A new 10-apartment project approved for a steep riverfront block in St Lucia may represent the beginning of a broader transition for one of Brisbane’s most tightly held inner suburbs.
The project, located on Ryans Road and designed by architecture studio bureau^proberts, replaces a single detached house with a mid-scale residential building, a typology not commonly seen in the area since the 1970s and 80s.
The site is one of the few undeveloped riverfront parcels remaining in the suburb, which is traditionally characterised by standalone houses on large lots. While the proposed development remains small in scale, it adds to a slow but noticeable emergence of infill housing across Brisbane’s middle-ring suburbs.
The proposed building adopts a stepped configuration that follows the natural contours of the site, with the aim of reducing visual impact from the street and adjoining properties. According to the architects, the design includes a rainforest style atrium garden positioned at the rear of the site adjacent to the bedroom zones, while open living areas are oriented toward the Brisbane River to make the most of the aspect and prevailing breezes.
Although the development is modest in size, it is significant in that it reflects a gradual shift in built form occurring across Brisbane’s inner and middle suburbs. Where the area has historically seen little change, more recent planning approvals suggest a quiet but notable transition toward housing diversity.
Creative Director Liam Proberts said that suburbs like St Lucia are well positioned to support more housing choice, provided development is delivered with appropriate design responses.
“Suburbs close to the city with good access to jobs, transport and amenity are where we should be enabling more people to live,” he said. “The key is doing it in a way that respects the qualities people value.”
Proberts noted that demand for alternatives to detached housing is growing, but policy settings and community attitudes have often limited the delivery of townhouses and apartment buildings in established areas.
“Brisbane is facing challenges around growth, affordability and housing supply,” he said. “Infill development like this provides an opportunity to retain people in the areas they know and love, particularly those looking to downsize or reduce maintenance.”
The Ryans Road project has been described by the architects as an option for downsizers seeking a manageable home that retains access to green space, natural light and views. Each residence includes open living spaces that flow onto outdoor areas, and all apartments benefit from dual aspects and cross ventilation.
Andrew Bell, Partner at bureau^proberts, said the approach to the building form was driven by the site’s unique conditions.
“The steep slope of the site gave us the opportunity to create a building that steps with the land rather than imposing on it,” he said. “The use of natural materials such as textured concrete and stone helps the building sit quietly within the landscape and reflect the character of the riverbank.”
He added that the internal rainforest garden was designed to support passive cooling and ventilation while offering a shaded green space at the rear of the homes.
The approval of the Ryans Road project comes as Brisbane continues to navigate the pressures of urban growth. While larger scale residential development remains concentrated in the inner city, small to medium apartment buildings are increasingly seen as one way to meet housing needs within existing neighbourhoods.
Proberts believes that mid scale apartment buildings are an important part of the city’s housing future.
“These types of developments allow the city to evolve without drastic change,” he said. “They can respond to how people want to live today while continuing to support the qualities that make these suburbs special.”
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