J.AR Office Transforms Brisbane’s CBD with Naturally Ventilated Paradise.



In Brisbane’s concrete-heavy CBD at 67 Edward Street, J.AR Office has carved out a verdant oasis that challenges how we think about urban dining in Australia’s subtropical capital.

The brief for Golden Avenue was ambitious: create “the Queensland version of Babylon.” What emerged is a multi-level indoor/outdoor hospitality destination that feels more like a contemporary riad than a typical Brisbane venue. Operated by Anyday hospitality group, this project has been three years in the making, and the patience shows in every detail.

J.AR Office’s approach centres on celebrating Brisbane’s climate. The brutalist structure—crafted from green-tinted concrete and pink juparana stone—creates a striking contrast against the heritage-protected streetscape. But it’s the abundance of greenery and the seven retractable roofs that set this project apart.

“We deliberately avoided air conditioning,” explains the design team, “allowing for an open-air design that connects diners to their context.” Thermal comfort comes through thermal mass, strategic shading, passive air circulation, and fans that maintain the impression of a constant breeze.

The venue’s tiered layout draws inspiration from Moroccan riad architecture, with dining spaces set away from busy Edward Street among lush interior gardens. Monolithic assemblies of materials create cool spaces beneath skylights, while operable shutters over ceiling voids enhance the open-air feeling. The glass panelling and stacked formwork appear seamless, forming what essentially functions as a perforated shade sail encasing the interior.

This project represents a strategic reimagining of Brisbane’s CBD as a place for leisure, not just business. The venue operates flexibly from daytime lunches through to evening entertainment, with multiple bars, varied seating configurations, and even multiple DJ plinths accommodating different crowd dynamics throughout the day.

The construction challenges were significant. Working within the tight CBD location required precise sequencing to minimise disruption, while the heritage-listed Coal Board House next door demanded careful design coordination. J.AR Office managed to stitch together three buildings across two separate sites, creating operational efficiency with a discreet deliveries entry and seamless goods circulation that doesn’t disrupt the front-of-house experience.

Golden Avenue forms the first chapter of the broader South Edward precinct transformation, with three additional hospitality venues planned within adjacent buildings over the next 12 months. J.AR Office has created both the masterplan and placemaking strategy for this complex architectural project that spans commercial, interiors, and heritage considerations.

For a practice building its reputation on uniquely Queensland architecture, Golden Avenue represents uncharted yet successful territory. It’s a naturally ventilated building that proves sophisticated urban hospitality doesn’t require disconnection from place and climate—quite the opposite, in fact.

[Images courtesy of J.AR Office. Photography by Jessie Prince.]