Building the Southern Hemisphere's Highest Residences | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Melbourne's skyline has seen a rise in residential skyscrapers, with Australia 108 set to become the tallest building in the city.

Key Insights

• 💥 Melbourne has experienced a skyscraper boom, with residential towers dominating the skyline.
• 😫 Australia 108 is set to become Melbourne's tallest building and the highest residence in the southern hemisphere.
• 🙂 The facade of Australia 108 features a distinct starburst element and LED lights, providing a striking visual display.
• 💨 The tower's unique design elements contribute to its stability and response to extreme wind loads.
• 🌏 The penthouse on the 100th floor of Australia 108 holds the record for the most expensive apartment purchased in Australia.
• 🌱 Future plans for a landmark tower near Australia 108 could potentially surpass its height.
• 👷 Australia 108's construction showcases engineering challenges and innovative solutions.

Transcript

while skyscrapers were home to commercial office space for much of the 20th century the pressures of our ever-expanding urban populations have driven a rise in residential towers over recent decades in Melbourne a skyscraper boom has transformed the skyline and 2/3 of the city's skyscrapers now serve residential purposes the largest of these Austra... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What caused the redesign of Australia 108 from a mixed-use tower to a residential one?

Australia 108 was initially planned as a mixed-use tower but had to be redesigned for residential use due to flight path restrictions of a nearby airport.

Q: How were the foundations of Australia 108 constructed?

The foundations were constructed by boring piles to a depth of 46 meters after spending nine months in the historically swampy area of Melbourne's South Bank.

Q: What unique features contribute to the stability of Australia 108?

The tower's rounded facade and large curves help disrupt wind loads, while a liquid column damping system counteracts lateral loads and minimizes movement for occupants.

Q: How is Australia 108 being developed?

The tower is being developed in five distinct phases, with completed floors handed over early and a 20-story buffer space between occupied and under-construction floors to ensure resident comfort.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Australia 108, originally planned as a hotel and residential tower, was redesigned for residential use and approved in 2014.

• The foundations of Australia 108 presented engineering challenges due to the swampy area of South Bank.

• The tower's unique features include a rounded facade to disrupt wind loads, a liquid column damping system for stability, and a distinct starburst element housing amenities.