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JOURNAL/ What inspires distinctive design and high quality architecture? It starts with years of research, innovation and creative development; behind which sits a body of work and a world of influences. A studio culture, its processes and people — designers, clients and users — are united in a story of evolution. Journal is a selection of Bates Smart’s projects from the recent past and some still in progress. Here we share our passion and commitment to delivering high quality, commercially astute, projects of excellence. Journal is for anyone who is intrigued by architecture and the discipline of design in our cities. Join us for a journey through the life of our practice.
www.batessmart.com/journal/
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177 Pacific Highway, concept sketch Cover: 35 Spring Street, faรงade detail
JOURNAL/ISSUE 08 02 DEFINING THE EDGE 35 Spring Street Melbourne
36 NATURE AND WELLBEING Bendigo Hospital Bendigo
08 BUILDING ON THE IMPOSSIBLE 177 Pacific Highway North Sydney
42 UNIQUELY AUSTRALIAN Australian Embassy Washington, D.C.
14 TRANSFORMATIVE DESIGN Maddocks Melbourne
46 ON THE WATERFRONT Atelier Canberra
18 EVOCATIVE LUXURY Crown Towers Perth
50 EXCEPTIONAL OFFERING White & Case Melbourne
22 EXPRESSING HISTORY Professional Services Firm Sydney
52 SCULPTURAL ELEGANCE 555 Collins Street Melbourne
24 UPSTAIRS BAR Zephyr, Hyatt Regency Sydney
56 WORKING VERTICALLY Workshop Sydney
25 DOWNSTAIRS CLUB Regency Club, Hyatt Regency Sydney
58 A NEW PARADIGM 55 Southbank Boulevard Melbourne
26 ELEGANCE IN DOUBLE BAY 1788 Double Bay, Sydney
59 IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT 25 King Sydney
30 VERTICAL CAMPUS DESIGN Essay by Philip Vivian
60 ACTIVATING NORTH SYDNEY 1 Denison Street North Sydney
35 SPRING STREET MELBOURNE
DEFINING THE EDGE Defining the urban edge of the city
35 SPRING STREET MELBOURNE A highly-detailed, patterned façade distinguishes 35 Spring Street as a new signature landmark on Melbourne’s skyline. Incorporating 241 luxury apartments over 44 storeys, the tower designed for Cbus Property, defines the edge of Melbourne. Located directly opposite the Treasury Gardens and at the intersection of two significant cultural precincts, Spring Street and Flinders Lane, the tower’s unique design is inspired by its prestigious and prominent location. Spring Street is home to some of Melbourne’s most important historic buildings such as the State Parliament of Victoria, Windsor Hotel and Treasury Building; while Flinders Lane, the epicentre of Melbourne’s textile and fashion trade in the 1880s, is now a hub for art galleries, restaurants and bars. In drawing inspiration from both precincts, the distinctive façade of 35 Spring Street interprets the warp and weft weaving of fabric in reference to the history of Flinders Lane; as well as the ashlar patterns found in the masonry walls of the nearby historic buildings. The vertical and horizontal pattern of the façade creates a woven veil which is expressed on the surface of the building. This device helps to create protected balconies and terraces, softening the threshold between inside and outside and establishing an increased sense of privacy for residents. The lobby is distinguished by a striking fireplace and a variety of seating arrangements that create intimate areas for residents to meet and relax. An important sculpture by Inge King, one of Australia’s most distinguished sculptors, forms a heroic centrepiece. Internally, the generously sized and often customised apartments feature timeless contemporary design, with rich layered and textural finishes and a high level of crafted and bespoke detailing. Amenities include a 25 metre indoor lap pool, fully-equipped gymnasium, private wine cellar, lounge and dining facilities and a barbecue.
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35 Spring Street, Melbourne’s skyline 35 Spring Street, entrance 35 Spring Street, Flinders Lane Opposite page: 35 Spring Street, exterior Following page: 35 Spring Street, residents’ amenities
“It is a building designed to be ahead of its time, while remaining classic for decades to come.” ADRIAN POZZO CEO, Cbus Property
177 PACIFIC HIGHWAY NORTH SYDNEY
BUILDING ON THE IMPOSSIBLE Situated on a site that was considered unbuildable, 177 Pacific Highway creates a new gateway to North Sydney
177 PACIFIC HIGHWAY NORTH SYDNEY At 195 meters tall, 177 Pacific Highway reaches North Sydney’s maximum height limit without sacrificing amenity or blocking sunlight access, demonstrating that a tall commercial tower can positively enhance its surrounding urban context. It is the first commercial tower to be completed in North Sydney in the last 24 years. An irregular, angular site geometry and strict overshadowing restrictions had previously prevented development where the tower now stands. Despite these factors, the client’s brief called for a building with large, flexible, rectilinear floorplates. To create the building envelope, the design team outlined the largest possible rectangular floorplate that could sit within the irregular site geometry and extruded it vertically. Two volumes on the east façade were then removed to eliminate mid-winter overshadowing; the area from these volumes was relocated to the west façade. To compensate for minor shadow impacts at the equinoxes, the base of the building was raised nine metres, creating a public wintergarden, and this area was also relocated
to the tower’s west face. The resulting architectural form is an asymmetrical composition of interlocking rectangular volumes, creating a dynamic assemblage of solid and voids. At ground level, the new wintergarden is enclosed in a naturally ventilating glass screen to form a transparent podium. The tower volume descends through this space. The lobby and lower level offices are expressed as rectangular glazed volumes within the wintergarden. Cafés, informal seating and an indoor tree arbour sit beneath the volumes. The relationship between the volumes and the more informal areas below increases transparency and interaction between the building’s private and public domains. Now complete, 177 Pacific Highway adds significant new commercial and public space to North Sydney without overshadowing the existing context. Its design demonstrates the benefits of challenging highly restrictive planning constraints on key commercial sites, proving that tall towers can improve dense urban environments without adversely impacting the surrounding space.
