stanisic architects

Gregory Place has been lodged to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment as a State Significant Development.

The architectural design concept is for 3 x freestanding building forms that are arranged into an orthogonal layout of five fingers that vary in height from 4-8 storeys and adjust to the scale of the existing and future context, including remaining colonial cottages. The built form has been embedded within a parkland setting of courts and passages that creates a framework for permeable pedestrian movement to enable physical and visual connections to the rich cultural landscape setting.

The vision for the development is to create a breathing, living environment that is responsive to the sun, light, air and outlook that complements its residential parkland setting and rich cultural history.

The existing site is blighted industrial land that has the potential to be made much better in many respects. The proposed development is a large project that is embedded in being different to its context, while also being compatible. Most importantly, the site able to better Connect with Country. The site is located within a rich cultural landscape that has been occupied for many thousands of years and physically transformed following colonialisation and later with multiculturalism. It has evolved into a distinctive place that is a special sub-precinct, an island that is defined by a parkland landscape to the north, stormwater channel to the south with only one street interface.

The existing industrial uses on the site are now redundant and there is an opportunity to rejuvenate it for residential occupation to take advantage of its prime location and excellent amenity. In doing so, there is an added responsibility to balance the relationship between density and social outcomes - economics, environment and social benefits. Density should be located on good land with good amenity in order to contain urban sprawl and it should be offset by creating a high-quality and connected public domain.

While respecting the significant colonial history of the four key state heritage register listings (Hambledon Cottage, Elizabeth Farm and Experiment Farm) and Parramatta Sand Body to the north, any significant development also has an obligation to Care for Country. Acknowledging the history pre-contact as well as contemporary stories, provides a deeper understanding of our history and develops our thinking of Australia as a Country. This can be achieved by embedding place into the interpretation of the built form and significant open space, and by permitting pedestrian movement through the site once again. Furthermore, there is also an opportunity to make a strong sustainable commitment towards the future.

Architect: Stanisic Architects

Client: Hallmark Constructions

Community Housing Provider: Pacific Community Housing

Artist: Mark Gerada

Firsts for mixed-use buildings

A new age in apartment design paves the way for variety on one site writes Dani Wright.

A draft Central Sydney Planning Strategy document, open for public discussion, could designate new tower builds of more than 55 metres be at least half commercial, as the boom in residential apartment living slows. 

For architects and developers, this brings challenges, but also the potential for an increase in mixed-use developments integrating retail, residential and commercial uses on one site – a focus of the Greater Sydney Commission.

Stanisic Architects, pioneers in the design of urban housing and apartments going back  20 years to Sydney’s Green Square project, believes people who live in apartments in the Sydney metropolitan area want to be part of something more.

“It’s not possible to just put one use on a site any more and that really comes back to people,” says the firm’s design director, Frank Stanisic,whose latest project under construction is Jewel at Wentworth Point. “They want other facilities and another way of living, not just a box to sleep in. They want where they live to support their lifestyle.”

An example of this is the design of communal facilities such as roof gardens. Stanisic Architects has taken it a step further and added outdoor cinemas on apartment rooftops, as well as function spaces for entertaining. Throughout some buildings are communal areas such as libraries and biolounges. As apartments get smaller, these spaces become important. 

“We like to allow lots of sunlight into apartment living spaces and to minimise air conditioning with cross flow ventilation throughout,” says Stanisic. “We also have inside-outside spaces, such as winter gardens where living areas are extended outdoors.”

Stanisic says the main themes of the firm’s work includes diversity – to make sure there are many uses from one site; connectivity – consideration of the walking environment and pedestrian connections; and sustainability, as well as environmental performance and comfort.

“Trends are towards lifestyle-led living environments, where residents might go downstairs to a delicatessen or restaurant on site or childcare facilities,” Stanisic says . “They like the convenience so they can spend more time doing the things they want to in life.”

Freedom inside apartments comes with touches such as sliding wall panels,where bedrooms can be opened into living spaces and people are able to change the environment they live in depending on their stage of life or if friends and family come to stay.

“They might also like some spaces closed off or opened up depending on the time of day or season of the year,” says Stanisic. “It’s a nod to the great tradition of Japanese design, which uses those adaptable spaces.” 

He says environmental quality and sense of light, sun and space surprises residents, because it provides a sense of comfort.

