time for new thread.
first part>
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=280216&page=21

well its finally here. the DA for 1 Bligh street was lodged fri.
The design by germanys Ingenhoven Architects.
It will be Australia's first double skinned facade and see-through skyscraper.
these arent scans but photos from booklet so not the best quality
the full height void will have 8 glass lifts.

number of levels-30 + 4 basements
height RL154m or 138m above grd.
45,000sqm of office space
the glass will have a light pink hue to it. nice

3d model
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1435/757750538_3b71d2ecc5_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1232/757750314_a48356b989_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1301/757806006_785d9fbce8_b.jpg

magnificent flor plate (1650sqm)
mid lev15
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/757750584_9301bc44cc_b.jpg

section
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1390/757750724_47423caa9d_b.jpg


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1139/757750734_6ad5cd7027_b.jpg

model pix

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1091/757750304_b5d0de6a73_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/757806114_e5a9df8bf0_b.jpg

superb, simply superb

Repeat: It's a Winner! What it lacks in height it makes up for in character and form - and presence.

It's incredibly beautiful, but I still feel frustrated by its lack of height. There's that big gap in the middle of the skyline. Maybe something will fill it behind.

the 202m 33 Bligh st will rise behind it.
LARGE office floors are way of the future. gone are the useless tiny floor plates. developers want large expanses with interconnection with other floors.
the eliptical shape is quite massive at 46mx 63m. the triangular full height atrium is 20m wide.
some more sketches
transfer floor
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/6436/0001576aq6.jpg

view into atrium
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6612/0001575en3.jpg

Awesome. I can't wait for this one to start!

And it has to be said, Archibomber, how close were your original mock-ups! :cheers:

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/3016/19blighrenderxa2.jpg

It's a masterpiece :) Despite it not being as tall as nearby towers, it's bulk Will make it look very imposing from the harbour.

I like it, but man, what a fatass! The top looks particularly interesting - is that a garden up there for whichever lucky investment bank/law firm occupies the top floor?

^yes the top floor (lev28)is listed as "special function/office floor". its 1050sqm and its terrace is 600sqm.brilliant
lev28>
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/2379/1blighlev28fs2.jpg

this design is so far ahead of other office bldgs in australia it aint funny.yes even DB place.
ive been reading its specs and its brilliant
the double skinned facade allows fresh air to flow through bldg from top to bottom.
note the floor plate i posted- the rear or south/eastern face shows balc/bridge. this is on every level connecting the central atrium.the 8 glass lifts are split with low and high rise service. 4 right lifts are for lowrise and 4 left are for highrise.

peakey- this won design comp last Aug. Sydney gets these bldgs becuase council have design comps for major new highrise. look at last few years
Aurora place-Renzo Piano (italy)
Deutschebank-Norman Foster (UK)
Lumiere-Norman Foster (UK)
1 Bligh -Ingenhoven (germany)
8-12 Chifley sq-RIchard Rogers (UK)
gappa- the site will start demo last quarter of 2007 which should only take a couple of months. the hole is a major one being only 3 basements deep or 9m.
Constructon set to start 1st quarter 2008 with occupancy scheduled for 2010

Damn looks better then even the sneak preview i had :)
This one is amazing, Avy will love it. As Cul said 202m right behind it so the gap will be filled somewhat. Perfect for the location and it will glass up the view from circular quay.
This one is one of the best designs since Aurora and (if it needs to be said) this area is already peerless this will only make it even more untouchable.

I love it!


Glass + Curves + Decent height = sex.

an interesting design for sure!

a few aspects have me wondering though.

^what are they?

nice just as this forum was starting to get boring with Lumiere finishing up

This is a fantastic design. Floorplates are just WOW. As cool as it looks on the outside it's the interiors I'm most excited about, judging by the sketches they will no doubt be incredible.

so glad not a straight box

I don't normally like eliptical shaped buildings, but this is rather nicely executed. Pink glass will be a welcome sight. I can't wait to see it. It seems this tower is moving in the right direction, it looks like quality.

