A development application has been submitted by Delta Australia Holdings for a new 24-storey residential development located at 26 Cairns Street, Kangaroo Point.
Designed by Brisbane-based Architectus and Singapore-based WOHA, the proposal has emerged for the redevelopment of an old dry dock site in Kangaroo Point, featuring a towering structure that appears to “float” atop 20-metre stilts.
The development marks this superb waterfront location with a green, elegant tower that is distinctive without being ostentatious. The design emphasizes civic generosity, community and sustainability through its extensive greenery, generous public spaces and vertical village concept.
Architectus & WOHA
The cantilever concept is a distinctive design and includes a new public area known as ‘Dry Dock Gardens’ which would provide access to the historic dry dock and bring substantial connectivity benefits to the inner-city riverside district.
Delta Australia Holdings, a registered company associated with the ownership of Riparian Plaza by Bloomberg Incorporation, recently submitted their plans for the 4,964m2 at the terminus of the heritage-listed former Evans Deakin dry dock.
According to the development application, prepared by planning firm Urbis, the development is a collection of “vertical villages” spanning 24 residential floors within the proposed tower.
To encourage and inspire a vibrant residential community, each apartment belongs to one of eight vertical sky villages, like houses on a suburban cul-de-sac. The provision of eight sky villages is deliberate, uncompromising, and intrinsically associated with notions of prosperity.
Each sky-village is centred around a naturally lit and cross ventilated triple-volume sky-lobby, which opens seamlessly to a garden environment with views to the city skyline and the bay. Lounges, artwork and outdoor seating invite residents to pause and linger in this communal space.
Architectus & WOHA
The development comprises of 232 apartments, comprising 40 one-bedroom, 112 two-bedroom, 72 three-bedroom, and eight four-bedroom apartments. The tower that houses these units would appear to “float” 20 meters above Dry Dock Gardens, the public green space that could include dining establishments and cafes.
According to Urbis, the project stems from extensive collaboration with Brisbane City Council, which commenced in April 2021 with a goal of achieving an exceptional architectural result that enhances Brisbane’s subtropical ambiance and establishes a prominent urban landmark at Kangaroo Point.
The development application states that the podium and tower design prioritises flood prevention and heritage preservation.
“Elevating the tower not only ensures flood resilience for residents but also fosters a seamless visual and pedestrian link from the road to the historic Evans Deakin Dry Dock and Ferryman’s Bridge, located to the east. This modern design aims to blend seamlessly with the city’s skyline and serve as a prominent entry point to the Dockside precinct.”
Architectus & WOHA
Communal recreational amenities are proposed on the roof level, which are divided into five distinct spaces through landscaping treatment.
- The Skyline Pool is proposed at the northern part of the roof level, which consists of the main pool area, with deck chairs, cushioned cabanas, steam room and a sauna.
- Adventure Forest is proposed at the north-eastern part of the roof level, which includes children’s pool, children’s net / rope play, outdoor terrace, barbecue, and indoor children’s club.
- Sunset Forest is proposed at the north-western part of the roof level, which includes a plunge pool, barbecue, dining and hangout areas, as well as an indoor resident sky club with a show kitchen and dining area.
- Wellness Forest is proposed at the south-eastern part of the roof level, which includes a yoga lawn, movement studio, subtropical water garden and indoor gym spaces.
- Thinking Forest is proposed at the south-western part of the roof level, which comprises an outdoor event terrace, meeting spaces, workspaces and indoor business centre and library. Individual work from home spaces will be provided both indoors and outdoors.
The rooftop amenity is proposed to be accessible by building occupants only. Certain facilities will be bookable for events, but these will be open to all residents outside of reserved slots.
