Construction is underway on a 50-storey tower that will soon rise above Sydney’s 127-year-old former City Tattersalls Club building on Pitt Street.
The $800 million project involves refurbishing three existing state heritage-listed buildings designed by Sheerin and Hennessy – including the former Tattersalls Club building (1891) – and establishing a contemporary tower above. The development, named Sydney House, will accommodate 241 residential units in the tower, as well as a 135-room hotel, commercial spaces, retail tenancies and “high-end” dining offerings in the podium.
BVN and FJC Studio have collaboratively handled the project design. BVN was engaged to design the new 50-storey tower after winning a design competition for the project in August 2020, while FJC Studio was appointed before the competition began to oversee all heritage design aspects of the redevelopment.
As highlighted in a communique detailing BVN and FJC Studio’s design vision, the new tower is intended to have a distinct yet complementary identity to the three heritage buildings. The statement notes that the cantilevered form of the residential tower creates the impression that the tower is “hovering effortlessly above the hotel podium.” According to the designers, the decision to position the new structure with an offset to the existing buildings allows each new volume to develop its own character while ensuring that the heritage facades remain the primary focus at street level.
The tower features a scalloped fenestration inspired by the arched windows on the existing heritage facades. Principal of BVN Phillip Rossington said the contemporary reinterpretation of these arched details “subtly links the forms while also delineating new from old.”
“This complementary approach enriches the reading of the heritage buildings, so they’re appreciated in a new light.”
As part of the project, FJC Studio will restore and adapt the interiors and facades of the three heritage buildings. Additionally, they have designed a new contemporary infill building, which will sit between the existing buildings and “complete the Pitt Street composition,” according to the communique.
Design director of FJC Studio Richard Francis-Jones said, “The new infill facade is distinctly modern with a depth, compositional character and material richness that complements the exceptional detail and beauty of the three [Victorian and Interwar Palazzo style] heritage facades.
“New entrances, awnings, and shopfronts are refined contemporary designs inspired by the geometry and grandeur of the restored Art Deco rooms within. This integrated architectural approach extends to the interiors where the restored late Victorian and Art Deco spaces are complemented by a new grand staircase and public artworks, creating a cohesive and enriched experience for occupants and visitors in a unique multi-era, mixed-use Sydney House.”
The development application for Sydney House received approval in November 2021. The excavation and demolition process is complete, with the structural form works now set to proceed. Construction is anticipated to be complete in late 2027.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
