A stunning new multi-level restaurant and bar complex has opened in the heart of Brisbane's central business district, transforming the cityscape with its innovative blend of brutalist architecture and lush garden spaces. Golden Avenue, designed by J.AR OFFICE and operated by hospitality group Anyday, represents a bold departure from traditional enclosed dining environments typical of urban commercial districts. The venue introduces a unique spatial concept that emphasizes openness, abundant greenery, and climate-responsive design principles.
Located in a low-rise, heritage-protected area of Brisbane, Golden Avenue sits strategically adjacent to historic buildings while being surrounded by towering high-rise structures. The design team at J.AR OFFICE approached the project with deliberate sensitivity to scale, choosing to create a human-level form that engages directly with the street rather than competing with the surrounding skyscrapers. This thoughtful positioning allows the venue to serve as an urban sanctuary within the dense commercial district.
The architectural strategy draws heavily from brutalist design sensibilities, incorporating distinctive materials such as green-tinted off-form concrete, pink Juparana stone, and extensive plantings to create a layered and richly textured aesthetic palette. This striking contrast between monolithic concrete assemblies and abundant vegetation creates visual weight while providing a sense of oasis from the surrounding urban landscape. The venue's design philosophy treats Brisbane's subtropical climate as an integral part of the hospitality experience rather than something to be shut out.
Unlike many hospitality venues in the central business district, Golden Avenue operates as an open-air building that minimizes dependence on air conditioning systems. The design incorporates sophisticated shading strategies, thermal mass principles, and passive air circulation techniques, supplemented by ceiling fans to maintain comfort throughout Brisbane's varied seasonal conditions. Seven retractable roofs and operable shutters enable the building to adapt dynamically to changing weather conditions, allowing natural light and air circulation when desirable while providing essential cover during heavy rain or intense sun exposure.
The client's original brief called for creating a "Queensland version of Babylon," with particular emphasis on lush plantings and tiered spatial arrangements. J.AR OFFICE drew inspiration from traditional Moroccan riads, pulling the main dining floor inward and surrounding it with interior garden spaces. This design approach results in a setting that successfully balances privacy with openness, offering terraces, balconies, and garden courts that provide varied dining experiences across multiple levels of the complex.
The material palette reflects a commitment to creating robust and tactile surfaces throughout the venue. Pink granite, polished stainless steel details, and expansive concrete surfaces are thoughtfully softened by strategic placement of greenery and natural light that filters through skylights and perforated architectural elements. The design incorporates entirely bespoke furniture pieces, custom stone basins, specially designed fans, and lighting systems created specifically for this project, demonstrating the architectural practice's commitment to detailed integration and craftsmanship.
This adaptability ensures the venue maintains resilience during all-weather events while preserving an environment that remains constantly connected to its subtropical context. Golden Avenue represents a new model for urban hospitality design in Australia, proving that commercial dining spaces can successfully integrate environmental responsiveness with sophisticated architectural expression.
