VIDEO: Bureau^proberts - Architecture & Urban Design Leaders

Bureau^proberts has been designing iconic and commercially successful buildings for more than 20 years. They have developed a deep understanding of how to design successful buildings for a rapidly growing urban environment that respond to the needs of the market and the greater community.

This has been reflected in their ongoing commercial success, and the critical acclaim they have received for their work; at the recent Queensland Architecture Awards they won more awards than other practice.

"Whether it’s a building in Brisbane, Kuala Lumpur or Melbourne, they all need to have their own character and contribute to the city on many levels — as a piece of infrastructure, as a beautiful thing to look at and as a
positive place to be. They're the things that people value, and that create successful and commercially viable projects," said Liam Proberts, Managing Director, bureau^proberts.

The award-winning SILT multi-residential development, which was sold out within six weeks, epitomises this approach.

"It’s intriguing… a little bit mysterious, people want to see what’s inside… It felt like it belonged there with the bridge next to it and the big pillars," said Cam Ginardi, Director of GBW Constructions the project developer.

"Part of the reason SILT sold out in record time was the way the building works on the outside and what it delivers inside, as well," he said.

The growing burden on cities from increasing population means that sites have more and more pressures on them that developers and architects have to deal with.

"Our clients have a very good idea of what they want to produce. We elicit these ideas from them, as well as help them realise what the hidden opportunities of the project are. The problem solving part of our process is incredibly important for our clients," said Terry McQuillan, Director, bureau^proberts.

SILT Apartments located next to Brisbane's iconic Story Bridge.[/caption]
Murray Middleton, who oversaw the development of the M&A Apartments said, "We were dealing in a very tough market. We were happy that bureau^proberts delivered a very creative approach to the design of the apartments. We think there is a real opportunity to use design as a way to sell product."
One of these design aspects was putting a laneway through the centre of the site to create more light and ventilation. The result is a very liveable street at the base of the building. It’s something that wasn’t considered at the start of the process but became an important part of the final product. The use of art, colour and pattern is another element integral to bureau^proberts’ design approach. For M&A, it creates a strong visual identity and adds a vibrant and unique edge to the surrounding urban landscape.

Bureau^proberts also focus on finding untapped opportunities in the urban landscape. The Rowlock development in Nundah shows how a design-led project can change the way the fringe areas of our cities are utilised.

"We saw a gap on the fringe development of the suburbs of Brisbane where good quality residential living was just not available. We put our money where our mouth was and developed the project ourselves to explore what might be possible," said Proberts.

bureau^proberts are currently delivering a number of exciting, high-profile projects including the Cordelia St development, which is the largest apartment development Brisbane has ever seen.

“It’s really exciting to be creating the future of the urban landscape — from the small-scale level of the individual house or apartment to the greater vision of how our urban spaces will be enjoyed in the coming decades."

M&A Apartments in Brisbane's inner-city Fortitude Valley.[/caption]