A 10‑storey plyscraper is set to rise over Bowden Park after the South Australian government approved an $80 million mixed-use wellness tower at Bowden — one of the final pieces in the precinct’s 18‑year urban renewal and the latest in a growing number of timber buildings rising in the city of churches.
Wood Central understands the project, FLOWE Bowden, will be built on one of the last remaining land parcels on Adelaide’s fringe and will see more than 100 apartments delivered above a multi‑storey health and wellness centre, with Adelaide developer Otello selected for what Renewal SA described as a “bold” and community‑focused vision.
Designed by Melbourne studio Fieldwork, the building will be constructed using a mass‑timber frame, with cross‑laminated timber (CLT) panels and beams extensively used in the upper levels — a decision that not only reduces embodied carbon but also accelerates construction and delivers factory‑controlled precision.
An experienced hand in timber design, Fieldwork has worked on several mass timber projects in Melbourne, including the Nightingale not-for-profit housing model, with the 10-storey tower to be the studio’s tallest timber project to date.
According to the Adelaide Advertiser, FLOWE Bowden will offer a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments priced from the $500,000 to $1.4 million, with many units offering views across the CBD, the Adelaide Hills and the coastline. At the same time, the ground floor will be anchored by a café, hospitality spaces and a residents’ workshop, with storage for 150 bicycles and more than 100 car parks.
Wood Central understands that Otello has committed to delivering 20 per cent affordable housing, exceeding planning requirements, and will provide 16 specialist disability apartments alongside a significant share of premium residences. Speaking about the development, Housing Minister Nick Champion said the project builds on what already makes Bowden a great place to live. “This development will bring the community together while delivering more than 100 new homes in one of Adelaide’s most connected precincts,” he said.
Construction is expected to begin in the next few months, with Otello targeting a 5‑Star Green Star rating by incorporating EV charging, double‑glazed windows, and sustainable building products such as CLT. With the Brompton Gasworks development underway, Renewal SA said the Bowden precinct is on track to welcome more than 5,300 new occupants by 2035.
- To learn more about mass timber projects that are rising across Adelaide, click here for Wood Central’s special feature on the Adelaide Aquatic Centre – featuring Australia’s largest timber beams by weight and volume – which will open this weekend.
