The first stage of a masterplanned community that will evolve on the historic 21-hectare Bulimba Barracks site on the Brisbane Riverfront, the proposed development comprises the adaptive reuse of a heritage fabrication shed that will house retail and hospitality, luxury residential apartments and a riverside pavilion that connects to a community riverside park.
The characterful fabrication shed, which dates to World War Two, will become the community heart and establish a strong identity for the precinct.
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. Openings in the facade reveal the internal timber roof trusses and allow light to enter the interior, while a new awning structure shades the forecourt connecting the shed to riverfront parklands.
The eastern side of the shed will be a lively hospitality zone and community gathering space. Here, a secondary entry provides access to the shed’s internal concourse, which will be lined with food and beverage and retail tenancies. A boutique supermarket will occupy the southern end of the shed and service the growing residential precinct.
Materially, the fabrication shed draws on the weatherboard, metal and flatsheet cladding of the original structure. Where possible, materials will be salvaged and re-used, including barn-style doors and structural timbers.
A two-and three-storey residential complex will be located immediately west of the fabrication shed, facing Apollo Road. The high-end development contains 10 one-bed, 38 two-bed and 21 three-bed dwellings across two buildings that respect the existing neighbours in terms of scale.
Materials and form reference a candle and soap making factory that is part of the site’s history. Brickwork and curved shapes are a nod to the ex-factory’s giant chimney, a long-gone landmark dating back to the 1880s. The curves create a softer aesthetic for the residences and are picked up in the landscaping.
Climate-responsive design is appropriate to the sub-tropics, utilising internal courtyards and breezeways for air circulation and providing outdoor living connected to greenery in keeping with typical Queensland housing styles.
A landscaped pedestrian laneway between the residences and the fabrication shed will host community gardens, play spaces and public art and create a direct link to the river.
Development Applications for the heritage fabrication shed, riverside pavilion, and medium-density residential complex were submitted in April 2024.
- Disciplines I Architecture, Interior Design
- Sector I Mixed-Use, Civic, Residential, Retail
- Region | Australia
- Location | Brisbane, Australia
- Client | Shayher Group
