A recent Sydney design competition asked for a unique combination of infrastructure and a commercial tower. Enter 33 Bligh Street. Yelena Smetannikov reports.
April 28th, 2011
Situated in the Sydney CBD, the concept for 33 Bligh St is the first commercial building to have an electricity substation taking up the first several storeys of the tower, making the lobby area above ground level.
Stephen Varady, Senior Design Architect of KannFinch, seamlessly blended the two distinct forms together in his design, intertwining them with public space to provide views of the CBD at different heights.
“I wanted a composition that would allow these two distinct forms to come together using one rich architectural language,” Varady says.
The substation is surrounded by heritage buildings, and has to be sensitive to its neighbouring facades. The design of the podium takes its inspiration from architectural features of adjacent buildings, as well as the simplified yet powerful forms of the Russian Constructivists, Varady notes.
Above the podium is a sky lobby which separates the substation from the 25 000sq m tower. Varady’s intentions are for the general public to be able to access this space, which will contain a café, meeting and function rooms, as well as indoor and outdoor seating areas.
The tower itself will be a dynamic glass sculpture, as numerous levels are pushed and pulled to create openings in the façade. These openings will serve as workspaces or breakout areas.
The different levels of the building will cater to its users as well as the public. The podium’s exterior will contain a café to bring new life to the street edge.
Plazas on the tower’s first floor and roof level, as well as extruded balcony spaces throughout the building, all aim to provide space for social encounters between workers and visitors.
KannFinch
kannfinch.com.au
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Leading the field in terms of ergonomics, this high-end office furniture from Buro is also designed with the evolving needs of the modern workplace in mind.
With Milan 2024 only a few weeks away, we sneak a view of some of the most exciting pieces set to go on show – from lighting design to furniture, here are nine preview products.