ISSUE 08/09
“We have designed a tower that is uniquely sculpted to eliminate overshadowing of surrounding public spaces, and creates a major urban room for North Sydney, proving high-rise buildings can enhance dense city environments.” PHILIP VIVIAN Director, Bates Smart
ISSUE 08/10
ISSUE 08/05
“177 Pacific Highway has proved innovative, embodying the value we now place on the importance of the public domain and public amenity.” SING D’ARCY Journalist, Architecture Australia
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177 Pacific Highway, wintergarden Previous page: 177 Pacific Highway, exterior
ISSUE 08/06
MADDOCKS MELBOURNE
TRANSFORMATIVE DESIGN Opening up the legal workplace
“The way our people have adapted and used these spaces shows the power of good design and the influence of well-considered spaces on work habits.” GUY O’CONNOR Partner, Maddocks
ISSUE 08/16
MADDOCKS DOCKLANDS, MELBOURNE A transformative workplace has been designed for the Melbourne office of legal firm Maddocks. Flexibility, connectivity and the ability to cater to both collaborative and solitary work styles informed the foundation of the brief, which was honed after extensive workshops with teams from all levels of the business. A greater diversity of work settings have been created in order to suit the varied work styles within the firm. While some senior staff remain in offices, for the most part a highly transparent approach encourages staff collaboration. The introduction of a sophisticated technology infrastructure liberates staff behaviours, enabling employees to move between the different types of work settings with minimal disruption. Spanning three levels, the generous floor plates are linked by a dramatic spiral staircase that forms the central heart of the workplace. Collaborative zones, such as the library and reading booths, encircle the staircase providing areas for further reflection and connectivity.
The most innovative part of the design is the wintergarden terrace, a beautiful indoor/ outdoor space, that was created by altering the architecture of the base building. Timber floors and ceilings signal the transition in environment, whilst landscaped greenery offers a sense of respite and tranquillity high up in the city. The terrace was developed by opening up a corner of the building over two levels, creating a double-volume amenity, positioned to optimise daylight. The base building modifications extended beyond slab and services alterations, to significant façade modifications, creating a space that is highly visible from the exterior, but one that significantly enhances the workplace adding a unique amenity for all staff and visitors. Maddocks exemplifies what can be achieved when an organisation embraces flexible thinking and progressive design, and in turn how this can result in positive change and business transformation. PICTURED
Maddocks, wintergarden Maddocks, work stations Maddocks, meeting rooms
CROWN TOWERS PERTH
EVOCATIVE LUXURY Exquisite details and immersive experiences
“We have collaborated with some of the world’s best artisans to create custom carpets, bespoke lighting features and unique artworks, resulting in glamorous and visually theatrical spaces.” PICTURED
Crown Towers Perth, reception detail Crown Towers Perth, reception desk Crown Towers Perth, lobby Crown Towers Perth, corridor Opposite page: Crown Towers Perth, willowlamp
JEFFERY COPOLOV Director, Bates Smart
CROWN TOWERS PERTH Crown Towers is a luxury resort with exquisite details. The project creates a strong narrative, allowing visitors to feel a sense of occasion and to celebrate the grandeur of the hotel. Evocative references to context, collaborations with artists and the ability to create immersive experiences distinguishes the project. Finding inspiration in colonial hotels of the past, contemporary design details reinterpret and capture the essence of a romantic bygone style. The hotel’s position overlooking the Swan River is reflected in the interior, which also alludes to Western Australia’s vast clear skies, the vibrant colours of the outback and the endless azure of the Indian Ocean. From the moment of arrival, guests are transported into a world of refined glamour and opulence. Bespoke chandeliers create a striking visual focus. Created in collaboration with lighting designer willowlamp, the intricate ball-chain design is rendered in hues inspired by precious Australian metals. A large commissioned artwork, by Western Australian artist Ian Dowling is also a focal point. Situated behind the shimmering, sinuous reception desk, and made from over 8,000 separate ceramic pieces, the artwork reflects an aerial interpretation of local landscapes. The hotel bar, known as TWR, is divided into four components; outer bar, inner bar, outdoor terrace and private VIP area. The inner bar is particularly dramatic and atmospheric. Central to the space is a striking horseshoe shaped bar, created from curved, fluted-fingers of pink and white marble. Rich turquoise and emerald accents characterise the space, while handmade tiles, in gold and green, create a jewel-like focus. In the function spaces guests are introduced to one of the longest, non-repetitive patterned carpets in Australia. Inspired by vibrant and colourful 1960s fashion prints, the carpets were designed in collaboration with New York based textile designer, Doug and Gene Meyers. Crown Towers creates a strong narrative with the greater landscape and provides patrons with a memorable and luxurious hotel experience.
