International Architecture Awards Tell a friend
ARCHIVE 2015
International Architecture Awards
Architects: Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp
Design Team: Richard Francis-Jones, Jeff Morehen, Sean McPeake, Richard Desgrand, Johnathan Redman, Joseph Pirrello, David Caleo, Jason Veale, James Kral, Barbara Flynn, Mark Relf, Ben White, Brendan Bennett, Sandro Razzi, James Phillips, Susan Freeman, Grahame Barnes, and Ian Hanna
Developers: Grocon Pty Ltd. and LaSalle Investment Management (Development Partners)
Owners: ISPT Pty Ltd., LaSalle Investment Management, and Grocon Pty Ltd.
Contractor: Grocon Constructors Pty Ltd.
Photographers: John Gollings & Andrew Chung
Located in the heart of Sydney city, Liberty Place has dual frontages to 161 Castlereagh Street and 242 Pitt Street. Recognition of the sites specificity and its inherent attributes results in an articulated assemblage of elements (ground plane, street walls, tower elements and landscape).
The rich interplay of architectural forms creates a dynamic public space and reinvigorates a previously run down mid-city area.
The ANZ tower with its distinctive sinuous form and striking glass-walled facade has seamlessly redefined the city skyline. The tower has become an iconic reference point, with a rooftop feature that dramatically captures and breaks the light.
Consisting of a retail and dining precinct, public open spaces, a sunlit plaza and pedestrian lane way connecting Castlereagh Street and Pitt Street, the base of the tower invites the energy of the city into the development. The light-filled pedestrian lane way provides a unique ground plane and entry into the commercial tower.
The Castlereagh street frontage includes the heritage-listed building Legion House. Consideration of the site’s rich history and a contemporary design approach results in an authentic juxtaposition of new and heritage elements. Restoring and redeveloping Legion House enhanced its overall utility and environmental performance.
With a 6-Star Green Star (Office v3 Design) rating, the six-story ‘Autonomous Zero Carbon Life Cycle Building’ generates renewable electricity on site resulting in zero net carbon emissions. Receiving little sun or wind, Legion House receives its energy from a process called biomass gasification. This technology converts biomass (plant sourced) materials to a combustible gas that generates electricity.
Liberty Place not only celebrates the public domain, but embodies significant architectural and environmental innovation. The development successfully balances urbanism, heritage and sustainability considerations with commercial requirements to create a rich and considered architectural expression.
