Telephone +61 7 3844 1362
studio@shanethompson.com.au
47 Wahcumba St, Dutton Park
PO Box 1170 Fortitude Valley
Queensland 4006 Australia
This commission was the successful outcome of a limited design competition. The existing Serene Living development was a highly successful and recently developed high-quality retirement community, well located close to many important facilities including the Tweed Heads Hospital, Bowls Club and RSL Club. The site at higher levels enjoys wonderful views over the Tweed River and the Pacific Ocean coastline.
This development, Stage 2, entails the addition of a new 7 level tower to the much larger original building. Located on an adjoining site to the north, the new tower linked at the ground floor only is formally developed to minimise the impact on the views and northern aspect from apartments on the northern side of the existing building. A crescent or concave-shaped wall to the southern façade enables views to be retained and an external full height trellis screen with lush climbers offers a luxuriant green vertical landscape to the north and south edges of the new building.
The 7 levels arranged over a basement carpark, gym and workshop connected to the existing basement, include expanded communal facilities to the ground floor, with a larger community room able to be sub-divided into 3 smaller spaces, a new café and terrace overlooking a new hydrotherapy pool. The upper levels are arranged in 2 parts of 3 levels each, the lower 3 levels accommodate 6 x 2 bedroom apartments, then stepping back with landscaped terraces to accommodate 3 x 3 bedroom apartments.
The new wing, sculpted, curvilinear, lightweight and open is conceived as a smaller complementary counterpoint to the more reticular and bulky form of the existing building. Together they offer a high level of physical and visual amenity than the current facility on its own.