Hutchinson Builders

Brisbane locals, together with visitors to the city, will soon have the opportunity to experience and interact with a unique urban living experiment at South Bank.

The project, on the corner of Grey and Tribune Streets on the future Southpoint site, will be on display for a period of 12 months from November 2009.

Happy Haus, a Queensland owned business that designs pre-fabricated homes will join with South Bank Corporation to create a distinctively Australian, subtropical community house and garden that will demonstrate the viability of urban agriculture and unique Queensland living.

Queensland’s largest privately-owned construction company, Hutchinson Builders, will build the house at their modular construction facility located at Yatala south of Brisbane.

This facility specialises in the design and construction of modular buildings used in mining camps, remote and regional housing and other specialist needs such as health services clinics and mess halls.

“Hutchinson Builders is proud to participate in this project and this pride is reflected in our commitment to environmentally sustainable design and construction.

The WHITE SERIES house installed at South Bank was designed by acclaimed local architects Owen and Vokes and was delivered to the site on a truck and lifted into place by crane.
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Happy Haus Founder Toby Lewis sees the South Bank display as an excellent business opportunity to demonstrate the efficiency of the Happy Haus concept.

“This display offers our clients an opportunity to experience Happy Haus in a convenient, inner-city environment combined with many sustainable initiatives,” Mr Lewis said.

South Bank Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Malcolm Snow said the development would activate the Southpoint site until construction begins, and will demonstrate the Corporation’s commitment to encouraging people to live, learn, work and play in more sustainable ways.

“This project demonstrates great urban culture and promotes great ideas that we can all use to lead more sustainable lives, particularly for those of us who live in inner-city locations,” Mr Snow said.

Mr Snow said the garden features fast growing crops that require limited maintenance, which is perfect for couples and families who may be time poor, or have limited space.

“Visitors can expect to discover species that are easy to grow, such as bananas, sugar cane, lemon grass, pumpkins and peas. We welcome visitors to explore the garden and sample the fruit – perhaps some will be inspired to grow similar gardens in their own backyard,” Mr Snow said.