Wharves become an inner-city wonder
Restoring dilapidated wharves, carving a five-star hotel out of solid rock and constructing glass elevators on the cliff face. These are just three challenges for the team revitalising the Howard Smith Wharves.
The derelict wharves along Brisbane’s river are being transformed in a $110 million facelift that will deliver 2.7 hectares of public open space, a five star hotel, an exhibition and events centre, a craft brewery and an array of restaurants and cafés.
HSW Nominees will own and operate the development, and have contracted Hutchinson Builders to construct the new facilities and restore the heritage buildings.
Luke Fraser, the project’s development director, says the heritage-listed buildings are currently being “meticulously restored”.
“We are going to great lengths to ensure that the end product is one that pays tribute to the unique history of the site,” Fraser says.
Howard Smith Wharves were built from the 1930s to 1940s, and remain one of the last undeveloped riverfront locations in Brisbane.
“The biggest challenge that we face in restoring these buildings relates to their current state,” Fraser says.
“After so many years of disuse, the heritage buildings are in such a state of dilapidation that the works required to bring them up to current code standards while maintaining their particular heritage features is extensive.”
The installation of two new glass elevators will provide pedestrian access to Howard Smith Wharves from the top of the cliffs at Wilson’s Lookout and Bowen Terrace. These are “possibly the most ambitious elements” of the project,” Fraser adds.
“These new glass lift connections will be the first and highest of their kind in Brisbane and will provide the most stunning panoramic views of our amazing city and river as people journey down them.”
Meanwhile, the Art Series Hotel will feature a shattered façade that has been designed to replicate the cliff face.
“As the largest of only two new structures to be built on the site, it was important for us to ensure that the hotel blended nicely into the landscape,” Fraser adds.
“We are actually raising the level of the site during construction to ensure flood immunity.”
HSW Nominees is also developing an “urban agriculture and food education strategy”, Fraser explains, which will see the installation of growing gardens designed to service the precinct’s restaurants and cafes.
Construction is expected to conclude by the end of 2018, and Fraser says the project represents a “once in a lifetime opportunity to reimagine one of the last inner-city reaches of the Brisbane river and to complete the connection from the CBD through to the Riverwalk”.