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Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Situation: Crawford Architects likes to break things up once in a while, and we decided to enter an international design competition for the redevelopment of a significant piece of land on Sydney Harbour that is currently an underutilized shipping port.
Solution: The core idea of the design is to reintroduce the city to the water and nature, which was integral in originally shaping the city, and to provide a unique environment for the people of Sydney to engage the tidal waters of East Darling Harbour.
The driving idea behind the placement of buildings and the pedestrian level landscape is to engage and exploit the tidal patterns of the Pacific Ocean, and how the continual ebb and flow of the tides have a constantly changing relationship to the shoreline. By inviting the tidal waters and indigenous plant life into and around the site, this design ties the site to the water in a kinetic relationship.
The site is comprised of four zones, each with varying degrees of interaction between the city and the harbor. Whether a business person working in the new densely-formed business centre, a family exploring a tidal pool, a child tasting salt water for the first time, or an isolated walk through a cluster of mangrove trees, it is intended this foreshore development reconcile man with the nature that envelops Sydney.
Quick Facts: As sustainability was a key component to the competition, we devised a system of tidal current-driven turbines beneath the buildings and plazas that were purposefully placed over the water. These submersed turbines harness the tide’s inherent power and will supplement the necessary power for the site.
Closing Arguments: Of the 137 entries from around the world, Crawford Architects’ design presentation was selected to join in on a public exhibition for the short-listed firms. |
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