A 49-storey twisting office tower designed by Danish practice 3XN and executive architect BVN has been completed in Sydney’s Circular Quay.
Described as “jenga-like” by the architects, the tower design comprise five volumes, each stacked slightly askew on top of each other, which seeks to break down the scale of the building into five more human scale “vertical villages.”
Quay Quarter Tower by 3XN and BVN consists of five twisting volumes stacked on top of each other.
Image:
Martin Siegner
“As the building rises, the northern façade shifts to the east. The result is a rotating building with a minimal perceived mass, enhanced views over the Opera House and Harbour, and a greater value for the lower floors through maximizing the potential of the views,” said 3XN. “Rotating the tower also creates a collection of exterior terraces that are directly linked to the multi-level interior atria, which will contain shared amenity spaces for tenants in each block.”
The new tower repurposes the former AMP Centre at 50 Bridge Street, originally designed by Peddle Thorp and Walker and built in 1976.
It retains 68 percent of the existing buildings structure, and adds 45,000 square metres of new volume onto the north side.
Each volume has a continuous spiral staircase connecting all the floors.
Image:
Aran Anderson
“The design optimizes the embodied energy and resources inherent in existing building and results in a remarkably efficient plan,” said 3XN.
Through up cycling the existing building, materials choices and other considerations, the project saved approximately 8,000 tonnes of embodied carbon.
Quay Quarter tower is part of AMP Capital’s Quay Quarter Sydney precinct which also includes four other buildings designed by Studio Bright, Silvester Fuller, Carter Williamson and SJB.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
