Golden beaches and undulating sand dunes, the azure sparkle of the Pacific Ocean, the energetic vibrancy of Australia’s sixth largest city and fastest growing economy – amid this tapestry of natural beauty and human enterprise sits Dune, a new luxury apartment tower designed by Rothelowman. Named for the dune at Main Beach on which the slender building of just 12 full-floor luxury apartments sits, Dune is an expression of the Gold Coast state of mind in built form. Australian Design Review talked to Rothelowman principal, Jeff Brown, diving into the inspiration for this humble yet impressive new apartment complex. 

Australian Design Review: When you began this project, where did you find your original source of design inspiration?

Jeff Brown: The project was driven by two key strategies that we felt embodied the ‘cinematic’ nature of living in such a dramatic location. First, we wanted to capture the sensory experience of arrival, especially the journey to the beach over the dunal landscape that’s so characteristic of the Gold Coast. It’s that feeling of ascending the dune and then being greeted by the ocean.

The second strategy was to ensure that the architecture itself remained subservient to the breathtaking views the site had to offer. We focused on shaping the built form around the outlook. The design was about framing those views and letting the natural surroundings define the experience.

Humble is not a word typically used to describe anything on the Gold Coast. Why was “humble innovation” important to you for this project?

For us, humble innovation was about focusing on simplicity and elegance in the form-making while prioritising a sophisticated execution of detail and materials. The deliberate, reductive approach allowed the building to evoke a sense of calm and confidence, almost like a temple on the beach. 

We believe true luxury is found in the timelessness of tradition and classicism, which transcends fleeting ideas about taste.

This is a very special site. Can you tell us about the immeasurable environmental assets present here, and how you worked these into the design narrative?

The City of the Gold Coast is geographically shaped like a large cove, punctuated along its arc by a series of headlands. Main Beach, where the site is located, sits towards the northern end of this landscape, offering a beautiful long view southeast to the Coolangatta coastline and skyline. 

This unique geographic positioning greatly influenced the design, particularly the apartment layouts. We focused on capturing and expanding the horizon view, emphasising the lateral aspect that makes this location truly unique.

Rothelowman is known for its ability to distill the essence of a place into its projects, with each being a unique response to the provocations presented by the site, and the broader landscape and social context. Can you tell us more about where this sensitivity comes from and how you balance this with planning and economic constraints?

Our approach to each project is guided by a core philosophy that seeks to balance commercial rigour with a humanistic sensibility towards living. Ultimately, we are hopeful that our work can have a positive influence on creating great places for people to live. This belief drives our discourse, business objectives and passion. We pride ourselves on achieving tangible built outcomes, measuring our success by what we have constructed.

We are seeing an increase in multi-res developments that incorporate exceptional wellness and community offerings. Where do you think this shift has come from, and how have you incorporated wellness into Dune?

Wellness and community are, in our view, fundamental human desires. The organic shift in apartment projects towards addressing these intrinsic needs is both encouraging and positive. 

At Dune, we fully embrace this by integrating communal amenities on the ground floor, adjacent to the lobby and entry thresholds. Here, daily wellness rituals are seamlessly intertwined with social ‘bump’ spaces, enhancing the everyday experience within the building.

The design lexicon of the Gold Coast is distinct within an Australian and global context. It’s iconic. How does Dune contribute to this Gold-Coast-way-of-life mythology? 

We love the Gold Coast. It’s an amazing, emerging and diverse city that has transitioned from a holiday destination into a mature, prosperous and world-class place. 

Like many rapidly growing cities, the search for a unique cultural and architectural identity is often shaped by external influences. As locals deeply connected to the city, we have the opportunity to integrate an authentic understanding of place into our work. 

We believe Dune is a unique, bold and confident expression of local architecture, authentically reflecting how people live at Main Beach.

Photography by Cieran Murphy.

Discover another iconic building in Queensland, the Tweed Heads lighthouse, which has recently undergone a beautiful refurbishment.