| | When the Karl Langer-designed Lennon’s International Broadbeach Hotel was built in 1957, it was THE landmark of the Gold Coast. Now Broadbeach is more and more built-up, as this semi-tropical sun-and-sand resort city spreads and sprawls along the coast. However, the Broadbeach skyline is once again punctuated by a lone building: 37 storeys of residential tower designed by Ian Moore Architects, and named for the only element that shares its vertical space – Air.
With its base anchored to the existing Oasis shopping centre, on what was once the site of that old Broadbeach Hotel, Air pierces the Gold Coast skyline, but its feet remain firmly rooted in the city life. The city’s monorail’s turning circle is situated on the roof of the shopping centre, so Air is also directly connected by the monorail to Conrad Jupiter’s Casino on Broadbeach Island on the other side of the Gold Coast Highway. Due to the characteristic topography of the area – the tower is wedged into that narrow strip of development with ocean and beach on one side, mined sand dunes, the Nerang River, canals, floodplains and hinterland on the other – every apartment has beach and ocean views to Coolangatta in the south, Surfers Paradise in the north, and the Great Dividing Range far to the west. With 134 apartments, a gymnasium and health club, landscaped gardens, pools and a tennis court, Air is the epitome of resort-style Gold Coast living, wearing a sophisticated designer façade.
The tower itself is actually a Tshaped composite of three connected primary elements: a hovering horizontal bar for the double-storey penthouses; a broad, thin lozenge-shaped block on the ocean side; and a square satellite
tower at the west elevation. The lozenge element, so shaped to give maximumse award views to every occupant, comprises a one-deep schema of one and two-storey apartments, while the square block, which protrudes slightly higher at roof level, has one apartment per floor and cantilevering to utilise airspace above the shopping centre. The two towers are connected by the lift column, which passes through the open centre of the monorail turning circle at Air’s base, and also acts as the structural core of the building.
In such an optimum sunny location, solar energy production was a natural decision, with solar panels for commonuse lighting and hot water situated on the large flat roof area. The one-deep arrangement of the one-storey apartments maximises cross ventilation, as does the layout of the two-storey penthouses, the upper level poised above each entryway. The broad but shallow eastern elevation is fully open to the elements to encourage maximum access to cross-ventilation, natural lighting and the ocean vista.
All apartments have substantial floor-to-ceiling expanses of glass, as do the lift lobbies, so that artificial lighting is never required until after sunset. To minimise head load and glare, all eastward glazed elements are shaded by motorised aluminium sun-control louvres, which also add definition and texture to the most ‘public’ aspect. The fully glazed western elevation is also sheltered by a continuous vertical sunscreen of the same automated aluminium louvres, which can be controlled individually by each occupant.
It all goes to show that fashion and function can merge as one: Air’s most striking visual element - at least from a distance - also appears on the western façade. The rear of the main tower is clad in bright sunshine yellow composite aluminium panels that form spandrels in between the glazed area of each storey.
The overall effect, when the window louvres are closed, is of a glowing solid yellow block; just like the golden sands alone the shoreline. Each unit on the eastern face boasts a balcony, which in turn shades the balcony below, owing to the cantilevered angle of inclination. This again adds depth to the front of the tower, so that from below it appears to be a folded concertina of stiff fabric – lighter than air.
The balconies bend like elbows around the tapered northern and southern ends of the lozenge shape, reducing direct exposure to the elements, and emphasising the narrowness of the tower with a finely serrated edge. Inside, the space is bright and open, and the Gold Coast views so luxurious that even the single-level units exude the opulence of a highrise penthouse. The louvres create a uniquely Queensland seaside atmosphere without detracting from the modern sophistication of what is now a city location.
Air is a vertical translation of the sweeping Gold Coast strip: swathes of golden yellow, a sunny outlook and priceless views, offset by the flash and glamour of a highrise lifestyle. A nonpareil, so far, on the Broadbeach skyline.+ Top. Bright yellow aluminium panelling on the western facade makes a colourful statement on the Broadbeach skyline, as well as incorporating the energyconscious sun louvres. Second.Westward-facing rooms have balconies with a view to the Queensland hinterland. Third. The interior design is contemporary classic – a Gold Coast location with European class. Fourth. Sunlight filters in through external motorised sun louvres which can be individually controlled from each apartment.
Fifth. A seaward courtyard in one of Air’s penthouse apartments. Bottom. The final design also includes a swimming pool and other resortstyle facilities. The platform of penthouse apartments is visible in the background. Photographer: Rocket Mattler |
