383 George Street | PTW Architects

In June 2010 PTW Architects won a limited competition among five Australian practices for a complex mixed-used project in the heart of Sydney’s central business and retail district. A development application was lodged in December 2010 and has just been approved by Sydney City Council.

383 George Street, render courtesy PTW Architects

On a complex consolidated site within the CBD of Sydney, the project is positioned between 2 heritage buildings on George Street and occupying the depth of a city block also includes the restoration of two heritage listed buildings on the site, facing York Street.

383 George Street, render courtesy PTW Architects

383 George Street - Sectional perspective, render courtesy PTW Architects

The new podium on George Street will connect through most of the floors on the rear heritage buildings creating large contiguous retail floor.  A pedestrian link adapting a historic cart-lane in the heritage buildings will link the two streets and also create the entry to commercial office floors on 12 floors above podium and heritage buildings, with the core slotted into the center of the site with minimal impact on the heritage fabric.

Within the rich context of recent CBD projects and historic buildings the architectural language of the building focuses on simplicity and the repeated use of detail component, unique to the individual components of the project:

383 George Street, render courtesy PTW Architects

The retail podium façade relates to the adjacent heritage buildings in both height and proportion, with sloped window boxes set within a slender framework of structure.

A large horizontal recess separates the commercial tower level above. Here the curtain wall is a ‘saw-tooth’ system with angled panes and deep mullions in every 1.5m bay, and more solid precast concrete panels on the side elevations.

383 George Street, render courtesy PTW Architects

The restoration of the heritage buildings on York Street concentrates on peeling back layers to the historically relevant fabric and carefully detailing contemporary insertions.

Above the heritage buildings the office floors are built as a lightweight steel box supported by a long-span steel truss to minimize the impact on the historic buildings below. The main façade uses a random pattern of solid precast elements and glazed panels with proportional reference to the masonry facades below.

383 George Street - Typical office plan, drawing courtesy PTW Architects

383 George Street - George St elevation, drawing courtesy PTW Architects

383 George Street - Section, drawing courtesy PTW Architects

+ Project credits / data

Project: 383 George Street
Architect: PTW Architects | Andrew Andersons, Sven Ollmann, Niall Durney, Anne Ng | http://www.ptw.com.au/
Client: FIFE Capital

Consultants:
ARUP
PDR Smart Structures
Design5
Rider Levett Bucknall
McKenzie Group

Time line:
Competition June 2010
Development consent March 2011
Construction to commence Q4 2011

+ All images and drawings courtesy PTW Architects