A 1960s office building on Brisbane’s Adelaide Street is set for a major facelift, after it was deemed unsafe due to faux sandstone cladding added in the 1990s.
Following a fire notice on the cladding, the building’s owner decided to not only replace the cladding but to take the opportunity to update the design in line with Brisbane council’s Buildings that Breathe strategy.
Sydney firm Fitzpatrick and Partners has designed the proposed refurbishment and addition, which will see a series of stepped terraces added to the corner of the building, providing external working environments and landscaped areas to every second level of the building.
Known as the Wintergarden Corner, this new nine-storey addition will make use of the available space left at the corner by the original L-shaped tower. “The terraces step away from the corner and in doing so allow for good quality solar access to the corner and reduced shadow impact along Adelaide Street,” the architects state in planning documents. “The new cascading gardens visually activates and animates this strategic and prominent location.” The project’s landscape architect is local firm Laud Ink.
The original 1960s building.
A new glazed box at the lobby will appear as a “glowing lantern” at street level and new street awnings and podium cladding will be added along Adelaide and Wharf streets.
The existing “Futuretec” cladding will be removed along all facades of the building and replaced with a variety of materials.
“The new facade retains the existing double glazed windows and the existing cladding is replaced by an acoustically and thermally insulated system comprised by tapering vertical and horizontal solid aluminium spandrels,” the architects state. “From the footpath levels the terracotta panels respond to the original brick walls behind as they extend up the building and embrace the tower.”
A development application for the project is now on public exhibit.
