- At 356.2m high, the tallest skyscraper in the Southern Hemisphere, dubbed "Green Spine", is set to be built in Melbourne.
- Its height will easily eclipse current Southern Hemisphere champion the 322.5m Q1 tower in Queensland.
- The construction will be comprised of two twisting towers and numerous floors of terraced gardens.
Melbourne's newest skyscraper will be the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere — and very green.
Local developer Beulah International has awarded its $1.44 billion development project for the the current BMW dealership on Southbank to UNStudio X and Cox Architecture.
Their concept, "Green Spine", is, according to Beulah, "a stunning cantilevered structure composed of two towers, both with a twisting geometric glass façade and terracing".
Reaching 356.2m high, the building will be home to a vertical city of green spaces with a strong focus on culture.
It beat five other proposals for the landmark site in a six-month global search which began when Beulah bought the a 6,061 square metre block for $ 72 million.
Its height will easily eclipse current Southern Hemisphere champion, the 322.5m Q1 tower in Queensland.
Talking about the newest addition to Melbourne's already impressive skyline, its design team said: "Conceived as a conceptual extension of the Southbank Boulevard, the Green Spine will provide a pedestrian connection at street level through a series of stairs and stepped terraces, leading visitors up along the retail and entertainment precinct to The Garden."
"The spine twists into a series of outdoor spaces and green devices along the façades of the two towers, culminating at the top of the residential tower as the Future Garden. The residential tower will reach 356.20m high, crowned by the Future Botanic Garden, a publicly accessible garden in the sky."
"Green Spine will include residential, office, hotel, entertainment facility, BMW Experience Centre, Childcare Facility, School, Retail and Food Precinct complete with a food hall, cinema, library and interactive spaces."
On the win, co-founder of Dutch architecture firm UNStudio Caroline Bos, said "all we can say now is a big thank you for the trust placed in us and we will do our utmost to contribute to a healthier and future-proof Southbank and wider Melbourne with our Green Spine."
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