Kokoda propose $1.5 billion, triple-tower riverside development in Teneriffe

National developer Kokoda Property have revealed what they intend on doing with their mega-site in Brisbane's Tenerrife.

Kokoda, who have previously completed apartment developments Chester & Ella in Newstead and The Ambrose in Milton, has lodged plans for three towers on the 17,612 sqm site at 17-27 Skyring Terrace site, one of the last undeveloped riverfront sites in Brisbane.

The former Riverside Industrial Sands site, which Kokoda paid over $100 million for earlier this year, will home a total of 380 residences, with the towers ranging from 12 to 30 levels.

There will be a 9,149 sqm hotel, a large plaza, extended riverwalk and laneways throughout with lively public spaces, complemented by 15 office tenancies totalling 2,400sqm and 2,800 sqm of retail, cafes, and restaurants.

Kokoda Property Founder and Managing Director, Mark Stevens, said that the project aims to provide enhanced design and landscaping that speaks to Brisbane's subtropical biophilic surroundings and Woolstore design intent while providing large, open public spaces.

“Kokoda Property is passionate about providing riverfront amenity on this site and we are committed to creating a contemporary, welcoming place that extends Teneriffe’s culture to the riverfront,” Stevens said.

The project is a collaboration between Kokoda's longtime design partners Cottee Parker Architects, who have designed Chester & Ella and Kokoda's newest Milton tower Ruby Ruby, Carr, and Urbis Town Planning and Landscaping. Leaning into the cultural fabric of Teneriffe, the development will create a much sought-after address for residents and the community.

"Unique to the proposal is the ground plane public plaza, which will unlock 8,902 sqm of public open space, comprising 50 per cent of the site, to residents and visitors of Teneriffe," Urbis said. 

The development will be delivered in stages. The first stage will include shorter buildings on Skyring Terrace and Commercial Road (Tower 3 & 4), followed by stage two (Tower 2), and ultimately stages three and four (Tower 1).

Tower 1, the tallest of the towers, is set to have 114 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, including a handful of sub-penthouses and penthouses. Tower 1 will also home a 160-room hotel. 

Tower 2 will comprise 159 apartments and Tower 3 will have around 100 apartments with some loft-style residences.

"While the riverwalk attracts pedestrians and cyclists, we have an opportunity to create something in and of the neighbourhood—that speaks to the history, quality, and sensitivities of the local area, for a modern global audience," Cottee Parker noted in their design statement. 

"Rarely can you affect the fabric of a neighbourhood in such a profound way, restitching the iconic heritage of a storied suburb to the source of its fortune and fame: the Brisbane River."

Towers 1 and 2 will be connected by a sky bridge on level 14, offering access to a VIP lounge in Tower 2, exclusively for hotel guests. Additional hotel amenities on this level include a 350 sqm day spa, a 437 sqm restaurant and bar, and a 179 sqm Brisbane River-facing pool and deck. Meeting rooms, three ballrooms, and a 556 sqm outdoor terrace lawn with another lounge on level 5 further enhance the hotel's offerings.

Residents will also benefit from rooftop communal decks on each of the towers, including a podium level pool deck on Tower 1. Tower 2 offers additional amenities on level 2, such as a karaoke room, dining/meeting rooms, a sports games lounge, a residential lounge, gym, a cinema room, a multi-sports simulator, barbecues, and a play space room. Tower 3 features a rooftop lap pool, hot spa, cabanas, sun lounges, an outdoor cinema lawn, barbecues, and a sunset lounge. 

To further enrich the neighbourhood, the development plans include a small amount of office space on the ground, levels one, two, three and four, as well as loft-style and terrace housing facing Skyring Terrace.

The podium's design places great emphasis on the balance between the hardness of construction materials and the softness of landscaping. Greenery defines its character, softening its edges and connecting residents and the wider community to the natural riverfront environment.

The proposal also includes the construction of a new lane, 'Wool Lane,' off Skyring Terrace, connecting a newly created plaza at the end of Commercial Road to Skyring Terrace near Gasworks. The new riverside public plaza will span approximately 9,023 sqm, providing a view of a new 220-metre riverwalk extension.

This extension, a 'missing link' between existing sections of the Riverwalk, has long been an unfulfilled dream, which could soon come to fruition with Kokoda's development. 

While neighbouring areas like Newstead, New Farm, and Fortitude Valley have seen a surge in their lifestyle economies, attracting patrons to their trendy establishments, modern Teneriffe stands out for its unique character. It boasts an array of relaxed local eateries, galleries, and creative agencies, as well as the annual Teneriffe Festival, a vibrant celebration of diverse music, performances, and art.

“It is an opportunity to create something special for Teneriffe and the broader neighbourhood that speaks to the history, quality, and sensitivities of the local area,” Stevens added.