Platinum Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2023
272 Hedges Avenue Pedestal Architecture
by Rafael Contreras and Monica Earl
- A' Design Award 2023 Platinum Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- CLIENT: Contreras Earl Architecture
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 469,290
- Verification code 6AD12E15A6 · Verify this award
About 272 Hedges Avenue Pedestal Architecture
The two-story pedestal base of 272 Hedges Avenue in Gold Coast, Australia, brings a human scale to the residential tower and creates a contextual connection with the surroundings. As urbanization grows, it separates humans from nature. The pedestal merges the built and natural environments, improving the area and community. Advanced design techniques and products were used by Contreras Earl Architecture to create a biologically informed and digitally engineered design. The pedestal is a unique and site-specific solution that contributes to the evolution of architecture and urban development, benefiting inhabitants and the environment.
Rafael Contreras's 272 Hedges Avenue Pedestal Architecture emerges from the tradition of organic modernism that traces its lineage through the sculptural explorations of twentieth-century masters who sought to reconcile geometric order with natural fluidity. The work demonstrates remarkable technical achievement in its resolution of the perennial architectural challenge of grounding a vertical tower within its landscape context, here accomplished through a podium element whose continuously curving surfaces seem to grow organically from the earth while providing a visual and structural foundation for the rhythmic tower above. The horizontal emphasis of the stacked balcony bands creates a compelling visual rhythm that might evoke geological strata or ocean waves, an appropriate resonance given the work's coastal setting, while the careful modulation of the facade's depth through the projecting and receding curves generates a play of light and shadow that transforms throughout the day. Particularly noteworthy is the materiality transition between the warm, mineral-like concrete of the base and the cooler metallic cladding of the tower proper, establishing a dialogue between earthbound solidity and atmospheric lightness that enriches the experiential dimension of the architecture. The integration of landscape elements demonstrates sensitivity to the building's role as both object and environment, with the lawn's gentle topography and the careful placement of mature trees creating a mediated threshold between public realm and private domain. The glazed apertures at ground level, warmly illuminated from within, suggest transparency and welcome, humanizing the monumental scale through glimpses of habitable interior space. This work invites contemplation of how contemporary architecture might honor natural forms while celebrating the precision that engineered construction makes possible, and how buildings might achieve both iconic presence and gracious contextual response.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The two-story pedestal base of 272 Hedges Avenue in Gold Coast, Australia, brings a human scale to the residential tower and creates a contextual connection with the surroundings. As urbanization grows, it separates humans from nature. The pedestal merges the built and natural environments, improving the area and community. Advanced design techniques and products were used by Contreras Earl Architecture to create a biologically informed and digitally engineered design. The pedestal is a unique and site-specific solution that contributes to the evolution of architecture and urban development, benefiting inhabitants and the environment.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The Pedestal, comprising the ground floor and the first level, offers an exceptional range of residential facilities, including a dedicated concierge service, a resident lounge, a boardroom, a function room, a 15-meter heated swimming pool, a spa, a gym, a sauna, a hammam steam room, and treatment rooms. The external facade was designed to be transportable, utilizing 40-foot and 20-foot shipping containers that were transported from the Netherlands to Australia and assembled on-site.
- Tags
- monocoque, stainless steel, erosion, sand patterns, innovation, unique
- Production Technology
- The podium envelope is a 6-millimetre stainless-steel monocoque that supports the loads and enables the structure to be a singular, stand-alone sculpture. We tendered the production of the pedestal to stainless steel fabricators in Australia. They did not have the capability to manufacture the monocoque structure in stainless steel. We consequently tendered the production to CIG Architecture in The Netherlands, an expert in complex 3D-formed steel constructions. CIG used our 3D model to prefabricate the 120 panels at full scale, and pre-assembled them in its workshop in The Netherlands. Once received in Australia, the structure was fully assembled on-site. The originality and complexity of this design and execution will encourage local contractors to develop their skills, raising the level of stainless-steel fabrication in Australia.
- Design Challenge
- Our objective was to construct a podium that would serve as a link or intermediary between a towering edifice and the pedestrians. We devised a distinctive work of art that would serve as a warm greeting to visitors and provide a delightful user experience. The neighbourhood and general public have been exceedingly receptive to the concept, with individuals frequently stopping to admire the pedestal and appreciate the true impact of architectural design. The spectacle is indeed mesmerizing, leaving onlookers captivated by its sheer beauty.
- Project Duration
- In 2018, Contreras Earl Architecture was commissioned to design the interior and communal areas of the two-story pedestal base for the 272 Hedges Avenue tower in Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast, Australia. The project reached completion in 2022. Situated in an exceptional location, 272 Hedges Avenue offers an unparalleled experience of architectural sophistication and luxury amenities. Soaring 44 stories above the beach, this residential tower represents a pivotal point in the region's urban landscape, serving as the southern demarcation of the high-density zone. Drawing inspiration from the organic patterns created by wind and water on rocks and sand, the Pedestal design imbues a human scale to the project and establishes a stunning sculptural connection with the surrounding streetscape and parklands.
- Operation Flow
- Our design approach emphasizes the connection between architecture and nature. Nature provides solutions to many design challenges and inspires us to study biology and natural systems for new ideas. We use advanced techniques like computational parametric modeling, cutting-edge technology, and inventive fabrication to create novel designs. The organic design of the pedestal benefits pedestrians and the beachside area, connecting the natural and built environments. The stainless-steel skin can be touched and appreciated for its intricate details. The façade's subtle curvatures resemble wind patterns on sand and the interior evokes a naturally eroded rock cave. The pedestal's human scale and artistic design enhances the tower's beauty as a work of art. This type of contextual and sensitive architecture can improve people's lives and the future development of urban areas.
- Research
- We hold the view that it was imperative to employ a distinctive material that would enable us to produce an intriguing reflection of the environment, characterized by a specific dynamism such as the presence of vegetation and high pedestrian traffic. The utilization of Stainless steel presented a considerable challenge, given that builders and clients typically adhere to conventional materials and customary fabrication techniques. Nevertheless, the endeavour was deemed worthwhile. The monocoque panels underwent manufacturing and pre-assembly in the Netherlands' factory and were subsequently transported to Australia. The on-site assembly was completed swiftly as all quality control measures had already been executed at the factory.
- Inspiration
- Biologically informed and digitally engineered, the contoured design acknowledges nature’s extraordinary sculptors: the wind and ocean. The facade is a stainless-steel monocoque structure that is original and complex in its conception, design and execution. The subtle curvatures resemble the crests and erosion of wind on sand, while the interior alludes to a rock cave naturally eroded by the ocean. The innovative and advanced architecture is imbued with warmth, soul and artistry.
- Image Credits
- IMAGE #1: Photographer: Peter Sexty, 2022
IMAGE #2: Photographer: Peter Sexty, 2022
IMAGE #3: Photographer: Peter Sexty, 2022
IMAGE #4: Photographer: Peter Sexty, 2022
IMAGE #5: Photographer: Peter Sexty, 2022
Video Credits:
Video: Filmed by - Hutchinson Builders, 2022
Editor: Dwayne Liu, 2022