Addressing the issue of connection deficit in vertical living, Upper House fosters a sense of community among residents. Crafted by Koichi Takada Architects on behalf of developer Aria, the ultimate penthouse and spacious apartment building proposes a new, healthier way of inhabiting a city. Set in South Brisbane, known widely as a social and cultural hub, Upper House sits close to art galleries, theatres, bars and cafes. The project takes cues from the suburb, inviting people to come together: while the building offers 1000 square metres of communal amenities, it also embodies a work of art and features the ultimate penthouse. Michael Hurley, development director at Aria, describes the design as “a series of dancing balconies” with timber ribbon running up the facade and a triple-height timber rooftop. “[The design] just screamed out and said ‘world-class, never-been-done-before’. It was curvy, it was organic, it was unique, and it was Aria” he says.
At the base of Upper House, a large podium displays work by Indigenous artist Judy Watson. The piece recognises the Turrbal people as the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which the project is built. Beyond the podium, the facade is inspired by Moreton Bay fig trees – what can be viewed as ribbons are timber ‘roots’ framing the main structure and the ultimate penthouse. Curling around the edges of the roof, the bold details form a pergola and shading device that protect the open wellness retreat. “[With this design] we can bring people together to challenge and address what we call ‘connection deficit,’ but also reconnect with this garden space that appears on top of the building and celebrate biodiversity,” says Koichi Takada, principal at Koichi Takada Architects. "When you come out to the residential amenity, the wellness retreat, you're coming out to this infinity pool and it's really breathtaking.” If residents fix their gaze on the pool as well as the city panorama in the background, the amenity appears to float serenely in the air. With its allusions to roots and tree canopies, the space also celebrates the subtropical climate of South Brisbane.
“The interiors are neutral and timeless,” says Georgia Wilson, director at Koichi Takada Architects, “and they really slow you down from the fast-paced environment that we're used to living in.” A rational floor plan of the ultimate penthouse includes high ceilings, full-height windows and skylights to create a tranquil and light-filled environment. In addition, a restrained decorative palette of natural materials allows residents to personalise each space. “The timber flooring and joinery are consistent in colour to really bring in the ambience of the outside,” says Wilson. “It's a building that breathes and allows you to slow down and breathe with it.”
With city views, organic forms and natural materials, the ultimate penthouse and apartment building enables effortless appreciation of the South Brisbane context. Balancing a sense of the urban and organic, Koichi Takada Architects and Aria created healthy living spaces in which residents can easily connect to one another.
In this urban vertical living condition,
often we are so disconnected from one another.
Can we create this new way of living
where people can live vertically
but still connect to each other?
And how can we turn this vertical living
into inspiring and healthier place to live?
I'm Koichi Takada,
Principal of Koichi Takada Architects,
and this is Upper House.
We would like to acknowledge the Turbo and Yagara people
as the traditional owners and custodians of the land
in which Upper House is built.
Upper House is located in South Brisbane.
It's known as culture and social hub,
surrounded by art gallery theatres,
restaurant, cafes and bars.
What we wanted to do with this project
is to really include these very rich cultural activities
and connect with people that are experiencing artwork
in the neighbourhood,
but building itself also become artwork in expressive ways.
At the podium,
we are greeted by this artwork
by Indigenous artist Judy Watson,
which was conceived as a way to contribute
a valuable narrative to the urban landscape.
Judy Watson tells the story of our nation's first people.
So the Upper House facade was inspired
by Alton Bay fig trees,
and as it does with the routing,
with this undulation,
it's trying to look for daylight
and the view towards the city
and find its open space.
As it comes up to the top,
it creates these wonderful canopies of the shading device.
Just like the nature does,
it gives almost a perfect microclimate,
just as if you are under this canopy
of the Alton Bay fig trees.
From the moment you walk into the Upper House penthouse,
we want you to feel calm.
The interiors are neutral and timeless,
and they really slow you down
from the fast-paced environment
that we're used to living in.
The penthouse design is intuitive
and has a very rational floor plan
that makes it easy to live in.
Luxury to us is more than just what a space looks like.
It's about how it makes you feel.
It's about how it invites an easy way of living
and brings your lifestyle into the space.
The full-height windows,
the really high ceiling heights,
are a way to bring in the natural light
and the beautiful ambience
of Brisbane's subtropical environment.
The natural light and the fresh air
is something that we really embrace in our design.
Even in the bathrooms,
you have a beautiful skylight
that emulates natural daylight into those spaces.
The materials are neutral and light in colour,
and they're a backdrop that really allow
this space to become your own.
We have warm materials, natural materials,
that are honest and timeless.
The timber flooring and the timber joinery
are consistent in colour
to really bring in the ambience of the outside.
It's a building that breathes
and allows you to slow down and breathe with it.
Whenever we do design comps at RER,
it's actually kind of easy
because there's always the standout winner.
We've never had a situation
where we had two designs
and we didn't know which one was the winner.
So when we actually got presented
this design from Koichi,
he actually presented to us last.
And the moment he showed us the building,
I just looked at Tim and he looked at me,
and we went, that's the winner.
And it was really something
that we'd never seen before.
It was a series of dancing balconies,
this timber ribbon up this building,
this triple height timber rooftop.
And it just screamed out and said,
world-class, never been done before.
And we instantly knew when we saw it,
it was curvy, it was organic,
it was unique, and it was ARIA.
So when you come out to the residential amenity,
the wellness retreat,
you're coming out to this infinity pool
and it's really breathtaking.
You look at this almost surreal sense of,
you have this pool floating in the air,
looking at this backdrop
of this Brisbane panoramic skyline.
You have this pagoda
that gives you the sense of shelter
and also in an organic way,
framing this wonderful city view.
We were very keen to make this space
very special.
So we chose one of the best position
of this building to be
the residential amenity.
We can bring people together
to challenge and address
what we call connection deficit,
but also reconnect us
with this garden space
that appears on top of the buildings
and celebrate biodiversities,
maximizing the connection
to the city and the beyond
and to the sky,
appreciating the nature
that's given and created
by this wonderful subtropical climate.
This is a very unique
and a special way to live
and not just Brisbane,
but we could create and inspire
others to follow.
