Artists whose works have been displayed in the Louvre have been commissioned to weave a multi-storey artwork into the façade of a new luxury residential development in the Newstead riverside precinct.
In a unique approach to weaving art into the architecture of buildings, the Newstead Series, has commissioned 3 award-winning artists and designers to create both art installations and to build artwork into the structural design of its façade and brickwork.
Over $550,000 has been spent on local artwork and integrated into the project reflecting the historical significance of the area.
With over 85% of Stage 1 already sold, the highly successful Newstead Series is pushing the design envelope to deliver a residential development unique to the Newstead riverside precinct and the Brisbane market.
John Livingstone from JGL Properties said the luxury townhome and premium apartment development was designed as a place for contemporary living in one of Brisbane’s thriving riverside precincts, but was using art and architecture to weave Newstead’s past into the future.
“The market research we’ve done shows that people who choose Newstead as their home are generally young professionals with high disposable incomes, and many are looking for modern well designed and spacious residences,” Mr Livingstone said.
“We’ve handpicked a design team that has been heralded internationally to create a strong sense of identity and place through art and architecture. The design team is a collaboration of architect bureau^proberts, artistic collective Rinzen and renowned local artist Jason Fitzgerald, who each have a connection with the precinct and share this common vision.
“From the luxury foyers, to the striking external facades and landscaped gardens, the design team have incorporated the history of the site and suburb throughout the project, identifying the Newstead Series as a modern expression of Newstead’s extraordinary history,” said Mr Livingstone.
The foyer spaces will become the backdrop to artwork by renowned local timber artist, Jason Fitzgerald. Jason, who is represented by leading Brisbane gallery Jan Murphy Gallery, has exhibited nationally and won several awards.
Jason will use local timbers to create an intricate and layered pattern – much like a three-dimensional timber tapestry – which will act as an inviting and luxurious entrance to the boutique towers.
“Jason’s unique style of timber treatments including cutting, shaving, sanding and painting timbers will create a tapestry of the past in a contemporary form,” said Mr Livingstone.
Local artist group, Rinzen, whose works have been exhibited at the Louvre, have also created a large-scale abstracted graphic in the glazed sections of the external façade of the development, which references the trusses and framing of the local warehouses. The Rinzen group currently have large scale artwork installations in Tokyo’s Zero Gate and Copehagen’s Hotel Fox.
“The fritted glass handrails on the Evelyn Street façade create a dramatic reference to the Newstead warehouse framework,” said Mr Livingstone. “The Rinzen group has created a large scale abstracted graphic in the glazed sections, and play with perception, so that when draped over the building, a series of abstract dots become pattern and texture at a personal level, and piece together to form a larger graphic which can only be seen from afar.”
Adrian Clifford from Rinzen said “the graphic balustrade that wraps the Evelyn Street façade provides a lightweight external skin to the tower form – it champions the role of the site by taking ordinary images from Newsteads’ history and applying them at billboard proportions”.
Finally, the Newstead Series award winning architects, bureau^proberts, have created a striking sculptural brick façade at the base of the development which is an interpretation of the strong edges that characterise the Newstead suburb.
bureau^proberts’ reinterpretation of the brickwork is taken from the surrounding warehouse typology and creates a fragmented pattern delivered from the simple decorative brick patterns of the 19th Century and responds to the triangular trussed forms of existing buildings awhile creating a permeable screen to allow the living spaces beyond to engage with the street whilst maintaining private usable spaces. The bespoke brick screens allow dappled natural sunlight into courtyards during the day whist creating a lantern lighting effect at night.
Liam Proberts, Managing Director, bureau^proberts said “Art is an essential element to all our architecture projects because it is such an effective way to connect our buildings with their place and history.
“Integrating art into architecture can create memory, intrigue or feeling. In our design, we use art to bring connection or activation to a space, or create a sense of presence or even calm. It helps us to craft the kind of environment that is right for a place.”
Mr Livingston said, “We were excited about taking the design initiative to create a strong identity by incorporating the history of the Newstead precinct site into the project. The collaboration of a talented, world class design team has enabled us to produce this vision.
Thakral Capital’s Managing Director Jaginder Singh Pasricha said “from the outset we saw Newstead Series as a high quality development that gives back to the residential community through exemplar architecture distinguishing it from other projects”.
The Newstead Series comprises four boutique buildings – The Carlyle, The Donaldson, The Ajax and The Koerstz – which were named after Australia’s famous wool presses. The buildings are brought together by an expansive half an acre of subtropical landscaped gardens and amenities including a 25 metre lap pool and spa, sauna, gymnasium, alfresco dining areas, fire pit, outdoor cinema, recreational lawns and exercise spaces.
Newstead Series construction is scheduled to commence in the last quarter of 2015.
Information supplied by Articulous Communications
