Albion's iconic Breakfast Creek Hotel to get new neighbour
Albion's landmark Breakfast Creek Hotel is set to get a new neighbour, with a Sydney investor filing plans for a two-tower project across the road.
The plans, submitted by DRJ Investments on a 2,569 sqm block spanning 4 Higgs Street and 11 Sandgate Road, are for two 17-level buildings homing 199-apartments, rooftop recreation, and an activated ground plane.
Architecture firm Jackson Teece said in their Design Report that the neighbouring heritage-listed Breakfast Creek Hotel played into the design.
"This proposed development provides an opportunity to renew and further establish a highly activated and people oriented precinct," the report said.
"The existing Breakfast Creek Hotel, a rare and historic cultural icon, is central to our consideration for the revitalisation of the precinct.
"The podium extends one level above the Breakfast Creek Hotel in order to provide a sympathetic and natural backdrop, emphasising the profile and character of the historical hotel and its hero'ing architectural style without competing."
They said hospitality uses will be pursued that are complementary to the existing operations of the hotel. The food and beverage tenancies will run alongside the pedestrian traffic on the Breakfast Creek pathway. The ground level restaurant will provide a semi-outdoor, subtropical dining area.
"This area is intended to be utilised by residents for breakfasts and likely offer a variety of complementary and inclusive refreshments, and act as a meeting area for breakfast, lunch and for occupants to relax," the report added.
There will be 45 one-bedroom apartments, 117 two-bedroom units, and 16 three-bedrooms, as well as 21 two and three-bedroom SOHO apartments (part residential, part commercial).
Each of the podium apartments on the lower levels will benefit from large outdoor areas fringed by landscaping.
70 per cent of the apartments maximise northern and a north east aspect, and another 70 per cent maximise south and south eastern primary views to the City and Brisbane River as well.
The buildings are crowned with a rooftop recreation area with a 20 metre lap pool and spa, poolside cabanas, a gym with a yoga deck, a cinema room, business centre, private dining space, and a communal recreation space.
Town Planning Report by Place Design Studio said the proposed development has been expertly designed to embrace the subtropical climate of Brisbane and achieve the vision and design benchmarks of the New World City Design Guide – Building that Breathe.
"Specifically, the proposed development implements principal elements of living greenery, streetscape activation, sunlight, natural air and ventilation, landscaped podium courtyards, and generous outdoor living spaces for each apartment.
"Furthermore, the proposed development includes a large, pedestrian oriented and landscaped plaza, extending from the ground level and out onto the end of Higgs Street between the site and the Breakfast Creek Hotel.
"This plaza represents a significant upgrade to the public realm and a substantial placemaking outcome for the locality. The plaza is a significant community benefit and one which would not have been delivered by the current City Plan outcomes.
Currently on the site is a one-level office building.