This building is far too tall to fly under the radar even for Brisbane. A thirty story tower outside the CBD should have its own thread - no matter how un-attractive.

Madison Heights | 30st | 115.2m
Corner of Mayne Road, Campbell Street, Hazelmount Street

Developer: Metro Property Developments
Use: [Residential: 286 Apartments] | [Retail: 6 Tenancies]
DA#: DEV2010/099
http://madisonheightsbowenhills.com.au/

http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt280/Dr_Marty/madisonheights1.jpg

http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt280/Dr_Marty/madisonheights2.jpg

http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt280/Dr_Marty/madisonheights3.jpg
I walk and drive past this site quite often. It will make a huge difference to driving along the ICB. For me this is one of the most exciting developments in Brisbane at the moment. OK it isn't a great looking building, but its tall and will re-define Brisbane's skyline pushing the boundaries into unknown territory. Already there are proposals for towers surrounding it. As a town planner this is a really interesting area.

^^ hopefully nicer buildings will be built around it to take focus off :)

Is this the big one going up over there at the moment? At Soundwave over the weekend, I noticed a big one in that general direction but wasn't sure which it was. If that is Madison Heights, you're right, it's certainly noticeable!

Excavation has only just begun. This is about 3 times the height of the current construction there.

^^ Ahh ok. Then which one is the big U/C going up there at the moment? Looking at Marty's map, I'm thinking The Chelsea, but I only saw it from a distance...

Yep. That's the one.

Any updates? The hole is getting deep now. Won't be too long hopefully before at least one crane is on site.

Its auroras shorter uglier sister

ive added this baby to CTBUH. everyone knows about it now ;)

ive added this baby to CTBUH. everyone knows about it now ;)

Cool. Well be sure and let you know when the one next door to this starts construction as its about the same height.

i don't think the design is bad at all. better than Soul :)

lol

Has anyone seen the excavation for this? They are pretty deep now but what surprised me is that there is a house complete with garden at 10 Hurwurth Street which is virtually an island in the sky. Looks quite crazy sat there by itself.

^^ I haven't seen it in person, but I just had a look on nearmap (so good to have it updated again) and I see what you mean! From what I can tell, the Madison Heights site wraps around that block but excludes it. Whoever lives there will have the building to the west and south, and what I imagine will be the carpark entry to the north!

iirc, the house is used as an office for an engineering company

Its like what they do in China when a well connected landowner refuses to sell up. The density in that shot looks amazingly low, so to see this 30 level tower in the middle will be kinda cool.

From the Madison website:

http://madisons.rocpaperscissors.com.au/cam/processed/IMG_0141.JPG

The residents won't have far to go for their morning Courier Mail - they print them literally across the road!

The residents won't have far to go for their morning Courier Mail - they print them literally across the road!

it's printed at murrarie

^^ Of course they do! How did I forget that! It's a Friday, my brain has shut down for the week apparently! They're put together across the road.

Looked like some action on the site today. From the ICB there appeared to be something sticking out of the site and a mobile crane over it. Could this could be the first crane under construction ?? :banana:

Wow, that is UGLY

Oh this is nothing... you should see what is emerging from The Chelsea scaffolding as it's unwrapped.

Crikey heck. It's foul.

Not much in the way of design standards in Bowen Hills at the moment. Density on the other hand...

great looking building.

Oh this is nothing... you should see what is emerging from The Chelsea scaffolding as it's unwrapped.

Crikey heck. It's foul.

Well Madison and the one next door will both be nearly double the height of Chelsea (both Metro properties). Fortunately there should be some ground level activity to revitalise the area.

^^ I hope we'll see better activation that what we got in Petrie Bight! For an area with the state's largest residential tower (for now at least), it is still one of the most dead areas in town!

^^ I hope we'll see better activation that what we got in Petrie Bight! For an area with the state's largest residential tower (for now at least), it is still one of the most dead areas in town!

