Australia’s premier city and an international metropolitan icon, Sydney is renowned for its natural and manmade beauty as well as for the high quality of the local lifestyle. As the city plans for a sustainable future, key values bring the people of Sydney together: the desire to be environmentally responsible, to be globally engaged, and to be connected.
Our proposal for the redevelopment of the Quay Quarter precinct recognizes connectivity as the core strategy for Sydney’s sustainable development: an engaged and connected public is poised to participate in global affairs, and is better equipped to enact responsible environmental stewardship. Facilitating connectivityan overlap of place, identity, and energy that supports movement, action, and dialoguewill be central to enhancing the city center as a key cultural hub for Sydney.
Our proposal unites distinct approaches for the precinct’s two blocks – Bridge & Alfred Street, and Young & Loftus Street – to create an urban destination that supports a wide variety of cultural and commercial activity. We pursued a design that would establish and enhance connectivity at both macro and micro scales, engaging the surrounding skyline while revealing finegrained urban connections at the street level. Various organizational strategies undertakenincluding the vertical distribution of lobbies, terraces, and social spaces, as well as the definition of accessible circulation routes throughout the projectactivate the precinct on multiple levels to create a public amenity that enhances the safety, openness, and image of the city center.
As a precinct of diversified interests and building types, Quay Quarter Sydney requires a balanced approach to planning and design to ensure value for project’s stakeholders. Fulfilling and exceeding commercial objectives in the project involves a unique interpretation of design opportunities specific to a dense urban setting. Creating a strong connection with 33 Alfred Street through an integrated ground plane and elevated Sky Deck, the 50 Bridge Street tower is visibly established as Sydney’s premier address for global business. The 50 Bridge street tower is extended and revitalized to offer premium work environments that are progressive and flexible, integrating diverse social spaces supporting collaboration and exchangeAMP Capital is a longtime resident of the Quay with a celebrated role in forming the city. In 1957, AMP laid the foundation for the contemporary Sydney skyline by seeking approval to exceed building height by nearly twice the regulated amount. On top of the new tallest building in Australia and the gateway to Sydney, AMP built a public openair observation deck. Our proposal pays homage to the company’s historic influence on the city’s skyline by integrating a landmark new public space in the form of a spanning sky bridge to the neighboring tower. This bridge supports an elevated plaza and office space– a Sky Deck – affording unparalleled views over Sydney Harbor.
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