My only gripe is as some have said it looks sorta stumpy, it really would have looked even better taked up another 100m. The CBD really needs to to to balance the currently framed-look bewteen gateway and GPT. Filling in this gap would have made a big difference to the appearance of the city from the north. ATM the city looks too jumbled and disjointed.

Very good. Circular Quay needs more glass.

went past the site today and its such a sunny spot. very rare northerly aspect site.the new tower should be stunning shimmering in the sunlight.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1155/782095765_1f32f78aa4_b.jpg

I like this one more and more each time I look at it, and I started from a pretty high point! :)

I do however, really like some of the buildings that it will replace, especially the two you can see in Culwulla's pic above. I wish they could be dismantled and replicated elsewhere in the city (like the *shudder* Aspect site)

Still, the new one is far superior. Bring it on!

Fantastic! I love the glassy trend going on in Sydney with Lumiere, Westfield and now 1 bligh st.

Although I wish it was another 50m taller.

The view from The Quay will never be the same. With this and Investa's proposed 202m 33 Bligh looming behind it.

Bring 'em both on! :cheer:

BTW A smaller night render posted by Archibomber in the archived Part 1 that hasn't been posted in this thread yet:

http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/1148/bentstjw4.jpg

It's absolutely gorgeous!

Is the building at max FSR?

yes

I think that if the building were any taller it would be to dominating in the Circular Quay skyline. It's great to fill in the dip between the Chifley Talls and MLC though - and it is of course absolutely gorgeous!

According to today's Fin Rev, now known as "Space" whooo. New render too:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/SpaceFinRevArticleE.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/SpaceFinRevArticleA.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/SpaceFinRevArticleB.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/SpaceFinRevArticleC.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/SpaceFinRevArticleD.jpg

fantastic! cucumber?lol

^ yes, it's The Cucumber! :)

the more I look at it, the more I don't like it

all that enviromental stuff is GREAT! And it being all glass is wicked. Its just the shape of the building.

It looks like something that I don't really want to post here

Wow reading that article we ARE in for a bit of a treat aren't we. 6 star rating, a double skinned fascade that opens and closes according to the angle of the sun? Woah that is high tech. Prob wouldn't have believed it if i didn't read it for myself. Sydney latest crop are really top drawer and to be honest will only add to one of the finest groups of buildings on the planet.

^yes i mentioned a year ago, this building will be Australia;s best office tower. even better then DB place.
cant wait for it to start

i think all developments should aim for 6 star as much as is practical. vegie gardens on the roof might be going too far though!

have you seen roof of new tower cnr kent/market st? it has rows of vegies. looks cool. ill grab a pic.

^ i suppose it's practical but it's very commune-ish. You'd have to make sure drainage was all sorted out correctly. who tends to them and reaps the rewards?

I personally reckon it'll look more like it does in the model shot we saw about a page back. For starters, the pink glass (which will play very nicely, IMHO off the buildings in the area) is probably closer on that than these renders.

Why do I get the feeling we're going to end up with another shadow plane as a result of the empty area in front of this building, though?!?

Pink glass?

The DA is up on the council site for those who like poring over plans, elevations and reports: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/DAsOnExhibition/details.asp?tpk=840267. Looks like they've decided the address will be 2 O'Connell Street, not 1 Bligh Street.

^thats interesting. it was 1-9 bligh. then known as 1 bligh and now SPACE with adress as 2 oconnell st
cool

Thanks, papervagina.
For those who want all the background info, details of design (text, diagrams, etc), the 'story' of the building, go right to the end to 'Statement of Environmental Effects'. Also check 'perspectives', 'photomontages' and 'elevations'. Only if you are a total techno freak and/or have OCD do you need to check out any of the other documents, but if that's you thing, feel free.

is it going to be one big nightclub? that's what i think of everytime i hear it will be called "space".

is it going to be one big nightclub? that's what i think of everytime i hear it will be called "space".

