Twisting dual towers greenlit for a city block-sized site will take a straighter trajectory on the Surfers Paradise skyline after basement carparking levels were removed to make it “more constructable”.
Revised plans have been filed by Chinese developer Sheng-Lan Group, which has redesigned its mixed-use River Terrace project after “detailed investigations” into construction costs.
The reworked proposal supersedes its approved design for two towers standing 38 and 50 storeys comprising 508 residential apartments and 280 hotel rooms with 439 basement carparking spaces.
Twisting vertically to provide the towers with “a unique identity on the Gold Coast skyline” the original scheme was designed by Plus Architecture.
Under its change application, however, the developer is proposing two high-rises of 41 and 53 storeys—without twists—comprising 430 residential apartments and 232 hotel rooms above 490 carparking spaces across a seven-level podium.
“The decision to remove all basement parking levels is a direct result of ongoing feasibility considerations and direct discussions with multiple major builders,” a planning report said.
According the report by Zone Planning Group, the discussions/investigations had concluded “the establishment of multiple basement parking levels for a site of this scale is not an economically viable outcome and therefore car parking must be established within a podium structure in order for the project to be able to progress to construction”.
“The revised proposal is effectively an improved design outcome for the site with a more modern and attractive design that is most importantly, a more constructable outcome than that which was first proposed in 2017,” it said.
As well, it noted an approval granted in January for Andrews Projects’ twin 38-storey towers—including “a tall (but attractive) podium structure with multiple levels entirely dedicated to car parking”—immediately to the north-west of the site.
“The establishment of this outcome…will set a significant character precedent, in terms of podium structures, that will substantially alter the existing streetscape context of the immediate locality,” the report said.
Sheng-Lan Group, formerly Sunnyland Group, acquired the 5015sq m site at 2-20 River Terrace and 42-46 Enderley Avenue in 2017 for $16 million. It was given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council for its initial two-tower scheme the following year.
DKO Architects was subsequently tapped to undertake the redesign of the project, which is to be delivered across two stages with the towers bookending the site.
Stage one, on the southern portion of the site, comprises the 41-storey tower accommodating 232-room branded hotel operation as well as 122 one, two and three-bedroom residential units. Resident-only recreation space is to be provided on level 20. Ancillary to the hotel, it will also feature a lobby bar, 728sq m function area and a 383sq m signature restaurant on the lower levels, as well as a pool bar and restaurant on level 7.
Stage two, at the northern end of the site, includes the 53-storey tower, which will accommodate 308 apartments as well as 278sq m of ground floor retail space.
Overall, the proposed development would feature a combined 4335sq m of communal open space across both stages with multiple pools of varying sizes and shapes, lounge areas, wellness spaces, barbecue/outdoor dining areas and large multipurpose indoor space.
“Located on a large island site between the Nerang River and coastline, the project holds a panoramic connection to water, as well as the urban setting of the Gold Coast,” the documents said.
“The proposal is an appropriate response to a large and vacant infill development site which effectively represents an entire city block within a highly urbanised locality.”
