ILÉ
AN ISLAND OF ACTIVITY
ILE Ashgrove occupies a uniquely positioned site along Waterworks Road, one of the major arterial routes connecting Brisbane’s inner west to its outer suburbs. The site is framed by Memorial Avenue on its lower boundary and Stewart Place on its upper side, adjacent to a quiet pocket park. This dual frontage offers a rare opportunity, fronting a highly active thoroughfare while also opening onto a peaceful green reserve, creating a rich interface between movement and stillness.
The brief was to design a building that captures the energy of Waterworks Road while inviting people into the quieter, more intimate environment of Stewart Place. The goal was to create a structure that not only contributes to the streetscape but also offers a destination a transitional point between Ashgrove’s arterial rhythm and its more tranquil green spaces.
The design approach responds by introducing order and rhythm to the irregularity of the site. Along Waterworks Road, the building presents a structured and composed façade, defined by a series of three storey brick buttresses that flank the external elevations. These elements offer a sense of solidity and cadence, visually anchoring the building within its urban context.
At the heart of the built form, a single moment of softness is introduced: a central fold in the façade, forming an inverted corner that gestures inward. This curved recess acts like a modern porte cochère, drawing visitors into the site and connecting them visually and physically with the adjacent pocket park. This transition is central to the building's identity urban form giving way to community space.
The ground floor hosts a series of retail tenancies intended to activate the street and create a neighbourhood oriented offering. Above, two expansive levels are dedicated to health and wellness, with generous 5 metre high floor plates accommodating a mix of uses tailored to contemporary wellbeing.
Crowning the building is a rooftop sanctuary a true retreat within the city. Here, food and beverage outlets meet spa-like amenities, including a pool, hot and cold plunge baths, saunas, and a wellness terrace, all with views over Ashgrove’s treetops.
ILE Ashgrove is a building of contrasts urban and organic, structured and fluid, public and personal. It is a landmark for Waterworks Road, but one that respects and enhances its quieter edge.
