Upper House

Upper House is a breath-taking new residential tower in South Brisbane, designed by Koichi Takada Architects with Michael Bale & Associates and delivered by Minicon. The organic ‘timber ribbon’ façade draws inspiration from the Morreton Bay Fig.

The project’s lush double-storey resident amenities offer 1,000m2 of world-class space designed to foster interaction, build a sense of community and enhance wellbeing. Situated across from Brisbane River the facade elements curve up the building bending in two directions before twisting to become a shaded rooftop pergola.

Theca Timber was engaged from the outset, collaborating closely with Minicon during the tender phase to advise on the most cost-effective method for realising the concept design. Ongoing collaboration with Koichi Takata Architects resulted in a glue-laminated timber (GLT) pergola made of slim, load-bearing ribs, featuring double-and triple-bent elements fabricated with a 3D special technology from our European partners.

Sustainable European Larch was selected for its durability and over 1.6km or larch purlins were used for shading.

To complement the façade and pergola elements Theca Timber designed and supplied two distinctive 9-meter-tall structures, known as The Nests. Positioned on the 32nd floor of the tower, The Nests are rounded timber sculptures that form a suspended lounge over the pool, designed from bent Ash Tree elements. Further to the scope above, Theca Timber was awarded the design and supply of two 9mt tall unique structures, called The Nests. Positioned at the 32nd floor of the tower, The Nests are timber rounded platforms forming a suspended parlour on top of the pool area, surrounded by an intricated freeform mesh of Ash Tree timber providing shelter and privacy.