ad

Global hunt for BMW site

Global hunt for BMW site

By Kathryn Lewis

The biggest names in architecture are being pitted against each other to work with Malaysian-backed developer Beulah International on a project valued at more than $2 billion.

Following a global search that started earlier this year, the developer last month revealed the shortlist of architects for the landmark project, which will be simply titled Southbank by Beulah.

The competition comes after Beulah International late last year paid more than $100 million for the BMW site, located at the corner of Southbank Boulevard and City Rd.

Featuring some of the biggest names in world architecture, the shortlisted architects will partner with local Australian firms to participate in this high-profile competition.

Award-winning global architects to make the shortlist include:

  • Bjarke Ingels Group with Fender Katsalidis Architects;
  • Coop Himmelb(l)au with Architectus ;
  • MAD Architects with Elenberg Fraser;
  • MVRDV with Woods Bagot;
  • Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) with Conrad Gargett; and
  • UNStudio with Cox Architecture.

“These architects are known to push boundaries and have worked on progressive large scale projects across the globe that have redefined architecture,” Beulah International executive director, Adelene Teh, said.

Southbank by Beulah is said to mark the first occasion where a developer has initiated a major mixed-use design competition of this calibre.

The design competition is a unique undertaking by the developer, as it will mean it is not solely responsible for the final design, by handing some of the responsibility over to the judges.

“We’re appointing jury members who are particularly focused on innovation within the design and property space and who share the same vision of seeing Melbourne continue to be the liveable, vibrant city in the world,” Ms Teh said.

“Ultimately, we will be creating something truly unique together for future Melbourne.”

Shortlisted candidates will present initial concepts to the jury on May 17. The jury will announce a winning design in July.

Join our Facebook Group
ad