Woods Bagot’s mixed-use design of 168 Walker Street in North Sydney for property developer Aqualand has been conceived as a uniquely Sydney building. In the North Sydney skyline, the building will feature a stepped, sculptural curvilinear form of up to 27 storeys responding to the shoreline of Sydney Harbour from which it will be viewed. The proposal will contain 415 luxury apartments, ground floor retail tenancies and first floor bespoke commercial suites over a six level carpark. As Woods Bagot Lifestyle Sector Leader Richard Weinman explained, the building will be transparent and light in its materiality, reflecting the sunlight and clear skies that define Sydney.
Weinman said the design conceptualises the deep tree-lined landscape that is currently characteristic to the Walker & McLaren Streetscape. The landscaping uses the topography of the site to carefully craft and define attractive and functional public and private space. The ‘botanically’ themed concept, in form and landscaping, is referenced throughout the development. “We have taken cues from this and designed our floor plates as a set of interconnected ‘leaves’. The corridor links connecting these leaves act as light shafts separating the residential pods to further break down the scale of the tower forms. The towers are further articulated with a pinched form and softened with curved glass edges,” he said.
The generously designed residences will be served by two interconnected lobbies. Apartments have been planned to provide sweeping views of the Sydney Harbour and the lush northern suburbs. They will feature floor to ceiling glass with wintergardens to provide flexible outdoor and indoor space ideal for the Sydneyclimate. The permeable ground plane is activated as a north facing, sundrenched ‘town square’ with a retail edge. It is designed as a space where residents, office workers and the nearby community can gather in a protected, lushly landscaped environment.
On the edge of North Sydney’s CBD, 168 Walker Street is seamlessly connected to rich lifestyle and transport options. Located only a stone’s throw to retail, cafés, bars, fine dining, gyms and health and childcare facilities, Weinman noted that all requirements of future residents will be conveniently catered for. “For time out away from the city bustle, you’re also conveniently close to beautiful foreshore parks, premier golf courses and North Sydney Pool, so there is something in there for everyone,” he said. The development is also conveniently located near buses, train stations and major arterial links, adding a further layer of prominence to the site. Source by Woods Bagot.
- Location: 168 Walker Street, North Sydney, Australia
- Architects: Woods Bagot
- Woods Bagot Design Team: Richard Weinman, Alister Eden and Domenic Alvaro
- Woods Bagot Project Team: Ying Su, Noa Hackett, Derek Scholes, Lisa Fathalla and Holly Whyatt
- Client: Aqualand Projects Pty Ltd
- Year: 2016
- Images: Courtesy of Woods Bagot