Silt Apartments

The first impression of Silt Apartments is striking – the towering concrete façade is strongly reminiscent of twentieth-century brutalism. It would be easy to mistake the project for a functional office building at a cursory glance, but the finer details and bespoke touches hint at its purpose. Stylish black aluminium window and door frames, oversized double-glazed window panes and sliding louvre screens are the first signs that the building is home to seven luxury apartments.

While the materials have a strong design connection, they also play a practical role in offering natural light, ventilation and privacy for residents. The building’s Crestlite aluminium windows are double-glazed and paired with aluminium sun hoods to minimise the impact of the Queensland sun – allowing for light interiors and views of the scenic river while maintaining energy efficiency. And because Silt Apartments sits right next to Brisbane’s busy Story Bridge, the external windows also needed to provide an acoustic buffer.

To achieve their vision and find design solutions for the site’s unique challenges, bureau^proberts relied on custom products, including the unique raked Crestlite windows that define the building’s façade. The fit-out of each apartment is no less remarkable. Each living space benefits from deluxe finishes that are accentuated by the sheer amount of sunlight that flows in from the building’s north.

Throughout the building, its fixtures balance aesthetic harmony with functionality. bureau^proberts value materials with long life spans and minimal maintenance requirements, which is why Crestlite aluminium windows and doors feature throughout. 

Ultimately, the success of any such build comes down to how it is received, and with the project winning a Job & Froud Award at the 2015 Queensland Architecture Awards, the unique vision behind Silt Apartments well and truly delivered.