Project Rundown
| Development Parameter | Proposed Development |
|---|---|
| Address: | 26 Cairns St, Kangaroo Point |
| Development Type: | Residential-led mixed-use development |
| Site Area: | 4,964m² |
| Gross Floor Area (GFA): | 34,474m² (including 1,142m² non-residential GFA) |
| Height: | 30 storeys / approximately RL 116.6m |
| Apartments: | 232 (40 x one-bedroom, 112 x two-bedroom, 72 x three-bedroom, 8 x four-bedroom) |
| Elevators: | 3 lifts (lift-to-unit ratio 1:77.3) |
| Communal Space: | 9,023m² total communal open space including 2,033m² rooftop area with pools, gardens, children’s clubs, yoga lawns, BBQs, gym, and dining. Additional 4,420m² of private open space |
| Retail: | 2 food and beverage retail outlets at podium level |
| Car Parking: | 458 spaces (416 resident, 35 visitor, 7 retail visitor), plus 17 motorcycle spaces |
| Bike Parking: | 292 spaces (232 resident, 60 visitor) |
| Developer: | Delta Australia Holdings |
| Architect: | Architectus & WOHA |
| Landscape Design: | RPS |
| Town Planner: | Urbis |
| Sustainability: | Rooftop Solar: Energy-harvesting solar trellis at the tower crown Energy Efficiency: Windscoops for basement ventilation, passive airflow through sky gardens Waste Management: Each residential level would include a dual chute system (one for general waste and one for co-mingled recycling) that connects to separate bins in the centralised waste room. Water Conservation: Rainwater harvesting, bio-treatment through natural ponds Green Landscaping: 11,915.87m² of landscaped areas, including sub-tropical rooftop spaces Active Transport Facilities: 292 bike parks across Basement Level 1 |
| Date Submitted: | 01/09/2023 |
| Assessment Level: | Impact assessable |
| DA Application Link: | A006351878 |
Urbis underscores that the planned development is in harmony with the existing growth pattern along the Kangaroo Point peninsula’s riverfront, adhering to the gradual reduction in building height and size as one moves away from the CBD.
Delta Australia Holdings Limited acquired the site in August 2019, attracted primarily by the unique and challenging opportunity it offers to create a defining development for Kangaroo Point and the city of Brisbane.
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What a thoughtful and visually stunning residential development. It definitely takes the creativity and ‘outside / inside’ design outlook which thrives in Singapore and brings it to a climate aware densification of Brisbane. The recognition that future Brisbane is families living in high density res (via rooftop amenity aimed at children) is a step forward and the opportunity to return open space / public realm and connectivity at ground level should be applauded. In the event of future flood events this development will thrive and serve as an example to other developers. Based on this proposal it should be approved (provided conditions of approval require the proposed design to be built and not eroded via later iterative amendments after approval).
I LOVE IT !!!
Where do I sign up?
Will the one bedroom units be less than$400/wk to rent?
Will you be responsible for the added traffic congestion at access points to K Pt?
Added transport congestion? How is that being dealt with?
There is a new pedestrian bridge connecting KP to the city. We should embrace density of villages near the city to encourage walking , ferry, cycling and other non private motorised vehicle forms of transport. The new bridge is a multi-million dollar investment in reducing traffic. Why would you want to encourage development in the middle ring which is proven to add to traffic and pollution when suburbs like Kangaroo Point and South Brisbane are walkable to the city. Have you noticed how many people now walk from the residential precincts of South Brisbane to the city every day? KP will be the same. Bring it on!
Peita,
I’m pretty sure the public transport issue is covered comprehensively by the existing City Cat and Brisbane ferry (Kitty-cat) services on either side of the Kangaroo Point peninsular.
There’s also the option to walk/ cycle/ scooter to the city -the new Kangaroo Point pedestrian bridge will be finished by the time this tower is constructed. Plus there’s the existing bike path/ pedestrian walks along Storey Bridge and at the base of the cliffs/ Southbank.
There’s a reason this part of Brisbane is one of the most dense urban-population regions in the Southern Hemisphere: this is a great place to put a new residential tower.
If you’re interested in constructive criticism, the area could always do with more ferry stops. I’d say raise your concerns with Brisbane Council and see what plans they have to add extra ferry services to this region.
Oh dear. The densification of Kangaroo Point continues apace. Not a bad thing in itself, but a 30 storey building does not “float”. This is a monster shoehorning its way into a leafy, relaxed suburb. KP is a remarkable human-scale gem being vandalised by egregious and unsustainable overdevelopment dressed in gushing prose. Where is the consideration of shadow casting, of heavy delivery traffic, of noise, of loss of space and light, of public transport to outer suburbs, of wind effects etc? It seems everyone is too easily seduced by the dream and no one is particularly concerned with the hard realities of the slum Kangaroo Point might become. And on the subject of public transport, why is there no direct service from KP to the PA or the Mater or the RBWH or outer suburbs? There seems to be a fixation with public transport to the CBD only.