Sirius apartment building Theodorus (Tao) Gofers
PAD
Case Study Series
issue #01 vol.1 (2021)
Sirius facade, with Sydney Opera House in background PAD / 2
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Sirius apartment building DESIGN
AUTHOR
DESIGN
LOCATION
CONSTRUCTION
KEYWORDS
In 1980, the central Sydney skyline went through some changes due to the completion of the Sirius apartment building1. The original plan included two blocks: residential and commercial located to the south, but only the main one was built2. Designed by a Dutch architect Tao Gofers, the project is one of the most striking examples of brutalist architecture in Australia. It also has the distinctive repetition in the façade which was influenced by the metabolist architecture movement in Japan. Sirius building is located in an amazing position: right next to the Harbour Bridge on the elevated spot, overlooking the Sydney Cove including the Sydney Opera House3. History of this area is quite rich with several developments happening since 1820s. Buildings there varied through times from the daub cottage and stone villas to the townhouses, hotels and governmental buildings. As mentioned in The Rocks Heritage Impact statement, in 1900 the Rocks Resumption Plan was announced. In 1920s considerable criticism occurred about the number of commercial blocks opposed to the number of residential units needed for the rehousing of tenants program in the Rocks area4. From the 20s to the 70s management of the area, properties and redevelopment plans changed until the imposition of the Green Ban from the Builders’ Laborers Federation (BLF). This was a reaction to the decision of the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA) to replace a large number of buildings with the high-rise buildings. The movement that aimed to protect local communities by not working on projects that potentially harmed the environmental or social aspects5 got even bigger when it became apparent that the newly
proposed apartment block was too expensive for the local residents to afford6. In 1975 the Green Ban was lifted after the agreement to include the locals into the process in order to reach the desired outcome. Multiple requirements were dictated by the Rocks Residents’ Group after lengthy discussions. These demands included consideration for people with height sickness but the possibility for others to live on higher floors and have a non-obstructed view, the inclusion of the communal and social areas to the design and the overall project to blend in with The Rocks skyline and not be of “orthodox square or rectangular style”4. Looking at the final design of the Sirius apartment building, the preferences of the locals can be seen clearly. The unusual outline of the building includes low-rise sides and a high-rise middle part. There are multiple entrances to the building, depending on the apartment types, designed specifically for different social groups. It is also done in order to only serve a limited number of apartments and prevent overcrowding. For example, the entrance for the elderly people doesn’t have a staircase and has its own elevator to facilitate access to the apartment. The building also has roof gardens and balconies in 70% of the units and three communal spaces, where residents can meet7. There are 79 residential units in total, including one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units. Tao Goffers in his interview for the Australian Financial Review mentions, that even though the design is very pragmatic, he worked on it more from the perspective of fun, rather than philosophy8. Unlike the first modular impression that Sirius gives, it is constructed using in-situ frames and precast
Theodorus (Tao) Goefers
Anna Kaletkina, Shreyas Vadodaria
1978-1979
Sydney, Australia (AU)
1979-1980
Sirius facade during the sun-dawn PAD / 4
Brutalist architecture, social housing, modular repetition
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panels and has a completely unexpected interior, which doesn’t follow the modules of the façade. The blocks are double leveled and are stuck in a specific way (some are connected “half-way”). The building always received controversial feedback from the critics and Australian nationals. After the threat of its demolition in 2014, the National Trust submitted a nomination to include Sirius to the State Heritage listing, but the decision of the minister was negative. Later on, the refusal was challenged again in the Land and Environment Court, but the answer didn’t change6. This forced the formation of various foundations such as Save Our Sirius (SOS) in attempt to save the building. In 2018, the last resident was forced to move out from the building, but the community support and fighting for the building didn’t go unnoticed. In June 2019 Sirius Developments Pty Ltd bought the building from the state government and announced the plans for its renovation to increase the number of units to 89 and include retail and commercial spaces5. The truly iconic building survived the threats and will continue to serve the public being a social housing project.
Location of Sirius apartment
Save Our Sirius sign in one
building within Central Sydney
of the windows
Notes 1.
“Sirius building”, Wikipedia, last modified January 1,
nsw/.
2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirius_building. 7. 2.
“Sirius”, Millers Point, accessed February 27, 2021,
“Sirius Architecture: The Award Winning Building of
Australian Architecture 2018”, Architecture Ideas, accessed
http://millerspointcommunity.com.au/the-place/sirius/.
