The stunning ‘Green Spine’ in Melbourne will be the tallest skyscraper in the Southern Hemisphere

By Peter Farquhar, From Business Insider Australia

Green Spine Melbourne building tallest skyscraper southern hemisphere
Co-founder of UNStudio Caroline Bos pledged the design team will do their utmost to contribute to a healthier and future-proof space. UNStudio X and Cox Architecture
At 356.2m high, the tallest skyscraper in the Southern Hemisphere, dubbed “Green Spine”, is set to be built in Melbourne.
Its height will easily eclipse current Southern Hemisphere champion the 322.5m Q1 tower in Queensland.
The construction will be comprised of two twisting towers and numerous floors of terraced gardens.
Melbourne’s newest skyscraper will be the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere — and very green.

Local developer Beulah International has awarded its $1.44 billion development project for the the current BMW dealership on Southbank to UNStudio X and Cox Architecture.

Their concept, “Green Spine”, is, according to Beulah, “a stunning cantilevered structure composed of two towers, both with a twisting geometric glass façade and terracing”.

Green Spine Melbourne building tallest skyscraper southern hemisphere
Green Spine will function as a residential and office space, as well as a library, entertainment facility, and food hall amongst other things. UNStudio X and Cox Architecture
Reaching 356.2m high, the building will be home to a vertical city of green spaces with a strong focus on culture.

It beat five other proposals for the landmark site in a six-month global search which began when Beulah bought the a 6,061 square metre block for $ 72 million.

Its height will easily eclipse current Southern Hemisphere champion, the 322.5m Q1 tower in Queensland.

Talking about the newest addition to Melbourne’s already impressive skyline, its design team said: “Conceived as a conceptual extension of the Southbank Boulevard, the Green Spine will provide a pedestrian connection at street level through a series of stairs and stepped terraces, leading visitors up along the retail and entertainment precinct to The Garden.”

Green Spine Melbourne building tallest skyscraper southern hemisphere
The residential tower will reach 356.20m high. UNStudio X and Cox Architecture
“The spine twists into a series of outdoor spaces and green devices along the façades of the two towers, culminating at the top of the residential tower as the Future Garden. The residential tower will reach 356.20m high, crowned by the Future Botanic Garden, a publicly accessible garden in the sky.”

Green Spine Melbourne building tallest skyscraper southern hemisphere
The Green Spine will provide a pedestrian connection at street level through a series of stairs and stepped terraces. UNStudio X and Cox Architecture
“Green Spine will include residential, office, hotel, entertainment facility, BMW Experience Centre, Childcare Facility, School, Retail and Food Precinct complete with a food hall, cinema, library and interactive spaces.”

Green Spine Melbourne building tallest skyscraper southern hemisphere
The construction will lead visitors up along the retail and entertainment precinct to The Garden. UNStudio X and Cox Architecture
On the win, co-founder of Dutch architecture firm UNStudio Caroline Bos, said “all we can say now is a big thank you for the trust placed in us and we will do our utmost to contribute to a healthier and future-proof Southbank and wider Melbourne with our Green Spine.”

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