Inspired by the local conifers of Norfolk, this project by Koichi Takada is a sculptural building in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia. Decorated with organic forms reminiscent of pinecone scales, the building was designed for this 1,000-square-meter beachfront site at Goodwin Terrace at the southern end of Burleigh Heads Beach. Ten stories high, it houses fifteen flats, including two penthouses. The façade “refers to the inner workings of the Norfolk pines, a natural icon of the Gold Coast region,” Takada explains. “Just as their pinecones protect their seeds from the elements and open when in an ideal natural setting, Norfolk’s architecture can be adapted to protect residents from the elements or to welcome the 300 days of subtropical sunshine and the incredible natural environment.”
Lisa Agostini