The City of Ryde has opened a two-stage international design competition for a new gateway building and urban precinct at Top Ryde, NSW.

Architects from around the world are invited to reimagine the site, which sits at the crest of a ridgeline running northeast and southwest through Ryde town centre and is situated 12 kilometres from the centre of Sydney.

The design will need to accommodate a civic building for the City of Ryde, provide both indoor and outdoor spaces for use by the community, incorporate commercial activities to support the viability of the civic precinct and provide new housing close to the town centre including key worker housing.

The project will also target a rating under the Living Building Challenge and a Green Star rating of 6 Star Design and As-Built, which is equivalent to a certification level of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) ‘Outstanding’. In addition to achieving a Green 6 Star rating, the project shall be designed to be carbon negative.

This is a two stage international design ideas competition, developed in accordance to the Australian Institute of Architects ‘Guidelines for Architectural Competitions’ and the NSW Government’s ‘Design Excellence Guidelines’, and  has prize money for each stage. Each entrant invited to participate in Stage 2 will receive $AU50,000 to support their Stage 2 submission. The winning entrant will be awarded an additional prize of $AU150,000.

All submissions will be evaluated by an independent jury comprised of design, property and public policy professionals formed for the competition by the City of Ryde Council. The jury members are: Peter Poulet - Jury Chair, NSW Government Architect; Maria Atkinson, AM - founding director of Maria Atkinson Consultancy; and Shaun Carter, Australian Institute of Architects, NSW Chapter President.

COMPETITION OBJECTIVES

The Design our Ryde competition will identify a concept that embodies the character and aspirations of the City and its people. The competition’s key design objectives are:

  1. To accommodate the civic and administrative functions of the City of Ryde
  2. To provide multi-functional indoor spaces for the use and benefit of public and private organisations
  3. To provide a public plaza /open space for use by the community
  4. To incorporate commercial activities to support the viability of the civic precinct 5. To provide new housing close to the town centre; including key worker housing
  5. To improve pedestrian connectivity to the Site from the surrounding precincts
  6. To provide a bus interchange facility within the Site to improve connectivity to the surrounding suburbs.

All submissions will be evaluated by the Jury for the quality of their response to the Brief based on the following design objectives.

  • A place that enhances the civic and cultural qualities of Ryde
  • Best practice sustainable design
  • Improved connectivity to the surrounding area for all users
  • A significant architectural and economically feasible concept that will complement the existing Top Ryde City Shopping Centre
  • Excellent amenity for future workers and residents whilst protecting and respecting the amenity of existing neighbours
  • Open and enclosed spaces that are welcoming and address the social needs of the community and employees on the Site
  • The functional requirements of Brief

STAGING

The Design our Ryde competition will be divided into two stages: Stage One is an open and anonymous design competition; and Stage Two is a closed and invited design competition.

STAGE 1

  • Open Competition commences: Monday 11 January 2016
  • Open Competition registrations and clarification period closes: Friday 4 March 2016
  • Open Competition closes: Wednesday 30 March 2016
  • Public Exhibition for community polling: Thursday 14 April - Thursday 5 May 2016

STAGE 2

  • Participants announced and Invited Competition commences: Friday 13 May 2016
  • Invited Competition closes: Monday 27 June 2016
  • Public Exhibition for community polling: Monday 11 July - Monday 1 August 2016
  • Winner announced: Monday 8 August 2016

PRIZE MONEY

Each entrant invited to participate in Stage 2 will receive $AU50,000 to support their Stage 2 submission. The winning entrant will be awarded an additional prize of $AU150,000.

For more information click here.