Sirius Apartment Building

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.

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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.

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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

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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