Takada-Designed Tower Approved for Brisbane CBD

A 71-storey residential tower, designed by starchitect Koichi Takada, has been greenlit by the Brisbane City Council.

James and John Kaias’s development company, KS Property, filed plans for the ambitious residential tower at 25 Mary Street in February this year.

It would be one of the tallest towers in the River City, tipped out by Shayher Group’s The One, Brisbane Skytower and Meriton’s Soleil and Infinity towers. 

The sculptural tower will supersede plans for a BVN-designed commercial tower on the 2700sq m site, which won approval in June 2022.

New renders of the subtropical landscaped tower, which includes 527 apartments, show the city’s first breathable balconies that comprise full-height glazing that manages wind while maintaining city views. 

Finegrain Group founder Simon White, who provided development consultancy on the project, said it would transform the way Brisbane highrise apartment balconies were designed. 

▲ The design of the wind-proof balconies will redefine the design of apartment balconies, according to the design team.

According to RP Data, James and John Kaias amalgamated the apartments on the site for more than $35 million in July of 2019

“Our partnership with KS Property and Koichi Takada Architects was all about creating a distinctive and nature-based architectural form that would set a new standard for residential living in the CBD,” White said.

White said the elevated amenity levels provided significant landscaping alongside multiple pools, private dining rooms, cinemas, gyms, business centres, a golf simulator, wellness hub and a basketball court with panoramic views of the Botanic Gardens and Brisbane River.

Koichi Takada said 25 Mary Street would be “one of our finest and tallest buildings ever built”.

“We wanted to celebrate the Brisbane lifestyle, with unique breathable balconies and create sustainable and livable apartments for all those who will call this building home,” Takada said.

Takada is well-known for his iconic design, which fuses nature with architecture. 

“The architecture is designed around four distinct vantage points as the building extends to the clouds, with expansive sky views, scenic mountain views, serene Brisbane River views and lush botanical views,” Takada said. 

The landscaped podium was amended to include a 30m-high stainless sculpture by Jon Barlow Hudson called Paradigm. The sculpture welcomed visitors to the Expo ’88 forecourt and is the last remaining major Expo artwork to be reinstated. 

The Urban Developer understands that KS Property intends to bring the apartments to market in early 2025.