Consolidated Properties’ Spire Residences tower has just installed a 12-metre sculpture by renowned artist Peter Hennessey, partner of artist Patricia Piccinini who recently showed her Curious Affection display at the Gallery of Modern Art.
While Piccinini is best known for her unusual animal-human hybrid creations, Hennessey has celebrated Spire Residence’s artistic design by installing a four storey “floral vine” in the foyer, which symbolises the building’s “roots in the past and vision for the future”. Peter says the sculpture Spiral Uplift is one of his most complex works to date. “It’s a very detailed piece of work – I wanted to make it so that every time people look at it they see something different, and the dynamics of the sculpture change depending on where it is viewed from,” Peter says. “The artwork can be interpreted as a dance between nature and modern technology, and how one does not need to dominate the other. In fact, the combination of these elements – organic and built, old and new – is what makes this artwork – and the Spire Residences building, so unique and visually spectacular.” The sculpture is complemented by several portraits throughout the building by photographer Justin Nicholas of the builders who helped to bring Spire Residences to life – once again connecting the past with the present and future – as the images are expected to remain in the building indefinitely.
Spire Residences, which sits at the northern gateway to Brisbane’s business centre, has recently been named the winner of the Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing accolade at the Queensland Architecture Awards, which places the building alongside past winners of the award that have all contributed positively to the Brisbane skyline.
Spire Residences is surrounded by heritage buildings, which inspired John Wardle Architects to design the building’s brick podium. Architect Bill Krotiris says Spire Residences speaks to both the cultural aspect of its surroundings and its taller, contemporary companions which form part of Brisbane’s “new” CBD. “Spire Residences has a unique position within Brisbane’s Cathedral precinct, meaning residents’ views remain unimpeded in varying orientations. Spire itself is seamless with its connection to the adjacent heritage buildings of St John’s Cathedral and the Orient Hotel,” Bill said. “The sloping brick podium has been modeled to allow a colour continuum at the streetscape level and reveals the entry to the popular Spice Den restaurant. The tower form of the building includes a ‘veil’ providing a distinctive façade in this significant gateway location. This element helps to frame city and river views.”
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