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Fri March 29 2024

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Sydney's Darling Exchange gets green light

22 May 17 Lendlease has received planning approval for a new landmark civic building with a curved timber exterior.

The Darling Exchange will be the at the heart of Darling Square, the newest neighbourhood in the Australian city of Sydney. It will include a new City of Sydney library featuring a program to support creative and technology start-ups; an open market hall; a childcare centre; and a rooftop bar and restaurant with views over Tumbalong Park, the Chinese Gardens and Cockle Bay.

The company unveiled a 10m prototype of the exterior to coincide with the receipt of planning approval. Lendlease project director for Darling Square and the ICC Hotel, Neil Arckless, said: “Throughout history, civic buildings and town squares have brought the community together. With its bold and inviting design, we think the Darling Exchange will do that with a fresh twenty-first century twist. The Darling Exchange will be a building like no other, instantly recognisable with a façade wrapped in 20 kilometres of beautiful, curved timber.”

The six-storey building is designed by Kengo Kuma Architects (KKA) and the adjoining public square is desifbed by Aspect Studios.

Plans for the project were announced in March last year (link opens in new tab).

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The new urban square will be an extension of the building and includes areas for pop-up markets and retail, as well as green space for people to relax and unwind. The square is 2,700m2 and is part of around 35% of Darling Square that Lendlease is making available as public space.

The Darling Exchange is the centrepiece of Darling Square, the neighbourhood at the heart of the New South Wales government’s AU$3.4bn transformation of Darling Harbour. Darling Square will have about 4,200 residents and 2,500 workers; it is already home to 500 students living in Urbanest’s recently completed student accommodation building.

The Darling Exchange will begin construction shortly, with completion anticipated for 2018.

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MPU
MPU

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