With site acquisition now complete, the design led by fjcstudio with Trias Studio, Aileen Sage and Polly Harbison Design is set to take shape.
January 21st, 2025
The recent acquisition of a 6000-square-metre site in Sydney’s CBD marks a transformative moment for the city’s urban landscape. The ambitious mixed-use project, set to redefine Midtown, will be spearheaded by an award-winning design team led by fjcstudio. The renowned architectural firm will collaborate with Trias Studio, Aileen Sage and Polly Harbison Design to create two soaring 80-storey towers, positioned to become prominent features of the Sydney skyline.
fjcstudio’s design vision embraces Sydney’s urban character and geometry, delivering a sophisticated architectural aesthetic. The twin towers will rise above a podium building, featuring a ground-floor civic plaza and new retail spaces. This thoughtful integration of residential, hospitality and public domains reflects fjcstudio’s commitment to creating dynamic and connected urban environments.
“Our design proposal has a distinctive and forward-looking form but is also restrained, elegant and reinforces the geometry, urban structure and maturity of Sydney,” says Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director at fjcstudio. “Fundamental to the urban character of the design is the fine grain orthogonal structure of the public domain and streetscape. The small footprint tower forms nestle into a network of through-site links and intimate public spaces addressed and activated by a variety of low scale buildings – a city in microcosm. The podium design is led by fjcstudio in collaboration with Trias, Polly Harbison and Aileen Sage.”
Related: Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director at fjcstudio, writes about the search for public space
Pedestrian-friendly laneways will connect Pitt, Liverpool, and Castlereagh Streets, leading to a vibrant civic square enhanced by outdoor seating, landscaping and public art. Meanwhile, the development will house approximately 600 luxury residences and premium hotel accommodations. The architectural language extends to the design of the apartments, which will include one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations alongside exclusive penthouses. These residences will feature bespoke finishes, luxurious amenities and sweeping views spanning Hyde Park, Sydney Harbour and beyond.
Saul Moran, Development Director at Billbergia, comments: “Our vision will transform this underutilised city block into a cutting-edge urban community with luxury residences supported by premium amenity, quality public domain and active placemaking. This mixed-use development is Billbergia’s first in the CBD and heralds the renewal of the Midtown district.” Central Sydney Property Pty Ltd is a joint venture between developer Billbergia Group and Metrics Credit Partners, and has finalised its acquisition of the site from offshore developer Han’s Holding Group.
With demolition anticipated to begin next year, the project’s realisation will depend on securing the necessary approvals. Once complete, the development promises to redefine Midtown Sydney, showcasing fjcstudio’s expertise in blending design excellence with urban regeneration.
Next up: Forward-looking immersive design in an adaptive reuse setting
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