There was a single idea most important to the developers of Australia 108, redefine the term ‘Cloud Living’ in the Southern Hemisphere. It did so by staking its claim as the tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere and we’re taking a look inside. And before you ask, Q1 Tower in Surfers Paradise has an overall height of 322.5 metres (which is 3-metre taller than Australia 108), however, it’s topped by a spire that’s over 90-metres tall, meaning its roof height is only 245 metres above the ground. We don’t know about you, but that’s cheating in our eyes.
“The task was to create something really unique for Melbourne in an apartment offer that hadn’t been done before. We really focused on the liveability of the apartments, wanting the spaces to enable a fantastic panorama to take in the view of the Melbourne skyline,” said Director of Architecture, Chris McCue.
Australia 108 Stats
Height: 318.7 metres (tallest by roof height)
Levels: 100
Apartments: 1,105 apartments
Designer: Fender Katsalidis (exterior), Carr Design (interior)
Developer: Singaporean developer, World Class Global
Builder: Multiplex
Cost: $1 billion
Designing Australia 108
The exterior of Australia 108 features a large golden star that protrudes 6-metres out from each side and has been cantilever set between levels 70 and 71 of the building. It’s a stunning highlight that houses the Star Club (more on that below), but we also love the white bands that wrap around the building’s smooth, ribbed design. Anything above level 91 of the building is said to put you above the clouds.
“Australia 108 is a highly sculptural residential tower unlike any other in Australia. Its slender form is highlighted at the Cloud Residences levels by a golden Starburst expression and then morphs into a curvaceous profile against the sky. The Starburst which contains the resident facilities is inspired by the Commonwealth Star on the Australian flag and is an obvious celebration of the sense of community within the building,” said Fender Katsalidis director Karl Fender OAM.
Related: Saudi Arabia’s $1 Trillion ‘Mirror Line’ Will be the World’s Longest Skyscraper.
The engineering involved in building a mega-structure such as Australia 108 is mind-numbing. For example, how does one overcome wind? They do it by installing a 300,000-litre precast concrete tuned liquid column damper tank between the 98th floor and the underside of the penthouse level. While not necessary structurally, this benefits the feeling of the occupants and removes some side-to-side sway. For more information about the engineering involved in building Australia 108, we highly recommend reading Create Digital’s interview here.
Amenities Inside Australia 108
It only makes sense that the tallest residential building in Australia would also be home to the largest residential amenity in Melbourne, and it all starts when you enter the Sky Lobby with a hotel-style Porte-cochere. Cloud Residence owners are welcomed into the Cloud Lobby with marble fixtures and decadent lighting that fills the room. Of course, mail and bookings are taken care of by the full-time concierge available at both the Sky Lobby and Cloud Lobby.
Levels 70 and 71 of the residence are home to the 2,800 square metre Star Club which offers full 360-degree views of the city from 210-metres above the ground (Sydney Tower stands at 309-metres for reference). The club is home to the aptly named Sky Gym, 5-metre heated indoor Sky Pool, yoga and pilates studios, virtual golf and bar and lounge areas. It’s housed in the star that surrounds the building.
Cloud Residence owners (images below) are offered exclusive access to a private section in the Star Club, reserved for VIPs. Think private infinity pools that overlook the city, gym, yoga and pilates studios, lounges and dining rooms, a VIP private cinema and more.
Head on down to level 11 and guests will find even more on offer with another private cinema, indoor pool, and even private dining rooms to host intimate dinner parties with your family and friends. Those who are looking to break a sweat will also find a state-of-the-art gym with cardio equipment, weights areas, yoga zones, a sauna and a steam room. The amenities on offer at Australia 108 are endless and truly reflect the grandiose nature of the residence.
How Much Does an Apartment in Australia 108 Cost?
So you’ve heard about the VIP benefits of a Cloud Residence at Australia 108? In December 2020, a number of premium apartments hit the market, with prices ranging between $1.9 Million for a three-bedroom space and up to $5.6 Million for a Nova sub-penthouse on level 97. The largest penthouse fetched around $25 Million. More information on Australia 108 can be found via the link below.
Q1 on the Gold Coast is technically taller than Australia 108 due to its spires on top, however, Australia 108 has a taller roof height. 319 m to tip vs. 322 m to tip.
Australia 108 is home to 100 levels, floors, storeys.
Australia 108 houses 1,105 apartment residences. They cost upwards of $1.57 Million according to their website.
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