I hope your right. It will be interesting to see what the extra traffic does to the area once the overpass to the tunnel & Gympie road opens. It could make the area more valuable to retailers.

Interesting to note: Infinity Tower (now) is roughly the same height as the completed Madison Heights will be. So this will stick out quite a bit.

Crane is up.

As a point of interest, the house which is left on its little island whilst this project goes on around it is actually still in private hands.

David Devine offered the owner $3M for the house and he knocked it back. The value is a little over $1M, so it was an amazing offer. As a result, the project went ahead like this. Guy who owns the house contacted David Devine 9 months later saying he wanted to sell but the project was already planned and proceeding so there was no sale.

Now the guy has a 30st tower on 3 sides to reduce the property value even further. What a twit.

As promised an update for Culwulla’s diagram.

I snapped this coming out of the airport link tunnel portal in Bowen Hills yesterday. The area was a hive of activity.

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7640/mad1g.jpg

As you can see the core is well above the roadway

Shame it's in such a prominent position.

at least this building sets a precedent.

It's the first building outside the CBD to be 100m+ and actually under construction.

The bowen hills/valley skyline will actually be quite prominent in a couple of years time.

at least this building sets a precedent.

It's the first building outside the CBD to be 100m+ and actually under construction.

The bowen hills/valley skyline will actually be quite prominent in a couple of years time.

Pity it will have the aesthetic appeal of the Berlin wall.

at least this building sets a precedent.

It's the first building outside the CBD to be 100m+ and actually under construction.

The bowen hills/valley skyline will actually be quite prominent in a couple of years time.

I think its the second actually. There is one in Spring Hill (near Woolworths) which is over 100m

The Republic? That is around 90m....and I would hardly call that outside of the CBD.

And Chapman...your comments just back mine up further.

The Republic? That is around 90m....and I would hardly call that outside of the CBD.

And Chapman...your comments just back mine up further.

Mantra on Queen. Spring Hill

^^ Mantra is in the CBD, not Spring Hill. Wickham Terrace is the boundary between the two, with Turbot Street becoming the boundary when the two connect. The boundary between Spring Hill and the valley on the other hand I don't think is quite so apparent...

^^ Mantra is in the CBD, not Spring Hill. Wickham Terrace is the boundary between the two, with Turbot Street becoming the boundary when the two connect. The boundary between Spring Hill and the valley on the other hand I don't think is quite so apparent...

Ahh true. I'm sure when it was built it was in Spring Hill. Perhaps when they moved tho post-code boundaries & renamed Brisbane they included it in City or whatever it's called now. Looks like it runs up Perry La.

Jayt, even if it is technically Spring Hill, are you honestly saying you believe that is outside the CBD?

yeah look I know what you mean, it's ugly and it's gonna create a stigma against tall suburban buildings. Also it might create a precedent of getting away with crap...

I just hope that this building shows other developers what the council are willing to approve and more tall buildings pop up around the inner city. Fingers crossed we'll get some better designs in future.

Today

http://i.imgur.com/j4TQK.jpg

Cheers Jesse. It's starting to get up there, for better or worse. I wonder how the guy around the corner is feeling now?

i can't wait to see what you guys think of this.........

I fear this project.

That photo is probably the best it's going to look. Ever.

its mid november, updates anyone??

Its getting up there...

Here you go Cul: http://madisonheightsbowenhills.com.au/index.php/construction/

It may not be attractive, but it's 90% sold apparently!

Metro are certainly doing something right: The Chelsea: Sold Out, Madison Heights: 90% Sold, The Plaza South Brisbane: 83% Sold, Brooklyn On Brookes: 82% Sold... they'll be laughing all the way to the bank!

People think that the apartment market is bad... its not actually that bad if you have the right product. Eg if you are Mirvac and trying to sell Park at Newstead or Multiplex's Promenade then its not so good.

Metro have the right product at the right price in the right areas, although I do fear that Bowen Hills (which to some is already oversupplied) will become even worse because of Central Village.

