443 Queen Street, Brisbane

Project Summary

WOHA and Architectus collaborated to design 443 Queen Street, a sub-tropical apartment tower in Queensland, Australia. The project aimed to revitalise the riverfront landscape and optimise livability by strategically integrating greenery. The building’s design, titled the ‘building that breathes,’ incorporated natural breezeways and lighting to adapt to the subtropical climate.

The lower floors of the tower structure mimicked the rugged cliffs of Kangaroo Point, gradually extending upwards from the ground plane and featuring a textured facade softened by a cladding of plants. This green canopy continued across the broader landscape, complementing the elevated building mass and creating a harmonious connection to the riverside topography.

The project received Australia’s first 6 Star Green Star certification for a residential tower, recognizing its sustainable design. To achieve this, bioSEA conducted assessments to evaluate the ecological and biophilic aspects of the development.

The Green Star Ecological Value Assessment measured the change in ecological value from the site’s current state to its intended design. It demonstrated a significant increase in ecological value, earning a rating of 2.4 out of 3 available points.

Biophilia Assessments evaluated the inclusion of biophilic elements, with the development meeting 5 out of 6 WELL Standard Criteria fully and partially meeting 1 criterion, showcasing its high biophilic design.

Ecosystem Service Assessments accounted for the cumulative effect of plantings at different levels of the building. The dense plantings alone covered 115% of the building’s footprint, and the project outperformed a typical built-up suburb in Brisbane in filtering air, regulating air temperature, and sequestering carbon dioxide by nearly 10, 15.7, and 10.6 times, respectively.

Overall, 443 Queen Street excelled in ecological and biophilia assessments, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and its successful integration with the natural environment.

Associated Links

443 Queen Street awarded Australia’s first 6 star green star rating