To decide on an apartment, Stanisic recommends choosing a location, then looking at design,while making sure materials are long lasting and durable.

“Multi-use apartments are about creating not just a memorable building,” says Stanisic, “but also a memorable sense of place to belong to.”

Imperial reaches a critical point as excavation is complete and an industrial-scaled bracing structure is used to reinforce the busy Illawarra Railway Line, due to a constraint placed upon ancoring below state infrastructure. Multiple excavators were used to 'handshake' with each other to remove fill from the site. The excavation will allow four split level basement levels to be constructed and bring the structure up to ground level to lock the piles together so that the bracing can be removed. It is expected that the basment levels will be complete by year's end. When complete, the development will comprise 328 apartments above a retail podium (22,209m² GFA).

Architect: Stanisic Architects, Client: Piety THP, Builder: Alliance Property Group

Jewel begins to rise out of the ground following the construction of a diaphragm wall, excavation and completion of three basement levels. Construction has commenced on the first building to the north and will be followed by the remaining two buildings and retail levels. As each level is completed, magnificent waterfront views are revealed and provide a glimpse to the future for the new ferry walk and Foreshore Drive. When complete, the development will comprise 256 apartments above a retail podium and child care centre (27,272m² GFA).

Architect: Stanisic Architects, Landscape Architect: Sturt Noble Associates, Client: Payce, Builder: Dasco

Stanisic Architects have recently completed a development application for two 8 storeys buildings that transition to 4 storeys along a new lane to adjust to the surrounding low-rise residential context on Canterbury Road, Belmore. The design concept is for a perimeter form and central courtyard comprising 149 apartments (12,860 GFA) and 390sqm commercial floor space to Canterbury Road. The site is located on a significant corner at Canterbury Road/ Platts Avenue and is marked with street defining commercial uses and awnings before transitioning into a full-residential building. The new shared-lane provides a visual and pedestrian connection between Platts Avenue and Liberty Street.

The infill building to the new laneway has a different character and acts as a backdrop to the courtyard. This building is sheathed in bronze finished panels, balustrades, pergolas and louvres and acts as the ‘jewel’ within the larger complex.

Architect: Stanisic Architects, Client: Holt Point Pty Ltd

Images: Ivolve, Stanisic Architects

Stanisic Architects have recently completed a development application for new residential development at Wentworth Point - One the Waterfront. Stage 1 of this project is for 273 apartments (18,800sqm GFA) in five perimeter form buildings that surround a central courtyard with one building set within a new park. Communal open spaces located on the roofs of buildings are connected by an aerial bridge and comprise planting, seating, BBQ and an outdoor cinema.  The rich, visual nature of the architecture comes to life with clear and bronze tinted glazing, bronze metallic frames and gold finished vertical aluminium louvres which amplify the sun and animate the facades. The built form is broken up into vertical parts and has disparate elements, as opposed to a continuous street wall, giving clear visual and pedestrian permeability to the courtyards. Stanisic Architects have commenced the design for Stage 2 that will complete the perimeter form.

Architect: Stanisic Architects, Landscape Architect: Sturt Noble Associates, Client: Wentworth Point 1 Pty Ltd

Images: Ivolve

Stanisic Architects is pleased to be announced as the winners of the Charles Street Design Competition. This mixed use project is a 48 storey tower with 12 storey street wall at the corner of Charles and Macquarie Streets, Parramatta. It comprises retail, health services, child care centre and 381 residential apartments.

The architecture of the tower responds primarily to three design concepts: the interface of the buildings with the open space at street level; the response to the wider urban and landscape setting and views; and built form articulation through surface treatment and controlled variation. The building adopts a ‘hybrid form’ of tower, street walls and horizontal slots to interface with the ground, the street, the city, the river, the sun and the sky.

Architect: Stanisic Architects, Client/ Developer: Statewide Planning

Images: David Duloy

Jewel Wentworth Point is a mixed-use development by Stanisic Architects for Ionic Management and Payce + Sekisui House Australia located at 1 Burroway Road, Wentworth Point. Jewel is a new glistening iconic gateway to Wentworth Point that is all about the experience of place. The project comprises three elegant, slender finger forms drapped in a gold sheath of screening that sit on top of an active retail ground plane. The buildings are bisected by a publically accessible avenue 'Pierside' that terminates at the new ferry wharf. The development has approximately 27,500sqm (2.63:1 FSR) and includes 256 apartments, approximately 4,300sqm of restaurants and shops, a supermarket and childcare centre.

