TOWER PLAN SCRAPPED
Futuristic tower plan ‘reduced’
Plans for a futuristic ‘Blade Runner’ tower in Main Beach have been scrapped, with developers proposing to instead build a building less than half its height
PLANS for a futuristic Main Beach tower inspired by a classic science fiction film set in the year 2019 have been scrapped in favour of a modern 2018-style building.
The stunning silver 47-storey tower was unveiled two years ago by the Winten Property Group to represent “a notion of a utopian city of the future”, with a design based on those featured in the iconic 1982 Ridley Scott film Blade Runner.
Despite being approved by council last year, the developer has filed a new application to replace the giant tower with one less than half its size.
Under plans filed with the council this week, Winten hopes to build a 21storey tower on a site nestled between Peak and Woodroffe Aves, just a short walk from Tedder Ave.
The new design features 132 bedrooms, with seven units on each floor.
According to a report filed with the council, the new design features a “reduced visual impact” compared to the “sci-fi” design, and would require less demand for inground services such as water and sewerage.
Real Estate Institute of Queensland board member John Newlands said the change in design potentially related to changes in the market.
“Trimming down the design could be a cost-saving measure as well as the results of the market being restudied,” he said.
“Something like this would offer a bigger unit with lower density and be more suited to the owner-occupier market.
“There is a solid market for that sort of thing where people are coming out of waterfront homes and wanting something in a great location.”
Blade Runner starred Harrison Ford and was set in the year 2019 in Los Angeles, where the city’s skyline featured giant towers and pyramidlike buildings.
It followed Ford’s character, a special police officer known as a blade runner, who hunted robots – known as replicants – that appeared human.
The futuristic tower had also taken inspiration from the work of a famed early 20th century architect, Hugh Ferriss.
The intent of the design was to capture the “metropolis of tomorrow” and a “futuristic city”.
Under the original proposal, the mixed-use project would have had four levels of basement parking, a sixlevel hotel, 10 floors of serviced apartments and 30 storeys of residential offerings for a total of 250 units.
The developer pitched it to the Gold Coast City Council as a “unique landmark project” that would revitalise tourism in Main Beach and “bring a new contemporary luxury living experience”.
Council planning boss Cr Cameron Caldwell said the project would be assessed when it went before the planning committee later this year.