Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 61 of 74

Populous: Olympic Architect Firm Opens Asia Pacific HQ on Adelaide Street

Populous, the architectural firm that designed the Olympic venues in London and Tokyo, has established its new Asia Pacific headquarters at the Collin House on Adelaide Street.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the company during a special ceremony held at the office in early March as Brisbane hopes to bid as host for the 2032 Olympics.

The new office, which will be purpose-built, will have 100 local workers. Populous, however, has been working with Brisbane for some time as the company designed Suncorp Stadium, Metricon Stadium and the Queensland Tennis Centre at Tennyson.

“We have been growing our business from Brisbane for 20 years and we are very proud to take this step to recommit our Asian headquarters to Queensland,” Populous Managing Director Paul Henry said.

“This is an exciting day for our staff and clients, and we are very much looking forward to continuing to collaborate across the globe as we have done well before COVID-19 on exciting projects that bring people together in moments of celebration.”

Ms Palaszczuk said that Adelaide Street will be the main headquarters in the Asia Pacific region.

“[This] is a proud and timely moment for the owners and staff, working on the very best of Olympic and other worldwide projects from new premises right here in Brisbane,” the premier said.

It comes as Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced that Brisbane City Council voted “yes” to submit a bid for the 2032 Olympics, which will open thousands of opportunities for jobs, sporting and infrastructure upgrades.

Waterfront Brisbane: Dexus’ New Retail and Office Development Approved

Real estate company Dexus’ controversial two-tower project, the Waterfront Brisbane office development, has been approved by Brisbane City Council despite public backlash.

The project itself revolves around the construction of two towers, one 49-storeys tall and the other 43, along Waterfront Place. Once completed, the development is expected to provide locals from suburbs around the Brisbane River with new retail offerings, promenades, and offices.

A 280-metre riverwalk will also be created as part of the development plan, connecting Waterfront Place to the Riparian Palace. Development costs have totaled to $2.1 billion, and the new riverwalk will be funded by BCC.

The project aims to improve pedestrian view and access of the river, as well create a river link between Eagle St and the river accessible with bicycles and wheelchairs.

Waterfront Brisbane is set to take up a combined area of 120,000-sqm of office and retail space, aiming to make the most out of Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate by creating riverfront dining and retail outlets, public plazas, and gorgeous promenades along the waterfront.

Render of Waterfront Brisbane’s proposed retail area.
Photo credit: Dexus

Despite the promising outcome expected from the Dexus development, concerns over the project and what it means for the future of the waterfront have been expressed by some sectors in the community regarding the possible negative impact on the waterfront as the development would block the view and separate the city from the river.

“What is now proposed is an anathema – “Waterfront Brisbane” appears as an over-scaled wall of glass positioned without any regard to the established principles respected in the design of all other towers…” Penelope Seidler, director of Harry Seidler and Associates said in a public submission of opposition through the Brisbane City Council’s Planning and Developing Online portal.

“The building shape forms a wall separating the city from the river,” she added.

Architects behind Waterfront Brisbane, FJMT and Arkhefield, have updated their design in response to these complaints, opting for a more sub-tropical design that ensures the development adheres to the aesthetic and atmosphere of the waterfront.

Though Dexus had announced the approval of their project in December 2020, construction will not commence until 2022. It is estimated that the first tower will be complete and operational in 2026.

Plans for New Fortitude Valley Hotel Revealed

A development application for FV Hotel, an all-new hotel building at Fortitude Valley’s Ann Street, has been submitted.

621 Ann St, located in the Valley’s wellness precinct, could potentially become the site of the luxurious 15-storey hotel building. FV Hotel, designed by the architectural group Buchan, sports a sub-tropical aesthetic that correlates with and adheres to the Brisbane City Council’s New World City Design Guide.

Render of the proposed FV Hotel.
Photo credit: PD Online/Brisbane City Council

The new hotel is expected to revitalise the southern end of Fortitude Valley by creating a vibrant hub that provides the local community with a wider range of functions and facilities.

