Paddington Reservoir Gardens

Name Paddington Reservoir Gardens
Client City of Sydney
Country Gadigal
Location Paddington, NSW
Year 2006-2009

The site of a disused petrol station, on a corner of Paddington’s prominent Oxford Street, is excavated to reveal a historic arched masonry water reservoir. Here, a multi-level urban park is created, with lush native planting and contemporary architectural accents. Accessible to all, the Gardens are open for every use, from art exhibitions and wedding photos to just hanging out.

TZG won the commission from City of Sydney to convert this fenced-off ruin into a park for the public. Oxford Street began as a footway for the Gadigal people from what’s now called Hyde Park to South Head.

Below the 1930’s lawn lay a 19^th century water reservoir, disused since 1899. The subsequent garage workshop on the site was closed in 1990 when its roof collapsed. TZG conceived a place of exposed ruins through which the public could wander, enjoying the dramatic spaces of the reservoir.

TZG proposed to City of Sydney the exposure and re-purposing of the reservoir. Council quickly shared the vision of how the heritage, accessibility and broad range of usage would benefit the general public.

This alternative approach resulted in the site being integrated to form a sunken garden with concrete boardwalks that lead into the re-strengthened brick vaults of the Reservoir, with reinstated lawns on top. Contemporary aluminium entrance canopies float above, marking out stairways and lift access down to the garden and pond.

In counterpoint to the historic use of brick, iron and timber, we have restricted the contemporary materials to steel, aluminium and concrete. Curved forms in the concrete and whimsically vaulted stretcher-brick patterning refer directly to historic vaults and brickwork, but there is a clear delineation where old meets new.

TZG’s programme to open up the site brings the heritage artefact back to life. Full access from Oxford Street to the general public will continue to offer a venue for all kinds of activity in the future.

Awards

2017 Channel 10 Australia, Design No. 1 Building in NSW.
2011 Urban Land Institute Award for Excellence: Asia Pacific.
2010 International Architecture Award, The Chicago Athenaeum & the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design & Urban Studies.
2010 Shortlisted, World Architecture Festival Old & New Category.
2010 AIA National Award for Urban Design.
2010 AIA National Award for Heritage Architecture.
2010 World Architecture News Award for Urban Design.
2010 Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, AIA (NSW) Awards.
2010 Greenway Award for Heritage, AIA (NSW) Awards.
2010 AILA Landscape Architecture Medal.
2010 Energy Australia National Trust Heritage Awards Adaptive Reuse (Corp/Gov’t) Award.
2009 Australia Award for Urban Design, Planning Institute of Australia.
2009 Australian Property Institute, Officer of the Valuer General Heritage Award.
2009 Landscape Architecture Medal, AILA (NSW).
2009 Design Excellence Award, AILA.

Team

Tim Greer, Julie Mackenzie, Trina Day, Roger O’Sullivan, Wolfgang Ripberger, Tamara Frangelli.

Collaborators

JMD Design, TZG Heritage.

Consultants

Cini Little Australia Pty Ltd, Glendinning Minto & Associates Pty Ltd, GRS Building Reports Pty Ltd, Haron Robson, Morris Goding Accessibility Consulting, SDA Structures Pty Ltd,

Photographer

Brett Boardman, Eric Sierens.

Previous Project:
Rose Bay House

Next Project:
Glasshouse Cultural Centre

Paddington Reservoir Gardens

TZG won the commission from City of Sydney to convert this fenced-off ruin into a park for the public. Oxford Street began as a footway for the Gadigal people from what’s now called Hyde Park to South Head.

Below the 1930’s lawn lay a 19th century water reservoir, disused since 1899. The subsequent garage workshop on the site was closed in 1990 when its roof collapsed. TZG conceived a place of exposed ruins through which the public could wander, enjoying the dramatic spaces of the reservoir.

TZG proposed to City of Sydney the exposure and re-purposing of the reservoir. Council quickly shared the vision of how the heritage, accessibility and broad range of usage would benefit the general public.

TZG’s programme to open up the site brings the heritage artefact back to life. Full access from Oxford Street to the general public will continue to offer a venue for all kinds of activity in the future.

Related projects

Blaxland Riverside Playground Kiosk

Carriageworks Arts Centre

Walsh Bay Arts Precinct

Hyde Park Barracks

TZG acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, on whose land we work and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We are committed to a just, equitable and reconciled Australia and support the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Always was, always will be.

Below the 1930’s lawn lay a 19^th century water reservoir, disused since 1899. The subsequent garage workshop on the site was closed in 1990 when its roof collapsed. TZG conceived a place of exposed ruins through which the public could wander, enjoying the dramatic spaces of the reservoir.

TZG acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, on whose land we work and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We are committed to a just, equitable and reconciled Australia and support the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Always was, always will be.