Brisbane’s sharklike ‘Gill House’ is a riverfront jaw-dropper

This Norman Park riverside mansion is ‘one of the best-looking in Brisbane’. See what you think of the striking ‘Gill House’.

Developer Max Panettiere at his Norman Park masterpiece. Picture: Jeff Camden

“It’s not just a home; it’s a work of art,” says the vendor of this striking riverside mansion built from concrete and frameless glass.

Developer Max Panettiere lived for 17 years at his waterfront Norman Park residence, and knew how spectacular the views over the Brisbane River were.

“I wanted to maximise the views and bring the water inside,” Panettiere says. Local architect Tom K proposed a vision with concrete folds — shaped like the gills of a shark — fanning off the exterior.

It was five years in planning, three years in construction, including “six months of trial and error” to build the gills, but now Panettiere’s jaw-dropping creation is complete and on the ­market.

The striking home sits on the Brisbane River

“The money shot is from the river, looking at the side of the house,” he says.

“I personally think it’s one of the best-looking houses in Brisbane. Going down the river, it just stands out.”

The Housing Industry Association of Queensland agrees, naming Gill House in its finalists for Queensland’s Best Home.

Spanning four levels, the four-bedroom property is the height of luxury with polished concrete, imported marble, wave-inspired ceilings and a dramatic 6.3m-high void in the living room.

The Gill House takes in stunning river views.

An entertaining terrace leads out from the open-plan living space, showcasing stunning views of the Brisbane River, city skyline and New Farm Park.

The master suite occupies the entire top level, with a covered balcony perfect for drinking in those sublime views. It also has an oversized dressing room and a marble-adorned ensuite with dual rainfall-style showers, and a circular standalone bath with a matching skylight above.

The basement has a stacker which can accommodate four cars, with a lift servicing all levels. An infinity pool and a private pontoon complete the offerings, making this property the ultimate Brisbane entertainer.

The outdoor pool area also oversees the city.

Panettiere, who used to own a concrete company, hired a factory and had six men working off-site for six months to create the gills.

“That process, the number of meetings I had with engineers over that time. Honestly, it’s never to be repeated,” he says. The gills were poured in two moulds and had to fit seamlessly. Their effect, both from inside and outside the house, is impressive.

The interior of the Gill House.

The striking facade and interiors won it the attention of the Queensland HIA judges, and it will be the only finalist on the market, with Place Estate Agent’s Sarah Hackett seeking best offers for the 455sq m Wendell Street property by September 25.

Norman Park is just 4km east of Brisbane’s central business district, and is renowned for its wide streets and village-style shopping precincts. The fashionable Howard Smith Wharves and James Street precincts are nearby.

Ms Hackett sold a waterfront penthouse apartment on nearby Wynnum Road in October last year for $4.8m. She also sold one of Gill House’s Wendell Street neighbours, number 30, for $6m in 2019. She is marketing Gill House without a price guide due to its unique design and build.