Portico Facade. Photograph by Michael Nicholson.

  • Client ::

    • Westpoint Corporation

  • Location ::

    • Wynyard Park, Sydney, NSW

  • Completed ::

    • 2005

  • Team ::

    • Tim Greer, Paul Rolfe, Wolfgang Ripberger, Trevor Williams, Georgia Webb, Ruth Leiminer, Yannick Goldsmith, Kon Vourtzoumis, Roger O’Sullivan, Brian Zulaikha, John Chesterman, Angela Rheinlander. Photos by Brett Boardman, Michael Nicholson and Patrick Bingham-Hall

  • Awards ::

    • 2000 First Prize and Commission 2006 RAIA NSW Multiple Housing Award

Project Description::

Won as a result of a limited ‘design excellence’ competition, this project explores the redevelopment of the disused, heritage-listed 1920s Scots Church in the Sydney CBD, a stratum containing the original church auditorium of 2500 seats will be retained by the Church and restored.

The new development utilises original support structure and references the Neo-Gothic massing of the original design, abandoned in the Great Depression. To achieve a maximum number of high-quality apartments, a system of two-level units was developed with corridors and lift access at every second floor. The whole building is within a 45° sloping height-limit plane, which preserves solar access to Wynyard Park south of the site.

The elevation created by the sequence of double-storey apartment boxes continues the proportions of the Perpendicular Gothic façade below, emphasising its verticality and creating a dynamic silhouette. Evocative roof forms are developed as a series of sky follies leaning over each of the rectilinear ‘towers’, with the northernmost looking towards the Harbour. The double storey facade spaces enhance views to the sky and the city. Integrating natural ventilation, openable sliding doors and shading elements, the attached wintergardens function as an acoustic buffer and a passive solar system to allow daylight to penetrate deep into the apartments.

The new towers use sandstone colours to connect to the restored stone base, as well as expanses of seamed zinc and brilliant glazing. The interplay of solid and light, zinc and glazing combined with the irregular rhythm of coloured glazing panels, blinds and shutters, creates an elevation that reflects the vitality of the urban setting.