634 High Density Apartments in ‘Odyssey’ Mixed Use Towers – Albion Road & 60 Hudson Road, Albion

Fridcorp latest $400 million Brisbane development ‘Odyssey’ has been approved by Brisbane City Council for the full redevelopment of one of north Brisbane’s most significant sites, located in proximity to retail, restaurants, transport and commercial pockets of Albion.

Designed by Elenberg Fraser (Architect), the proposal is for Multiple Dwelling, Centre Activities (Food and Drink Outlet, Office and Shop) and Hotel, providing six hundred and thirty four (634) high density dwellings within two (2) mixed use towers, located at Albion Road and 60 Hudson Road, Albion.

The proposed development comprises the following elements:
– Tower 1 proposes a total of 330 residential units, within a maximum building height of 20 storeys
– Tower 2 proposes a total of 304 residential units, within a maximum building height of 20 storeys
– Balconies of each units will be between 6sqm – 12sqm in size
– 2,799sqm of gross floor area across eleven tenancies on the ground level that will allow a collection of non-residential uses, including a supermarket, dining and entertainment activities
– Pedestrian access provided to both street frontages and a pedestrian connection to the railway station.
– A residential lobby is provided at ground level within each of the buildings.
– Communal open space is provided on Level 18 of Tower 1 and both the rooftops of Tower 1 and Tower 2, which provide formal and informal recreation areas for residents including pools, lounge and deck areas and outdoor cinemas.
– ‘Urban Common’ which represents valuable public benefit to the local community and visitors to Albion and is located throughout the proposal, which includes landscaping, formal and informal recreation areas for the local community, lawn areas, event spaces and exercise equipment.
– The proposed vehicle primary access is via the entrance provided from Albion Road, with vehicle exits are provided to both Albion and Hudson roads.
– Car parking of 653 resident (634 cars and 19 motorcycles), 19 visitor (for both residents and retail) and 12 retail employee car parking spaces have been provided within five (5) basement levels, which will also house 806 bicycle spaces and the building services.

The Development Mix is:
Tower 1
– One hundred and eighty four (184) × one (1) bedroom units
– One hundred and forty six (146) × two (2) bedroom units.
– Contains communal open space on the roof of level 17 and 19, which provides recreation space, pools, sun lounges, bars and seating areas, outdoor kitchen, dining areas and landscaping.

Tower 2
– Ninety five (95) × one (1) bedroom units
– two hundred and nine (209) × two (2) bedroom units
– Contains communal open space on the roof of level 19, which provides recreation space , pool, sun deck, outdoor kitchen, dining area, outdoor cinema and landscaping.

From Elenberg Fraser (Architect), the unique landmark inspired by the Kiofish, which has brought a concept of co-existence between two separate entities, referring to the organic expression in the design of the two (2) towers proposed. “Through sculpting of the corners and providing curvilinear indentations, the bulk and visual rigidness of the towers are reduced, softened effectively reduces the peak speed of the prevalent wind across the urban commons, in turn improving the comfort level for pedestrians. A balance between glazing and upstand reduces the solar exposure and the apparent length of the façade is further reduced by inserting distinct landscaping up the façade, in turn creating a less bulky appearance. The interstitial space between the Towers is transformed into an open air urban commons, which is positioned to reinvigorate the site as a new urban centre for the precinct”.

Aspect Studios have proposed a unique Landscape design that addresses the users of the space, providing open paved pedestrian connections via landscaped garden beds, trees and seating in informal recreation spaces, communal lawn area, exercise equipment, event space and amphitheatre terraces. “The streetscape has been addressed with tree planting, footpath improvements and accompaniments provided along Albion and Hudson roads. The landscape treatment provides a natural and aesthetic break in the building”.

According to the planners at Cardno HRP, “the development provides centre activities including a supermarket and other retail/ food and drink outlet uses at ground level, which will provide a physical and visual interface to the street frontages and urban common on the site. The centre activities will encourage activation and casual surveillance of the street frontages and urban common. The building design and articulation will ensure that the development presents an aesthetically pleasing and contemporary face to Hudson and Albion roads. Technical assessments have been undertaken with regard to the proposed development in order to assess potential impacts and to address the relevant City Plan codes used by Council to assess the proposed development”.

The application was lodged 4 December 2015 and recently approved 18 August 2016 @ Albion Road and 60 Hudson Road, Albion. The application has been proposed under the Preliminary Approval that varied the effect of the Brisbane City Council planning scheme, dated 14 October 2015 (BCC reference: A003973333). The application has regard to some aspects of the Brisbane City Plan 2014, as it was the planning scheme in place at the time the Preliminary Approval was approved.

The site is the previous location of the ‘Albion Flour Mill’ that was damaged by fire in 2013, which was subsequently removed by operational works approval (Ref: A003770580) issued by Brisbane City Council granted on 14 February 2014.

Source: Fridcorp, Report was by Cardno HRP, Landscape Intent by Aspect Studios, Architectural Plans by Elenberg Fraser, and all information is available for review from BCC pdonline, see council ref: A004276774 for more information.