LOL. Erik Morillo is opening it with a 10 hour foam party set.
:nuts:

And Mel C will film her new video there...

An Erick Morrillo 10 hour foam party set, that's going to be messy. And a guaranteed way to permenantly wreck your clothes.

Looks like they've decided the address will be 2 O'Connell Street, not 1 Bligh Street.

Looks like I was wrong about this... the location is now "2 O'Connell Street SYDNEY NSW 2000, 1-7 Bligh Street SYDNEY NSW 2000, 15-19 Bent Street SYDNEY NSW 2000, 9-13 Bligh Street SYDNEY NSW 2000, 4 O'Connell Street SYDNEY NSW 2000" and the Statement of Environmental Effects refers to it as 1 Bligh Street.

True. The DA always identifies the site by all street addresses/frontages whether it involves 1 street or 5 in the initial statement but in the text, in this case, it is 1 Bligh. I still think 1 Bligh Street or 2 O'Connell Street sound more impressive than "Space".

^^

Agreed

i had it as 1-9 bligh st originally.thats what planner told me.

The council's DA submission page for this development. Approx. 120 PDF files that range from models, floor plans, geo-tech reports and materials to be used. Most files are only a page or 2.

DA Number D/2007/1270 (http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/DAsOnExhibition/details.asp?tpk=840267)

I thought this from the very first PDF on the list was rather "cute", especially the way 1 O'Connell St is represented:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/Space3DModel.jpg

....

A large detailed model of SPACE came into day for a meeting in chambers tonight. Architect-Ingenhoven actually flew out from Germany to be at meeting!!
the model is bloody brilliant. showed the ground floor areas and was a "see-through" model which is how it will be . indicated lifts/bridges ect/ Also it will have a "growing green" wall up against ugly first 10m of Norwich house. which is excellent.
you can see green wall in this render>

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/SpaceFinRevArticleE.jpg

What will happen to that model Cul? I assume it is not the one that will displayed at Town Hall House will it?

the model showing detail is 1;200 scale, so its only a working model to show council.the model in city display will be the one that stays there. planners were expecting a "see-thru" model but got a more blocky model.

Interesting but I wish they'd make it a glowing pink wall or something. We have enough green IMO. :)

This is going to so so sweet...

Another Sydney Designer Skyscraper - kind of embodies Sydney's supposed designer obsessed atmosphere. We will also get another designer accessory skyscraper in the case of the new building on Chifley Square by Richard Rogers - we even have a designer skyline now!

I can cope.

sydney is landing these wonderful skyscrapers because of the council enforced design competition resulting in design excellence.

And we should be proud of it too. :D World class architecture for one of the world's great cities.

Melbourne should be jealous of developments like these.

We're all green with envy... :crazy:. I love this tower but see no reason why anyone would or should be jealous.

The Harbour Bridge pylon will be a great place to see this tower rise.

It will look mammoth :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v28/Fabian/Sydney%20City/P8152318A.jpg

yes, perfect spot actually. should rise just above state bank from this view.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1091/757750304_b5d0de6a73_b.jpg


cheers

lol. morillo... random!

nice... but it kinda looks like a rather large glass grains tower...












ps. frankie knuckles. hello.

this and 33 bligh will have great impact on skyline. both clear glass /state of art skyscrapers
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/1527857324_59d7378dda_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2001/1526990357_14b3567370_b.jpg

Excellent pics Cul, As you say they will certainly raise the profile and standard of this end of town. Great towers.

SO crowded in that last model pics. really bulking up as australia's leading financial district...

^ but they are all moving down near king st wharf and probably into barangaroo. which area will become the actually financial district in the end?