February 28, 2021, https://architecturesideas.com/2018/07/09/ sirius-architecture-the-award-winning-building-of-australian-
3.
“Are you Sirius?”, The Design Files, accessed
architecture-2018/.
February 27, 2021, https://thedesignfiles.net/2016/09/are-yousirius/.
8.
“Tao Gofers, the closet showman behind Sydney’s
Sirius building”, Australian Financial Review, accessed 4.
Jennifer Hill, “1749 – 36-50 Cumberland Street, The
February 28, 2021, https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/
Rocks Heritage Impact Statement”, Architectural Projects,
management/tao-gofers-the-closet-showman-behind-sydneys-
November, 2017, https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/
sirius-building-20161007-grx54i.
dpe-files-production/s3fs-public/dpp/265929/Appendix%20
Sirius under construction,
Street, The Rocks before
tower stepping down to south
construction
wing, east facade, overlooking Atherden Street, The Rocks
B_%20Heritage%20Report.pdf. 5.
The Sirius site in Cumberland
“Icons at risk”, Iconic Houses, accessed February
28, 2021, https://www.iconichouses.org/icons-at-risk/siriusbuilding. Mrs A. Gorrel admires the view 6.
from the 10th floor balcony of
“Sirius Building | 1975/1980 | NSW”, Docomomo
Australia, accessed February 28, 2021, https://
the new housing commission
docomomoaustralia.com.au/dcmm/sirius-building-1975-1980-
complex at The Rocks in Sydney
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Urban section of Sirius apartment building within Millers Point
Postcard produced for ‘Getting Serious About Sirius’
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Location of Sirius apartment building within Millers Point
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Design evolution floorplan option 1
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Design evolution facade option 2
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Design evolution floorplan option 3
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Design evolution floorplan option 2
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Design evolution floorplan option 3
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Sydney’s iconic Sirius building next to the Harbour Bridge
Design evolution floorplan option 4
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Sirius gloucester walk
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Urban scheme with entrances Sirius ground floor landscaping and communal gardens PAD / 12
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Scheme Floorplan formation 2 1 0
Typical Plan
4
Typical Floorplan
Sirius under construction: stepping downwards along the north wing, with Bunkers Hill rock face in foreground
Small block Big block Form 1 Form 2 Corridor/stairs 0
4
20m PAD / 14
Middle part
Blocks with roof terrasses
Ground floor view inside the building PAD / 15
Typical Floorplan, middle part
5 1 3
2
4
2
2
2
3 6
9
4
4+5 1 6
3
5
5
3
6
7
2
1.
Living room
2.
Bedroom
3.
Kitchen
4.
Bathroom
5.
Laundry room
7
0
1
Typical Floorplan, apartment 2 4+5
2
8
Bedroom
3.
Kitchen
4.
Bathroom
5.
Laundry room
6.
Living room
7.
Lift
8.
Drying
9.
Garbage
2
Lobby
2.
Myra Demetriou – the last resident of the
1
1.
6
3
4
4
0 PAD / 16
2
10m
0
2
Inside one of the apartments
Sirius building in The Rocks. PAD / 17
5m
West Elevation
A
Split level 1.3 m
B
Floor height 2.6 m
West Elevation B A
0
4
20m
East Elevation
West Elevation
0
4
20m PAD / 18
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East Elevation
Longitudinal Section
A
Split level 1.3 m
B
Floor height 2.6 m
B A 0
Transversal Section through
4
20m
Longitudinal Section
Harbour bridge
0
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1
2
4
One- bedroom units Two- bedroom units Three- bedroom units Four- bedroom units Stairs Communal spaces Opened spaces
3D model from East side
3D East Elevation zoning
3D model from West side
East Elevation zoning 0
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8
40m PAD / 23
One- bedroom units Two- bedroom units Three- bedroom units Four- bedroom units Stairs Communal spaces Opened spaces
1
2
3
4+5
3D West Elevation zoning
2 4 3
1.
Living room
2.
Bedroom
3.
Kitchen
4.
Bathroom
5.
Laundry room
5
West Elevation zoning 0
8
1.
Living room
2.
Bedroom
3.
Kitchen
4.
Bathroom
5.
Laundry room
1
One and two- bedroom one level apartment units 3D
40m PAD / 24
2
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1.
Living room
1.
Living room
2.
Bedroom
2.
Bedroom
3.
