Located on Queensland’s Gold Coast, the Norfolk apartments in Burleigh Heads have been designed to respond to the seaside environment. With the name and design referencing the nearby iconic trees, the natural-look exterior of Norfolk apartments harmonises perfectly with their beachside location.

A combination of curved timber panelling and pearl-finished window framing creates a soft, natural appearance for this new apartment complex.

Architect Koichi Takada took inspiration from the iconic Norfolk pine trees directly opposite the site to design the building with an ‘organic’ outer shell, harmonising with the surrounding beach landscape while optimising the comfort of the interior spaces. Passive design principles throughout the development allow the building to respond and adapt to seasonal variations.

The north-facing apartments enjoy direct sunlight in the cooler winter months while being shaded at the height of summer. The slatted timber screens provide solar protection and privacy while their moveable nature allows them to be repositioned to help regulate interior temperatures as the sun's position changes.

The distinctively shaped balconies, accessed via Alspec ProGlide high-performance sliding doors, have been cleverly designed to provide shade where needed. The overlapping balcony slabs optimise overhead shading for the levels below, in addition to the vertical protection provided by the sliding screens. 

To address the diverse glazing needs across the site, a selection of Alspec’s fixed framing window products was used from the ecoFRAMEplus, Hunter Evo and McArthur ranges, while Alspec’s 50mm awning windows were selected for openable window locations. The floorplans have been designed to take advantage of cross ventilation and encourage natural breezes with well-positioned openable windows.

The 10-level complex includes 15 apartments and 2 split-level penthouses, all enjoying stunning 180-degree coastal views from the southern end of Burleigh Beach. Residents have access to ground floor shared facilities including a gym, sauna and an outdoor pool.

Project details

Address: 1/46 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

Architect: Koichi Takada Architects

Builder: Hutchinson Builders

Fabricator: Total Concept Group

Alspec products used:

ecoFRAMEplus 150mm Centre Pocket Double Glazed Framing

Hunter Evo 150mm Single Flush Glazed Framing

Hunter Evo 101.6mm Single Flush Glazed Framing

McArthur Evo 101.6mm Centre Pocket Framing

ProGlide High Performance Sliding Door

Awning and Casement Windows

Applied Finish: Duratec Eternity Linen Pearl Satin

Photography: Troy Sanders