Barangaroo / King St wharf will never challenge the northern Syd CBD as Australia's leading financial district.
There's the equivalent of the whole of Brisbane CBD's + half of Perth's office space crammed into the area bordered by Macquarie St, Cahill Expwy, King St and Wynyard Park, with most of the big boys based within there !
Barangaroo / King St Wharf will have only a fraction of office space built down there with just a handful of the big players.

didnt original description of amount of office space in bbaroo equate to 12 aussie squares? the first block alone consists of 4 towers-180m, 2x150m and 120m or basically another world square! .

plus you've got westpac down that way, asteron, rabo, allianz, amex, kpmg, and soon macquarie (just to name a few off the top of my head) plus all the new players. who's in the northern end of sydney? i know there's a lot of big towers but who's really in them that is financial? gp tower is mainly state government offices. i suppose there's that german bank and amp. i think edh/barangaroo will challenge the chifley talls area for sure. we'll know in a few years time.

financial and legal. There are big courts in Macquarie St area.

^ that's what i thought, a lot of legal takes up space within there. there's heaps of small to medium sized companies and a lot of them are not financial companies as such. there's lots of training firms, recruitment, management consultants and all that. i think the whole edh area will be more dense with financial based firms.

the unique thing about barangaroo is that you will be able to get to your offices by water! ive heard ferries will be able to dock infront and workers will simply get ofof and walk a few metres to offices aka nyc

plus you've got westpac down that way, asteron, rabo, allianz, amex, kpmg, and soon macquarie (just to name a few off the top of my head) plus all the new players. who's in the northern end of sydney? i know there's a lot of big towers but who's really in them that is financial? gp tower is mainly state government offices. i suppose there's that german bank and amp. i think edh/barangaroo will challenge the chifley talls area for sure. we'll know in a few years time.

investec, babcock and brown, abn amro...

hope these buildings don't have us waiting for next few years!

well heres hoping that at barangaroo we can churn out a signature tower with a major tenant like a big bank or something... out of sydney's 200m+ tallies (wt, mlc, gpt, chifley, citigroup), only one is recognizeably attached to a major business player - citigroup (or is it citi now, lol).

we have a few scratching beneath 190m-200m, e&y, westpac, deutschebank, hsbc, axa australia, amp.... etc

i reckon that buildings which are visibly attached to a big bank or other large business, become much more recognizeable than faceless tallies like gpt and chifley, which i bet most average sydneysiders dont even know exist unless you pointed them out

this and 33 bligh will have great impact on skyline. both clear glass /state of art skyscrapers
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/1527857324_59d7378dda_b.jpg



Another example of why Sydney needs a supertall (building - not Centrepoint). The skyline looks impressive but with all those tall skyscrapers packed into such a tight area their size and the impact of them is lost because all the buildings are so large and tall. A supertall would provide a focal point - something which is currently lacking from the north - Centrepoint is essentially hidden behind MLC and soon to be 1 Richard Johnson Square.

I think they should allow it to be as tall as Aurora Place. It does feel a bit lost. Even No 1 O'Connell is taller in that shot.

I seriously hope that the developers negotiate a similar deal as for 1 Richard Johnson Square, or do a deal along the lines with Angel Place, where it may be required to construct facilities for community use such as a theatre and any loss of floor space would be compensated for with extra floors. That end of town needs some activity after hours and that might be the way to get more height :)

^^^ Now that's a great idea. I didn't know that was part of the deal for Angel Place...

this is goig up for final approval tonight. it will recieve approval and work will start first quarter of 08 on demolition.

http://www.webdesign-guru.co.uk/icon/wp-content/uploads/approved.gif

Now that's authoritative!
She's a go-er, and what a beauty she will be.

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!

*Stamps Cul's stamp very hard on DA papers*

I think that was pretty much a given for this one... it's stumpy, but definitely top notch.

