Located by the Brisbane River in Queensland, Australia, 443 Queen Street is a high-rise apartment tower that uses passive, low-technology, high-ambiance design principles suitable for the subtropical climate. The building envelope is a permeable interface that allows fine-tuning of views, sunlight, air, privacy and acoustics. Every living room opens to a screened pavilion-style balcony that extends the space to hang above the river. Kitchens have windows to the exterior, and service yards allow for a small laundry area. Materials are simply expressed in natural tones and suit the indoor–outdoor subtropical lifestyle. The project includes over 4,300 m² of landscaped gardens with mixed planting throughout the building, providing a green plot ratio of 205% and creating homes for flora and fauna, as well as people. This project changes perceptions of what is possible: envisaged as houses in a vertical neighbourhood, the apartments are elaborate, deliberate and scenic, offering a new level of greenery, sustainability and amenity.