A 13-storey high-rise approved for development in Sydney’s CBD is slated to become the tallest commercial mass timber building in New South Wales.
Designed by architecture and urban design practice Tzannes for property developer NGI Investments, the building has been approved for 4–6 York Street, opposite Wynyard Park and next to 341 George Street, the heritage-listed former Bank of New South Wales. The site currently serves as a parking lot for the George Street building.
The weight of the building was a significant consideration during the design process. The structure needed to be lightweight as the site is located above subterranean railway tunnels. Tzannes’s approach for addressing has involved transferring the load from the building’s western side to a central core using a hybrid concrete and steel structure. This system then supports 12 timber commercial floors, with 11 levels rising above the load transfer structure and one suspended below. According to a communique issued by Tzannes, “all timber and steel elements will be crafted for future disassembly and reuse.”
The communique stated that facade materials and dimensions were selected to “respect and respond to the architectural language” of the neighbouring former bank. A concrete portion on the lower levels of the facade is intended to mirror the granite base of the heritage bank. Additionally, a double-height terrace establishes a visual connection to the historic building.
The project marks the design firm’s third application of timber construction in a commercial building, following International House Sydney and Daramu House. International House, completed in 2017, is recognised as Australia’s first engineered timber commercial building.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
