First look at proposed Crows Nest metro tower

A state-significant development application has been submitted for the first of three towers to be built above Crows Nest metro station on Sydney’s lower North Shore.

Designed by Woods Bagot as part of the Crows Nest Design Consortium, the tower at Site C of the over-station development will be the smallest of the towers at nine storeys, compared to the 17- and 21-storey towers planned for sites B and A, respectively. Providing 3,100 square metres of office space across seven levels, it will sit above the eastern entry for the metro station, facing the intersection of Clarke and Hume streets.

Across all sites, the station’s built form will read as a modestly scaled two-storey brick-clad structure, responding to the material character of the surrounding area.

The tower at Site C will seek to extend this “resolute and sculptural” materiality vertically.

“The brick base is extruded to the envelope to form a simple rectangular prism compatible with the scale of similar brick buildings in Crows Nest,” state the architects.

“The brick envelope is spliced to create portals evocative of the vertical rhythm of the Blue Gum High Forest… The brick portals are designed to visually ‘clasp’ an assemblage of glazed modules both flush and variably projecting to animate the façade whilst providing a sense of tangible occupancy linked to street life.”

These projecting bay windows will also offer interesting views of the street from the offices. The architects note that the building has been configured with the core distributed along the northern party wall to optimize access for natural light and outlook to local streets, Hume Park and the village beyond.

Though much of the rooftop will be given over to the plantroom functions – since the metro station prevents the provision of a basement plantroom – there will be landscaped rooftop along the west, south and eastern perimeters open to building tenants. The rooftop will incorporate raised landscaped planters below brick-lined portals with three integrated seating alcoves.

Along with Woods Bagot, the Crows Nest Design Consortium includes Oculus, SMEC, Robert Bird and NDY.

The detailed design and construction application for the tower is on public exhibit until 19 July.

NSW planning minster Rob Stokes approved concept designs and building envelopes for all three towers in December 2020.

written by : ArchitectureAU Editorial
22 jun 2021
published in : architectureau.com