Silverstone file shoptop apartment plans for The Windermere Ascot
Local Brisbane developer Silverstone Developments has filed plans for a shoptop apartment development in Ascot.
The plans for The Windermere, designed by PDT Architects at 77 Racecourse Road, a few streets back from Kingsford Smith Drive and Bretts Wharf Ferry Terminal, are for 30 apartments above seven retail tenancies.
The building will be crowned with a rooftop lawn, infinity edge swimming pool and spa, communal function room, a gym with a sauna, and a number of seating areas and barbecue spaces.
PDT Architects said in their proposal that the aim of the design was to reflect the traditional and green nature of the suburb, which has been retained due to the nearby Eagle Farm Racecourse.
"[The] Eagle Farm Racecourse in 1863 drove a lot of further development and attention in the area over time, leading to increased stables within the suburb and thus larger properties remaining in the area over time. This provided the foundations for a traditional and green nature in the suburb.
"The development strives to pay homage to this character through a raw material palette with extensive landscaping to act as a ‘feature’ piece."
They said while the proposal drives to activate further Racecourse Road by harnessing pedestrian human scale at entries, heavily landscaped building mass with simplistic but intentional materiality.
"The rigid form promotes the eye to focus on the draping greenery and regular pattern forms through detailed balustrade treatments. The colour scheme aims to embrace natural colours whilst contrasting bold black trim and dark treatments to the light wells & plant screening.
"The architectural approach is holistic, to provide a mass that utilises simple raw materials that allows prominent and extensive landscaping to become the feature of the site, this pays respect to the green and traditional character of Ascot whilst providing a striking and modern design presence to the street. It provides new high quality spaces for retail users and a striking destination to call home for residential users that situates itself well into the street and suburbs identity."
PDT added that while the 3,162 sqm site is in close proximity to the city it still maintains a strong suburban and homely character.
Silverstone is seeking to target the owner-occupier with the large apartments. There are just three two-bedroom units and 27 three-bedroom apartments. Each apartment features its own balcony, with an average balcony size just under 40 sqm.
Urban Strategies noted in their Town Planning Report that the proposal is considered to be in line with the zoning of the site and the relevant outcomes sought under the Racecourse Precinct Neighbourhood Plan.
"The proposed development is anticipated to provide uses which will service the immediate local catchment and activate the street," the report read.
"The proposal is of a high quality design and revitalises an underutilised site. The proposal is designed to remain of a human scale and to reinforce the precinct’s identity and sense of place."
The Racecourse Road site currently comprises a commercial building with a grocery and convenience store, pharmacist, and liquor store, while the eastern part of the site is currently an open air car park.
It's a return to residential for Silverstone, who also work in the commercial space. They have recently completed the Spring Hill Day Hospital among a number of other commercial projects. They were prominent in the residential development space back in 2015 and 2016, completing a number of projects in Kangaroo Point, Bulimba and Milton.
