This highly contemporary addition to Sydney is clearly identifiable, yet the large scale mixed-use building slots seamlessly into the fabric of the city, respecting the adjoining heritage buildings.
IN BRIEF
Create a mixed-use building to maximise the commercial value of the site, between Pitt Street mall (the premier retail street in Sydney) and George Street (a premier office address). Incorporate an A Grade commercial office tower with large flexible floorplates that maximise the available views between other towers. The lower levels of the tower are to deal with the privacy of the adjoining building across a 7m wide laneway, as well as admit sufficient light to these floors. The podium floors are to contain five levels of premium retail designed around a through site link that connects the two street frontages.
ARCHITECT’S WORDS
The City of Sydney Design Excellence Competition sought a solution for a convoluted Stage 1 DA envelope. We defined a 19m clear span rectangular volume on the south to create an open flexible floorplate which maximises views, while avoiding the stepped and angular geometry on the north. The lift core is located on the north where views are restricted, while minimising solar heat gain to the office space. The 36 level office tower clearly expresses its side core parti. The core is expressed as a solid granite volume that references the adjoining tower to the north; while the floorplates are conceived as a series of ‘trays” suspended between two planes of glass to express their openness. A 10-storey atrium is created to provide privacy and light access, resulting in a low-rise campus office. The glass plane of the façade has been cut away to reveal the atrium and express the structure above the laneway. The retail podium is an uncompromisingly modern insertion into the streetscape that references its historic neighbours. The façades reinterpret the scale and rhythm of adjoining heritage buildings in a contemporary architectural language. Sandstone blades define public entries to the podium, recalling the vertical pilasters of heritage buildings, while between them aluminium clad horizontals reference cornice lines. An abstract composition of vertical masonry and glass blades reinterprets the rhythm of adjoining buildings. Frameless glass vitrines provide retail display. A genuinely public mid-block link creates a direct connection between Pitt and George Streets. Entries to the mid block link are expressed as public urban rooms, defined by sandstone blade walls, which transition from the mid-block link to engage with the scale of the city.
The office lobby is expressed as a five level sandstone clad ‘urban room’, incorporating a public sculpture by Alexander Knox. A heroic ‘V’ shaped transfer column visually reinforces the presence of the tower above, while metaphorically supporting the aluminium rod clad volume in the lobby. A 5 Green Star Design Rating has been achieved. The north core reduces solar heat gain to the floorplate which combined with sunshades to the east and west facades has allowed the building to be conditioned by a hybrid low temperature VAV system with perimeter chilled beams. Floor to ceiling glass maximises daylight penetration. The atrium and breakout spaces are naturally ventilated. Rainwater is collected and greywater is recycled for toilet flushing.
ACCOLADES
• AIA NSW Awards, Sir Arthur G. Stephenson Award for Commercial Architecture 2011
• Master Builders Association NSW Excellence in Construction Awards, Commercial Buildings over $50m Winner 2011
• Urban Taskforce, Development Excellence Award for Commercial Development 2011
PRODUCTS
EXTERNAL STONE CLADDING (CORE)
TYPICAL 1200X 600X 30MM THICK GRANITE ‘BIANCO SARDO’
STONE FLOORING
VERDE BAHIA
SANDSTONE CLADDING
50MM PILES CREEK SANDSTONE
EXTERNAL FACADE
TOWER FACADE AND PODIUM FACADE: 80MM PILES CREEK SANDSTONE
EXTERNAL STONE CLADDING
BIANCO SARDO HONED FINISH FROM SAVEMA
CHILLED BEAMS
OKNI
BASE BUILDING
STONE POLISHED CARRARA
TOILET PARTITIONS
IN AMENITIES, HDALLAS FREESTANDING WASHROOM
TIMBER VENEER
EVENEER, EXPRESSO WITH MIROTONE CLEAR
BLINDS
VEROSOL AUSTRALIA, CHARCOAL BRONZE
ALUMINIUM TUBE CEILING
NATURAL ANODISED
SUPPORT FRAMING
BLACK TUBES TO BE CONTINUOUS WITH JOINTING
ATRIUM POD CLADDING
WALNUT
STONE FLOORING
BLACK PEARL GRANITE
SANDSTONE CLADDING
PILES CREEK SANDSTONE
COLOURED FACADE GLASS FINS
VANCEVA COLOURS
ALUMINIUM TUBE CEILING
NATURAL ANODISED BRIGHT FINISH
SUPPORT FRAMING
BLACK.TUBES TO BE CONTINUOUS WITH JOINTING
STONE VANITY IN PUBLIC AMENITIES
INDIAN JET BLACK GRANITE