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Crown Towers Perth, TWR bar Crown Towers Perth, TWR bathroom Crown Towers Perth, TWR outer bar Crown Towers Perth, TWR detail Crown Towers Perth, TWR private dining room
“Bates Smart’s meticulous attention to detail is ever present, but it is the practice’s attention to scale and the experience of the traveller that has delivered this most magnificent hotel.” GILLIAN SERISIER Co-Editor, Inside Magazine
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM SYDNEY
EXPRESSING HISTORY Art and legacy come together in the office interior
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM SYDNEY This professional services firm’s new office design distills the company’s strong icons and rich history throughout its interior details. The overarching feel is warm and welcoming, breaking with the traditional designs that often characterise financial organisations. To create this atmosphere, the design team chose warm, natural materials that express an enduring honesty without feeling overly opulent. Soft furnishings and inviting lighting foster comfort, while materials such as marble and brass layer in a subtle luxury. The Möbius strip depicts the company logo and plays out across numerous surfaces, including the bespoke geometric carpet pattern, to tie back to the firm’s position as one of Australia’s oldest and largest financial services organisations. Showcasing the firm’s impressive art collection and legacy was also essential. Gallery walls in reception frame individual works, while a custom timeline was built into vertical niches that run down the length of the office’s main corridor. Low, centralised lighting placed in the joinery highlights the information on display, which can be changed out as desired to tell different stories from the past and present.
ISSUE 08/22
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Professional Services Firm, hallway Professional Services Firm, reception Professional Services Firm, breakout Professional Services Firm, design details ISSUE 08/23
UPSTAIRS BAR A new harbourside bar draws on luxury yacht design
Zephyr skybar exudes a sleekness reminiscent of the luxury yachts moored below it on Darling Harbour. Located on level 12 of the Hyatt Regency Sydney, the bar’s refined super yacht aesthetic focuses on clean lines, sensual curves and marine detailing which ties in with the hotel’s stunning harbourfront site. The design team pursued an ‘upper deck’ concept that equally prioritised form and function. In keeping with the symmetry associated with naval architecture, the bar is anchored at the centre edge of the deck drawing patrons towards the extraordinary 180 degree views. ISSUE 08/24
A classic nautical palette of high gloss white, blue and black is used exclusively throughout. The deep blue, 47 metre long curving back wall is reminiscent of a sleek boat’s hull and conceals the back of house services and guest amenities. A solid teak perimeter ledge, stainless steel details, nautical faux-leather upholstery and decking finish the space, while highly durable materials and watertight joinery make it enjoyable and serviceable in year round weather. At dusk, the lighting scheme activates additional curved elements; a banquette, floating seating, and the bar itself; diffusing indirect light into the bar that complements Sydney Harbour’s beautiful sunsets.
DOWNSTAIRS CLUB A more formal dining club distills the same nautical style
Located below and designed in parallel with Zephyr, the Regency Club has a more formal aesthetic. To strike the right balance between the two different vibes, the design team applied an ‘upper’ and a ‘lower’ deck concept and played it out using the nautical palette, form, materials and lighting. The Club functions as an executive lounge and is open for 15 hours per day. It can seat up to 120 patrons and serves a variety of meals from breakfast to pre-dinner drinks and canapés. The 38 metre long floor plate was designed as a series of five ‘cabins’ to maximise functionality across different hospitality settings.
‘The glamour of travel’ is communicated through a luxury ocean liner palette. Finishes include walnut timber flooring, high gloss lacquered joinery, velvet and tan leather, smoked glass, silk wall coverings, stainless steel detailing, and a bespoke carpet with an abstracted ship chain link pattern. Together with Zephyr, the Regency Club gives the Hyatt Regency Sydney a unique duo of hospitality spaces that reinforce and celebrate the hotel’s unique harbourside location, standing out in Sydney’s crowded luxury hospitality market. ISSUE 08/25
ELEGANCE IN DOUBLE BAY A boutique apartment building reinvigorates the established neighbourhood
1788 DOUBLE BAY, SYDNEY The elegant design of 1788 is inspired by Double Bay’s celebrated boutique culture and distinct European village atmosphere. The building’s sculptural form is shaped via concave and convex curves, finished in ultra-white Spanish bricks, and evoking the luxury of the 1920s. Pale bronze louvres complement the building’s form, whilst tempering direct sunlight. Fine metalwork and rounded glazing accentuates both the penthouse level and the ground floor shopfronts. The building embraces and enhances the surrounding pedestrian laneway network, with the ground floor shopfronts interlinking with the surrounding retail arcades.
The architectural language of the exterior continues with the design of the interior spaces. In the lobby, stone and marble floor tiles reference the brickwork on the façade, whilst the light filled, spacious apartments exemplify glamour and luxury. Beautifully veined, grey and white marble distinguishes the kitchen benchtops and is used again as a feature in the bathrooms. The exquisite natural stone is accentuated by touches of burnished platinum metal. Timber parquetry flooring provides a sense of warmth, whilst unique details such as the leather lined joinery, LED-lit coffered ceilings, and fluted glass cabinetry provides an all encompassing sense of opulence.
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ISSUE 08/26
1788, façade Opposite page: 1788, exterior
“Every element, every facet in these extraordinary residences is simple, beautiful yet highly crafted. There is no compromise.” THE PROPERTY ADDICT
VERTICAL CAMPUS DESIGN An essay by Bates Smart Director, Philip Vivian
Broadway Building, University of Technology, Sydney
Much like our cities, our education and workplaces are becoming denser, better connected spaces where people want to be able to collaborate and share in order to learn and be productive. The vertical campus is an ideal model for this type of collaboration, matching 21st century values with future forward design.
The rise of the vertical campus in education and workplace design parallels the increase in density and attractiveness in cities.
Our education and workplaces are also changing and becoming denser, complex networked places that emulate the structure of a city.
