Beauty is in the Details for this Tower in Sydney

Sydney, Australia

The following description is courtesy of Koichi Takada Architects.

Koichi Takada Architects completes Arc, its latest mixed-use residential tower in Sydney’s CBD. The project won the City of Sydney Design Excellence Competition in 2013 and spans the width of a whole city block fronting both Clarence Street and Kent Street in the historic precinct of central Sydney. The building combines old and new, a handcrafted brick podium and an organic roof feature designed to add more character to the future of Sydney. The 26-storey tower is a true mix of accommodation, containing 135 apartments, 86 ‘Skye Suites’ boutique hotel rooms, 8 retail and F&B outlets. Included in the design is a retail precinct below an 8-storey high public through site link, reactivating the historic Skittle Lane. 

The concept relates to the historical context of the site. We carefully studied the proportions of the arches and materiality used historically in Sydney. The design has a heavy masonry character at the base, whereas the tower above has a finer, lighter materiality. Despite our expectation, we have been overwhelmed with positive messages about the use of traditional brickwork. People have responded to the warmth and use of traditional methods being brought back to a modern city centre where most buildings are glass and metal.

Inspired by the masonry component in the significant heritage buildings next door; The Red Cross Building and Andrew Bros Warehouse, and drawing from their characteristic arches, a duality is introduced to the façade and represented by the varied aesthetics of the podium and tower.

Informed by the curvilinear nature of Sydney Harbour and the brickwork in neighbouring buildings, the materials and details have a level of intricacy and authenticity that relates strongly to Sydney’s past. 

The majority of the city has flat-topped buildings everywhere. Arc explores an opportunity to open up the rooftop. We designed to celebrate the great outdoor lifestyle that Sydney is famous for, and the first high-rise residential design to break the mould. 

We convinced the city and our clients that there is more value in using the roof for public amenity instead of private apartments – imagine a city where people can escape to the rooftop, where the architecture facilitates social interaction and the reimagining of the urban environment. An organic crown feature instantly distinguishes Arc from the surrounding context, a curved roof form that celebrates how the tower meets the sky. The rooftop opens up a new dialogue with what is possible in our future cities activating not only the ground plane but also the sky-plane. 

When you come up to the Arc rooftop, you can see the Sydney Harbour as a backdrop to the city view. The curved roof arches connect you with the organic and undulating lines of Sydney Harbour and its best natural assets. 

Project Details

Project name: ARC

Architect’s Firm: KOICHI TAKADA ARCHITECTS

Client: Crown International Holdings Group

Website: https://koichitakada.com/

Project location: 161-165 Clarence Street & 304 Kent Street, Sydney

Completion Year: 2018

Gross Built Area (square meters or square foot): 17,400m2

Site Area: 1,447 m2

Photo credits: Tom Ferguson; Martin Siegner         

Photographer’s website: 

Tom Ferguson http://www.tomferguson.com.au/             

Martin Siegner https://www.frmez.com/info/