Architect: Stanisic Architects, Client: Iconic Management, Developer: Payce + Sekisui House Australia

Images: Doug + Wolf

The Emerald Park Masterplan of the former Email industrial site that is situated on the western side of Joynton Avenue, between O’Dea Avenue and McPherson Lane is nearing completion. Emerald Park encapsulates the essence of Green Square – sustainability, diversity and affordability. The project comprises 7 buildings in five stages in addition to a publically accessible boardwalk beneath the mature Hills fig trees along Joynton Avenue, through-site way and new 4,000sqm public park - Mary O'Brien Reserve. It comprises 557 apartments and 200sqm retail, with the final stage due for completion late 2015 - constructed by Lateral Estate.

Construction is complete and residents have moved into Eton, Stage 2, Buildings B + C of the Emerald Park Masterplan by Waterside Constructions, the building arm of Lateral Estate (formerly Lateral Group). The occupation of the building’s 174 apartments has added another layer to the rich external appearance of the building. Construction continues on the remaining buildings of the masterplan including Parc (Building A), Grand (Building B) and Prime (Building E).

Construction has commenced on the former Altamont Hotel site at Darlinghurst. The built form concept for the project is two contrasting forms: a new residential block and retained historic Victorian villa with a dining forecourt to Darlinghurst Road. The forms are separated by a ‘gap’, a linear entry lobby, that allows the villa to be viewed as a free standing building. The new residential flat building is 6 storeys + attic, with single level apartments, parking and loading area accessed from Kirketon Road. The configuration and restricted area of the site due to the retention of the villa requires that the basement parking is accessed by double car lifts. The project includes subterranean space for a restaurant/ bistro (previously the Cauldron nightclub and said to have been frequented by the Rolling Stones on their Sydney gigs), and café, opening to the forecourt.

Frank Stanisic gave an invited lecture on collective housing to a full house of architectural design students at the UNSW Faculty of Built Environment. The design studio on living environments, coordinated by Dr Paola Favaro, has included EDO at Crown Street, Woolloomooloo as one of its precedent studies. Frank spoke about the practice’s continuing interest in site, in particular the land, sun, street and history, as a generator of site design and built form. The presentation also focused on the cross-over design in Mondrian, EDO, Spectrum, Coda and Zone to create breathing buildings with natural ventilation and solar access. These innovative projects are extensively illustrated and described in Stanisic: Live Work, available from Pesaro Press, which is on the student’s reference reading.

Construction of Highpoint has commenced with the excavation of the two level basement car park, known locally as the ‘duck pond’. Above ground building works are set to commence soon. The development has a perimeter and courtyard form, comprising of three buildings with 437 apartments and 497sqm retail. The built form is generally aligned with the public streets and a new 8 metre wide through-site way joining Forest Road and Pearl Street along the southern boundary. The built forms are located at the block edge without podium or articulated street wall setbacks to maintain a clear definition of the public streets. The proposed buildings comprise an 18 storey tower and lower 4 to 14 storey, slim-line blocks. The building heights have been redistributed around the perimeter block to improve the urban design response and the solar access to apartments, and without an increase in the maximum 4.5:1 FSR (38,500sqm).

Construction is complete on Stage 2, Buildings B and C, aka Eton, of the Emerald Park Masterplan by Waterside Constructions, the building arm of the Lateral Group. The 9 storey residential flat buildings with 16,200sqm are joined by glazed sky bridges, and are noted for their distinctive external expression comprising a combination of painted, precast concrete panels (active face) and perforated ‘Zeus Grey’ aluminium screening panels (recessive face) giving a rich layered external appearance. The 174 apartments develop the unique ‘cross-over and snorkel combination’ configuration that achieves excellent amenity, affordability and buyer choice. The expression of the stacked apartments has been varied using a highly controlled and codified compositional technique that creates a random-like appearance to main elevations.