By any measure the 20th and 21st centuries are indeed the centuries of the city. In 1910 less than 10% of the world’s population lived in cities.
Organisations are becoming larger just as we are realising the social need; and indeed the productivity that results; from people being better connected to an organisation and feeling like they are part of a larger mission that transcends daily work.
According to the Population Reference Bureau, today that number has exceeded 50% of the global population, and it is predicted to exceed 70% by 2050. We are seeing cities regenerating as ‘people places’ as they become less polluted and the advantages of urban clustering and increased density are better understood. If the 20th century was the suburban century, then the 21st century will be the urban century, with cities becoming the humanised centres of the post industrial age.
Therein lies the conundrum: how, with the increasing size of our institutions, can we create greater connectedness? In response, leading creative organisations are consciously breaking down physical silos and with it siloed thinking and behaviour. They are doing this in part through workplace designs that encourage connectivity, interaction and collaborative work. The vertical campus is one way to achieve these goals.
Creative organisations are breaking down physical silos in part through workplace designs that encourage connectivity, interaction and collaborative work.
TransGrid, Sydney
The design of vertical campuses is of course tailored to the particularities of each organisation’s needs. However, at their heart, vertical campuses that maximise collaboration and connectivity all incorporate six key principles via their designs.
MAKE PLACE MATTER
LEVERAGE A MODULAR APPROACH
Like a city, a successful vertical campus has a ‘town square’, a beating heart, that engages the community as a whole. Located centrally and with a mix of amenities, this heart needs to act like a magnet for the entire population, stimulating activity and giving the campus a pulse.
Teams can customise modular spaces without permanently changing them, thereby meeting their needs without sacrificing overall spatial efficiency. A standard floor plate that replicates across 80% of the workspace can cover common requirements, allowing all business units to move at a moment’s notice. The remaining 20% of the workplace, including parts of the vertical commons, can be customised and flexible.
CREATE A VERTICAL COMMONS The engagement of the town square needs to connect vertically to the entire campus. A vertical commons is a ribbon of collaboration spaces that weaves through the campus and serves this purpose. Build it with staggered collaborative spaces, connected by voids and a continuous stair to optimise team dynamics, transparency, flexibility of use and connectivity. Many businesses and universities have dedicated between 25% and 35% of their usable floor space to these ‘non programmed’ uses.
CONNECT TO THE OUTDOORS Access to daylight and views will assist in maintaining wellbeing and productivity. Exposure to nature has been proven to reduce illness, fatigue and anxiety, while boosting vitality, overall satisfaction and attention spans. For these reasons and more, 90% of workspaces should be within 12 metres of natural light and have a strong visual and physical connection to the outdoors.
25% of the campus’ space should be devoted to a social heart.
ASSEMBLE AN ECOSYSTEM OF SPACES The campus can no longer dictate how people work. Spaces that support a full spectrum of work styles, from team socialising to isolated deep thinking, increase engagement. They need to differ in terms of size, connection and concentration, and they need to be well appointed, interesting and flexible. We’ve found that access to technology, quiet places to work, social spaces, team work areas and storage typically represent the most desirable spatial mix. DENSITY + PROXIMITY = ACTIVATION The consolidated campus is collegiate, much like a city. A vertical campus increases density by vertically stacking spaces, thereby reducing distances and travel times between teams. This makes it easier to share high cost spaces across business units; in certain vertical stacks, a 22% reduction in occupied space and a 20% increase in future growth capacity has been achieved simultaneously. By default, connections between spaces also increase, creating a highly activated environment that is alive with the organisation’s ‘buzz.’
Navitas, Sydney Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Sydney
Constitution Place, Canberra
VERTICAL CAMPUSES IN THE CORPORATE AND EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT The Nine Network is a strong example of a campus that incorporates a selection of the above principles. The network is currently relocating its headquarters from a suburban campus with programs and departments spread across separate detached buildings, to 1 Denison Street in North Sydney’s new commercial heart, located alongside the new Victoria Cross Metro rail station. The design colocates the network’s news and current affairs programs on a single timber clad floor just above the urban domain, where it can express the transparency of the organisation while activating the surrounding public space. The vertical campus occupies the lowrise floors of the 1 Denison tower, with each floor linked by a series of stepping voids that create a sense of movement through the organisation. Programs and departments are now intimately connected, breaking down siloed behaviour. Floorplates are designed with a side core and a long span structure creating an open, transparent workspace on each floor. On the other side of Sydney, the Workshop offices have adapted vertical connectivity to the mid-rise building typology. Each office floor in Workshop was designed around flexibility so that the spaces can be rearranged based on day to day, medium term and long term business requirements. Open floors are connected via a stair and greenscaped central atrium that cuts through the centre of the building. Different businesses can take different amounts of space to suit their needs, and the open floors allow workspaces to be rearranged, combating the ‘set and forget’ fitouts that inhibit collaboration in many teams.
The vertical campus is being used to connect people and disciplines in a single building.
The model builds in the flexibility to support rapid change, which will help deliver better collaboration and business returns. Similarly, in education campuses, the emphasis has shifted away from separated disciplines and faculties and toward cross disciplinary collaboration, interaction and random chance encounters. Again, the vertical campus is being used to connect people and disciplines in a single building, breaking down the separation of siloed faculties. A competition for the UTS Faculty of Information Technology and Engineering brought together two faculties to encourage this cross disciplinary collaboration. The aspiration was to create a humanist building centred on connectivity and the movement of people, as opposed to expressing function and technology. A flexible open floorplate was created by splitting the cores and moving them to either side of the building. Each core then anchored a stepped series of voids around which collaborative informal learning commons were located. The escalators through the low-rise floors created a vertical street through the campus that efficiently moved high concentrations of students to and from the classrooms. Offices were developed based on research ‘clusters’ that contained academics and higher degree research students, maximising connectivity between these formerly separated groups.
