New plans have been released for the Waterfront Pavilion, a key feature of the $2.5 billion Waterfront Brisbane project at Eagle Street.
Read: Waterfront Brisbane: Dexus’ New Retail and Office Development Approved
Positioned near Waterfront Place, the Pavilion is set to transform the riverside with its contemporary design and expanded functionality.
Dexus, the developer, has submitted revised plans, showcasing a fresh architectural approach for the Waterfront Pavilion. The new design includes an additional 580 square metres of floor space and introduces striking oval-shaped windows and a jagged, segmented roofline. These features not only add a distinctive character but also enhance the Pavilion’s integration into the surrounding precinct.
A key change includes reducing the building’s height from 23.1 metres to 18.55 metres, a decrease of 4.55 metres. This adjustment creates a lower sense of scale, enabling seamless integration and reducing visual dominance within the Brisbane River and Waterfront Brisbane Precinct setting.
“A primary reason for lowering the building height is to enhance the public realm and pedestrianfriendly environment the development aims to create, encouraging people to use the space. This reduction has enabled architectural redesign opportunities to increase natural light, ventilation, and relocate supporting internal infrastructure like vents and plants that were previously located on the Roof,” planners stated.
The Pavilion will be a focal point, connecting a variety of restaurants, cafés, bars, and shops through terraces, stairs, and landscaped gardens. Positioned in front of Waterfront Place, it aims to blend seamlessly with its riverside location.
The redesign by FJC Studio prioritises sustainability and subtropical design principles, with integrated landscaping and a roofline that extends outward to provide shade and safety barriers. This thoughtful approach ensures greater setbacks from the river while creating additional landscaped areas above the Riverwalk.
The council submission notes that the development aims to feature a modern and distinctive architectural style, reflecting Brisbane’s subtropical climate and incorporating sustainable elements. It also mentions that the Pavilion’s design thoughtfully integrates with the heritage-listed Naldham House, ensuring harmony between the old and the new.
Read: End Draws Near: Eagle Street Pier to Give Way to New Waterfront Brisbane Development
The updated Pavilion plans are part of the broader Waterfront Brisbane project, which aims to revitalise the riverside with two towers, a new Riverwalk, and moorings. While the Riverwalk has been temporarily closed for construction, it is expected to partially reopen in 2026. The first tower is slated for completion by 2028.
The redevelopment of this prominent stretch of the Brisbane River, located between the Kangaroo Point Bridge and Howard Smith Wharves, is already generating excitement. The Pavilion’s enhanced design and functionality are poised to make it a centrepiece of the precinct, offering a dynamic mix of leisure and retail spaces that reflect Brisbane’s unique character and lifestyle.
Published 30-January-2025