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Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia d o c o _ m o m o _ International working party for documentation and conservation New International Selection of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the Full Documentation Fiche 2003 modern movement for office use only composed by national/regional working party of: Australia 0. Picture of building/ group of buildings/ urban scheme/ landscape/ garden depicted item: Australia Square source: Harry Seidler & associates web site http://www.seidler.net.au depicted item: Australia Square source: Harry Seidler & associates web site http://www.seidler.net.au d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 1 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia depicted item: Australia Square source: Harry Seidler & associates web site http://www.seidler.net.au 1. Identity of building/ group of buildings/ group of buildings/ landscape/ garden 1.1 Data for identification current name: AUSTRALIA SQUARE former/original/variant name: number(s) and name(s) of street(s): town: province/state: post code: Australia Square 264-278 George Street Sydney NSW 2000 block: country: Australia lot: national topographical grid reference: current typology: Commercial Office Building former/original/variant typology: Commercial Office Building comments on typology: d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 2 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia 1.2 Status of protection protected by: state/province/town/record only Proposed for listing on the State Heritage Register by the RAIA www.heritage.nsw.gov.ay Local Environmental Plan grade: not applicable date: valid for: whole area/parts of area/building remarks: 1.3 whole of building Visually or functionally related building(s)/site(s) name(s) of surrounding area/building(s): visual relations: functional relations: other relations: 2. History of building(s) etc. 2.1 Chronology Note if the dates are exactly known (e) or approximately estimated = circa (c) or (±) commission or competition date: 1960 - 1962 design period(s): Sydney City Council gave approval for the scheme in July 1960 start of site work: The Sydney Lord Mayor presided over a “start-of-work” ceremony in December 1962. completion/inauguration: The 13-storey Plaza Building was completed May 1964 and the 50-storey 171m high Tower Building in 1967. d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 3 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia 2.2 Summary of development commission brief: The site of Australia Square was the product of a protracted site consolidation carried through by G J Dusseldorp, building promoter and developer, Chairman of Lend Lease Corporation. From the early 1950s the concept of redeveloping parts of the city by consolidating small city lots to form a single larger site suitable for the erection of a skyscraper had been discussed. Dusseldorp’s amalgamation brought under one ownership an entire city block, involving over 30 different properties and more than 80 titles. This, the first of the whole block developments, resulted in the demolition of a number of buildings which, in the later 20th century, would be regarded as having heritage significance. Dusseldorp formed a company called City Centre Development Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Lend Lease, to finance the project. design brief: Multi storey office tower building/construction: Concrete structure with quartz faced precast facade completed situation: original situation or character of site: Situated in the heart of the Sydney CBD. 2.3 Relevant persons/organisations original owner(s)/patron(s): G.J. Dusseldorp / Lend Lease architect(s): Architect: Harry Seidler and Associates; Principal: Harry Seidler, Associate: Colin Griffiths, in collaboration with Studio Nervi. landscape/garden designer(s): other designer(s): Victor Vaserely, Le Corbusier, Alexander Calder, John Olsen, Joan Miro d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 4 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia consulting engineer(s): Structural Consultant: Studio Nervi (Rome), Principal: Luigi Nervi, Structural and Mechanical Engineers: Civil & Civic Pty. Ltd., Mechanical Consultant: Consentini Associates (New York), Lighting Consultant: Edison Price (New York). building contractor(s): Project Management and Construction: Civil and Civic Pty. Ltd., Project Development: Lend Lease Development Pty. Ltd. 2.4 Other persons or events associated with the building(s)/site name(s): Victor Vaserely, Le Corbusier, Alexander Calder, John Olsen Joan Miro association: executed art works for the building event(s): Tapestries by Victor Vasarely Orion M.C. and Le Corbusier UNESCO, & an Alexander Calder sculpture, Crossed Blades. The executive floor has tapestries by le Corbusier, Miro, Calder and the Australian artist John Olsen. period: mid 1960s d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 5 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia 2.5 Summary of important changes after completion type of change: alteration/renovation/restoration/extension/other: 1966: concourse shops completed; 1967: Partitions, additions to restaurant L42; 1968-70: Partitions, shop alterations; 1971: Mechanical vent L48, partitions; 1973: Alts floors 10,11 (Plaza Building); 1974-82: Partitions, shop alts; 1981: Mechanical vent L8; 1982: generators, storage tank; 1983-1986: Partitions and shop alts; 1986: double deck car parking machines, satellite, microwave installed; 1987: Refurbishment retail circle Pitt Street level; 1990: Glazed canopy access stair, disabled ramp; 1995: Windows over clad. date(s): various circumstances/ reasons for change effects of changes: persons/organisations involved: 3. Description of building(s) etc. 3.1 Site/building character The following description is drawn from the RAIA nomination form for listing of Australia Square on the State Heritage Register: The dominant element is the 50 – storey tower: a