ADAPTING BASE BUILDING AND FITOUT DESIGN These shifts in organisational culture have fundamentally challenged and changed the design of both the base building and interior fitouts. To maximise visual connectivity, organisations are seeking more open floorplates. Centralised cores that blocked views across floorplates have been replaced by side and end cores that allow for transparent, flexible floors. Vertical voids have also become an essential part of large organisations, providing visual connectivity to the whole organisation, as well as connections via stairs. Correctly locating voids is an art form to ensure they achieve the benefits inherent in their conceptual design. Voids need to be on a natural path of travel through the office, not tucked away. Ideally, they are located near other vertical circulation routes, so that they offer an alternative to taking the lift to meet colleagues, and are visible on arrival to each floor, as a constant reminder of the transparency of the greater organisation and the ability to connect to it. In the last few decades, there has also been an exponential rise in the quantum of programmed social spaces in offices. These are the most public areas within the corporate environment, and much like public funding for parks and public space, organisations are devoting a great deal of funding and care to their design.
Media House, Melbourne
Whereas once upon a time a small ‘tea room’ was located within a building’s core, today companies compete to provide world-class coffee and lounge areas for staff to socialise and collaborate in. The vertical campus should co-locate its voids with desired social and collaborative spaces to make them the active social heart of the organisation. Quieter contemplative workspaces can be located towards the perimeter, creating natural floor zoning. Vertical movements through the office via these voids and spaces maximise the number of serendipitous encounters with colleagues and visually promotes the collaborative environment. Media House in Melbourne’s Docklands achieves this with a vertical void located near natural light with breakout areas adjacent to the stairs. Commencing on the ground floor and running through the heart of the organisation, the void literally connects all areas of the company, uniting a formerly segregated series of offices and in the process achieving greater efficiency and employee loyalty and connectedness. In Canberra, with government departments being one of the last bastions of siloed behaviour, we have designed the new headquarters for the ACT Government. The precinct needed to better engage the public. A complex building geometry, created to frame a series of new public spaces on the site, has resulted in a broadly triangular floor plate.
Three open, flexible office wings are grouped around a centralised atrium, into which thrusts the circular breakout and social space, with a spiral stair linking all levels. Here, social collaborative space is literally on display in the atrium, promoting the new culture and values of the organisation while creating an attractive workplace for employees.
Quieter study spaces are located on the city side of the building, with classrooms forming the link between the two different types of spaces.
LONG-TERM EVOLUTION
At the same time, Navitas has efficiently co-located six different business units in one facility (the same businesses used to occupy 5 facilities) and has reduced their classroom quantity by 32% while boosting their capacity by over 20%.
But what of the future of vertical campuses? Are they here to stay or a passing fashion? We believe vertical campuses are here to stay. As cities mature in our knowledge economy, the past ills of the city, including car domination, industry and pollution, are being replaced by walkable, people oriented environments built around the advantages of urban agglomeration. As cities become more desirable and dense, so, too, will the need for vertical campuses to increase. One of the great design challenges will be retrofitting existing building stock with new socially collaborative campuses. Navitas’ Sydney campus provides an outstanding example. Taking an older central core building, a new atrium has been carved into the space with views over Hyde Park, linking the vertically stacked ‘schools’ that occupy the building. Surrounded by collaborative learning commons, the void hums with activity as students, faculty and staff all use the space.
“This new facility will provide the best environment and the best technology for our learners to get the most from their education.” ROD JONES CEO, Navitas
Evidence that points to the success of the vertical campus is striking. Sustained utilisation of social spaces within the campus is up over 50%, measuring at 7.5 hours of a 12 hour observation period.
The future is humanist, people centred design. Working and learning will increasingly be collaborative from the ‘bottom-up’, focused more upon the individual and their wellbeing and empowerment, and less upon corporations and institutions providing a ‘top down’ structure. Plugging into this paradigm shift, education and workplaces will focus on enhancing the ability of individuals and teams to be productive. However, this productivity will be measured qualitatively and demand high emotional intelligence. Campuses, therefore, will need to focus on improving the experiential qualities if they want to improve the majority of their metrics. Accomplishing this will require a greater connection to nature, raw materials, light, outdoor spaces, and biophilic design to humanise spaces, as well as an increase in the quantity and quality of health, wellbeing and social spaces. The vertical campus of the future will be an integral part of the city. It will contribute to the urban energy of agglomeration as we see the regeneration of our cities as people places.