Stanisic Architects was the runner-up in a Design Excellence Competition for a key site, GSTC 6, in the Green Square Town Centre, having been selected for Stage 2 proposal. The buildings are distinguished by their materiality, built form, open space, and interface to the public domain.  According to Stanisic: ‘I wanted the buildings to be light and uplifting, reaching to the sky or floating above the ground, in contrast to the many masonry and precast buildings which are now commonplace in the area. The Green Square Town Centre is the new venue, the new exemplar, and I thought it was time for a new expression, one which was not horizontal and heavy, but vertical and light. The buildings are clad in glass and metal. Colourback and bronze tinted glass, aluminium panels, and fixed metal louvres and battens that shade the western faces from the afternoon sun that streams across the site and give a golden reflected light to the building faces. Glass is related to the history of the wider Green Square area which had some of Sydney’s first glass manufacturing such as Australian Window Glass. I have always associated glass, precious metals, transparency and lightness with the area, qualities which are also forward looking.”

Stanisic Architects has sponsored two new catalogue and information pavilions that were designed and constructed by Master of Architecture students at the University of Sydney. The pavilions are part of the Sculpture by the Sea Festival, the world’s largest annual free-to-the public outdoor sculpture exhibition. The spectacular Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk turns into a 2km long temporary sculpture park featuring over 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world during October to November. Constructed from timber framing and plywood the pavilions mark the start of the sculpture walk at each end. These purpose-built temporary structures are manned by volunteers who answer questions from exhibition visitors as well as selling the exhibition catalogues. Congratulations to studio coordinator Michael Muir, tutors and students for their creative efforts and innovative construction.         

Stanisic architects has submitted an entry to a limited design excellence competition for an ‘island’ site at Lane Cove, Sydney. Based on a Part 3A Concept Plan approval the architecture responds primarily to three concepts: the interface of buildings with the open space; the response to the wider landscape setting and views; and built form articulation through surface treatment and controlled variation. The siting of the lower 6 to 10 storey buildings reinforces the open spaces, step down the hill and emphasise the topography of the site. The 20 storey tower and its 10 storey companion building, located at opposite ends of the site, are similar in expression and anchor the proposal, providing urban markers when viewed from the east and west along Epping Road. The 20 storey tower is designed to both complement its landscape setting and maintain its identity as a bold, modern addition to the cityscape.

Imperial has been selected as a finalist in the annual AIA architecture awards in the multiple housing category. The project was among 68 projects selected from 168 entries. The project is on record and will be showcased on the AIA website, in the special awards edition of Architecture Bulletin in July and showcased in the Architecture today exhibition. Imperial is located in the theatre district of downtown Sydney. It is mixed use building with 250 serviced apartments, pool, gym, offices and shops. Its design focuses on connection, light and surface. The 33 storey building comprises three forms which step down to Campbell Street to retain solar access to Belmore Park. It is distinguished by a through site pedestrian way, coloured interlay glass louvre screen, ‘chiselled’ concrete ledges and light courts.

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A development application for 437 apartments and approx. 580sqm retail has been submitted to Hurstville City Council for the Toga Group on the former Dominelli Ford site at Hurstville. The 38,500sqm project is a perimeter courtyard concept with slender buildings ranging from 4 to21 storeys in height. The striking tower marks the highest point on the western edge of the Hurstville City Centre. The project incorporates a new laneway, generous central communal courtyard and green roof terrace on the ‘link’ building. The external expression is a patchwork of clearly expressed volumes for urban scale and fine grain detail for pedestrian scale. Colour is used to define the volumes of the perimeter.    

A development application for Stages 3 to 5 (Buildings A, B and E) of the Emerald Park Masterplan has been approved by Sydney City Council. The four separate buildings of 20,000sqm comprise 210 apartments ranging in height from 4 to 9 storeys. The buildings which front onto Joynton Avenue with its magnificent figs and the new ‘south park’ complete the definition of the central communal courtyard, The buildings will be constructed from precast concrete and feature ‘sun catchers’ for solar access and ‘ribbon balustrades’. The apartments feature the unique post GFC ‘cross-over and snorkel combination’ configuration that provides excellent amenity, affordability and buyer choice.    