Kitchen
3.
Kitchen
4.
Bathroom
4.
Bathroom
5.
Laundry room
5.
Laundry room
One- bedroom split level apartment unit section
Two- bedroom split level apartment unit section
4
2
3 3
4
2 5 5 2 1 1
One- bedroom split level apartment unit 3D
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Two- bedroom split level apartment unit 3D
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1.
Living room
1.
Living room
2.
Bedroom
2.
Bedroom
3.
Kitchen
3.
Kitchen
4.
Bathroom
4.
Bathroom
5.
Laundry room
5.
Laundry room
Three- bedroom split level apartment unit section
Four- bedroom split level apartment unit section
2 2
4
4
2
2
2 2
3 3 5
5 1
Three- bedroom split level apartment unit 3D
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2 1
Four- bedroom split level apartment unit 3D
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Sources Architecture AU. “A most Sirius matter.” Last modified August
Save Our Sirius. “Save Our Sirius.” Accessed February 27,
30, 2016. https://architectureau.com/articles/a-most-sirius-
2021. http://saveoursirius.org.
matter/#. Save Our Sirius. “Sirius.” May 16, 2017. https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=lylLDObRLTM.
Architecture Ideas. “Sirius Architecture: The Award Winning Building of Australian Architecture 2018.” Accessed February 28, 2021. https://architecturesideas.com/2018/07/09/
Savills Australia & New Zealand. “The Sirius Building | 2-60
sirius-architecture-the-award-winning-building-of-australian-
Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney Australia.” May 28,
architecture-2018/.
2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9YeyFu2L-k.
Australian Design Review. “In Sirius Danger.” Accessed March
Sirius building archive. “Sirius building archive.” Accessed
1, 2021. https://www.australiandesignreview.com/architecture/
February 27, 2021. https://siriusbuildingarchive.wordpress.
in-sirius-danger/.
com/002-hc-media-brochure-2/
Australian Financial Review. “Tao Gofers, the closet showman
The Design Files. “Are you Sirius?” Accessed February 27,
behind Sydney’s Sirius building.” Accessed February 28, 2021.
2021. https://thedesignfiles.net/2016/09/are-you-sirius/.
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/management/taogofers-the-closet-showman-behind-sydneys-sirius-building-
Wikipedia. “Sirius building.” Last modified January 1, 2021.
20161007-grx54i.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirius_building.
Docomomo. “Sirius Building | 1975/1980 | NSW.” Accessed Rallies in support of saving
February 28, 2021. https://docomomoaustralia.com.au/dcmm/
Sydney’s Sirius building
sirius-building-1975-1980-nsw/. Google Maps. “Sirius Building, Cumberland Street, The Rocks NSW, Australia.” Accessed March 1, 2021. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sirius+Building/@33.8578261,151.2057568,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4 !1s0x6b12ae5d2e696945:0x12fcbd9546adf5c2!8m2!3d33.8578261!4d151.2079455. Green Bans. “Public Housing Sell-offs: Sirius Building, The Rocks, 2014 - 2018.” Accessed March 1, 2021. http://www. greenbans.net.au/actions-now/action-archive?id=86. Hill, Jenifer. “1749 – 36-50 Cumberland Street, The Rocks Heritage Impact Statement.” Architectural Projects, November, 2017. https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/dpe-filesproduction/s3fs-public/dpp/265929/Appendix%20B_%20 Heritage%20Report.pdf. Iconic Houses. “Icons at risk.” Accessed February 28, 2021. https://www.iconichouses.org/icons-at-risk/sirius-building. Millers Point. “Sirius.” Accessed February 27, 2021. http:// millerspointcommunity.com.au/the-place/sirius/. Pocket Oz Travel & Information guide. Sydney. “Sirius
Sirius Paint Drip - Digital Collage
building.” Accessed March 1, 2021. http://www.
