A new residential development application has been filed for a nine-story apartment building at 68 Browning Street in South Brisbane, featuring 27 three-bedroom units and a rooftop communal area. The project, submitted by Browning St Projects Pty Ltd, includes architectural designs by Plus Studio and planning documentation prepared by Mewing Planning Consultants.
The proposed development would occupy an 898-square-meter corner lot at the intersection of Browning Street and Sorrento Lane, positioned adjacent to two local heritage properties known as Tolarno and Sorrento. The application has been classified as an impact assessable proposal, requiring additional review processes due to its scope and location.
The architectural design aims to replace an existing dwelling with a modern residential building that integrates seamlessly into South Brisbane's emerging high-density urban environment. The building incorporates curved architectural forms, recessed upper levels, articulated floor slabs, and planted facade elements intended to create a softened and sculpted appearance when viewed from both Browning Street and Sorrento Lane.
Despite being technically nine stories plus a rooftop level when measured from the site's highest elevation point, the building presents as eight stories from both street frontages due to the strategic recession of upper levels. This design approach demonstrates respect for the adjacent heritage properties through carefully considered setbacks, architectural shaping, and landscape integration.
The proposed tower features several distinctive architectural elements, including sculpted and scalloped floor plates with slender slab projections, curved corner treatments designed to soften the building's bulk along heritage property interfaces, and vertical and horizontal rhythms achieved through alternating balcony forms and recesses. The design also incorporates 1,100-millimeter-deep facade planters on Level 1 and podium levels to deliver subtropical greenery, with larger deep planting areas strategically positioned at the site's corners.
Site coverage ranges from 83 percent at ground level to between 56 and 62 percent within the tower levels, supported by 261 square meters of landscaping distributed across the site. Deep planting zones total 87 square meters, contributing to the development's environmental integration goals.
The rooftop communal area represents a key amenity feature, offering indoor recreation space, outdoor dining areas, barbecue facilities, soft landscaping, and perimeter planting that frames views toward the Central Business District and surrounding neighborhood areas. This communal space is designed to serve all 27 residential units in the building.
Vehicle access would be consolidated to Browning Street, eliminating the existing driveway connection to Sorrento Lane and reducing traffic impacts on neighboring small-lot residential properties. On-site servicing accommodations include a loading bay capable of accepting medium rigid and refuse collection vehicles. The development proposes 50 car parking spaces, comprising 48 resident spaces and 2 visitor spaces, along with 34 bicycle parking spaces distributed across the basement and ground levels.
The comprehensive landscape plan proposes heavily vegetated street frontages and podium edges, featuring prominent trees along Browning Street, deep planting zones at the site's corners, and a series of podium planters with varying depths of 400 millimeters, 1,100 millimeters, and 3,100 millimeters. The design also incorporates vertical greenery and cascading plant species along facade edges to enhance the building's environmental integration.
Sustainability features include passive design elements and facade shading for energy efficiency, a dedicated refuse room with compactor and baler equipment, an underground stormwater treatment tank for water conservation, and 1,557 square meters of landscaping including green facade elements and rooftop planting. The development also emphasizes active transportation with 47 bicycle parking spaces and pedestrian spine connections.
The building will reach approximately 48.5 meters in height and include one elevator serving all residential units, creating a lift-to-unit ratio of 1:27. No retail space is proposed as part of the development, maintaining its purely residential character. The development application was submitted in November 2025 and is currently undergoing the impact assessment review process.
