Plans for Brisbane 1, an approved 578-apartment project by architecture practice Bureau Proberts in South Brisbane, have been unveiled. The project consists of two 30-storey towers – referred to as South Brisbane’s tallest – and an 11-storey “annex” tower.

The three buildings will sit on the crest of a hill on a triangular site near the Kurilpa Bridge bordered by Cordelia Street, Peel Street and Boundary Street. Although two of the towers meet the area’s 30-storey height limit, they’re being referred to as the area’s tallest towers due to their hilltop location.

Metro Property Development was originally developing the towers, but the approved project was sold to the large Chinese developer R&F Properties, marking the company’s first project in Australia.

Bureau Proberts managing director Liam Proberts described the project as an “opportunity … to define the character of the future of Brisbane” and said the site’s unique shape and river location were reflected in the design.

“We’ve used a river landscape as our device in sculpting the form,” he said. “The forms are subtly shaped as though water has sculpted the triangular forms.”

Landscape architecture firm Place Design Group has been involved in landscaping design, including a podium deck and greenery that takes inspiration from the nearby Brisbane River.

“We’re working with landscape architects to create this lush landscape, like a riverbed landscape, so it represents the landscape of the precinct that it’s in,” Proberts said.

As well as a tropical garden and a pool, the project features communal rooftop recreation space and dining areas. Retail spaces have also been incorporated at the street level.

“When you’re creating density in the city, as we are in Brisbane at the moment, the landscape and recreation elements and the public realm become really important,” Proberts explained.

The project will be made up of a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, and all the dwellings will have balconies.

Proberts said the large project will help to meet a demand for projects on a larger scale if done “properly and well.”

“We need to create density and density means large projects, and we have to do it responsibly, in a way that responds to the character of Brisbane.”

Construction is yet to commence, and the expected completion date for the project is early 2018.