Chris AshtonWith great power comes great responsibility. That was the advice given to Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, by his Uncle Ben. And yet, it rings true in so many areas of real life too. One is architecture. When done well, it has the power to inspire and amaze, to showcase the imagination and talent of its creators. When done poorly… we all know what happens.
So, it’s pleasing to see a new Melbourne skyscraper with a true understanding of this power and responsibility. Breaking ground sometime next year, Southbank by Beulah will not only be visually stunning but also feature the tallest vertical garden in the world.
Announced by award-winning property developer Beulah, the $2 billion tower will become Australia’s tallest tower at 365 metres high and include private residences, a five-star urban resort, public and green spaces, a rooftop sky garden and much more.
In total, Southbank by Beulah’s vertical garden will cover a space 5.5kms long. Beulah has engaged a world-class team to research and engineer the towering feat, which employs progressive and forward-thinking biophilic design to emulate nature through its gardens.
At its core, biophilic design is about humans’ innate attraction to nature, using concepts from the natural world to help us connect to it on a deeper level. Parkroyal on Pickering in Singapore is a good example of this, with its sweeping curves and cascades of greenery.
The twisting spines include a series of outdoor spaces and green elements along the façades of the two towers, paying homage to Melbourne’s title of The Garden City, symbolically bridging the iconic Royal Botanic Gardens with Melbourne’s Arts Precinct.
Beulah Executive Director Adelene Teh asys the ambitious development will give people an opportunity to connect with nature throughout the entirety of the two towers, across every level – extending from workspaces to hotel, retail and residential.
“With recent events highlighting the importance of a close connection to nature, beautiful, biophilic design is more important now than ever, particularly as Melburnians become more aware of the need for health and wellbeing,” says Adelene.
“We know that the inclusion of greenery, water, light and other natural elements within a built environment positively affects how people interact with the space and how they feel in the space, both mentally and physically. By offering lush, verdant spaces, guests and residents of Southbank by Beulah can enjoy an abundance of health benefits.”
Beulah has already begun a horticultural research to identify and develop the best plants and trees for the location of each planting bed. This includes placing mountain and coastal plants at higher levels, allowing them to thrive in northern sunlight and morning breeze, with large-leaf breeds placed at lower heights like that of their natural rainforest conditions.
Also taken into consideration is eliminating the risk of falling green material, with planting systems locking plants into planter beds and allowing for full abseiling maintenance.
Construction is expected to commence early next year and will take approximately 5 years to complete. For more info visit southbankbybeulah.com
