Apartments approved within Bulimba Barracks masterplan

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The transformation of Brisbane's historic Bulimba Barracks has progressed following Brisbane City Council's approval of an apartment complex within the 21-hectare riverside precinct.

The Apollo Road Apartments form part of the first stage of the site's masterplan, designed by Buchan for the Shayer Group. This stage also includes the adaptive reuse of the heritage-listed fabrication shed and the construction of a new riverside pavillion, both of which were approved for development in May this year.

According to a release from Buchan, "The two- and three-storey multi-residential complex … will offer superior amenity with its waterside location, shared recreation spaces and adjacency to the fabrication shed, [which] is set to become a community hub that will put retail and hospitality on the residents' doorstep."

Buchan principal and project lead Lynn Van Dievoort said the design of the two apartment buildings - which are proposed directly to the west of the shed, on the footprint of the former WWII warehouses - speaks to the site's rich history as well as Brisbane's sub-tropical climate.

"Planning for the two buildings prioritised fresh air, natural light and green space for residents," she said. "The design draws on the site's industrial heritage, with curved forms and brickwork referencing a former soap and candle factory dating back to the 1880s."

The two apartment buildings together contain 69 one-, two- and three-bed dwellings, and are separated by a communal courtyard.

"Taking inspiration from the vernacular Queenslander, the communal courtyard acts as a front verandah for residents to gather," Van Dievoort said. "Residents will also have private outdoor space, with sheltered balconies and terraces on the upper-level and apartments and courtyard gardens at ground level, enabling indoor and outdoor living attuned to the climate."

The apartment complex will be connected to the riverfront parkland and to the fabrication shed via a landscaped pedestrian laneway, which is designed to host community gardens, play spaces and public art.

Future plans for the precinct include further multi-residential development ranging from two storeys at the site's edges up to five storeys high in the site's centre.

Van Dievoort said the approval of the Apollo Road Apartments marks the start of new era for Bulimba, noting that the project "will set a benchmark for future developments in the Bulimba Barracks precinct as it evolves into a vibrant new neighbourhood."