The controversy surrounding the demolition of Sydney’s 25 year old Convention and Exhibition Centres, lingers on
February 5th, 2013
Philip Cox’s 1989 Sir John Sulman Medal winning development in the gentrified Darling Harbour district of inner Sydney was a benchmark development for its time, playing its part in the celebration of a Nation’s coming of age.
Simon Chan, an impassioned architect and Sydney-sider has launched an online petition in the hope of lobbying Barry O’Farrell, Premier of NSW to consider an extension proposal in place of demolishing the site.
“..built as part of the great tradition of exhibition buildings, this internationally acclaimed building was a cornerstone for the redevelopment of Darling Harbour and the Nation’s Bi-Centennial celebrations.”
Image © OMA/HASSELL/SICEEP
Chan’s case for renovation and a salvage-first approach to ongoing planning is one broadly shared by stalwarts of 20th Century Australian architecture.
Last week leading architectural commentator Professor Jennifer Taylor threw her support behind the preservation of the site,
“The inner city cultural precinct of Darling Harbour was born of a time for Sydney of economic buoyancy and optimism and the major public buildings of the Exhibition Centre and the Convention Centre are representational of that time and a part of the weave in both the fabric and story of the city. Public buildings speak for the collective, and the loss for the city of the unjustified proposed demolition of two of Sydney’s most significant public buildings of the end of twentieth century, must be realised and such a short-sighted and irresponsible act prevented.”
Image © OMA/HASSELL/SICEEP
In April 2012 the NSW State Government made public their masterplan to demolish the contentious 30 year old Sydney Entertainment Centre and as part of a $1.2b renovation plan to incorporate the adjacent Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre – in doing so, expanding the facilities by two-thirds again.
The winning project team behind the renewal is a consortium of local and international firms.
Australia’s HASSELL, OMA from the Netherlands and Populous have presented a mixed-use development incorporating hospitality, open space and commercial precincts.
The demolition and construction is earmarked to begin in late 2013 through to late 2016.
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!
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.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
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 continuous production for more than 35 years, Schock Granite Sinks have made their way to Australia from Germany – bringing all the high-tech engineering for which Germany is renowned.
Now more than ever, our surfaces require the highest level of sanitisation possible. With nowhere to hide, Corian Solid Surfaces have the perfect surface application to keep you safe and healthy.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Leading the charge for sustainable design, X+O and Nudie Jeans are both making a statement in Brisbane and doing it with creativity and innovation.
An entry by MuseLAB, in The Retail Space in the 2024 INDE.Awards, takes shoppers to another planet where diamonds and great interior design make a lasting impression.