Situated just six kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, Hamilton Reach is set on prime land, nestled between 550 metres of river frontage and the Royal Queensland Golf Club. This mixed residential design incorporates 159 apartments and terrace homes that capture the sub-tropical environment and invite a relaxed, peaceful lifestyle.
Built by Tomkins Commercial, the River Homes at Hamilton Reach are a prestige residential development that connects luxury lifestyle to the unique surrounding landscape. They required a superior and sustainably-managed timber that would blend into the environment, yet stand out as an architectural talking point. The specifications of the design called for Boral shiplap cladding in Blackbutt timber, renowned for its durability and modern look. Justin Scobie, National Account Manager, Boral, managed the project. “The Blackbutt shiplap has a recess in the board which resembles a square groove. When the boards are placed together, this groove creates lines across the finished surface, which has proven a very popular profile with architects and designers,” noted Scobie.
Timber is the true highlight of this building. The River Homes were determined to showcase quality Australian wood species. Boral liaised closely with the timber supplier and builder in providing all the external cladding required for this enormous project. Oiled Blackbutt shiplap cladding covers an extensive portion of the front façade, including the balconies and eaves. “We were heavily involved at a site level, working out the installation methodology, and site-specific requirements for the build, for example, running the product vertically,” commented Scobie.
The rear façade of the building is also covered in Blackbutt shiplap cladding, which was primed and painted. “This highlights the calibre of the build as Blackbutt shiplap is rarely painted over due to the premium nature of the product. They were able to maintain the integrity of the same product across the entire building, without compromising quality for aesthetic,” praised Scobie.
Hamilton is one of the most affluent suburbs in Queensland, bordering the Brisbane River and Northshore Riverside Park. The River Homes at Hamilton Reach both connect with and embrace these magnificent natural assets, with residents able to enjoy blue and green vistas which create a sense of space, right in the heart of inner city Brisbane.
This unique location wasn’t without its challenges, as space was limited. The installers were concerned with the logistics of unpacking and oiling the product on a busy site. Boral Timber was able to offer a solution; pre-oiling the timber in the factory before delivery. “We removed the need for the builders to allocate large space to unpack and oil the timber. They were able to install the product straight from the pack. This also prevented double-handling the product,” commented Scobie.
Hamilton Reach is an integral part of The Northshore Hamilton Urban Development Area, one of Australia’s largest and most exciting urban renewal projects.