Joe Adsett scales up, proposes riverside apartment tower in Auchenflower

Architect-turned-developer Joe Adsett is set to create a new landmark on the Brisbane River.

Adsett, a longtime architect who has more recently turned his attention to designing and developing his own buildings, has filed plans for his latest project to date: a 23-storey tower comprising 90 “large-format” apartments on the corner of Coronation Drive and Lang Parade in Auchenflower.

The project, dubbed Bloom, would deliver a mix of 36 two-bedroom and 54 three-bedroom apartments, arranged within a sculptural tower rising above a publicly accessible ground-level landscape and lobby. The site occupies approximately 1,430 square metres and is identified as a landmark site under the Toowong–Auchenflower Neighbourhood Plan.

Joe Adsett Architects describes the building as a "response to both the riverfront setting and Brisbane’s subtropical climate" in the planning documentation submitted to the Brisbane City Council.

“Through its sculptural architectural expression and carefully considered landscape integration, the proposed development responds thoughtfully to its prominent riverfront setting while reinforcing the evolving urban character of Brisbane’s inner west," the architectural statement read.

The tower form is articulated by soft, undulating balcony edges and layered façades intended to reduce perceived bulk while maximising outlook toward the Brisbane River, the CBD and Mt Coot-tha. Integrated planting is proposed throughout the building, including within balconies and communal areas, with a shared rooftop terrace positioned at the crown of the building.

At ground level, the proposal includes a publicly accessible landscaped garden and pedestrian-focused open space at the corner of Coronation Drive and Lang Parade. A triple-height lobby and a near-10-metre-high void are proposed to maintain visibility and permeability through the site, reinforcing its role as a prominent arrival point to the Dunmore residential precinct.

Mewing Planning Consultants, in their Town Planning Assessment, describe the ground plane as a key public benefit of the scheme, stating that “an activated lobby and landscaped publicly accessible open space / outdoor garden is provided on ground level, offering a pleasant pedestrian experience to the site and reinforcing a sense of arrival to the Dunmore residential precinct.”

For future residents, the Milton ferry terminal is less than 400 metres from the front door, while the Bicentennial Bikeway runs within 50 metres of the site.

Adsett has delivered several projects since branching out into property development. He recently completed Rockpool Rainbow Bay, one of the most architecturally striking buildings in the area, as well as a luxury apartment development in Moffat Beach.

In Brisbane, the team is preparing to launch Amari Toowong, 28 three-bedroom apartments on Glen Road.