Projects

New Architecture in Sydney Contending for a Place Among the Icons: Part 2

1. Sydney convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct Re-development (Under Construction) by Hassell, Populous + Others.

This project encompasses the $1 billion transformation of Darling Harbour though the design of three major public buildings including a new convention facility, a new exhibition space and new entertainment theatre. The 11.5 ha re-development also includes the unification of existing and new pedestrian spaces, open space and parkland, new buildings and other entertainment facilities. Learn more about the darling harbour re-development here.

Images via Hassell. 

 2. 1 Bligh Street (Completed 2011) by Architectus in collaboration with Ingehoven Architects.

1 Bligh St is a $270m new commercial building resulting from the Dexus/City of Sydney design competition, 2007. The scope of work takes into consideration the View, the Public Space, and the Work Environment. The structure delivers consistent large floor plates of up to 1600m.2 Forty per cent of office space is within 4.5 metres of the facade with 1000m2 contiguous column-free space creating high potential for office layout flexibility. The elliptical plan is 12 per cent more efficient than a rectangular building in facade to floor area and allows excellent natural light penetration. The 120 metre high central atrium makes dynamic views accessible to all. Learn more about 1 Bligh Street here.

Images via Architectus. 

 3. 8 Chifley
Square (Completed 2013) by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners in association with Lippmann Associates.

8 Chifley Square is a new 30-storey commercial tower. A five-storey-high void at the base of the tower creates a lofty public plaza; a red and yellow steel structure and staircases characterize the external building. A three-storey-high terrace is located at the centre of the building. The inside spaces are divided into seven zones. The overall concept of the tower was to provide office space that maximizes the communication opportunities with people between different parts of the building. Learn more about 8 Chifley Square here. (http://www.8chifley.com.au/an-icon)

Images via RSHP. 

4. UTS Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (Completed 2014) by Denton Corker Marshall (DCM)

The new Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology engages with the pedestrian and unique urban context. The 14 storey new building seeks to engage at an intersection between technology and creativity. The building accommodates new lecture rooms, offices, seminar rooms, teaching and research laboratories, student facilities and food and recreation areas. The building façade is expressed as a singular sculptural object; the façade is made from four skewed and tilted aluminium sheets, perforated in a pattern derived from the binary code. Learn more about the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology here.

Images via Archdaily. 

5. UTS Dr Chau Chak Wing Building (Completed 2014) by Gehry Partners

The Dr Chau Chak Wing Building is part of a larger $1.1bn masterplan for the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). The building provides teaching, learning, research and office accommodation for the UTS Business School. It also contains extensive public spaces including student lounges, cafes and outdoor roof terraces. The building has two distinct external facades, one composed of undulating brick, referencing the sandstone Sydney’s brick heritage, and the other of large, angled sheets of glass to fracture and mirror the surrounding context. Gehry’s concept for the building was a cluster of “tree houses.” Learn more about the UTS Dr Chau Chak Wing Building here.

Images via UTS. 

6. 180 Thomas Street (Completed 2014) by Bates Smart

Located in Haymarket, 180 Thomas Street is a new commercial building that seeks to enliven the adjacent Ultimo Network. A public plaza extends the public domain. The façade expressed the building’s vertical movement in a glass volume. The external form is articulated into a series of seemingly random, stacked, horizontal volumes. Internally, these volumes break down the scale of the building into smaller compartments. Each horizontal layer is expressed by a unique solar shading system. To fully open the floorplate, the core is located on the east perimeter. Learn more about 180 Thomas Street here.

Images via Bates Smart.

7. Central Park (Completed 2014) by Norman Foster + Partners, Ateliers Jean Nouvel + Others

Central Park occupies six hectares of Sydney’s downtown CBD. The expansive site allows for the development of new residential, commercial, resturants and retail space including new transport and pedestrian infrastructure and parks. Two Pritzker Prize-winning architects are at the helm of Central Park’s global design team: Sir Norman Foster and Jean Nouvel. A new landmark residential tower containing 623 apartments designed by Jean Nouvel recently won worlds best tall building. It features “vertical gardens” by Patrick Blanc and LED art by Yann Kersalé. Learn more about Central Park here. ()

Images via Central Park Sydney.