South Brisbane is the bomb and its only going to get better and better.

Soul, you should probably do a bit of reading and check the stats and trends. The apartment market is indeed very bad, as is attested to by near everyone. To claim it is not bad is actually an outrageous statement. I can't fathom what you're on about.

And don't use Metro's sales figures to push your point because they report them deceptively. They have been claiming the 90% figure for a long time on Madison, even when sales were way, way below that. If you read the fine print with a lawyer's hat on you'll see it immediately. They are releasing the apartments in stages - small bundles of just a few at a time - and they claim 90% sold when 90% of the latest stage is gone (ie 9 of 10) with more stages to be released. It's a marketing game and it's dishonest.

Marty I work in residential project sales for inner city apartments and I know exactly how the market is going first hand.

I'm not at all saying its all rosy out there however there are a significant amount of projects (a number which I'm working on now) which are doing quite well in the current market.

^^ agent spin??

Place Projects Market Report - Inner Brisbane Apartments - September Quarter 2012 (http://www.placeprojects.com.au/media/30142/Inner%20Brisbane%20Apartment%20Market%20Report%20-%20September%20QTR%202012.pdf)

BEEN MONTHS UPDATE??

If you find the Saturday real estate & home section It shows Madison heights Halfway up
With the Article Reach for the sky

BEEN MONTHS UPDATE??

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/7109/84179336.jpg

BEEN MONTHS UPDATE??

Also keep an eye on this thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1448200&page=18) for stuff happening in the Valley and Bowen Hills. Sometimes we just dump updates in there rather than in the specific threads, and there are a few for this one there too.

Great photo PeterJackson!

I think this was the building I saw coming northbound through the ICB Tunnel the other day. There was a building UC that was starting to look imposing on the skyline for the area, and I thought at the time it must have been this one.

^^ Yeah, probably this one. At ground level, it's very imposing!

my eyes!! the goggles do nothing!!

Normally I find it quite horrible to look at, but that picture doesn't look that bad to be honest.

I like this building so far, I love its position and I think it'll turn out great. Here is an update from today, looks impressive from the ICB.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8514774613_f22ea356af_c.jpg

Um... The last two pics are of the hospital construction.

And the first one is horrific beyond description.

Ahahaha sorry i'll edit and try and find appropriate thread.

MYYYYY EYEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!

MYYYYY EYEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!

Think of it as a bit of culture..... Direct from Communist Russian Siberia.

Think of it as a bit of culture..... Direct from Communist Russian Siberia.

Exactly what i thought!!!

Don't all towers look ugly before the cladding goes on?

Looks like their planning a nice lime green and white paint scheme for this one....classy!

Don't all towers look ugly before the cladding goes on?

Cladding on a David Devine property is paint.

Cladding on a David Devine property is paint.

or in the case of the chelsea, nothing

^^ Actually, half of Chelsea has been painted (surprisingly...)

oh really?? got any photos?

I think I took one a couple of weekends ago, I'll try and find it tonight.

Uglifiers at it again. Awful. Awful. Awful.

Of all places, have people here not learnt to wait to comment on a buildings aesthetics until it's actually complete???

Nope. I comment now. Renders are ugly. Concept is ugly. Orientation is ugly. Plans are ugly.

I would agree that this one is clearly going to be an eyesore.

Concerning The Chelsea, however, I was very pleased to note that it is in fact being painted at the moment. It's becoming fairly palatable.

I guess the hope is that other buildings will go up to the north and east of this thing to cover up its least attractive angles.

Looks like their planning a nice lime green and white paint scheme for this one....classy!

Lime green and white...

:badnews:

oh really?? got any photos?

Here the Chelsea as it looked back on the 17th Feb:

http://i.imgur.com/9ZMgZbA.jpg

And to make up for the off topic pic, here's Madison on that same day:

http://i.imgur.com/ISDHqTU.jpg

i think i actually like the chelsea more when it was unpainted.

