Artist’s impressions versus reality: discover which Gold Coast buildings live up to their planning pictures

THE Gold Coast loves a good artist’s impression. But how do they compare to the reality once the buildings emerge from the ground? Take a look at how some of the Coast’s landmarks measure up to their drawings.

Artist’s impression of Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast, in April 1999.

THERE’S something about an artists impression that makes them a focus of near-universal fascination.

Whether they’re shaken free of shining fabrics at lavish functions or dug from the watermarked-depths of the council’s planning system, nothing seems to stir conversation, inspiration and aspiration quite like the visual glimpses into the future provided by a carefully-rendered drawing of a building.

Gold Coast firm DBI Design is responsible for the look of much of the city’s iconic skyline, with a portfolio that includes the groundbreaking Oracle and Wave buildings, as well as the under-construction Jewel and proposed Orchid Ave.

Jewel Gold Coast is under construction.

Director Barry Lee said by the time each striking building was completed, it had already become a familiar friend to its designers.

“Because we end up spending so much time designing the buildings, and being involved throughout construction, there’s a sense for us that it’s always been there, before it’s finished.

“For most other people it’s fresh and new when a building’s complete, but we may have been working on them for five or 10 years.”

The Jewel project is due for completion in 2019.

Mr Lee said seeing the team’s creations together on the skyline still provided a thrill.

“When we have clients or other people come from overseas and the get excited to see buildings like Oracle and Wave, you realise this is a pretty special job — we’re very lucky.”

When he started designing, the work was drawn in pencil, but advancing software now enabled renderings that were not mere artist’s impressions, but truthful, realistic versions of the structures they will become.

Artwork of The Wave.

The Wave Building, Broadbeach.

“We can accurately represent the colours of glass and effectively produce a photorealistic image of pretty much anything.”

Jared Poole has been designing grand homes and mansions for more than two decades, with his latest creation — a Chinese billionaire’s French-style mega-mansion at Paradise Waters — making front page news for its ornate extravagance.

Artist’s impression of proposed mega mansion for Surfers Paradise' Commodore Drive. Picture: Jared Poole Design

Mr Poole said the art of creating a building so alike to its drawings came down to unrelenting attention to detail from the early stages.

“It comes down to the accuracy and information that goes into the building model,” he said.

Artist’s impression of a proposed mega mansion for Surfers Paradise' Commodore Drive. Picture: Jared Poole Design

“A lot of work goes upfront into the building model.

“The biggest changes technology have brought are the realism and effects and just around the corner there’s all the virtual reality stuff coming into play.”

See how the drawings have compared to reality on the Gold Coast:

Palazzo Versace:

IF anyone can put the “artist” into artist’s impression, it is the acclaimed fashion powerhouse Versace.

Every gorgeous render, released in April 1999 for the very first Palazzo Versace, constituted an artwork in itself, with freehand-sketched and handpainted masterpieces providing a glimpse of the project’s bespoke style.

Soul:

THE designers of Soul brought the bright lights of Surfers Paradise into their renders for the project in all their soft-focused rainbow glory.

An artists impression of the Soul tower.

Until this one. This simplistic drawing of the tower, set among a skyline of white cylinders and prisms, was as unartistic an artist’s impression as it gets.

The 243m tower was approved in 2004 and finally finished in 2012 at a cost of $850 million, becoming the second highest building on the Coast behind Q1.

Q1:

THIS two-dimensional woman is every parent who’s been at the top of the towering Q1 since these drawings became a reality.

“Ooh, that’s high isn’t it? No thanks, that’s close enough to the edge. Jack! Don’t lean on the glass.”

Artists impression of Q1 residential tower in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, 2002.

Drawings for the record-breaking, now decade-old tower, were revealed in 2002 and are starting to show their age when compared to newer renders.

Artist’s impression of Q1 residential tower in Surfers Paradise, Queensland.

Q1 apartment building, once the world's tallest residential tower, at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.

The designer gets extra points for realistic Gold Coast characters — Sunburnt Blonde Girl in Wraparound Sunnies is a portrait made for Surfers Paradise in the early 2000s — and that’s not the end of it.

Look at that older gentleman further back in the drawing — with his floppy hat and small dog, clutching his sandals and looking at you like you’re up to something.

I swear that guy is still there, on the beach, all the time. It’s a bit spooky to be honest.

Southport Central:

IT’S fair to say this $700 million development didn’t go to plan, with developer Raptis Group being delisted from the ASX for the second time during its construction in 2008, owing creditors almost $1 billion.

There are a few things missing from the reality promised in the drawings — a curving gold sculpture, cool-looking people, a purple vespa — but the distinctive red and yellow panels made the cut.

Hilton Gold Coast:

ANOTHER project savaged by the GFC midway through construction, the Hilton Gold Coast made it through to completion and took its place as one of the most recognisable buildings on the Coast.

Commonwealth Games Athlete’s Village:

THIS half-billion-dollar project has shaped up to be every bit the brightly-coloured masterpiece the architect promised. Handover of the village from builders Grocon to the Games organisers happened last month ahead of an intensive overlay stage.

Oracle:

DRAWINGS for this stunning tower duo were revealed in 2007, four years before its completion in 2010.

The $850 million twins are now credited with playing a key role in rejuvenating Broadbeach, despite the project going into voluntary receivership the year it was completed.

Sundale:

YOU’VE got to hand it to Harry Highrise Triguboff, he does what he says he’s going to do.

His Sundale Meriton project, completed last year, now dominates the Southport skyline, looking just like it did on the box — right down the Woolies logo on the front.