BENDIGO HOSPITAL BENDIGO
NATURE AND WELLBEING Promoting wellness within the community
BENDIGO HOSPITAL BENDIGO The connection between nature and wellbeing is at the very heart of the design for the new $630 million Bendigo Hospital. The hospital, which provides regional Victoria with world-class healthcare facilities, offers a tranquil and caring environment that deinstitutionalises healthcare and promotes wellness within the larger community. The design began with the desire to link the hospital within the wider city realm. Hospitals are often daunting places shrouded in fear and therefore it was considered essential that a welcoming and comforting environment was created. Taking inspiration from the scale of Bendigo’s heritage buildings, streetscapes and architectural language, the design breaks down the overall massing of the building, introducing a more approachable street-scale rhythm that enables the hospital to successfully integrate within its urban context. The building’s façade is highly-crafted and distinguished by a pattern of reflective windows. Designed to glisten like jewels and mirror the surrounding sky and natural landscape, the façade assists in making the building a more inviting facility. Internally, the hospital embraces the philosophy that contact with nature and natural materials improves healing and wellbeing. A key feature of the design is the bespoke and intricately woven timber ceiling that distinguishes the internal public street. The woven pattern filters daylight from the skylights above and provides an ever-changing canvas of dappled light. This, combined with the warm materiality of the timber helps to increase the wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff. The work of two Victorian artists provides a vibrant and positive energy to the interior. At the main entrance, a large-scale work by Noel Skrzypczak, references the rich geological story of the local area. While another large-scale work by Esther Stewart, located adjacent to the internal bridge, provides a colourful and joyful point of interest. Bendigo Hospital was designed in collaboration with Silver Thomas Hanley.
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Bendigo Hospital, entrance Bendigo Hospital, internal courtyards Opposite page: Bendigo Hospital, façade detail Bendigo Hospital, green roof Bendigo Hospital, sketch Previous page: Bendigo Hospital, exterior
“The hospital is an integral part of Bendigo’s civic landscape so it was essential to create a building that is a positive addition to the fabric of the city.” KRISTEN WHITTLE Director, Bates Smart
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Bendigo Hospital, link bridge Bendigo Hospital, artwork by Noël Skrzypczak Bendigo Hospital, artwork by Esther Stewart Opposite page: Bendigo Hospital, ceiling detail and public street
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY WASHINGTON, D.C.
UNIQUELY AUSTRALIAN Embodies the spirit of Australia
ISSUE 08/42
ISSUE 08/43
“The new Australian Embassy will be a new D.C. landmark. Stunning modern design by Bates Smart.” THE HON. JOE HOCKEY Australian Ambassador to the United States of America
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY WASHINGTON, D.C. Celebrating the Australian experience encapsulated the brief for the new Australian Embassy, located in Washington, D.C. Creating a secure, contemporary and environmentally efficient building that is uniquely Australian, but at the same time respectful of the historic and urban context, was of paramount importance. Our approach began with an analysis of the Australian experience. We examined and abstracted distinct qualities from the country’s extraordinary landscape. Specifically, the beguiling colour and the earthy, russet tones of the desert; the distinct clear bright light of the natural environment; the large expanse of sky; as well as the strong horizon line that characterises many of our distinct panoramas. The embassy building embodies these ideas both through its materiality and form. The unique and distinctive folded façade is a combination of treated copper and glass which casts an array of soft shadows across the building. The colouration of the metal, with its reddish tonality creates beauty and warmth and is evocative of desert landscapes. Whilst the glass emphasises the importance of light and generates a sense of openness. Internally, an impressive glass veiled atrium distributes natural light to both the workplaces and public exhibition spaces on the ground floor. The light-filled openness of the interior provides a positive environment for staff wellbeing, as well as exemplifying the importance of light within the Australian psyche. The materiality of the interior is refined and timeless with a palette of timber, concrete and glass. This is complemented with bespoke textile, furniture, lighting and industrial design selected from Australia’s most innovative designers.
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Australian Embassy, entry Australian Embassy, atrium Opposite page: Australian Embassy, hub space Previous page Australian Embassy, exterior
ATELIER CANBERRA
ON THE WATERFRONT A palette of metal, steel and brick elevates living in Kingston Foreshore
“This building is striking in its departure from the concrete and masonry approach of neighbouring buildings. It’s a welcome addition to its surrounding.” AIA ACT CHAPTER Awards Jury 2017
ISSUE 08/48
ATELIER CANBERRA Atelier, a new apartment block on the eastern peninsula of the Kingston Foreshore, employs a distinctive architectural approach in order to maximise lake views and temper the intensity of the western sun, which is magnified by the surrounding water. The design resolves these forces through a ‘U’ shaped courtyard form. Views primarily align along the west façade, with the western volume of the ‘U’ prioritised over the north and south sides. Internally, apartments are laid out in two ‘L’ shaped wings. Incisions in the plan allow for light and ventilation to the communal corridors and also mark the building’s entries. Atelier’s architectural language draws together a palette of natural, long lasting materials, including bronze metal, structural steel and bagged brickwork, to create a timeless and enduring residential character. Vertical metallic louvres, oriented to the northwest, shade the west façade from afternoon sun while capturing prime water views across Lake Burley Griffin.
A structural steel frame holds the composition of louvres together and organises the façade’s balustrades and glazing. Bedrooms are expressed as metallic volumes, not unlike stacked shipping containers, inserted into the steel frame. These elements alternate vertically, creating a chequerboard rhythm that adds visual movement to the form. The pattern is further abstracted through the interplay of the western façade’s full glazing and the solidity of the north and south façades. On the courtyard’s internal façades, bagged brickwork and Juliet balconies create a more intimate residential scale. The brickwork also extends into the building’s lobbies as well as individual apartments, where it is applied as detail on living room walls. Great care was taken to control solar heat gain on the west, north and south façades through louvre protection and the balancing of solid and transparent elements. Cross ventilation was also incorporated through the apartments and shared corridors. The internal courtyard façades increase solidity and thermal mass to reduce heat loss in winter.
