At 322.5 m (1,058 ft) and
with a roof height of 275 m (900 ft), Q1 qualifies as the world's tallest
all-residential building when measured to the top of its structural point
(spire), but is the world's second tallest behind Melbourne's Eureka Tower (roof
height of 297.3 metres, 975 ft) when measured to its roof height and highest
inhabitable floor. However, according to the ranking system developed by the
US-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the main criteria in which
heights are ranked is to the top of the spire, therefore Q1 qualifies as the
taller.
When completed, Q1
overtook the 21st Century Tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to become the
world's tallest residential tower. It is currently the 25th tallest building in
the world when measured to its structural point, dwarfing the Gold Coast skyline
with the closest buildings to Q1's height being the 220 m (722 ft) North Tower
of Circle on Cavill and the under construction 240 m (787 ft) Soul building.
Q1 will lose its status as
the world's tallest residential building sometime in 2009, when the 395 m
(1,300 ft) 23 Marina in Dubai is completed, making it the second, and not soon
after the third tallest residential building when the 414 m (1,360 ft) Princess
Tower, also in Dubai, is completed.
D1 Tower is one of the
numerous skyscrapers currently undergoing construction in Dubai. A sister tower
of Q1, D1 (Dubai Number One) will be taller than its Australian counterpart,
despite having the same amount of floors. Construction is expected to be
completed in 2009.
Q1 was designed by Atelier
SDG, and its form was inspired by the Sydney 2000 Olympic torch and the Sydney
Opera House. The name was given in honour of members of Australia’s Olympic
sculling team of the 1920s – Q1.
It was developed by The
Sunland Group and built by Sunland Constructions. The building was the Silver
Award winner of the 2005 Emporis Skyscraper Award, coming in second to Turning
Torso in Sweden.
The building is supported
by 26 piles, each two metres in diameter, that extend 40 metres into the ground
then up to four metres into solid rock.
The observation deck at
levels 77 and 78 is one of the world's few beachside observation decks, and has
room enough for 400 people. It towers 230 metres above the Surfers Paradise
beach, giving viewers a 360 degree view of Brisbane to the North, The Gold Coast
Hinterland to the west, Byron Bay to the South and the Pacific Ocean to the
east.
Q1
(meaning Queensland Number One) is a skyscraper located in Surfers
Paradise, on the Gold Coast. It is the world's tallest residential tower and the
tallest building in Australia and in the Southern Hemisphere.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia