Good design shaping Brisbane’s residential identity

Brisbane’s skyline has transformed, with design taking centre stage as more people choose apartment living over the traditional suburban house. Architects, along with developers, say good design is driving this change, making apartment living more desirable and priming the identity of the future city.According to Liam Proberts, creative director of Brisbane-based architecture practice bureau^proberts, apartment living has become a crucial part of the city’s identity and growth.

“We’re seeing a major social shift in Brisbane,” he said.“Medium-density living is no longer a niche, it’s become the gold standard and the aspiration. People are now choosing apartments over stand-alone homes for their great design, location and lifestyle benefits, which is dramatically changing the urban fabric of our city.



”The demand for well-designed apartments is reshaping some of Brisbane’s inner-ring suburbs. Canvas in Bulimba replaces two warehouses with 21 apartments, creating a new version of the traditional six-pack units once common in Brisbane’s middle-ring suburbs.Projects such as Canvas in Bulimba, The Oxlade in New Farm and Thornton in Kangaroo Point, designed by bureau^proberts, highlight this trend.

These developments have replaced traditional single-family homes with apartments that appeal to a wide demographic – from young professionals to retirees seeking convenience and a strong sense of community.With Brisbane rapidly urbanising, medium and high-density living is becoming a vital part of its future growth. The city’s population is expected to grow by about 40 per cent by 2046, and apartment living will play a key role in accommodating this influx.

“Brisbane is transforming from a sprawling, suburban city to a more diverse and dense urban environment,” Mr Proberts said.“This is a significant and very healthy shift for our city, and it’s happening because people are seeing the advantages of apartment living – which now combines great design with a great lifestyle and sustainability.”Lavish kitchens within the residences of Canvas in Bulimba.

This shift in medium-density living is not unique to Brisbane; it mirrors historical transformations in other major cities.“We are redefining apartment living in South East Queensland as we move from a mostly detached house town to a more subtropical urban city where diversity of housing product is so important,” Mr Proberts said.“We’re creating density, diversity and options for living through design.

”Urbis director of planning Ben Lyons is tracking this trend closely, and said the shift was influencing the city’s urban patterns.“Residents are valuing convenience, lifestyle and wellbeing a lot higher than they used to,” he said.“Such that more are choosing to no longer spend 45 minutes driving home from the CBD through traffic – they’d much rather have that time back in their life to go for a walk, spend time with family and are choosing to live in the inner city because time is precious.

”Creative director of Brisbane-based architecture practice bureau^proberts, Liam Proberts.He said a number of factors had created a demand for apartments that were designed to the highest standards, such as population growth, the impending Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Brisbane City Council planning initiatives such as the New World City – Buildings that Breathe Design Guide.Mr Proberts said thoughtful planning played a major role in Brisbane’s future.

“It has been encouraging to see our authorities and planning instruments support a shift to this diversity of housing,” he said.“It would be great to extend this to infill housing and townhomes, particularly in Brisbane’s suburban realms, whilst protecting our heritage.”Mr Proberts explained that architecture enhanced the experience of apartment living.

“We’re designing homes that connect people to their surroundings,” he said.“These are not just apartments – they’re spaces that offer the qualities of a family home but with the added benefits of location and community.”The riverfront address of Oxlade in New Farm features a collection of 30 exclusive residences.

One of the key drivers of this change is the appeal of living in well-designed apartments in prime locations. Canvas in Bulimba, for instance, replaces two warehouses with 21 apartments, creating a new version of the traditional six-pack units that were once common in Brisbane’s middle-ring suburbs. Meanwhile, Thornton in Kangaroo Point maintained the heritage-listed former Water Police Residence on site, while adding 14 new residences above it.

Mr Proberts said projects like these showed how medium-density living could elevate the standard of living in Brisbane’s suburbs.“People are choosing these homes because they offer a higher quality of life without sacrificing the connection to community and place,” he said.“We’re entering a new era for Brisbane.

The way people are choosing to live is changing, and medium-density developments are at the heart of that transformation. These apartments are not just about fitting more people into the city – they’re about offering a new way of living that reflects Brisbane’s future as a vibrant, connected, and diverse urban centre.”The post Good design shaping Brisbane’s residential identity appeared first on realestate.

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