Muse, Isoboy and I walked passed to find that all the buildings have been locked up. We can only presume that everyone has been booted out. Retailers also have been given the boot.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2372/dscf2803de5.jpg

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8178/dscf2804yb3.jpg

Some of the buildings on death row

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3758/dscf2810xt5.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3848/dscf2809ol1.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3231/dscf2808aw5.jpg

yeah the thing that shits me with new bldgs in sydney is that tall bldgs and sometimes many have to be demolished to make way for the new one, this adds 6 months to the project timeline. and then after they demolish you hope and prey they dont find anything of historical significance which can add a further 6 months for the archelogical dig.
there will be FIVE skyscrapers pulled down for SPACE.the tallest being 80m.

as long as the quality of what is going up is better then what is going down, i don't really mind.

Remember its quality and not quantity that counts. I'd rather have a few less skyscrapers if it meant that they were better.

Were losing five not so good buildings, but were getting a fab one in return. The loss will be compensated with new developments elsewhere.

Totally agree: you can enjoy a quality building for decades - forever!? - but a taller shonky one is always a disappointment after the initial thrill is gone.

Cool little video about Space, includes the architects and developers speaking about the design of the building:

http://www.dbrreef.com/internet/asset/File/Flash/Space/

Nice find, Archi. That atrium is really something, but the street level is so-so.

Awesome find. I love their attitude towards building this project - aim to create the difference between a work place and a great place to work!

It took years to amalgamate the site...

news flash
hoardings are set to go up soon.demo to start soon after

heres a model pic i took today.
looks like its set in middle of street.
should be a great vista looking south along elizabeth and vice/versa looking north towards Space
when its done in 2010,ill make sure to go to roof and takes some piccies of chifley talls.what a view

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2242/2277368857_f8fb76a084_b.jpg

Wow stunning even as a model. Materials will as usual make or break it. If it's like Renzo's then we are all in for a treat.

^ i can assure you, this baby will be our greatest skyscraper.
twin transparent glass skins with full height atrium equiiped with glass lifts. stunning!

Ahhhh...the thrill of anticipation; it's pretty intense on this beauty.

its funny how its real quite around these bldgs. (calm before the storm) there are quite substantial size too.

i remember when this nice black one came in as a DA in 88.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2243/2278058989_515e96cf20.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2058/2278058107_86d02b5a47.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2178/2278846016_abbb66fef0.jpg?v=0

Mid-late 2010 completion?

^yes, apparently so.
the bldgs total 70stories, so a bit of demolition

According to this media release, this will be built by Grocon:

http://www.grocon.com.au/pdfs/mediareleases/MediaRelease_210208.pdf

thanks archi. Grocon are excellent and efficient.
wow; starts next month sounds good to me!
lov this line-
"with its double skinned facade and elegant glass appearance, we;re confident Space 1Bligh
will soon be one of the great landmarks of Australia" !

Good news, so also thanks, Archi.
Note completion date: 2011.

^yeah 2008, will be 6 months of demo and excavating,
2009 will be core rising with floor plates following,
2010, the bldg will stand complete but not internally,
2011 the bldg will be open with internals complete.

Damn, the cool little video's gone.

Anyway now here's the DEXUS page for Space:

http://www.dexus.com/Properties/Developments/space.aspx

Apparently they'll be setting up a webcam soon.

A r c h i: your research skills are pretty impressive. Thanks again.

yes, archi is always on the bALL. its gonna be great with the webcam.
cheers

...and in Saturday's SMH blab, Grocon has been awarded the contract - full confidence in Grocon! :)

yes, archi informed us on post 97. great news indeed

So he did (Thanks Arch :) ) Anyways, yay! Grocon!

