Brisbane's Laguna development to be built around giant pool

As the name implies, the Laguna residential development surrounds a giant body of water.

Ingrid Richards, director of Brisbane-based architecture firm Richards and Spence, says that millennials desire “walkable” suburbs that are close to pools, cafes, restaurants, bars, retail amenity, their employment and social groups.

“The next generation of parents and home owners, however, are reviewing their options in consideration of increasing land prices, resulting in a renewed consideration of suburban life. Unfortunately, this ‘lifestyle’ change often means space at the expense of cultural and social amenity,” she says.

An obligation to bring amenity to developments

“Traditional amenity in the suburbs is normally provided in the limited form of shopping malls and there is often a complete lack of the urban experience associated with living close to the city,” says Richards.

But she says developers and councils have an opportunity and an obligation to help alleviate this shortcoming.

One of the great forms of amenity available in the new Laguna resort in Brisbane’s North Lakes is the publicly accessible aquatic centre with a lagoon-style pool.

The development is by the George Group in a joint venture with Pointcorp, with construction planned to commence in early 2018, with completion targeted for late 2020.