Frank Stanisic has scored a hat trick by being appointed as the first permanent independent chair of the Architecture Review Advisory Panel (ARAP), permanent member of the Independent Hearing and Advisory Panel (IHAP) and alternate for the Sydney East Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) for Sutherland Shire Council. The ARAP was established by Council to provide independent professional advice to Council regarding development within the Shire, with the intention of improving the quality of development. The Panel's terms of reference are to examine, evaluate and critique the design aspects of proposed developments prior to submission of a Development Application; and advise the staff of its assessment of the design quality of development applications. The terms of reference are supplemented by the 10 design qulity principles of SEPP 65 which the Panel uses when considering the merits of any proposal.

Stanisic Architects have lodged a new proposal for the Dunning Avenue site, Rosebery at the southern edge of Green Square, adjacent to CODA. The shop-top proposal for 52 apartments and ground level shops follows on from two previously approved applications - for apartments and for offices - submitted over the past 10 years. The latest post-GFC proposal is a multi-core design with dual aspect and ‘snorkel’ layouts to achieve solar access, cross ventilation and affordability, the new priority. The floating building form has a vertical rhythm to the street through the articulation of bays or modules. The linear courtyard is designed by 360 degrees.

Stanisic Architects has submitted an entry for the Green Square Library and Plaza, an open competition run by the City of Sydney. The building form is a clearly delineated, four-storey box, ark-like, that appears to float above the flood waters of O’Sheas Creek which periodically wash over the site on their way through the town centre to Alexandra Canal – and which will be diverted to an underground, stormwater culvert as part of the town centre infrastructure works.  The Plaza is envisaged as rug-like space that stretches the full length of the site, trimmed with detail at its edges to maintain an adaptable and multi-use space for public activities.

Stanisic Architects has completed the design of the remaining six buildings of Emerald Park, the redevelopment of the former email site in Green Square on the tree-lined Joynton for the Lateral Group. The 6 to 10 storey buildings are organised around a large central communal courtyard and new public park. The 430 apartments include a unique coupling of ‘snorkel’ and cross-over apartments to achieve a balance of affordability, diversity, solar access and natural ventilation.

In June 2011 Frank Stanisic was made a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects. A former Vice- President, Councillor and Chair of the AIA the honour was nominated by Matthew Pullinger, the current AIA President.

Construction of the 33 storey serviced apartment, the Imperial, has been completed, comprising 430 units. Stanisic Architects was selected through Design Excellence Competition required by City Council. Located in the City’s south, opposite the Capitol Theatre, the stepped, infill tower is distinguished by chiselled, concrete ledges and multi-coloured interlay, glass vertical louvres at lower levels. The vertical core and lift system aligns with a 60 metre long public arcade which extends the mid-block pedestrian pathways.

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A planning proposal for a high density apartment building in Gerrale Street, Cronulla has been approved by the DoPI. Based on a detailed analysis of existing context and neighbour impacts an uplift to 3:1 FSR and 9 storeys, from 2:1 and 6 storeys, was achieved. Stanisic Architects has now developed the proposal based on a trapezoid plan, split-block form breezeway and external venetian blinds to create the light and breezy environment of a beach house in collective housing. The form is generated by sun access and view planes from the neighbouring building to the south.

ERA has received an AIA Architecture Award for Commercial Architecture. Located in the heart of Kings Cross the project is a split-block form which combines a breezeway and public arcade to create both breathing access walkways for occupants and permeable public though site way. The breezeway is covered by a unique, stepped glass roof that provides protection from the rain, light and airflow. The project was designed for the Hayson Group.

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A modest development of 17 units at Alison Road, Randwick has been approved after 4 years which included two successful applicant L+E determinations – appeal by the applicant against Randwick Council for refusal and subsequent defence by the applicant against L+E appeal by Randwick Council. Despite strong support by the Design Review Panel, the modest four storey project on the site of the client’s family home was frustrated by resident objections for loss of view. The project - a passive design with sunlit balconies, cross ventilation and screened gallery access walkways – is a precedent for sustainable, medium density, infill development.

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A preferred project plan has been approved by the Planning Advisory Committee for a 16 storey residential, mixed use project at Treacy Street, Hurstville, near the rail station. The project is a hybrid form - slab, tower and street wall fusion - with a large slot and recesses to reduce the building’s visual bulk and capture sunlight to communal open spaces. The northern façade of the slender building is shaded with a ‘metal jacket’ comprising gold, anodised balustrade panels; the southern facade to the railway line has glass enclosed, wintergardens.