New application lodged for twin towers at Surfers Paradise

Andrews Projects have submitted plans for a twin tower development in Surfers Paradise to the City of Gold Coast. The development application involves a reworking of a proposal by the Orion Towers Group with Woods Bagot for 1100 units across two towers, approved by the city council seven years ago. The tallest of the towers had been set to break the southern-hemisphere record.

The new scheme, revised in collaboration with architects Bates Smart, comprises two 37-storey residential towers. While substantially downsized from the previous plans, Andrews Projects sales manager Sarah Andrews noted that "the Gold Coast market is severely undersupplied, and this situation is likely to worsen. This project will help meet the demand."

Nearly 400 apartments, ranging from one to four bedrooms, occupy the proposed towers, while the six-storey podium below includes a foyer, co-working space for residents, cafe and four levels of above-ground parking. The landscaped podium top includes two outdoor pools, a hammam, steam room, sauna and gymnasium alongside communal cooking facilities.

Bates Smart's approach drew inspiration from the subtropical climate of the project's site. Mathieu le Sueur, director in the firm's Brisbane studio, commented, "The Gold Coast is one of the only places in Australia where the rainforest meets the ocean. Our design for Andrews Projects in Surfers Paradise celebrates this unique ecology. Architecturally, we shaped the towers as two slender stepped triangles to allow most apartments 270-degree views of the ocean."

The approach also encompassed a strong landscaping strategy, le Sueur noting, "We brought the rainforest in at the ground by integrating deep curved perimeter planter boxes in the edges of each podium floor. They will be planted with lush species native to the local rainforest, as will the landscape rich amenity level. These moves make the development feel of its place and bring a new kind of design approach to Gold Coast architecture."