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Atelier, exterior & façade details Previous page: Atelier, exterior ISSUE 08/49
WHITE & CASE MELBOURNE
EXCEPTIONAL OFFERING A unique and memorable aesthetic
WHITE & CASE MELBOURNE Located within the prestigious Rialto tower and complete with unrivalled views, this premium workplace provides a strong foundation for legal firm White & Case as they establish their first Australian office. The design aesthetic is memorable and refined with an emphasis on warm, natural materials; positioning the organisation as a leading player in the local market and reflecting their premium and sector focused offering. The workplace incorporates a range of meeting spaces with next generation technology, in order to connect with remote clients and overseas offices. The flexibility and scalability of the spaces means they are able to accommodate groups from five to 100 people.
The majority of staff occupy their own offices, however this is balanced by collaborative shared zones, open-plan work settings and a diverse range of dedicated team spaces. In particular the breakout area, located off the entry lobby, provides social amenity for both staff and clients. Efficient and rapid design and delivery was of paramount importance for this project. The project’s positive outcome was assisted by identifying a priority hierarchy on which to focus consultation, budget and energy. It was also important to recognise potential roadblocks early and to establish strategies to overcome problems. The result is a warm, welcoming and sophisticated workplace that reflects timeless craftsmanship, drives innovation and values collaboration. PICTURED
ISSUE 07/50
White & Case, waiting area Opposite page: White & Case, meeting room White & Case, reception White & Case, breakout White & Case, workstations
555 COLLINS STREET MELBOURNE
SCULPTURAL ELEGANCE A unique tapered tower increases public realm within the CBD
ISSUE 08/52
“We looked at the spatial character of corner buildings along Collins Street and reinterpreted the historic Victorian style in a contemporary way.” KRISTEN WHITTLE Director, Bates Smart
555 COLLINS STREET MELBOURNE A prominent, but currently neglected corner of Melbourne’s CBD will be transformed by a new landmark tower, distinguished by a uniquely tapered and sculpturally elegant form. The development for Fragrance Group Limited aims to celebrate the corner site by providing an increased public realm and generous retail precinct. Collins Street is home to many of Melbourne’s most beautiful Victorian buildings. The design for the tower was inspired by some of the nearby historic buildings and their characteristic vertical expressions and large bay windows. A series of vertical lines will erupt from the base of the building and extend upwards. This will create a dynamic and evolving façade that changes when viewed from different vantage points, as well as providing a vibrant addition to Melbourne’s skyline. Importantly for the precinct, the tapered base will create a continuous pedestrian realm, linking with the adjacent building, expanding public amenity and establishing a contemporary addition to Melbourne’s collection of laneways. The tapered base allows daylight to filter into the internal spaces, while at night, light spill creates a safer precinct. The carefully crafted residences will exemplify elegance with interior detailing, subtly referencing the vertical pleating of the façade. Champagne coloured metals and neutral shades will provide a sophisticated base palette for residents. Excellent amenity, including a fully equipped gymnasium, pool, private dining space, media room and concierge service complete these luxurious facilities.
PICTURED
555 Collins Street, apartment living room 555 Collins Street, apartment kitchen 555 Collins Street, apartment bedroom Opposite page: 555 Collins Street, lobby 555 Collins Street, pool 555 Collins Street, residents’ lounge Previous page: 555 Collins Street, exterior and models
WORKSHOP SYDNEY
WORKING VERTICALLY The next generation workplace stacks collaboration up, not out
WORKSHOP SYDNEY Workshop combines historic architectural details with a contemporary fitout and amenities to create a future forward, collaborative workplace in the heart of Sydney’s Pyrmont neighbourhood. The eight-storey, 19,000sqm building is planned around the ideal vertical campus floor plate. Its expressed terracotta façade ties it to the surrounding historic masonry warehouses on Harris, Harvey and Bowman Streets, while large, punched picture windows make visible the work and activity that will go on inside. The honesty of the exterior design is carried inside through exposed timber and steel finishes. The design team created a vertical green atrium in the centre of the building and linked all the floors through a simple timber and steel stair that occupies part of this space. The areas adjacent to the stair are fitout with furnishings that are completely flexible and inviting, creating a social heart that stacks up the floor plates. The heart encourages collaboration and activity throughout the building, which are attributes many workplaces want to foster in their work environments. ‘Mixed-mode’ winter gardens counterpoint the atrium at each end of the building, providing further connections to nature, sunlight and natural ventilation. Amenities have also been incorporated throughout, including ground level retail and food and beverage outlets, a gym and an on-site childcare centre. These offerings will appeal to Workshop’s tenants and Pyrmont residents alike, helping to transform the neighbourhood into dense, vibrant urban centre.
PICTURED
21 Harris Street, entrance 21 Harris Street, internal atrium 21 Harris Street, external atrium Opposite page: 21 Harris Street, exterior
A NEW PARADIGM A unique and innovative approach
55 SOUTHBANK BOULEVARD MELBOURNE 55 Southbank is a unique adaptive re-use project that will utilise innovative timber construction methods in order to create a new landmark for the Southbank precinct. Sitting between the CBD, leafy St Kilda Road, and the parklands surrounding the Royal Botanical Gardens, the development will incorporate a stunning hotel and achieve new levels in sustainable design. The existing office building constructed in 1986, would be able to accommodate an additional six levels using traditional concrete framed construction methods. However, by using cross laminated timber (CLT), the building will be able to accommodate an additional ten levels, subsequently becoming one of Australia’s tallest timber buildings.