Nothing really new (except maybe the render?) but thought I'd post anyway:

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8038/space1cf4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://www.grocon.com.au/pdfs/sydney/Space_1_%20Bligh_St.pdf

it's a good render. it seems to split in the middle like RR's chifley square. this one should be very clear as you cross the harbour bridge and will probably be what blocks the view of RR's chifley square at the same time, because when you cross today you get a clear view right up to the brown glass of colonial.

yes, thats lev15 transer floor. it will have cafes ect. sydyes latest crop of buildings really show how thay are people friendly and provide lotsof public space throughout the bldg, being it at street level or mid level or rooftop.
thanks archi-nice render
lev15 floorplate
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/757750584_9301bc44cc_b.jpg

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/6436/0001576aq6.jpg

Looks great, a bit like an all glass Grosvenor Place. How is the progress going on the Construction certificate?

Will level 15 be open to the public?

that i dont know. maybe if you sneek in.
but if you get lost walking around you can always ring up police and tell them your
.. "lost in space". ;-)

Some more good news:


Dexus project has them queuing
Florence Chong | March 20, 2008

MACQUARIE Bank and law firm Clayton Utz are believed to be negotiating with Dexus Property Group for a large chunk of its latest project in Sydney's central business district, with a lease likely to deliver the landlord $30 million a year in rent.

The $700 million project, Space 1 Bligh, will become the listed property trust's (formerly DB Rreef Trust) flagship building when it is completed in late 2010.

Industry sources said the law firm and Macquarie were competing for space in the building, with reports that the latter was seeking up to 30,000 square metres.

Although Macquarie's head office is at 1 Martin Place, its employees are housed in various buildings in the central business district.

Property Daily reports that Macquarie is planning to consolidate its space at 20 Bond Street and 135 King Street into one building.

Clayton Utz occupies space in 1 O'Connell Street.

In 2005, Lend Lease's Australian Prime Property Fund bought a 50 per cent interest in the building for $178.1 million.

Dexus, Macquarie and the representative for Clayton Utz declined to comment.

Space 1 Bligh will have 42,000sqm and a six-star Green Star rating, which will make it Sydney's greenest building.

The 28-level building promises tenants the "next generation in workspace design" with features such as natural ventilation, full height atrium, a winter garden, roof terrace and childcare centre.

Sources said that tenants could be expected to pay a net rental of between $1100 and $1200 per square metre for space in the building, to be built by Grocon.

Although rents at this level have yet to be negotiated in Sydney, tenants at Brisbane's top buildings such as Riverside and Waterfront Place are already paying this rate.

In Sydney, however, rents for new buildings are about $700/sqm.

Because of the growing short supply, industry observers expect rents in Sydney to rise faster than any other capital city in the next 12 months.

Some believe that Sydney rents are poised to rise 15 to 20 per cent during the year.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23404531-25658,00.html

thanks archi, wow, those rents will be high in 2 years/ its great to get a 6star bldg.

the hoarding application was applied for yesterday!!

walked past today and lots of surveyers marking pavement for hoarding s!

Bring out the champagne folks :)

^ don't celebrate too soon, last thing we want is holes in the ground going nowhere for years.

^thats not allowed to happy. plus devlopers Investa group and builder Grocon are fair dinkum.

The positive side of the next cycle of development is that it wont be a boom like in the late 80's or late 90's.

Even if demand for office slips, I think the market can support it, and it will be a few years before they are done. They can always do an ESB, just build the thing and let it fill.

i'm not sure why but i feel disapointed in this project. i think the developers are doing the best with the restrictions placed on them, but this site could have been so much more,i can't help but think.

but hey its better this then a 200m meriton piece of crap.

Hoardings are going up as I type - started Monday....

Now waiting for more action on 1 Richard Johnson Sq

Kent

^great. i think RJS is starting in 3 months?

Excellent. We have action :)

woohoo!
today
the bulldozer was busy demolishing ground level of no4 oconnell st
thread title change to demolition!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2059/2475445156_0fe31ee278_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2172/2475444564_22f875cc7d_b.jpg

Just looking at those pictures, it feels odd to see the sight of construction in that section of the CBD. Imagine it with RJS in a few months.

