The evolution of the home and its sense of place have influenced our changing lifestyles and behavioural needs. Throughout the years, architects and designers have made it a priority to address the essential needs of the users, their wellbeing and their connection to the home. Often created as a sanctuary and as a reflection of the inhabitant’s way of life, the home should be a place of pride and respite.
Award-winning Brisbane-based architectural practice bureau^proberts has designed a seven-storey development with a meticulous composition of form and space. Redefining subtropical coastal living, the multi-residential structure was built with the intention of taking advantage of the expansive beach views of North Burleigh. The North Residences are where luxury and comfort come together for the best of beachfront living.
Located in a prime location on the Gold Coast’s Burleigh Esplanade, bureau^proberts was inspired by the surrounding natural environment, the breathtaking context, and the organic forms of the adjacent headlands and rock formations. Referencing its seaside location, the tones and textures reflect the sands of the beach, where natural and durable finishes are paired with concrete, glass and aluminium. The use of raw and natural materials is a true reflection of the idyllic beach location of Queensland, while the orchestration of tonality and textures lend honesty to the fabric of the building, and a durability that is necessary for its proximity to the ocean.
The North Residences are situated on a compact site reaching just over 500-square metres, and are designed with expansive open-plan layouts and structures that allow the apartment to occupy an entire floor. Synonymous with the nature of stand-alone homes, the large living spaces allow residents to capitalise on the uninterrupted ocean views. “The whole floor design allowed us to create a seamless connection between the front and rear balconies.
This layout promotes natural ventilation, maximises the floor space and helps to flood interiors with natural light,” says Liam Proberts, Managing and Creative Director at bureau^proberts.
As a testament to the firm’s talents and architectural insights, the rooms and living spaces capture the natural sea breeze all year round. Enhanced by the retractable floor-to-ceiling glass, each apartment allows passive climate control, with the resident being able to control the natural ventilation on the northern façade of the building. The functional and operable living spaces represent Queensland’s valued relationship between interior and exterior environments.
Basking in Queensland’s grand weather, significant sun protection is taken into consideration through the design of the large glass façades. The western edge has an undulating screen to control the hot sun in the summer afternoons. Already boasting a broad frontage to the adjacent beach, the residence also houses a pool and a two-level basement car park. The Zip Hydrotap is the perfect addition at the apartments of North Residences.
Used within the wide living areas, this thoughtful inclusion elevates the design to another dimension through the delivery of instant filtered boiling, chilled or sparkling water. The residents are able to stay efficiently hydrated while looking at the spectacular view of the coast of North Burleigh. In front of the extensive glass façade, the matte black finish of the Zip HydroTap Elite is an elegant and sophisticated touch, complemented by tapware in the same finish.
bureau^proberts Principal and Project Lead Kelly Geldard explains that the area of North Burleigh is enjoying a rise in popularity filled with a new generation of residents and travellers. “There’s a great deal of positive energy and excitement surrounding Burleigh at present and, as architects, we’re proud to make a contribution to the built environment of the area,” Kelly adds.
The North Residences are proof of the architectural practice’s vision to design thoughtful places that not only perform a function, but facilitate meaningful human connections as well. Honouring the iconic Gold Coast location with an architectural language that blurs the boundaries between home and sea, the North Residences are about feeling right at home.