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The 322.5-metre Q1 skyscraper in Gold Coast has been recognized as the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere since it was completed in 2005, but a development application submitted for a site just a few short blocks away could signal the end of its towering reign. Melbourne-based developer Orion International Group is proposing to build a pair of towers, with the tallest stretching 328 metres into the sky.
The $1.2 billion AUD Orion Towers — to span 103 and 76 storeys — would contain a number of uses. The subject site is currently home to a 1960s-era two-level motel and a small group of aging low-rise structures. The density of the property would be significantly amplified through the injection of 1,127 units, a 165-room five-star hotel, and five mixed-use podium levels, which renderings indicate could be draped with greenery. Retail on the ground floor of the podium, which wraps around a carved-out "urban canyon," will enhance the pedestrian experience. An interactive ring across this gap would display live information related to weather, events, and transit timetables.
Up on level 100, an enormous 680-square-metre full-floor penthouse will provide panoramic views of the Surfers Paradise cityscape. The highest restaurant in Australia is expected to be positioned on the floor above, opening up these tremendous views to the public. On the 49th level of both towers, indoor and outdoor residents' lounges are planned. A lush garden deck with five pools aims to provide tenants with plenty of options for swimming and sunbathing.
The Woods Bagot-designed tower would stand just shy of the prescribed height limit set out by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for buildings within a designated flight path. It would also eclipse other major projects proposed across the country recently, including the nearby Spirit, along with Melbourne's Australia 108 and Queensbridge Tower.
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