GREENING UP THE SKYLINE

The proposed project currently under consideration is called Jardino - from the Italian word giardino, of the French origin jardin, meaning ‘garden’. The brainchild of Brisbane-based architects Bureau Proberts, Jardino is, according to them, “a modern expression of the backyard garden”.

“Jardino is an iconic equipoise monolith to complement the view from the city; a visible, vertical garden, it celebrates the river’s edge as a green and shady space. The building design incorporates principles that denote an organic form with living greenery hanging from it with blow-through ventilation promoting the subtropical way of life,” claim the architects. 

If approved, Jardino will to be located on Hamilton Street in Kangaroo Point, and will be the Peninsula’s latest residential tower offering Brisbane River and City views to future residents.

Jardino will be comprised of 17 full-floor units, 38 resident parking spaces and three visitor spaces. The development in total would have a gross floor area of 6341sqm. It features a multi-layered façade that will create a real vertical garden. The exterior make-up of lush flora has been added to reflect Queensland’s subtropical climate, and in response will offer an opportunity to deliver subtropical residences in a breathable, green tower.

According to the application, Jardino will stand at 19 storeys, however, with high-density residential zone allowing for only 15 storeys, the development is impact assessable and subject to public objections. However, if Jardino is able to make it past Council scrutiny and achieve height exemption, it will deliver on its designer’s intention of creating something that will offer a confluence of the city skyline – a project that seeks to reinforce the view for the City Centre’s River Precinct.

Bureau Proberts have stated that Jardino has the potential to contribute positively to the people of Brisbane and their cityscape. They believe Jardino could assist in platforming the future pedestrian link for the area, promoting the Planning Scheme’s direction for a stronger connection to Kangaroo Point.

“Jardino is visible, connected and open. Its slender stature offers river front residential living with a vantage point to some of the most powerful symbols of Brisbane – the Brisbane River, Story Bridge, Howard Smith Wharves, Kangaroo Point cliffs.” – Bureau Proberts

The ‘subtropical’ appearance of Jardino will provide a living-green visual by day, but when night falls it will shine brightly thanks to the addition of a series of Anolis ArcDots across its entire exterior.

ArcDots are high-powered multicoloured LED fixtures that guarantee flicker-free driving, overheat protection, easy remote maintenance and long-term reliability. IP67-rated precision-turned aluminium housing with frosted UV stable polycarbonate domes offer flexible solutions to both interior and exterior environments.

According to Bureau Proberts, the lighting plan is intended for the benefit of the city. In line with current illumination initiatives, Jardino’s lighting system will offer a night illumination concept to complement Brisbane Council’s initiative to light up Story Bridge.

According to a Bureau Proberts spokesperson, “The design enhances the outlook from the city to the Peninsula. Jardino can be a tangible and iconic symbol of Kangaroo Point; a transformative benchmark for the quality and sustainability of residential living in Brisbane to showcase our cities urban character and outdoor lifestyle to stage our ‘New World City’.”