Download for office use only

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