Why Queensland’s skinny tower trend is redefining luxury apartment design
With limited land available in popular suburbs in southeast Queensland, skinny apartment towers have become a popular choice for developers seeking to make the most of small sites.
International architecture firm, Plus Architecture, has designed six slender towers in some of the Gold Coast's most desirable areas, with the projects set to be built within the next five years, demonstrating a new wave of high-rise design that optimises limited land to create luxurious living experiences.
According to Plus Architecture Principal, Chrisney Formosa, the slender tower concept is well-suited to luxury multi-residential projects. The design allows for full floor or two-story apartments with 360-degree views, providing residents with the benefits of a standalone house, plus more.
“Very small sites present an opportunity for unique architectural solutions as they require an individualised design approach. In the high-end property market, being able to deliver a boutique design that is highly customised to the site is what helps a project truly stand out,” Formosa said.
3580 Main Beach Parade, Main Beach
“Beyond that, skinny towers also easily allow for full floor or two-story apartments with 360-degree views, making them a prime solution for luxury multi-residential coastal living – offering all the benefits of a standalone house and more.”
When it comes to boutique apartment tower design, we need to think out of the ordinary, Formosa said.
“That means exploring doing things differently – reimagining how we can use those smaller sites to their best potential to ensure they become a valuable addition to the urban streetscape. La Mer is a great example of this.”
The boutique apartment tower at La Mer, a joint venture between Polites Property Group and QNY Group in Main Beach, is a prime example of the skinny tower trend.
The boutique apartment tower is located in arguably one of the Gold Coast’s most iconic locations: Main Beach, a small enclave of properties in an exclusive reserve surrounded by water.
Redesigned by Plus Architecture, La Mer features 20 apartments, including one of the largest penthouses in Main Beach, each oriented to capture ocean views.
“Unique to La Mer is that half the tower comprises double-storey, fully customisable sub penthouses, a boutique approach made possible by the slender design. More of a ‘sky home’ and less of an apartment, these vertical residences are elevated far above the typical apartment living experience.”
At Nineteen First Avenue, a 38-story development of 35 apartments in the beachside precinct of Broadbeach, every aspect of the architecture has been designed to deliver luxury.
The pinched-in tower shape maximises views and light, while the overlapping rippled forms, inspired by the interaction of water, wind, and sand, deliver a dynamic and graceful design.
A design palette of soft textures, vertical aluminium screening, textured concrete, and a verdant landscaped ground floor entry combine to deliver a luxurious residential experience.