The tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere is being planned for Melbourne's CBD by the most famous architecture locally, Nonda Katsalidis.
MELBOURNE- His building is already difficult to avoid. Anyone walking along the Yarra River can only be impressed by the Eureka Tower which dominates Southbank. Eureka Tower, built by Melbourne architect Nonda Katsalidis (Architecture Cabinet Fender Katsalidis), is already the highest building in the Southern Hemisphere, cumulating at 300 metres since 2006. However, a new skyscraper from the same architect could by 2017 dwarf the Eureka Tower.
The Australia 108 Tower is due to become the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, cumulating at a height of 388 metres and comprising 108 storeys. If approved, the skyscraper will be the 18th-tallest in the world.
The 388m structure will feature 600 apartments, a two-storey lobby on the 83rd and 84th floor boasting bars and restaurants, and a 228-room hotel with a sky-deck on top have been added to the initial proposal. It will be built just next to the Eureka on Southbank.
The building is due to be built in only four years, largely by using prefabricated structural sections, a technology developed by the architect’s firm. For both architects Fender and Katsalidis, Australia 108 is the right building at the right place to become Melbourne’s new icon.
“The idea of a significant building is a very good thing for Melbourne,” Karl Fender told the TV channel Seven News.”We’re interested in building on Melbourne as the most liveable city.”
Nonda Katsalidis added: “The hotel will mean that people can actually go up and enjoy the building. It becomes open to the public. It makes it an accessible building rather than an enclosed residential enclave.” Public consultation has already been conducted with 3,000 local residents and businesses. Permission was granted in 2010 for an apartment block with a 288 m-height. The new skyscraper will now need a new planning application.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
