Connection, reinvigoration and equilibrium – Harry Seidler & Associates redesign a lobby of a former building to rebalance its unique atrium. Yelena Smetannikov has the story.
December 13th, 2011
9 Castlereagh St is located along one of Sydney’s primary boulevards, and was originally designed by Harry Seidler & Associates in 1989.
The new owner, Stockland, commissioned Harry Seidler & Associates to recreate a grand lobby and re-establish the sequence of experiences in the lobby, to strengthen its status as a high quality office tower and reconnect it back to the street.
“Having worked on the building as a youngster with Harry Seidler & Associates, I have always had a special attachment to this unique building, so it was stimulating to revisit it again with a new client,” said John Curro, the project’s head designer.
Ash trees line the entrance, continuing the boulevard rhythm along Castlereagh St, creating a sense of enclosure from the street.
Upon entering, one’s attention is led upwards to the vast vertical space of the forecourt. Existing gardens were tailored to provide a greater visual connection to the lobby and provide more daylight into the unique, high ceiling space.
The forecourt leads to a gleaming 10m high glazed lobby. A focal point is the lift bank with granite wall and bright silver lift panels that reflect new transom lighting. The end of the lobby provides discreet entry to a childcare facility.
A significant Lin Utzon mural visually bonds the forecourt and lobby, beneath which is a café, offering a variety of plush banquette seating, communal tables, and lounge style settings.
Photography: Dirk Meinecke, Harry Seidler & Associates
“A fondness of the original design made it very difficult on one hand to consider alternatives [for the design], yet this familiarity also allowed a confident, strong approach to the new design,” said John Curro.
Harry Seidler & Associates
seidler.net.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!
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.
‘The Elevation of Gravity’ installation was an immersive showcase of innovation that heralded the debut of Gaggenau’s groundbreaking Essential Induction cooktop.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
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.
It was a heavenly experience at Zenith, who accessorised the pristine white Lexus showroom with angels who handed out Heaven ice creams. The theme was inspired by the launch of the ’Heaven’ outdoor collection.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
The AIA Alta Wellness Haven offers the complete package for health and wellbeing away from the busy city life in Hong Kong and does it through a stellar interior design.
Adventist Medical Centre – CWB is a pilot project in which a curated medical interior enriches user experience while addressing operational imperatives with precision.