City surprises with a skyhigh love for architecture

GOLD Coast, you do surprise me. While it seems every community group, local social media page and sign plastered along our suburban streets advertises its hatred for high-rise buildings, apparently our skyscrapers are the subject of some secret love.

According to the Gold Coast/Northern Rivers 2022 Australian Institute of Architects’ Regional Architecture Awards, it’s none other than a high-rise that has won the People’s Choice Award.

Bulletin readers were invited to join in the vote for their favourite local design from a stellar shortlist, and the 26-level Bela building by RotheLowman Architects, on Peerless Ave, Mermaid Beach, was the winner.

And Bela didn’t just sneak over the line, she smashed it with almost half of the vote from the 18-strong list.

This shows that in the battle to provide our city with more housing supply and density while retaining our beachside charm, there is a solution.

And that solution is great design. As architect Shaun Carter from Carter Williamson Architect says: “Where there is constraint, the architectural profession finds opportunity.”

Sometimes it’s the urban challenge that produces the best results for the city – whether that’s meeting the demand for high-density, affordability or urban renewal.

This is proof that, by using great design, we can create housing that doesn’t just look good, but actually does good.

With this award-winner, everyone in the neighbourhood is a winner.

As our city continues to grow, we’re destined to face ever more challenges when it comes to housing our booming population. Already the days of quarter-acre, single family homes are all but over for this city. But whether you love or hate high-rises or fear social housing or just change in general, the future can still look good if we invest in great design. You just might be pleasantly surprised.

Published online by the Gold Coast Bulletin