Twisted design unveiled for Sydney tower

The winning design is for a series of stacked, juxtaposed forms – or ‘vertical villages’ - which are rotated to maximise views of the surrounding area, including the iconic Sydney Harbour.

The 200m-high tower comprises a series of shifting glass volumes stacked upon each other.  By dividing the building into five separate volumes and placing atria throughout each volume, the spaces become smaller, more intimate social environments, encouraging building occupants to connect and interact.

Six architectural firms, including three Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architects, were invited to participate in the competition that has run for five months from the initial briefing in April 2014 to the winner being selected this month by a panel of six jury members.

Arup has been working with AMP Capital since project inception, providing a full multidisciplinary engineering service for the 110,000m² precinct development. It will continue to provide all engineering consulting services to AMP Capital and the architects through to completion, including the environmentally sustainable design of the development.

“This project looks at the ‘high rise’ in an entirely new way, from both the inside out and outside in,” said Kim Herforth Nielsen, founding partner and creative director of 3XN. “Its dynamic, shifted massing maximises views for all of the building’s users while also creating expansive open spaces that encourage the possibility for interaction, knowledge sharing and vertical connectivity.”

“Circular Quay is Sydney’s gateway, but it has lacked relevance in recent years,” said  Robert Saidman, principal and Sydney building services leader at Arup. “Quay Quarter is a precinct worthy of a place alongside the world’s most famous harbour. To work with AMP Capital in such a fully integrated way and consult on the project from start to finish is a unique opportunity.”

Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk