Queen Street Mall Butterflies’ Days Numbered as Revamp Revealed

After fluttering for 14 years above the bustling passing parade of Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall, the flight of the retail mecca’s famed butterfly facade is coming to an end. Documents filed with the Brisbane City Council have revealed plans for the permanent removal of the large-scale art screen as part of the first step of a major revamp of the Wintergarden shopping and dining precinct. Adorned with a kaleidoscope of laser-cut metallic winged motifs, the nature-inspired facade—measuring 86m by 25m—has been a fixture in the heart of the CBD since its installation in 2012. Under the plans, the modern addition would be stripped away to expose the original bones of the podium beneath the only hotel in Australia designed by the renowned architect Harry Seidler—built in the mid-1980s and rebranded last year as Intercontinental Brisbane after almost 40 years as the Hilton Brisbane. Other smaller extensions of the butterfly facade along the podium’s Elizabeth and Edward street frontages also would be dismantled and removed. “The removal of the existing butterfly screen from the Queen Street building facade will reveal existing granite columns and cladding, which are to be retained and restored, preserving the building’s celebrated architectural design,” the documents said. “Through a mix of old and new elements, the proposed development creates a harmonious balance between contemporary design and preserving Brisbane’s architectural history.” The development application takes the covers off the Woods Bagot-designed overhaul proposed specifically for the retail maze below the hotel. But given its direct linkage to the main portion of the Wintergarden complex it also provides the first long-awaited glimpse of owner IFM Investors’ vision for the wider revitalisation of the landmark shopping and dining precinct. ▲ The butterfly facade would be removed to reveal the original facade designed by a legend of Australian architecture, Harry Seidler. Opened in 1982 and once occupied by 92 specialty stores and a popular food court, media reports in recent times have described it as like an “eerily quiet ghost town” with many of its tenancies boarded up. According to a planning report prepared by Place Design Group, internal demolition and reconfiguration would be undertaken to consolidate the existing three-level layout—including a mezzanine—into two clearly defined retail gallery floors. Overall, the proposed revamp would comprise a gross floor area (GFA) of 4969sq m—a decrease of just over 1000sq m on the existing space. As well as a focus on rectifying the existing “fragmented layout with split levels and poor wayfinding”, a key design factor of the proposal is the creation of a more legible and accessible crosswalk link from the Queen Street Mall to Elizabeth Street. “The internal reconfiguration of the building allows the development to reset the levels of the site, which currently create a convoluted layout within the building and require multiple stairs and escalators between Queen Street and Elizabeth Street due to the sloping of the site,” the documents said. “The development provides for a direct and level pedestrian link between Queen Street and Elizabeth Street, which promotes pedestrian permeability through the site and enhances the user experience of the space. “This outcome reinforces Queen Street Mall as the high-amenity retail focus, by prioritising pedestrians through active edges and wide paths. The proposed development supports a revitalised precinct with a curated mix of retail uses that activate the streetscape and enhance the public realm, strengthening the mall’s retail role despite the reduced GFA.” ▲ A rendering of the proposed re-establishment of the original facade on the building in the Queens Street Mall, Brisbane. Other proposed works include a minor reduction in an existing basement retail tenancy and the addition of a new retail tenancy within part of the existing InterContinental Hotel porte cohere at ground level, fronting Elizabeth Street. “This addition represents a logical extension of the retail offer, ensuring active frontages to both streets and creating a more cohesive and engaging pedestrian environment,” the application said. No changes are proposed to the hotel tower or car parking levels, with vehicle access maintained via Elizabeth Street. “The proposed development contributes to creating a vibrant, mixed-use destination that supports Brisbane’s evolving lifestyle and underpins the city’s future economic growth,” the report said.

Commercial
Phil Bartsch
Wed 01 Jul 26

Queen Street Mall Butterflies’ Days Numbered as Revamp Revealed

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