Towering, twisted skyscraper proposed to be Australia's tallest building

Shannon Connellan
Updated

A towering, twisting skyscraper with vertical green space and a public rooftop garden is set to become Australia's tallest building.

Dubbed the "Green Spine," and set to stand 356.20 metres (1,168 feet) high, the design for the striking cantilevered structure was unveiled for the city of Melbourne on Wednesday.

SEE ALSO: Luxe Switzerland hotel lets you ski down its zig-zagged face

Designed by Dutch architecture firm UNStudio and Melbourne-based Cox Architecture, the structure will sit on Melbourne's Southbank Boulevard and is made up of two buildings clad with vertical gardens and geometric glass facades.

It's the winner of a casual A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) competition run by Melbourne real estate developer Beulah International to develop a mixed-use tower in the Southbank area. It took six months for Beulah to pick their winner from six international firms: BIG, Coop Himmelb(l)au, MAD Architects, MVRDV, OMA, and the winning team UNStudio.

The "Green Spine" will cost A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) to build and will stand 356.20 metres (1,168 feet) high.
The "Green Spine" will cost A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) to build and will stand 356.20 metres (1,168 feet) high.

Image: BEULAH INTERNATIONAL/UNSTUDIO/COX ARCHITECTURE

So, what's planned for this twisting tower? On top, you'll find what's been dubbed the "Future Botanic Garden" which will be a public garden accessible to everyone, regardless of whether you're a resident.

The tallest tower will function as a residential building, while the smaller building (252.20 metres high) will house commercial offices, a hotel, and bars and restaurants. 

Both towers' lower levels will include commercial spaces including a cinema, vertical school, library, daycare, auditorium, and marketplace. Somehow, BMW has already been included in the commercial plan, with an "experience centre" planned.

The rooftop "Future Botanic Garden" will be open to the public.
The rooftop "Future Botanic Garden" will be open to the public.

Image: BEULAH INTERNATIONAL/UNSTUDIO/COX ARCHITECTURE

"At the macro scale, the two-tower silhouettes with twisting forms provide a new, site responsive and elegant visual beacon in the precinct," said Beulah International executive director Adelene Teh in a press statement.

“In its details, the scheme displays a strong intent for well considered public and private amenity, and at street level, the proposal displays qualities that will truly transform the public realm by eroding the hard edges that is prevalent in Southbank."

An artist's impression of the lower levels of the "Green Spine," which will be focused on public space.
An artist's impression of the lower levels of the "Green Spine," which will be focused on public space.

Image: BEULAH INTERNATIONAL/UNSTUDIO/COX ARCHITECTURE

The proposal isn't off the ground yet, and still needs to be submitted for planning assessment, but if it gets the green light, it'll officially be on its way to being Australia's tallest building. The current crown-holder is the Gold Coast's Q1 tower, standing 322.5 metres (1058 feet).

Dubai's 828-metre-tall (2,717 foot) Burj Khalifa has been the world's tallest building since 2008. Nobody's touching that in a hurry.

WATCH: How a lightweight, prefabricated concrete roof is just a taste of the coming revolution in architecture

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fvideo uploaders%2fdistribution thumb%2fimage%2f86411%2f38701c4f 0e1c 4a7d abf2 e142596d790d
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fvideo uploaders%2fdistribution thumb%2fimage%2f86411%2f38701c4f 0e1c 4a7d abf2 e142596d790d