La Scala Residences, home to architects Ingrid Richards and Adrian Spence, tells the story of an ambitious vision of building a home on a small site in the centre of Brisbane. A building that challenges residential architecture, sub-tropical design, and limited use of urban spaces to respond more adaptively, sustainably and excitingly.

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The arches, colonnades and terraces of La Scala seem to have been exposed from vegetation, and the architect describes it as a “ruin of the future,” meaning that the building is not only modern, but innovative and forward-looking on the one hand, but in a way feels almost antiquated. But embodying a seemingly contradictory duality is something this project easily does. Its spacious spaces, simple and elegant concrete and brick color palette, may be mistaken for an art gallery or some other municipal building. While it's easy to amaze with the design taking people to any enchanting destination, from the Palm Springs to Marrakech, or to marvel effortlessly at the details of everything from Scapa to Baragan, the real difference at La Scala lies not in its component parts, but in how seriously the design treats it Responsibility for the venue.

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Located on the edge of the city, this sloping little neighborhood is surrounded by commercial districts and apartments, as well as a remnant hill of detached houses, all of which retain their traditional residential characteristics. As a studio, Richards & Spence is involved in a range of urban projects across Brisbane, with the architects firmly committed to making an active contribution to the city that has developed over the past 50 years from what they describe as a “big country town” to become Australia's third largest city. As a result, they are acutely aware that the planning agreement followed by the site does not reflect its current background.

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La Scala is two residences arranged around a central courtyard. Larger main residences are located in the south, facing the city, while smaller ones are located in the north, facing the street. Overturning the typical layout, it gives the venue a more complete and exciting use. Crucially, it offers a high degree of flexibility to cover any future use.

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The courtyard itself is transformed into an outdoor space, which is elevated but protected by buildings on both ends, with the walls of these buildings intersecting to close off the space between them. Although the courtyard is actually higher than the natural ground, due to its stepped landscape design, the hahaha wall replacing the traditional pool fence, and the double roof terrace, it is experienced as a circular theater several meters above the courtyard. Without the lasting quality of concrete and brick, all this is impossible. La Scala is full of the power and sense of security these materials bring, which the architect describes as “evoking an intuitive response of a safe haven on a mountaintop,” evoking a functional space not limited to independent residences. Permanent and vibrant buildings not only last but also actively shape the future. This is an important role for buildings built on a small site.
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