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

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.

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.

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.

view project

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.

view project

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.

view project

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.