A new 56-storey Sydney skyscraper proposed on the site of the 42-storey 1979 Pacific Power office building, designed by Kann, Finch and Partners - which was last refurbished 2006 - has secured development approval from the NSW government. Located on the western edge of Hyde Park in the CBD, the approved design from FJC Studio for property developer Charter Hall includes a hotel and apartment tower on a near-island site bordered by Castlereagh Street and Park Street, with an address at 201 Elizabeth Street.
According to FJC Studio's design report, "This is a significant site in the city, at the edge of our greatest urban park and central city threshold of Park Street." They note that the project "marks a significant change to our city-making with the removal of a dominant tower overshadowing our park, and a collaboration of public and private interests to achieve a more sustainable, public and pedestrian-focused urbanism."
The firm was awarded the project following their success in a 2018 architectural design competition for the site involving six competitor teams. FJC Studio's scheme, which remains true to their competition-winning design, involves a tri-partite cluster of interconnected towers at differing heights, fanned to capture north-eastern views of Hyde Park and Sydney Harbour.
At its base, the scheme's 13-storey high podium is described by FJC Studio "as a piece of urban repair, addressing the existing gap in the streetscape" on Elizabeth Street and creating a corner linkage to Park Street. At the heart of the podium design, a north-west to south-east diagonal cross-block link called Anzac Parkway is designed to enhance the pedestrian permeability of the site and create a visual axis with the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park. In addition, the podium is set back on the south to create a new east-west pedestrian lane centred on the spire of the 155-year-old St George's Church.
The podium includes a mix of retail and hospitality frontages that engage with the street on the ground floor, with 441 hotel rooms, function spaces and amenities located above. The tower, comprised of three interconnected forms, includes a mix of one- to four-bed dwellings, totalling 264 apartments. Residential amenities, including a pool, a gym, a kitchen, music practice rooms and a landscaped terrace, are located on the rooftop of the podium.
Despite the initial proposal having exceeded the approved building envelope, the competition jury showed support on the proviso that the extent of overshadowing be reduced - a condition FJC Studio claim to have addressed in the approved development. According to the firm's report, modifications to the design concept also address the jury's recommendation to resolve the architectural expression and programmatic functioning, noting that "through collaboration, this [revised] proposal seeks to stretch the boundaries of the concept approval, yielding measurable public, environmental benefits."
One of these is the calibration of the new tower form to provide Anzac Memorial with solar access on Anzac Day, with FJC Studio ensuring "that the northern steps are not overshadowed on this day of remembrance."
Much like the memorial, the project adopts a material language grounded in its locale, including Yellowblock sandstone, quarried in the Sydney basin. Glass-reinforced concrete is complemented with bronze and white metal finishes, as well as bronze-tinted and clear glazing.
For FJC Studio, the development represents "a unique opportunity to provide … an exceptional experience, blending luxury with the natural beauty of the park. The design aims to enhance the urban gateway site, making a significant contribution to the streetscape while establishing a refined and inviting presence that reflects both the city's heritage and its vibrant future."
Details of the approved state significant development can be viewed online.