The Chelsea's not TOO bad of a design... If they had have used different glazing, it would OK. Instead it looks like they've rounded up old shower screens from Kerbside collection...

^^ Agreed! Imagine if they had used the type of dark blue glazing going up on 103 Mary Street instead! It might have actually, dare I say it, looked good!

I really hope there's going to be a bit more street activation around here. Some cool restaurants, maybe some shops, as opposed to more fucking businesses with their glaxed windows and ZERO street appeal.

^^ It will come in time... more residential developments means more people, more people means more retail to cater to them. There is actually a cool little coffee shop, Milk Espresso Bar, built into one of the daggy old single story commercial buildings nearby, so it's already starting to change.

http://theweekendedition.com.au/wp-content/themes/theweekendedition.v.1.4.5/includes/timthumb.php?src=http://theweekendedition.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/milk-espresso-bar.jpg&zc=1&q=99&h=325&w=616

http://theweekendedition.com.au/wp-content/themes/theweekendedition.v.1.4.5/includes/timthumb.php?src=http://theweekendedition.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Milk-Espresso-Bar-3.jpg&zc=1&q=99&h=325&w=616

And of course the RNA is literally around the corner as well, so there will be the fresh food markets and retail associated with Showground Hill.

I really hope there's going to be a bit more street activation around here. Some cool restaurants, maybe some shops, as opposed to more fucking businesses with their glaxed windows and ZERO street appeal.

At least having an IGA in Madison will encourage people to walk around instead of getting in their car and driving to a supermarket.
There might be some activation spin off from that eventually.

a very far photo i took today for the Painted Chelsea - Not bad
http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/5967/55399564.jpg

some damn fine urban planning in that photo....

The Chelsea actually looks way better painted, turned out half respectable.

Yesterday I was coming back from burpengary with family i Noticed Madison Heights Rose two floors

From today. Looking good! /sarcasm

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8525/8620677885_77ec582749_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/onlyshallow/8620677885/)
Bowen Hills (http://www.flickr.com/photos/onlyshallow/8620677885/) by Quadripartite Landscape (http://www.flickr.com/people/onlyshallow/), on Flickr

sure dominates
looks huge

It wouldnt look out of place in North Korea http://varifrank.com/images/pyongyang.bmp

sure dominates
looks huge
Yip, I keep thinking this. I like it and I've got no reason why..

Just hideous.....thank god it's not going up in the Valley or Newstead where people actually go. Bowen Hills at least is like a ghost town most of the time so I think we can turn a blind eye to this one.

^^ Well, until Bowen Hills develops to a point that people do start going there and living there. I don't think it's that long away from starting to happen either... within 10 years easily.

^^ Well, until Bowen Hills develops to a point that people do start going there and living there. I don't think it's that long away from starting to happen either... within 10 years easily.

Yeah I hope so, coz it's location is great.

Towers like this, that are going to be a focal point because there is nothing much around them should be forced to spend more on their design than $1.50.

Whoever approved this:
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/spidey976/null_zps06e991fc.gif

^^ Could we theme it? Put in a couple of Korean restaurants and call it "Little Pyongyang"?

Brisbane Gangnam style?

Little Pyongyang, i count 20, 10 to go
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2832/82581176.jpg

Little Pyongyang, i count 20, 10 to go
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2832/82581176.jpg

BEAST!

hope this is the right thread

http://imageshack.us/scaled/large/844/mad03.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/844/mad03.jpg/)

http://imageshack.us/scaled/large/189/mad02.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/189/mad02.jpg/)

http://imageshack.us/scaled/large/600/mad01.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/600/mad01.jpg/)

It's towering over the RNA Showgrounds, that's for sure! From the weekend before last:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7432/8716425342_cc8b3c222c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76513211@N07/8716425342/)
P4260889 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76513211@N07/8716425342/) by Nathan Murray (http://www.flickr.com/people/76513211@N07/), on Flickr