South Sydney City Council

South Sydney City Council, moving to a new strategic location within their council precinct, wanted to publicly represent the positive social and urban renewal underway within their region. The building, a landmark tower and high point for the area, formed one of a pair of similar eleven-storey office blocks. The difficulty of the building was a small 440 square metre floor plate.

Our design response was to insert a new staircase that spanned from the basement to the first floor. This created a three-level public front of house. The new council chamber was located on the first floor as a drum. Cladding the drum of the chamber in battens, enervated with bright colours between each batten, created an animated, decorative skin. This skin gives the chamber a strong visual character while concealing all of the private functions. Acting as a dynamic symbol to the outside world, its vibrancy reflecting the diverse quality of the South Sydney population.

The office area was planned as an open landscape of workbenches, perpendicular to the view to the north of Sydney CBD. Storage of varying heights located between desks allows for continual access to view and northern light for the entire open-plan office, while providing for the immediate storage needs of each employee.

* Completed by Paul Brace whilst Design Director of PTW Interiors