Location: Brisbane, Australia.

Architect: bureau^proberts.

Walan is a high-rise residential development in Brisbane that is designed to blend in with the natural and built environment of the Kangaroo Point peninsula. The design of the building is inspired by the rock formations and cliff faces of the area, and the screens that protect the homes on each floor are a modern interpretation of the traditional Queenslander louvres. The screens provide privacy and shade while allowing filtered light and breezes to pass through, reducing the need for air conditioning. The layout of the apartments is based on the values of the traditional Queensland house, with protected shaded verandahs on three sides that provide a sense of familiarity with the Australian landscape and lifestyle. The design of the building also incorporates the Elina Mottram designed flats, which are culturally significant Heritage flats that were designed by Queensland’s first registered female architect. The original apartment building and some of the original fauna are retained in common ownership and house facilities for all of the building occupiers to use. The connection to place is multi-layered, with the high-rise form folding to preserve and promote the Elina Mottram designed flats as an illustration of living on the peninsula in the early 20th century. The building is embedded in the Kangaroo Point peninsula, with the fabric and design of the building intrinsically connected to its natural and built environment. The wending river, narrow cape, and rock formations made it a popular fishing location for Aboriginal people, and its proximity to the center of Brisbane has embedded the peninsula in the contemporary history of the city. The design of Walan embodies the spirit and natural shape of the land in its design, in contrast to the bustle of Kangaroo Point. The almost sheer façade creation allows it to blend into and complement the landscape, creating an ambiguous sculptural presence on the peninsula. The connection to the land is distinct in the fabric of the design, with the form and motif drawn directly from the rock and cliff faces of Kangaroo Point.

Photo credit: Christopher Frederick Jones.