exclusive access to large private gardens and outdoor living spaces.

Above on levels two to five are 12 ‘River Homes’ comprising a selection of two and three bedroom apartments, designed for the owner-occupier and with views across the river.

Eighteen ‘Sky Homes’ will span levels six to 14 – all configured only two per floor – and each boasting its own direct private lift access, three bedrooms, two living rooms, butler’s pantry, 34 sqm terrace and 12-metre frontage with stunning vistas of the city.

The top of the tower houses a single full-floor penthouse, the ‘Sky Mansion’, sprawling over 453sqm and offering private lift access, five bedrooms, three living rooms, a study, library, two 34sqm terraces and a formal dining room.

Banc is the second Brisbane venture for Ideal Property, which recently launched Mint Residences in Windsor in line with plans to expand its workbook of luxury developments in blue chip Brisbane locations.

Ideal’s John Li says Brisbane developers will increasingly need to innovate in order to create distinguished residences which appeal to the tastes of top-end purchasers.

“Brisbane is now firmly on the road to becoming a genuine global new world city, as evidenced by the historic levels of investment, tourism, cultural infrastructure and interstate and overseas migration that is currently underway and forecast,” he said.

“Not only is Brisbane one of the world’s most liveable cities, it also offers a significant price advantage over Sydney and Melbourne for premium residential property, which is a powerful incentive not only for purchasers but for developers as well.

“This is very positive for the city but also means that developers need to work harder and be more creative in order to differentiate their project – and one way of doing that is to offer unique amenities that genuinely enhance residents’ lifestyles.

“A dedicated wine cellar is still a rare find in most private properties and is virtually unheard of in apartment buildings, so it provides us with the opportunity to give Banc a signature which speaks to the philosophy of opulence which we want this building to embody in every detail.

“Banc is all about delivering authentic luxury for purchasers, and the combination of an iconic riverfront address, top-class community facilities and well designed apartments and large entertainment areas makes this project stand in a class of its own.”

Hutton & Hutton principal Peter Hutton said he anticipated the majority of Banc purchasers would be local professionals, empty nesters and retirees looking to move into an ultra-boutique address without sacrificing the size of their home.

“The riverfront along Coronation Drive is largely built out – this special site is the result of Ideal Property negotiating sales with two property owners, amalgamating the site and working with WMK Architects to create a one-off development,” he said.

“This location will appeal to professionals looking for easy access to the CBD, as well as people who have established family homes and want to downsize to an apartment without compromising on lifestyle.

“The other key drawcard for Banc is its small scale. If you look at the inner-city apartment market, there is a trend towards larger, multi-tower projects which don’t really afford purchasers the same opportunity for privacy or exclusivity.

“At Banc purchasers will live in a very private enclave, surrounded by the finest in resident-only amenities, and yet enjoy a riverfront address close to the CBD with ready access to all that Brisbane has to offer.”

Banc is located at 527 Coronation Drive, Toowong.