A boutique apartment development designed by Brisbane architecture practice bureau^proberts has received development approval, marking a milestone for the evolution of Paddington’s residential character.
Named Ti-Tree Paddington, the five-apartment project at 298 Given Terrace, Paddington would be the first luxury infill apartment development in the sought-after inner-west suburb. Positioned at the transition between the bustling retail strip and the suburb’s leafy heritage streets, the building takes its name from the area’s 1850s history when it was known to early settlers as the “Ti-Tree Flats”.
bureau^proberts Managing and Creative Director Liam Proberts said the development provides an option for locals who want to downsize without leaving Paddington.
“There’s a growing group of locals who want to downsize without leaving the neighbourhood they love. Until now, that option hasn’t existed in this pocket of Brisbane,” he said. “This project fills that gap, while also respecting and responding to the area’s unique character.”
The design draws inspiration from the familiar language of the Queenslander home, reinterpreted into a contemporary form. Each residence is designed to maximise sweeping south-east city views, with living and bedroom areas opening to the outdoors. Wide frontages, screened verandahs and open interiors designed for cross-ventilation echo the qualities of the traditional Queenslander and aim to make the most of Brisbane’s subtropical climate.
The form of the building folds and tiers down the steep hillside to connect with the topography of Paddington. bureau^proberts Partner Andrew Bell said the intention was to integrate the building with the site rather than impose upon it.
“We’ve worked with the slope, rather than against it, using the landscape as a foundation. The result is a building that feels both grounded and elevated, and connected to the street yet private,” Mr Bell said.
Project Rundown
| Development Parameter | Approved Development |
|---|---|
| Address: | 294–298 Given Terrace, Paddington |
| Development Type: | Multiple Dwellings |
| Site Area: | 1,492m² (pre-verge widening) / 1,464m² (post-verge widening) |
| Gross Floor Area (GFA): | 1,508m² |
| Height: | 4 storeys / approximately 12.5 metres |
| Apartments: | 5 total – 4 x 3-bedroom, 1 x 4-bedroom penthouse (16 bedrooms overall) |
| Elevators: | 1 lift (lift-to-unit ratio 1:5) |
| Communal Space: | 212m² communal open space (14.2% of site area), landscaped stairway, pool, sun lounges, dog wash |
| Retail: | None proposed |
| Car Parking: | 21 resident spaces + 2 visitor spaces (23 total) |
| Bike Parking: | 5 resident + 2 visitor (7 total) |
| Developer: | Peter & Carol Steadman |
| Architect: | bureau^proberts |
| Landscape Design: | bureau^proberts |
| Town Planner: | Kevin Holt Consulting (QLD) |
| Sustainability: | – Rooftop Solar: Not specified – Energy Efficiency: Passive design, cross-ventilation, wide frontages and verandahs – Waste Management: Roofed and screened refuse enclosure with kerbside collection (Ross Street) – Water Conservation: 2 x 11,000L rainwater tanks – Green Landscaping: 458m² landscaped area (30.7% of site), 175m² deep planting (11.7%) – Active Transport Facilities: 7 bike parks |
| Date Submitted: | 6 August 2024 |
| Assessment Level: | Impact Assessment |
| DA Application Link: | A006319575 |
A central communal stairway wrapped in lush planting and lined with natural stone would serve as a key feature connecting the residences. This green threshold, according to bureau^proberts, pays homage to the undercroft spaces of timber-and-tin Queenslanders, reinterpreted here as a shared entry that fosters both community and a connection to nature.
At street level, the design seeks to balance context, sitting between taller apartment buildings to the east and the more modest cottages of Paddington to the west. Generous landscaping around the building softens its edges and integrates it within its suburban garden surroundings.
“Paddington is a place of layered heritage, steep streets and strong community character,” Mr Proberts said. “We’ve taken those ingredients and reshaped them for modern life. Ti-Tree Paddington is a very local project, but it also sets a new benchmark for what medium-density living can look like in heritage suburbs.”
Construction on Ti-Tree Paddington is expected to begin later this year.