tall, white cylinder, articulated vertically by ribs and banded horizontally by strips of dark windows, deep green spandrel panels and white quartz edge beams at each storey, with two recessed equipment floors at levels 19 and 35, and a louvred screen at the topmost level. The tower resting on the upper George Street podium occupies only 25 per cent of the site, has a total floor space 12 times the site area. A rotating restaurant is located at the top of the tower. Enclosing the eastern end of the site, parallel to Pitt Street, the 13 storey Plaza Building is a simple rectangular prism, raised above the ground on seven pilotes (splayed clusters of four columns). A service core connects all levels to the ground. Carefully articulated aluminium sun screening is incorporated into the east and west facades. d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 6 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia The remainder of the city block was given over to the public as outdoor space. The public space is established by a plaza that is set above street level and steps down throughout the site and defined on the east by a six storey rectangular building acting as a foil to the circular tower. It is one of the earliest examples of the development of public open space on private land its public areas include cafes, trees, fountains and significant artworks. There are tapestries by Victor Vasarely Orion M.C. and Le Corbusier UNESCO, & an Alexander Calder sculpture, Crossed Blades. The executive floor has tapestries by le Corbusier, Miro, Calder and the Australian artist John Olsen. Curved screen walls separate the space visually and physically from traffic and parked cars in the surrounding streets. Each office floor of the tower is identical except that the projecting quartz faced pre-cast columns diminish in size as the building rises. The structural system was developed with one of the world’s leading engineers, Pier Luigi Nervi, and features technological advances of the time such as patterned ribbing and tapering exterior columns in quartz faced pre-cast as permanent formwork. The tapering columns add emphasis to the height of the tower further emphasising its elegance. At the time it was built in 1961-1967 the tower was one of the world’s tallest light weight concrete buildings. The circular form was structurally extremely efficient and the consistency of the floor plan, the use of precast façade and in situ core lead to floors being erected in five working days which set new standards in office tower construction. The restaurant and shopping arcade have been refitted. 3.2 Current use of whole building/site: Commercial Office Building of principal components (if applicable): comments: 3.3 Present (physical) condition of whole building/site: of principal components (if applicable) of other elements (if applicable): of surrounding area (if applicable): comments: d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 7 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia 3.4 Note(s) on context, indicating potential developments Indicate, if known, potential developments relevant for the conservation/threats of the building/site 4. Evaluation Intrinsic value 4.1 technical evaluation: Australia Square tower was the first fully light -weight structural concrete building in Australia and the tallest lightweight structure in the world at the time of its construction. It is significant as the highest and still the largest revolving restaurant in the world with the fastest lifts at the time of construction. The development was the first composition of two modern tower buildings in Sydney. It is significant for the early use of precast panels as permanent formwork, exploring the full potential of this technique and was instrumental in advancing lightweight concrete structural design. The structure allowed great speed in erection of formwork and pouring of concrete. It was the first fully structural lightweight concrete structure in Australia and the tallest lightweight concrete structure in the world at the time of construction. Australia Square and its public spaces are significant in urban design terms because the development involved the amalgamation of over thirty properties, a whole city block, including laneways, to develop two modernist buildings and an urban plaza. 4.2. social evaluation: Australia Square is socially significant as a major civic place. It provides an urban environment for recreation, interaction and retreat from city traffic congestion and indoor office building environments. The development is significant for its associations with prominent people including noted architect Harry Seidler. It is an important in his professional career. Also associated with the structural engineer Pier Luigi Nervi, developer G. J. Dusseldorp,, lighting engineer Edison Price, architect/artist Le Corbusier, and with well known artists Alexander Calder, Victor Vasarely, Miro and the Australian artist John Olsen. It was an important project having a special association with the life and professional careers of noted architect Harry Seidler, engineer Pier Luigi Nervi and developer G. J. Dusseldorp. d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 8 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia 4.3. cultural and aesthetic evaluation: Australia Square is aesthetically significant as the tower building is a landmark as well as for its architectural and urban design contribution to the realisation of the modern City of Sydney. The development was a milestone establishing new trends and ideals in modern office buildings in the circular form, creating a public open space and a freestanding building apart from rather than in the older smaller urban context that existed at the time. It is a seminal work by Harry Seidler and the recipient of both the 1967 RAIA Civic Design and Sulman Awards. The two buildings and plaza are an innovative solution for maximising open public space and building height on one large site. The lobby, interior and exterior of