The hotel facilities will include a gym, pool, rooftop function and bar space, and outdoor cabanas, and it will offer a total of 204 single-bedroom suites for its guests as well as a 209-sqm ground floor complete with a restaurant. Though the rooftop will only be accessible to hotel guests, their outdoor recreational facilities will be available to the public.

FV Hotel also takes the environment into consideration, carefully constructed to accommodate greenery which also provide an array of benefits. The horizontal projection of planting provides shading to residences while simultaneously mitigating acoustics and protection from harsh sunlight. Open-ended corridors also make way for natural ventilation, limiting the need of air conditioning and artificial cooling.

Render of FV Hotel and its green design
Photo credit: PD Online/Brisbane City Council

Those interested in learning more about Property Projects Australia’s FV Hotel development can visit their Brisbane City Council’s Planning & Development Online proposal here: A005681170.

Popular Fortitude Valley Record Store To Close After Six-Year Run

After an almost-six-year run on Ann St in Fortitude Valley, the beloved record store Phase 4 Records & Cassettes will be closing down on the 28th of March.

In business since 2015, Phase 4 has supplied its customers with vintage vinyl records and other wares related to various genres of music such as band shirts and merchandise. Phase 4 has also supported some of Brisbane’s local bands by hosting weekly in-store gigs every Sunday.

Some of the other services provided by the record store include vinyl and cassette transfers, record cleaning, and record collection appraisal and valuations. Phase 4 also allows music lovers to sell old and unwanted records and cassettes for fair prices.

Photo credit: Facebook/Phase 4 Records & Cassettes

Based on the reactions to the record store’s Facebook announcement of closure, Phase 4 has been a much-loved community hub. One commenter claimed that the store was “…more than just a record shop…” and that the staff and those who frequented the venue were “…my rock in good times and in bad.”

After almost six years in Bakery Lane and on Ann Street, we have decided to close our bricks and mortar establishment in…
Posted by Phase 4 Records & Cassettes on Saturday, February 27, 2021

Even punk rock musician Ed Kuepper of The Aints celebrated Phase 4’s contribution to the community, lauding it as “…one of the last of the great old style Valley shops…” before claiming that “…an era ends with you…”

Veteran punk rock musician Ed Kuepper
Photo credit: Facebook/Ed Kuepper/The Aints

Phase 4 Records & Cassettes can be found in 680F Ann St. For more information on pre-closing activities, visit their website or check their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

Bisou Bisou Is The Newest Parisian-inspired Restaurant In Fortitude Valley

Photo credit: Bisou Bisou/Facebook

Renowned hotel and restaurant group Ghanem, the team behind Donna Chang, Blackbird Bar and Grill and Byblos, has firmly established itself as a leader in luxury hospitality. Now, the group is making its first foray into Fortitude Valley with a French brasserie eatery called Bisou Bisou.

Housed inside the luxurious Hotel X, Bisou Bisou is a gorgeous spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are open as early as 6:30 am – so you can go ahead and have some toast or pastries – and until late, for an intimate date night.

Read: An Inside Look at Altitude, Fortitude Valley’s Newest Rooftop Bar

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Bisou Bisou (@bisoubisou_xx)

Menu items for lunch and dinner include French classics like seafood bouillabaisse, steak frites and whole roasted free-range chicken, plus desserts all prepared by Ghanem Group’s current executive chef Jake Nicolson and Chef Anthony Donaldson, former head chef at Blackbird. For drinks, Bisou Bisou features an aperitivo bar which boasts spritzes and negronis, as well as vintage French wines.

Awashed in warm hues and adorned with antique mirrors, floral couches, and wood tones, it’s the perfect setting for a romantic date night. Bisou, in French, actually translates to “kiss” so their name just perfectly suits the place. And like most restaurants you’ll find in Paris, they have an open kitchen for an even more entertaining dining experience.

Bisou Bisou can be found on the ground floor of Hotel X at 458 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. For more information or to make a reservation, visit bisou-bisou.com.au.

