Kengo Kuma commissioned for first Australian project: a dynamic civic hub for Sydney
POSTED 15 Mar 2016 . BY Kim Megson
Kuma said: 'The wooden screen wraps the exterior of the building in a dynamic and exciting manner' Credit: Lendlease
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma will design his first building in Australia; a landmark civic hub in the heart of Sydney.
Named the Darling Exchange, the building will house a new library, a ground floor open market hall, a childcare centre, an innovation exchange and a rooftop bar and restaurant with sweeping views over Tumbalong Park and the city’s Cockle Bay. It will form the centrepiece of the new inner-city village Darling Square, which is itself part of a AUS$3.4bn (US$2.5bn, €2.28bn, £1.8bn) transformation of Darling Harbour.
Renderings of Kuma’s design show a spiralling, coil-like wooden facade somewhat reminiscent of a Slinky toy.
“Our aim is to achieve architecture that is as open and tangible as possible to the community, and this is reflected in the circular geometry that creates a building that is accessible and recognisable from multiple directions,” said Kuma.
“The wooden screen wraps the exterior of the building in a dynamic and exciting manner, a historical reference to Darling Harbour originally being a hive of business activity and a focal point as a market exchange.
“The Darling Exchange will be an important civic building for Sydney, for all the public to enjoy, and a new community hub that people in the city can be proud of.”
A new 2,700sqm (29,000sq ft) urban square, designed by landscape architects Aspect Studios, will be an extension of Kuma’s building, and will include areas for pop-up markets, retail and public green space.
A lease agreement for the Exchange and urban square is expected to be finalised by the end of the year, subject to council approval and planning approval.
Steve McCann, managing director of Lendlease, said: “Throughout history, civic buildings and public squares have brought the community together. Our sincere desire is that The Darling Exchange will become a vibrant heart of the local community and a meeting place for all Sydneysiders and visitors.”
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publicly refuted claims his studio have copied from an earlier design submitted by Zaha
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saw a huge increase in visitor numbers during 2023 – the coronation year of King Charles III.
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Kengo Kuma commissioned for first Australian project: a dynamic civic hub for Sydney
POSTED 15 Mar 2016 . BY Kim Megson
Kuma said: 'The wooden screen wraps the exterior of the building in a dynamic and exciting manner' Credit: Lendlease
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma will design his first building in Australia; a landmark civic hub in the heart of Sydney.
Named the Darling Exchange, the building will house a new library, a ground floor open market hall, a childcare centre, an innovation exchange and a rooftop bar and restaurant with sweeping views over Tumbalong Park and the city’s Cockle Bay. It will form the centrepiece of the new inner-city village Darling Square, which is itself part of a AUS$3.4bn (US$2.5bn, €2.28bn, £1.8bn) transformation of Darling Harbour.
Renderings of Kuma’s design show a spiralling, coil-like wooden facade somewhat reminiscent of a Slinky toy.
“Our aim is to achieve architecture that is as open and tangible as possible to the community, and this is reflected in the circular geometry that creates a building that is accessible and recognisable from multiple directions,” said Kuma.
“The wooden screen wraps the exterior of the building in a dynamic and exciting manner, a historical reference to Darling Harbour originally being a hive of business activity and a focal point as a market exchange.
“The Darling Exchange will be an important civic building for Sydney, for all the public to enjoy, and a new community hub that people in the city can be proud of.”
A new 2,700sqm (29,000sq ft) urban square, designed by landscape architects Aspect Studios, will be an extension of Kuma’s building, and will include areas for pop-up markets, retail and public green space.
A lease agreement for the Exchange and urban square is expected to be finalised by the end of the year, subject to council approval and planning approval.
Steve McCann, managing director of Lendlease, said: “Throughout history, civic buildings and public squares have brought the community together. Our sincere desire is that The Darling Exchange will become a vibrant heart of the local community and a meeting place for all Sydneysiders and visitors.”
Australian developer Lendlease has unveiled plans for a new billion-dollar city precinct
for Melbourne, which will have a floating sky park at its heart.
Some of the biggest names in architecture and design have developed prefabricated
pavilions for real estate developer Robbie Antonio as part of his Revolution Project.
The architect developing Japan’s National Stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has
publicly refuted claims his studio have copied from an earlier design submitted by Zaha
Hadid Architects.
Kengo Kuma have turned the traditional idea of museum architecture on its head with
their latest design: a jungle-inspired complex set inside an enormous cave.
Numbers from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, (ALVA) show that Royal attractions
saw a huge increase in visitor numbers during 2023 – the coronation year of King Charles III.
Off the back of the success of the first round of Everyday Heritage Grants in 2022, Historic
England is funding 56 creative projects that honour the heritage of working-class England.
Universal has revealed it will be adding new Harry Potter attractions, alongside Super Nintendo
and How to Train Your Dragon worlds to its Florida resort.
Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) invites cruise lines, shipyards, design studios, outfitters,
and suppliers to take part in CSI Design Expo Americas in Miami, Florida, the region’s only
event dedicated to cruise ship interior design. [more...]