53 Albert Street

The retention and creative reuse of an existing inner-city car park was the architectural concept for the new commercial tower at 53 Albert Street, Brisbane. A new lift core was designed to penetrate the existing nine level car park and service the new tower with column free space. The tower was conceived as a pair of interlocking planes with a roof folding down to form the Margaret Street façade.

nettletontribe worked with artist Jennifer Marchant to design a multi-dimensional artwork to screen the podium carpark. A large-scale collage of curved aluminium creates a rippling effect across the face of the carpark bringing visual interest to the city street. The intricate, sinuous screen softens the orthogonal rigour of the office tower above.

The complex resolution of old and new was achieved through the synergy of architecture and engineering. New retail tenancies designed at ground level support the future vision of the Albert Street corridor through street activation and passive surveillance.