Tower reveal: Raptis set for new Broadbeach, Gold Coast apartment tower
The Gold Coast developer Raptis has officially lodged plans for its newest Gold Coast tower.
They've secured a prime development site in Broadbeach at 6-8 George Avenue, next to the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in the heart of the coastal hotspot.
The busy Sydney-based architecture firm Koichi Takada Architects, who have taken on a number of projects on the Gold Coast in recent months, have designed the 40 storey building.
Takada referenced their Sydney project Infinity Square, delivered by Mirvac at Green Square, in the design statement. It had similar lush greenery toward the top end of the tower.
The tower will comprise 134 apartments, made up of 64 two beds and 64 three beds. There will be four sub penthouses and two penthouse apartments.
The resident amenities on level three will feature a 20 metre pool met with outdoor lounges, a gym and sauna, resident's lounge, kids club, and a communal dining area.
Koichi Takada Architects has been designing more and more apartment developments across coastal Queensland. There was huge success at the luxury FORME development The Norfolk at Burleigh Heads.
FORME managing director David Calvisi said the building has quickly become an icon, with the architecture flooding social media. Even the popular beach photographer Aquabumps have prints available of the iconic facade.
They've signed Takada on again to create their newest project at 96 The Esplanade, also in Burleigh Heads. The The new development will home 23 half-floor apartments of around 220 sqm, as well as three full-floor residences with around 440 sqm of space.
Read more: Tower reveal: Burleigh Heads set for new Koichi Takada apartment tower by FORME
6-8 George Avenue Design Statement
The proposed development at 6-8 George Avenue, Broadbeach aims to create a landmark architectural feature, highlighting the characteristics of its natural context and enhancing the Broadbeach skyline. Located less than five minutes walk from the nearby Kurrawa Beach and Parklands, this building is ideally located to take advantage of the Gold Coast lifestyle.
The site enjoys easy access to shops, restaurants, transport hubs and night life both in Broadbeach and nearby Nobby Beach and Surfers Paradise. The site is also well connected to schools and public facilities. In seeking to address this context, the proposal has taken cues from the nearby beach parklands. The green walkways, rolling banks and leafy dunes of Kurrawa Parklands are mirrored in the development. The tower is treated to the east and west with dense, leafy terraces and planters, creating a visual extension to the parklands below.
The repetition and regularity of these green terraces echo the tree lined, beach front pathway that connects Broadbeach to its neighbouring suburbs. A sculpted, green finial caps the tower, tapering away from the parkland below and lends the building the form of the Norfolk Pine. This appeal to the local context is further addressed in the materiality of the tower. At street level, the podium is characterised by lush planting, offset with a soft palette of natural finishes and materials. Natural stone cladding and paving at the ground level hint at the neighbouring beach.
These tones are offset with soft white render and white batten screening to the podium, while the cascading planting above provides movement and colour to the façade. Recessive elements are treated with dark finishes to further emphasise the natural palette. This materiality and form has been continued into the private spaces of the building. The apartments have been designed to maximise access to natural light and ventilation. To the east and west, operable glazing can be opened to the perimeter planters allowing for seamless views over a green verge to the surrounds.
This proposal also seeks to be sympathetic to its local built form. The site is neighboured primarily by residential buildings of varying scale and character. To the north, the Broadbeach centre features several prominent residential towers, most notably the 40 and 50 storey Oracle towers. Immediately north-east of the site, opposite the parkland is the iconic Carmel by the Sea and the recently constructed Elysian Broadbeach.
To the south-east is Ultra Broadbeach, a 32 storey hotel. Generous tower setbacks maintain the form and amenity of the area, while the tower significantly enhances the public realm. 6-8 George Avenue has been designed to enhance and protect the natural and built character of Broadbeach. It is hoped this development will be a landmark enjoyed by all Gold Coast residents and become a catalyst for quality development to come.
