Australia's tallest twin towers set to bridge fringes of Melbourne CBD
The streamlined Tower One at Queens Place is now completed, marking the steadfast progress of what is set to become the tallest twin tower development in Australia. The $235m project has been designed by both Fender Katsalidis and COX Architecture, and a competition-winning design scheme for developer 3L Alliance.
Located near the Queen Victoria Market precinct and Flagstaff Garden, Tower One at Queens Place delivers an urban-scale residential building responding to the site’s conditions and to a multitude of the residents’ needs.
“With a rich cultural history right at the foot of the site, the compelling and streamlined design of Queens Place will activate and connect this vibrant new precinct, and complement Melbourne’s evolving skyline” says Fender Katsalidis director, James Pearce.
“The striking towers and podium have the potential to greatly enrich the liveability of Melbourne’s CBD by providing residents with a considered masterplan design that places an emphasis on connection to this iconic pocket of the city,” he added.
Palm Beach director Pete Sullivan said that with the understanding that the Queen Victoria Market precinct was set to change, they wanted to generate a design that complements the broader streetscape.
“The five-level podium is conceived as a ‘mini-town,’ with a bustling series of arcades and lanes activated through a mixed-use program," Sullivan said.
"The podium’s design ascends the streamlined tower form with an unembellished façade, shaped and sculpted by contextual drivers within and around the unique site.”
Responding to the site’s exposure to north-westerly winds, the 80-storey Tower One, with its silver curtain wall glazing, has been rounded to capture and reflect light and views into each residential apartment.
The tower is complete with quality amenities and spaces designed to offer residents the potential to optimise their way of living, working and play. Resident socialisation is promoted through communal amenities such as the pool and spa, games rooms, karaoke suite, cinema, library, poker, and mah-jong room.
Breaking up the progression of dwellings, a high-rise lobby at level 51 offers further amenity, including a swimming pool, karaoke, and dining space. Beyond that are the high-rise apartments occupying level 53 to 68.
Through-site connections and unobstructed solar access under the mixed-use podium provide pedestrians with practical accessibility to the surrounds and encourages circulation through the block.
For visitors to the area, the publicly accessible plaza is also emboldened as a space for gathering or as sheltered resting spots.
The multi-level podium enriches the ground plane with new linkages and an enhanced public realm within the Queen Victoria Market precinct.
Intended for a variety of uses, the five-level podium includes retail tenancies, commercial suites, and a childcare centre. The podium and tower form are expressed through contrasting yet complementary materials.
In distinction to the sleek silver tower, the detailed podium is armoured with curvaceous fins and an external terrace interwoven with planters, with the earthy tones and exposed stonework creating a distinctly Melbourne ground-level experience.