Honouring Graham Pampling, Beloved Busker of the Queen Street Mall

A petition has been called by the Brisbane public to erect a statue of the late-yet-legendary busker Graham Pampling at Queen Street Mall, where he played the saxophone six days a week from 1998 to 2018.

Graham Pampling, who passed in 2019, was a beloved busker who had become something of a community staple in Queen Street. It was hard to ignore the blind busker whose music had become an integral part of everyone’s everyday life, regaling the city with his saxophone.

His labradors, who served as his guide dogs and loyal friends, often accompanied him during these sessions. Pampling became something of a local celebrity given his inspiring story.

Pampling was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic condition that slowly causes cells in the retina to die which then leads to blindness.

Throughout his life, he experienced a great many hardships — including the death of his 19-year-old son, who tragically perished in a forklifting accident in 1985.

The marriage between Pampling and his wife of 28 years also broke down, which then led to the busker-to-be to travel to Brisbane with his saxophone, where he stayed for the next three decades. He’d set up in Queen Street Mall and begin busking for every passerby, serenading the public with his beautiful music.

His music wasn’t the only thing that cemented his status as a local icon and inspiration in the city, for Pampling had also volunteered at local schools to teach visually impaired students how to type without using their sight.

Brisbane residents from all around the city have signed a petition, titled Remember Graham Pampling, to immortalise him and celebrate his memory by creating a statue in his honour. As of the 28th of February, 2021, over 6,900 people have signed in hopes of having the statue raised. Those interested in contributing to Graham Pampling’s memory can find and sign the petition here.

Nucleus Network in Herston Conducting New At-Home Vaccine Trials

Nucleus Network, a clinical research center in Herston, is conducting early trials of a new at-home vaccine against COVID-19. The initiative is a partnership with Symvivo, a biotechnology company in Canada, which developed the needleless vaccine that may be stored at room temperature.

Around 24 Brisbane locals, between the ages of 18 and 55, are part of the first trial in Queensland. Nucleus Network will move on to a bigger trial if the results are promising.

The at-home vaccine is still awaiting approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration. However, it is expected to be a game-changer as the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the first available vaccine, has a strict storage requirement for a freezer with a temperature of -70C.

If the Symvivo at-home vaccine receives approval, it will allow for more people to receive protection against the virus directly from the comforts of their homes. The Symvivo could be self-administered as it is an oral vaccine. It is infused with probiotic bacteria, which has been genetically modified with synthetic DNA to induce an immune response against the virus, SARS-CoV-2 to prevent COVID-19.

“Our unique technology harnesses a genetically modified bacterial vector encoding a plasmid to safely and selectively deliver oral DNA vaccines and therapies directly to targeted tissues,” Symvivo said on its official site.

Nucleus Network’s Herston director, Professor Paul Griffin, said that Symvivo’s pre-clinical trials and tests in laboratories showed that it’s safe and effective against the virus. The company is hopeful that the human trials will deliver promising outcomes as well, but Mr Griffin held off commenting on the progress of the clinical trials before data proves its efficacy.

Coppa Reopens For Waterfront Dining On Eagle Street Pier

Photo credit: COPPA/Facebook

After almost a year of closing its CBD location due to the pandemic, Italian restaurant COPPA Spuntino is finally open for both indoor and outdoor dining, this time in a much larger space on Eagle Street Pier.

COPPA Spuntino, or simply COPPA is now occupying the former Il Centro site. Designed to make guests feel like they’re dining on Amalfi Coast in Italy, it has a stunning riverfront location and a menu that focuses on fresh seafood. At COPPA, diners can expect antipasti-style small plates, pastas and mains like roast porchetta with rocket and apple or Pesce del giorno (fresh fish of the day).

COPPA’s meatballs courtesy of Saison Salumi (Photo credit: COPPA/Facebook)

The kitchen is overseen by Chef Vincent Clist, who was the head chef at Abinger Cookery School which specialises in chalet cooking. Like what every chalet chef does, Chef Clist’s job involves serving superior quality meals with an emphasis on fresh produce and at COPPA, he’s going to do that by using the best local catches.