the Tower building are a finely crafted. The Plaza building is complimentary to the Tower building and the development as a whole. The Plaza building is the first building in Sydney on pilotis. Australia Square is significant for the integrated use of artwork in the public spaces was innovative and part of the overall design. This included the Le Corbusier tapestries and the Calder sculpture. Comparative significance 4.4 canonical status (local, national, international) Australia Square is of historic importance as recipient of the RAIA Civic Design and Sulman Awards in 1967. Having outstanding monumental and symbolic importance to the development of architecture and the history of architecture and for its pioneering approach to the problems of urban redevelopment. It is significant for the early use of precast panels as permanent formwork. Australia Square is historically significant for its pioneering approach to the problems of urban redevelopment through amalgamation of sites and the provision of public space on private land thus minimising problems of pedestrian congestion. Australia Square is also of social significance for its subsequent influence on the architectural profession and the directions it took, and as a landmark building to the general population. The Tower building design is significant, it was the creation of the structural engineer Pier Luigi Nervi, the ceilings are known as “Nervi” ceilings. 4.5 historic and reference values: The site plan and amenities were influenced by and were associated with the planning incentives of the 1971 Sydney Strategic Plan. It is the first practical demonstration of amalgamation of old titles into one large site and the development of the site to leave public space at ground level. It was the first city block development in Sydney. d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 9 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia 5. Documentation 5.1 archives/written records/correspondence etc. (state location/ address): State Library of NSW Title: Harry Seidler - records of Harry Seidler and Associates, 1954-1991, along with Seidler family papers, 1926-1949 Creator: Seidler, Harry, 1923Type of Material: Manuscripts Ask for: Original : MLMSS 7078 (ie Mitchell Library) Physical Description: Collection comprises - 34 boxes - 8.93 metres Design drawings Manuscript Newscuttings Photographs Printed Sound recordings Typescript Typescript - (carbon) Typescript - (photocopy) Video recordings Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW SEIDLER, HARRY & ASSOCIATES - Sydney and NSW residences and offices including Australia Square and Seidler House at Killara. These drawings are of buildings awarded either the Sir John Sulman Medal, the Wilkinson Award, Civic Design Award or Merit Award, 1961-83. Photographs by Max Dupain of the buildings held in PXD 509, 1961-1983 / 6170 dwgs, 100 photographs; Manuscript specifications (Locn No.: PXD 509 ; PXD 613 ; PXB 237) 5.2 principal publications (in chronological order): Frampton, Kenneth & Drew, Philip Harry Seidler: Four Decades of Architecture Thames & Hudson, London, New York 1992 Jahn, Graham, Sydney Architecture, 1997, Watermark Press, Sydney Dobney, Ed. The Master Architecture Series III, Harry Seidler, Craftsman House, North Ryde, NSW 1997 Taylor, Jennifer, Australian Architecture since 1960, Law Book Co, Sydney, 1998 Spigelman, Alice Almost full circle : Harry Seidler : a biography, Brandl & Schlesinger, Rose Bay, N.S.W., c.2001. d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 10 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia 5.3 visual material (state location/ address) original visual records/drawings/photographs/others: Refer to the State Library of NSW (as above) Harry Seidler & Associates http://www.seidler.net.au/office/contact.html recent photographs and survey drawings: Development and Building Application Drawings held by the City of Sydney Archives http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/hs_archives.asp Photographs by Max Dupain, held by the RAIA http://www.architecture.com.au film/video/other sources: Title: Date of Work: Type of Material: Ask for: Physical Description: Harry Seidler - video recordings, 1979-1991 1979-1991 Manuscripts Original : VT 1003 - VT 1019 Collection comprises - 17 video tapes Video recordings Contents: 1979; Four Corners, ABC-TV programme on Harry Seidler recorded at the University of Virginia, USA and at Sydney, broadcast 3 Mar.1979 (Locn No.: VT 1003) 1980; Harry Seidler lectures in Architecture at the University of New South Wales, including: 'Interaction', 10 Apr. 1980; 'Form Relation in Baroque and Modern Architecture', 17 Apr. 1980; Consequence of Design and Detail', 24 Apr. 1980; 'Form Relations in Baroque and Modern Architecture 2', 1 May 1980; 'Habitat-It's Detail and Totality', 9 May 1980; 'Mainstream of Modern', 28 June 1980 (Locn No.: VT 1004 - VT 1009) 1990; Steel Reinforcement Institute of Australia, being three video recordings, 'Architecture and Design', 'A Decade of Achievement', 'No 1 Spring Street, Melbourne, 1990' (Locn No.: VT 1015 - VT 1017) d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 11 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement Australia Square Sydney, NSW Australia 5.4 list documents included in supplementary dossier 6. Fiche report name of reporter: Noni Boyd / Anne Higham address: GPO Box 1334, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia telephone: +61 412 737 921 [email protected] [email protected] fax: e-mail: date of report: June 2003 examination by DOCOMOMO national/regional section approval by wp co-ordinator/registers correspondent (name): sign and date: ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ examination by DOCOMOMO ISC/R name of ISC member in charge of the evaluation: comment(s): sign and date: ISC/R approval: date: wp/ref. no.: NAI ref. no.: d o c o _ m o m o _ ISC/R members update 2003 for office use only 12 of 12 International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement