Whilst it may take a little time before your brand is ready to fill the Grand Palais in Paris a few times a year, the City of Sydney is lending a helping hand to those burgeoning creatives left without the facilities they require. By Nicholas Sherwood.

After reviving a creative space Oxford Street last year in a similar way, the City has turned their attention to both 101-111 and 113-115 William Street in Darlinghurst. Levels have been rejuvenated, making way for a group of some of Australia’s most talented design firms, namely cult favourite label, Romance Was Born, as well as OPJAM, a new online radio platform and *asterix, a company that focuses their attention across a wide range of design forms.

Andrew Donaldson, director at Andrew Donaldson Architect & Design (the mind behind the successful renewal of Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art) is excited by the prospect of being influenced by different avenues of the creative industry. “We’re particularly looking forward to drawing inspiration from outside the field of architecture – from the fashion and art worlds, for example – and think the ability to critique and expand our creative output in-house will be hugely beneficial to our practice.” This unique mix of energy will hopefully allow these worlds to take cues from one another, making for a fresh perspective on their own professions.

Coinciding with these workspaces, six new apartments are to become live-in studios for young artists and other creatives, easing the burden of Sydney’s onerous rental rates. These apartments will provide enough space to balance both work and personal environments, and are open for expressions now. Alongside this, Stills Gallery from Paddington are currently running a pop-up exhibition at 101-111 William, and the crew from the CBD’s Grasshopper bar will be opening a new space in the basement of 113-115 later on this year.

City of Sydney – Creative Hubs
cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/business/city-spaces/creative-hubs