Sydney, Australia
Inspired by simple unitary forms and place-making in Aboriginal culture, the Plaza Building is a flexible and inviting, free-flow space with activated connections to the plaza and adjacent developments. A new public plaza is designed as a multi-functional community hub and public space enclosed by a canopy, designed with Artist Daniel Boyd, to provide shading and facilitate the largest Aboriginal public artwork in Australia.
Credits
Client
City of Sydney / Lendlease Development
Office
Adjaye Associates (link)
Area
1200 m²
Status
Completed 2022
George Street Plaza Site Section
The Plaza Building hosts an open plan cafe at the plaza level, along with a multi-functional gallery space and viewing platform above that is wrapped under a reduced utilitarian form. Full height glazing is introduced on the Western facing facade to maximise transparency and integrate natural light and elements into the spaces within.
George Street Plaza Site Plan
Interior Perspective - Feature Stairs
Interior Perspective - Level 01 Multipurpose Space
1:1 Canopy Artwork Darwa Proportion Studies (courtesy of Daniel Boyd)
The canopy integrates public art that functions as a shading device and adds an atmospheric experience for its visitors. It is intendeed as an interactive installation for the users of George Street Plaza, giving the sense of being under the shade of a tree. Different perforation sizes are used to create a silhouette that frames the sky, giving the user a sense of being under a natural canopy.
As a part of the design process, Artist Daniel Boyd created a physical mock-up of the Canopy Artwork at 1:1 scale to test out the perforation density and its desired effects.
Artwork Canopy modulisation axonometric
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We acknowledge we are on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.