Sierra Nuvo Apartments

Residential
ClientHighgate Hill Future Property
LocationHighgate Hill, QLD
Delivery Method Design and Construct
COMPLETION DATE2020

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Tomkins delivered Sierra Nuvo, a 44-apartment residential development at Highgate Hill in Brisbane, under a Design and Construct contract for Highgate Hill Future Property. Comprising six levels above two basement car parking levels, the development includes four bespoke penthouses and a mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments, all designed for owner-occupiers.

The project is defined by its Sky Garden at Levels 6 and 7: a rooftop entertainment precinct featuring a 16-metre infinity-edge pool, children’s wading area, sunken lounge, astro-turf recreation zone, two BBQ dining areas, a formal dining zone beneath aluminium feature arbours and tiered landscaped gardens with unobstructed views of Brisbane City.

Sierra Nuvo presents as a four-storey building at street level, with upper levels set back from the facade to reduce the perceived height and harmonise with the surrounding Highgate Hill neighbourhood.

The Highgate Hill site presented Tomkins with significant constraints from the outset. A previous contractor had completed initial excavation works prior to Tomkins’ engagement, leaving no useable land within the site boundary and limiting options for crane placement. The tower crane was positioned within the internal lightwell — an unconventional solution for a project of this scale — which required careful sequencing of structural pours, formwork design and scaffold to maintain safe construction conditions throughout the build.

The lightwell itself is an architectural centrepiece: a full-height internal void running from the ground floor lobby to the Sky Garden, providing natural light and ventilation to the building’s internal apartments. Bedrooms that back onto the lightwell incorporate glazed internal partitions and louvres to borrow light and meet the requirements of the Building Code of Australia.

The Sky Garden pools required innovative engineering to achieve the seamless flush-to-deck finish shown in the marketing renders. Both the infinity-edge pool and wading pool are fully suspended on Embleton springs, with the sunken lounge and adjacent planter boxes constructed as part of the pool shell and mounted on the same spring system. This allowed for a seamless wall and coping tile transition, removed the need for secondary walls and expansion joints and maintained concealed maintenance access below. The infinity edge trough also serves as the pool’s balance tank, eliminating the need for a separate tank.

The cantilevered Level 5 slab to Penthouse 503 was managed by leveraging the compression weight of the rooftop pool to counteract deflection, achieving a structurally sound outcome at the building’s most demanding corner.

Practical Completion was achieved one week ahead of the contract date and the project was delivered within the client’s budget following a value management process at project commencement that identified significant savings without compromising the architectural intent.

Dusk exterior view of Sierra Nuvo apartments with illuminated balconies and street frontage built by tomkins
Rooftop pool at dusk with Brisbane city skyline views at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins
Rooftop pool and sky garden with sunset views across Brisbane at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins
Large penthouse terrace with outdoor kitchen, glass balustrades and city outlook at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins
Penthouse living area opening onto a large terrace with district views at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins
Dining area opening to a balcony with Brisbane city skyline views at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins
Contemporary apartment kitchen with marble island bench and white cabinetry at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins
Miele Warehouse showroom display area featuring a washing machine product display and glazed frontage built by tomkins Angled exterior view of Miele Warehouse with red facade fins and warehouse frontage built by tomkins Aerial front view of Miele Warehouse at Brisbane Airport with car park, hardstand and runway surrounds built by tomkins Hero view of Miele Warehouse with red entry facade, Miele signage and aircraft above Brisbane Airport built by tomkins Front exterior view of Miele Warehouse with red architectural fins, Miele signage and entry glazing built by tomkins Site entry view of Miele Warehouse showing driveway access, water tank, red facade and secure fencing built by tomkins Close-up of Miele Warehouse facade with Miele signage, red fins and glazing built by tomkins Elevated overview of Miele Warehouse at Brisbane Airport showing warehouse, office frontage and surrounding roads built by tomkins Straight-on view of Miele Warehouse entry glazing with red fins, pedestrian crossing and landscaped frontage built by tomkins Open office fitout with workstations, carpet flooring and perimeter windows at Crockford Street Lot 10 built by tomkins Glass-fronted boardroom with meeting table, office chairs and joinery at Crockford Street Lot 10 built by tomkins Elevated view of Crockford Street Lot 10 warehouse with pallet racking and high-clearance storage area built by tomkins Exterior view of Crockford Street Lot 10 warehouse with office frontage, roller doors and concrete hardstand built by tomkins Office meeting room with glass partitions, workstation, round table and warehouse outlook at Crockford Street Lot 10 built by tomkins Interior warehouse view showing high-bay racking, stored materials and mezzanine office area at Crockford Street Lot 10 built by tomkins Penthouse living area opening onto a large terrace with district views at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins Penthouse interior with full-height sliding glass doors and wraparound balcony views at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins Large penthouse terrace with outdoor kitchen, glass balustrades and city outlook at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins Apartment bathroom with freestanding bath, timber vanity and glass shower at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins Apartment living and dining area with marble kitchen bench and balcony city views at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins Dining area opening to a balcony with Brisbane city skyline views at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins Contemporary apartment kitchen with marble island bench and white cabinetry at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins Bathroom with timber vanity, mirrored cabinets and glass shower screen at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins Styled apartment bedroom with walk-in robe and neutral finishes at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins
Apartment bathroom with freestanding bath, timber vanity and glass shower at Sierra Nuvo built by tomkins

Sierra Nuvo delivers 44 owner-occupied residences across six levels in one of Brisbane's most established inner-city suburbs. With four bespoke penthouses, a rooftop Sky Garden featuring a 16-metre infinity-edge pool and a feature lightwell lobby, the completed development offers residents a quality of amenity that is uncommon at this scale. For Tomkins, the project demonstrates the capability to resolve complex structural and site challenges while maintaining a high standard of finish and delivering ahead of programme.

  • 44 apartments across six levels above two basement car parking levels
  • 4 bespoke penthouses with 3.0 to 3.2 metre ceiling heights
  • Mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments designed for owner-occupiers
  • Sky Garden at Levels 6 and 7 with tiered landscaped gardens and unobstructed city views
  • 16-metre infinity-edge pool and children's wading pool, both fully suspended on Embleton springs
  • Sunken lounge and planter boxes constructed as part of the pool shell
  • Feature lightwell void from ground floor lobby to Sky Garden
  • Level 1 common kitchen, lounge and outdoor entertaining garden
  • Oversized glazing from sill to ceiling height throughout
  • Natural stonework benchtops and Smeg appliances to all apartments
  • 6 metre ceiling heights to selected Level 1 apartments
  • Architect: Powe Architects

“A rooftop infinity pool, four bespoke penthouses and a building that reads as four storeys from the street. Sierra Nuvo is owner-occupier living at a different scale.”

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