ISSUE 08/58
Significantly lighter than concrete, CLT use also results in lower transport costs and reduced carbon emissions, and therefore represents a new paradigm for sustainable construction. The design for the extension seeks to echo and amplify the building’s existing architectural expression, but with a more contemporary representation. Large and small recesses provide the new façade with a sense of dynamism, yet reiterating the horizontal elements of the existing building. The combination of a new construction technology and the sinuous, curved façade treatment will create a notable project for the Southbank precinct.
IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT The world’s tallest commercial timber building will act as a major carbon sink
25 KING BRISBANE Currently under construction in Brisbane’s reinvigorated RNA showgrounds, 25 King is rising as a ten storey tower that combines the innovations of cross laminated timber (CLT) and the ‘Queenslander’ vernacular to create a contemporary sustainable workplace. When complete in 2018, it will be the tallest timber office building in the world. Next generation workplaces heavily emphasise wellbeing, productivity and connections to the natural world. 25 King hits all of these fronts through its use of timber, which acts as a carbon sink to improve the environment, and fosters a warm, visually pleasing work atmosphere. The timber structure and services create a contemporary studio environment that balances wellbeing with creative collaboration space.
Sheltering both the ground floor and the building’s eastern and western façades is extremely important in Brisbane’s tropical climate, where excessive sun can make conditions uncomfortable. At street level, a generous two storey timber veranda lined with cafés caters to the need for creative work spaces outside of the office while creating a welcoming entry to the building. Open frame brise soleil on the east and west façades passively protect the building from solar impact. Within the office floors, large glass areas on the main south elevation maximise natural daylight into the workplace, while sunshades on the other façades reduce energy consumption, further reducing the building’s carbon footprint.
ISSUE 08/59
1 DENISON STREET NORTH SYDNEY
ACTIVATING NORTH SYDNEY A new tower introduces new ways to work, meet and play
1 DENISON STREET NORTH SYDNEY When complete, 1 Denison Street will bring 37 levels of new, premium commercial workspace to the centre of North Sydney. The tower, which will be located adjacent to the new Victoria Cross Metro Station, was designed as a highly permeable building that promotes connectivity and openness, hallmarks of today’s workforce ideals. Outside, 1 Denison’s tapered form and unique shape minimise the tower’s impact on its neighbours while distinguishing the design from the rectilinear towers that surround it. A timber podium grounds the building and transitions its scale at street level so that it integrates with the surrounding established laneways. The podium will act as a truly connective space that meshes together the public realm and the private realm of the workplace. It has been designed to activate the ground plane by prioritising transparency and placing retail tenants at street level, helping to revitalise North Sydney’s laneways. This will be a place where people come to meet, work, and socialise. Its permeability and welcoming scale support the fact that work has become less private and more integrated into the city, reflecting today’s workplace behaviour. Inside, a vertical campus occupies the tower’s low-rise floors. A series of stepping voids connects each level to create movement and collaboration throughout the building and encourage the breakdown of traditional work silos. The floorplates themselves are highly flexible and contiguous and are organised around a side core to open up the office spaces and further support collaboration, flexibility and communication.
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1 Denison Street, laneway 1 Denison Street, entryway 1 Denison Street, public realm Opposite page: 1 Denison Street, exterior
CREDITS EDITORS + DESIGNERS
Jeffery Copolov Amy Lindsay Lauren Mifsud Kendra Pinkus Katie Rathbone Amanda Rogers Belinda Cross Cornwell
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VISUALISERS
George Apostolidis Brett Boardman Peter Clarke Sean Fennessy Glenn Hester Shannon McGrath Nikolay Pechovski Ian Potter Jefferson Protomartir Mark Roper Anson Smart Rodrigo Vargas Winston Wu Hoyne FloodSlicer Pointilism
This publication is printed with vegetable-based inks on paper stock that is manufactured using elemental chlorine-free pulp sourced from plantation grown timbers. Both printer and paper manufacturer are accredited to ISO 14001, the internationally recognised standard for environmental management. Published November 2017.
BATES SMART Architecture Interior Design Urban Design Strategy For 164 years, Bates Smart has been at the forefront of practice in Australia, delivering projects around the world from their studios in Melbourne and Sydney. Bates Smart has an unparalleled reputation for the design and delivery of architecture, interior design and urban design projects. Specialising in commercial, residential, hospitality, health and research projects, Bates Smart has specific skills in dealing with larger and more complex projects with particular experience in mixed use buildings. No project can attain brilliance without a great founding idea. At Bates Smart our projects are brought to life through a rigorous, astute, and highly creative design approach working in collaboration with our clients. Our reputation for design excellence is founded on a disciplined intellectual base. We develop a thorough understanding of the design opportunities offered by each individual project, and we create design solutions which speak directly to the challenge. Almost uniquely, we address all design issues simultaneously through collaborative teams of architects and interior designers working in concert. From urban and façade design to perfecting finegrain interior details, Bates Smart crafts seamless holistic solutions. We pay special attention to the environmental performance and long-term durability of our buildings. We harness proven sustainable principles and technologies in order to create buildings that stand the test of time. Our talented team of over 250 is constantly developing its capacity to produce outstanding results around the world. We invest in the latest tools for global teamwork, and maintain an expanding network of collaborators whose special skills complement our own.
OFFICES MELBOURNE 1 Nicholson Street Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia Telephone +61 3 8664 6200 Facsimile +61 3 8664 6300 SYDNEY 43 Brisbane Street Surry Hills, NSW 2010 Australia Telephone +61 2 8354 5100 Facsimile +61 2 8354 5199 Contact enquiries@batessmart.com www.batessmart.com