First look: Sarazin scale up Nuage, Woolloongabba apartment plans
Sarazin is continuing its push to change the face of Woolloongabba ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Summer Olympics.
Following on from Silk One, their completed and sold out Stanley Street tower looking down into The Gabba from its rooftop, Sarazin has updated its plans for their two-tower development, Nuage, just two streets away.
They've submitted fresh plans for the 4,057 sqm site across 6-18 Wellington Road and 25 Nile Street. They're now seeking to create tower 37 and 27-level towers, which will home 582 apartments. Previously they sought side by side 20-level towers with 368 apartments. That application was approved in October 2022.
The original plans sought to stay in line with the Woolloongabba Centre Neighbourhood Plan height limit of 20 levels, however a number of developers are now seeking to go higher in light of the Olympic nod, as well as the forecasted population boom highlighted in the recently published Draft Shaping SEQ Report 2023.
The Town Planning Report by Saunders Havill Group highlighted Station Square, the $1.2 billion, five-tower Trenert development, which will be up to 40 storeys, and the recently filed Gabba Heart build to rent plans for 41 levels. They also called out the 30-level Trilogy development by Arden Group, Silk Three, also by Sarazin, which will rise up to 32 levels, and Canopy by Aria which will reach 30 levels.
Saunders Havill also cited Brisbane City Council's support of increased development height for other areas that are located further away from the city centre, where located close to public transport nodes such as Buranda (25 storeys) and Toowong (up to 30 storeys).
"The uplift in housing/building height at this location supports the function of the core precinct where the greatest intensity development is to occur," Saunders Havill suggested of Woolloongabba.
"The addition of dwellings to the approved towers is an opportunity to unlock the potential of Woolloongabba to contribute solutions to the dire housing shortage currently impacting upon – and projected to continue to cripple – Brisbane’s residential supply if left unabated."
They said the proposed additional height heavily aligns with the neighbourhood plan and the Core Precinct overall outcomes for Woolloongabba.
"The Planning Scheme clearly articulates the desire to incorporate high densities and mixed-use development in this location."
They said residents of the proposed 230 additional dwellings of Nuage will be able to move freely through the city with the nearby Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro stations being less than 500m away, therefore the proposed change in dwelling numbers will not place significant additional demand on the surrounding road network and will reduce daily reliance on private vehicles.
Part of the new plans will also incorporate a private and public rooftop observatory to be operated in partnership with the University of Queensland and Big Questions Institute to advance the knowledge-based, scientific and public interest realm of inner Brisbane. That will sit on the top of the taller tower.
There's not been too much change in the design by HAL Architects, who suggested in their Architectural Design Statement submitted to the Brisbane City Council that Nuage, French for cloud, is a living, breathing, architectural statement.
"Nuage's cloud-like form combines the integral concepts of light, air and a strong architectural intent to enhance the subtropical experience within the building and create an iconic landmark.
"The flowing organic forms of the residential towers improve the subtropical opportunities of the building by offering a greater external surface for light, ventilation and views. These forms create an iconic visual form to Brisbane's ever-changing skyline."
The Nuage towers will sit above a five-level podium and an arcade precinct with commercial spaces, which will home a mix of restaurants, cafes, retail spaces, or offices.
Sarazin is currently selling Murcia Residences, within the Woolloongabba area but on the border of East Brisbane.