Then for charcuterie, the restaurant commissioned Saison Salumi to serve what they call “Brisbane’s best meatballs.” Saison Salumi is known for its seasonal cured meats, done through traditional slow curing. For drinks, the restaurant boasts an extensive list of wines made in Italy as well as Italian varietal wines made in Australia.

While the place was completely stripped back, The Happy Fat Group, the owners of COPPA, kept the original dining chairs and the parquetry flooring of Il Centro. They removed the old private dining room to come up with an extended bar and new booths. They also got the help of architect Adam Laming to design their new contemporary space.

If you’ve missed dining at COPPA or want to know why they’re such a great hit among CBD diners, visit their new location on Eagle Street Pier, 45 Eagle St, Wednesdays to Sundays. They are now taking bookings for lunch and dinner through their website. You can also check them out on Facebook for the latest updates and special promotions.

Fortitude Valley’s Popular Hellenika Zucchini Chips to be Patented

For nearly 10 years and counting, Hellenika, the Greek restaurant inside The Calile in Fortitude Valley, has been known for its addicting, crunchy and tasty zucchini chips. It’s been on the restaurant’s menu from the beginning and now restaurateur Simon Gloftis plans to patent how it’s made.

Mr Gloftis said that patenting the popular entrée or poolside snack, otherwise also called the Kolokithia, would prevent copycats from developing their version of the Hellenika zucchini chips. He wants to ensure that this product is solely identified with his restaurant because it will never be taken off the menu.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by HELLENIKA (@hellenika)

Every week, Hellenika serves thousands of orders of this thinly-sliced batter-fried goodness and the demand hasn’t slowed after the pandemic lockdown.

“You can never have a bad day when Hellenika zucchini chips are involved, it’s a fact,” the restaurant’s Instagram page stated. “Sprinkled with kefalograviera, because cheese makes everything even better.⁠”

Mr Gloftis hasn’t detailed how he’ll acquire the food patent but he’s not the only one planning to patent a signature dish. Detour in Woolloongabba will also patent its recipe and cooking process for its famous Kentucky Fried Duck (KFD).

Meanwhile, Hellenika is the loveliest place for Sunday dining and lounging by The Calile Hotel’s poolside if you want to indulge in a fancy vibe, impressive and authentic Mediterranean food, as well as fantastic Greek pale ale or cocktails.

Book a spot in advance at this sophisticated venue.

The Mason Baker Brings Australia’s First Cupcake ATM to Fortitude Valley

Ever heard of an ATM dispensing cupcakes instead of cash? See Australia’s very first Cupcake ATM in action as it launches in Fortitude Valley courtesy of The Mason Baker.

In 2012, Sprinkles, an innovative foodie company from Beverly Hills changed how sweet-tooth and dessert lovers got an instant and sweet gratification with the Cupcake ATM. Now with an annual revenue of US$16 million, the idea has exploded around the world and it is finally coming to Brisbane on Friday, 5 Feb 2021.

The Mason Baker, a Tennyson-based company best known for its decadent jar cakes, will be setting up its very own Cupcake ATM at 6 Warner Street, right outside the new Kickons bar, for every weekend of February (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).

It will be easy to spot the vending machine. Just keep your eyes peeled for a bright pink coloured ATM, which will likely have a long line of cupcake lovers by 5:00 p.m. — cos that’s when the vending machine has a fresh batch of spongy delights.

Owner James Willis said that they have been working with Worldwide Vending to bring this innovative idea amidst the surge of a new contactless economy in the food industry.

The Cupcake ATM will have heaps of choices, including classic favourites like Strawberries and Cream, Chocolate Ganache and Salted Caramel. Each order will be packed in The Mason Baker’s familiar container.

Essentially, if the Cupcake ATM becomes a hit, The Mason Baker plans to put more machines across Brisbane for the rest of 2021.