Print on art paper
visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/sirius-building.html. PAD / 30
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Project data WHERE
Illustration Credits LOCATION
Sydney, Australia (AU) GEOCOORDINATES
Longitude: 151.2079 Latitude: 33.8578
WHEN
DESIGN
1978-1979 CONSTRUCTION
1979-1980
p. 1 & p. 3 middle
p. 4 middle
p. 7 top left
p. 7 top right
Sirius facade, with
Sirius facade during the
Location of Sirius
Save Our Sirius sign in one
Sydney Opera House in
sun-dawn
apartment building within
of the windows
background
Photo: © Katherine Lu
Central Sydney
Photo: © John Dunn
Photo: © Nikki To
WHAT
WHAT
AREA
NUMBER OF DWELLINGS
DWELLING DENSITY
high-rise 79
6740 m2 117.2/ha
KEYWORDS
brutalist architecture, social housing, modular repetition
WHO
DESIGN
Theodorus (Tao) Gofers CLIENT
Housing Commission of NSW
PAD / 32
Drawing: by authors
p. 7 middle left
p. 7 middle right
p. 7 bottom right
p. 8 top
The dreams of some: the
Sirius under construction,
Mrs A. Gorrel admires the
Urban section of Sirius
Sirius site in Cumberland
tower stepping down to
view from the 10th floor
apartment building within
Street, The Rocks before
south wing, east facade,
balcony of the new housing
Millers Point
construction
overlooking Atherden
commission complex at
Drawing: by authors
Photo: © Tao Gofers
Street, The Rocks
The Rocks in Sydney
Photo: © Tao Gofers
Photo: © Andy Zakaras
p. 8 bottom
p. 9 top
p. 9 bottom
p. 10 top
Location of Sirius
Postcard produced for
Design evolution floorplan
Design evolution facade
apartment building within
‘Getting Serious About
option 1
option 2
Millers Point
Sirius’
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Image: © FACS NSW
BUILT BY
Alexander & Lloyd
West Elevation
West Elevation
East Elevation 0
1
2
Longitudinal Section
4
0
p. 10 bottom
p. 11 top
p. 11 bottom
p. 12 top
p. 17 bottom right
p. 18 & 19 top
Design evolution floorplan
Design evolution facade
Design evolution floorplan
Urban scheme with
Myra Demetriou – the
West Elevation
option 2
option 3
option 3
entrances
last resident of the Sirius
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
building in The Rocks
East Elevation 0
1
2
4
p. 18 & 19 bottom
p. 20 & 21 top
East Elevation
Longitudinal Section
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Photo: © Steven Stiewert
p. 12 bottom
p. 13 top
p. 13 bottom right
p. 13 bottom left
p. 20 bottom
p. 22 top
p. 22 bottom
p. 23 top
Urban scheme with
Sydney’s iconic Sirius
Sirius gloucester walk
Sirius ground floor
Transversal Section
3D model from East side
3D model from West side
3D East side zoning
entrances
building
Photo: © Ruth Hessey
landscaping and communal
through Harbour bridge
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Photo: © Joel Robinson
gardens
Drawing: by authors
Photo: © Barton Taylor
Typical Plan 0
1
2
4
p. 14 left
p. 14 right
p. 15 top
p. 15 bottom left
p. 23 bottom
p. 24 top
p. 24 bottom
p. 25
Typical Floorplan
Scheme Floorplan
Sirius under construction:
Blocks with roof terrasses
East Elevation zoning
3D West side zoning
West Elevation zoning
One and two- bedroom one
Drawing: by authors
formation
stepping downwards along the
Photo: © Nikki To
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
level apartment units 3D
Drawing: by authors
north wing, with Bunkers Hill
Drawing: by authors
rock face in foreground
0
1
2
4
Photo: © Tao Gofers
p. 15 bottom right
p. 16 middle
p. 17 top
p. 17 bottom left
p. 26 top
p. 26 bottom
p. 27 top
p. 27 bottom
Ground floor view inside
Typical Floorplan, middle
Typical Floorplan,
Inside one of the
One- bedroom split level
One- bedroom split level
Two- bedroom split level
Two- bedroom split level
the building
part
apartment
apartments
apartment unit section
apartment unit 3D
apartment unit section
apartment unit section
Photo: © Jessica Mairs/
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Photo: © John Dunn
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
0
1
2
4
1
2
4
Platform for Affordable Dwelling p. 28 top
p. 28 bottom
p. 29 top
p. 29 bottom
Three- bedroom split level
Three- bedroom split level
Four- bedroom split level
Four- bedroom split level
apartment unit section
apartment unit section
apartment unit section
apartment unit section
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
Drawing: by authors
p. 30 top
p. 30 bottom
Rallies in support of saving
Sirius Paint Drip - Digital
Sydney’s Sirius building
Collage Print on art paper
Photo: © ABC RN: Tiger Webb
Artist: © Clinton Gorst
Case Study Series 2021