The long-awaited transformation of Brisbane’s Bulimba Barracks site is set to kick off with Development Applications approved for the adaptive reuse of a heritage fabrication shed and a riverside pavilion.
Designed by Buchan, the buildings are the first stage of a master planned community that will evolve on the expansive 21-hectare site, purchased from the Department of Defence by the Shayer Group in 2020. A proposed medium-density residential complex will follow.
Buchan senior associate Lynn Van Dievoort is leading the project and says the underutilised site presents a fantastic opportunity thanks to its size, proximity to the city and waterside location in a premium suburb.
“The new neighbourhood will integrate with the surrounding residential areas, opening up opportunities for connectivity and access to the riverfront and creating a new destination,” says Van Dievoort.
The characterful fabrication shed, which dates to World War Two, will become the community heart and establish a strong identity for the precinct. Van Dievoort says it was important to respect the shed’s heritage. “The idea is to celebrate the existing building and give it a new life.”
The design respects the shed’s existing form, proportions and materials. The main entry faces north towards the river and accentuates the shed’s distinctive, stepped contour. Glazing in the facade reveals the internal timber roof trusses and delivers light to the interior, whilst a new awning shades the forecourt connecting the shed to riverfront parklands.
The west side of the shed will be a lively hospitality zone and community gathering space with an entry to the shed’s internal food, beverage and retail tenancies. A boutique supermarket at the southern end will service the growing residential precinct.
A proposed multi residential complex will sit east of the fabrication shed. Between the residences and the shed, a landscaped pedestrian laneway will link directly to the river and host community gardens, play spaces and public art, with the potential for markets and events.
Materially, the shed draws on the weatherboard, metal and flatsheet cladding of the original. Where possible, materials will be salvaged and re-used, including barn-style doors and structural timbers.
The riverfront parkland is undergoing extensive redevelopment to become a riverside walk. At its eastern end, Buchan has designed two new pavilions connected by a striking sculptural roof inspired by tree canopy. The pavilions will be completed in two stages, accommodating a sales office in the short term and expanding later to become a cafe or restaurant.
The development is located close to the Bulimba State School and the Oxford Street lifestyle and retail precinct and is well-serviced by bus, ferry, road and riverfront pedestrian networks.
“The site is connected to the water but hasn’t been accessible because of the barracks. The development will open up the riverfront and provide a new offering to locals and visitors alike,” says Van Dievoort. “High amenity, climate-responsive neighbourhoods attuned to Brisbane’s climate and way of life provide a great model for contemporary living as we move towards a higher-density city.”
