Thakral’s $100 million 36 level apartment tower Air on Broadbeach has been named joint-winner of the multi-residential housing section in the Royal Institute of Architects’ 2006 Queensland Award.
Sunland’s residential tower on the Gold Coast, Q1 was runner up, receiving a commendation.
Air is now in the running to become Australia’s high-rise of the year in the institute’s national awards in October.
The judges for the 2006 Queensland Awards described the 36-storey apartment tower as ‘retro with a lemon twist’. The other winner was Noosa low-rise project Viridian Residences.
Air was designed by Sydney’s Ian Moore Architects and has been built over the eastern end of Thakral’s Oasis shopping centre.
Thakral’s managing director John Hudson said that the award was an exciting endorsement of the ever-rising standard of high-rise design on the Gold Coast, especially at Broadbeach.
“We believe Broadbeach has become the pacesetter in high-rise design in Australia and the Queensland architectural award vindicates Thakral’s decision to take a bold approach with Air. Certainly, at times we were met with resistance,” he added.
The awards’ jury chairman Paul Fairweather said the Air apartments are unlike anything he has seen on the Gold Coast.
“Thakral should be congratulated for its determination to achieve something different. Often it’s hard for a developer to maintain a strong design as there’s always pressures for economies or from agents who say the apartments won’t sell.
“Importantly, Air’s architect Ian Moore was given a very difficult task when asked to design a project to sit over the Oasis. The solution he arrived at is very clever and very innovative,” Fairweather said.
By Nelson Yap