Just looking at those pictures, it feels odd to see the sight of construction in that section of the CBD. Imagine it with RJS in a few months.
That's what I'm thinking - I work in Bligh St opposite RJS, and still remember working in the old State Office Block (demolished for Piano ABN Amro) during demolition for/building of Gov Phillip/Gov Macquarie Towers.....

Kent

serious hoarding going up. crane in bligh st
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/2490851995_23e58a63f7_b.jpg

already scaffold up canon bldg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/2493423317_13366c9ea8_b.jpg

Article on Space in the latest issue of Architecture Australia.

^i saw it. how brilliant does it look. such a reat publication. never miss it

heres a pic i recently scanned from 1986.
SpaCe should really impact this end of bligh st with a nice curved glass facade.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/2523441455_8c13df6fa2_o.jpg

Demolition proceeding apace on Bligh St buildings (it's b. noisy here). Interestingly, they've punched holes in teh side of the Canon building in the pic above, around L3, with a row of RSJs now sticking through.....

I can see from my erie high above the Space site that foundations for a tower crane have been sunk into the Bent Street frontage. Crane count will hopefully be able to add one for the CBD core soon.

welcome to forum. thanks for tip off.

Yeah, passed the site today and now that the hoardings have gone up along O'Connell and Bligh (Bent St still just fenced off but being worked on) and mesh has gone up on the Bligh St buildings, you realise what a massive site this is. Still no advertising on the hoardings heralding a "new era of green architecture" ;)

Anyway, today jack hammers & buzz saws with the help of a mobile crane to take "bits" from the site were busy @ gnawing away. This must've been a logistical nightmare to plan on the demolition seeing that the 5 scrapers going were probably built slightly differently (or a lot) and differ structurally.

Thanks Brizer for the AA scoop & welcome Eli Zarr.

BTW 33 Bligh in pitch black now ie. the foyer had the lights off and "We have moved" signage all over the entrance area.

Tower crane is up on the Space site. Heavy plant being lifted from the Bligh street buildings (Canon and the old Farmers Federation building).

sure are getting stuck into it!

today

cranage!
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That's quick!!

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And another forumer was lurking in the same area too...

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This baby will rise behind Mark Fergusons Shoulder every night. Looks eerie with the buildings there dark

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Demolition on this site is really cranking up now. Top four levels of the old NSW Farmers Federation building are gone. Will try for photos this week.

july5
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^^ A repost to scroll & compare with the above shot.

I didnt notice that the crane has been jacked up. You cannot even see it on the live channel nine shot.

It has been there for a long time now. You can also see it from the east in between Chifley Tower and Aurora Place.

Now, if the windows weren't so filthy I'd try and get some demolition shots.

Scaffolding should reach the top of the current 1 Bligh today - all other building on the site are already several floors shorter....

Kent

^thanks for updates. appreciated.i reckon the 5 bldgs will come down fast. i remeber when the 4 bldgs that occupied DB Place only took a 2 months. i tought they would take 6, but before you know it, they were gonski!
i was there last week and when the 5 bldgs are gone it will seem really open. such a great sunny spot.

http://www.civbox.com/x/parrariver/(2).jpg

Heavy machinery in action over Bligh St @ the Space site.

Apologies for the crappy photography. Dirty windows, crap camera.

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great photos eli. from GPT?
very dangerous work being up with bulldozer on fading away slabs.
i remember back in 89 when demolishers were working on a 12storey bldg on George st and the dozer topped over and into the centre of half demolished tower and fell straight down and killed driver. terrible.
i think it was site of now unit block next to Australia Square.
anyway this will go down quickly i reckon.
cheers

I'd say it's GMT next door that the shots are from. Good scoop.

It will be a good spot to watch this one go up.

They still haven't cleaned the windows, so no pics from me yet.

But there's currently 6 jackhammers going (what do you call them - the ones fitted to mini excavators) on this site, demolishing the 3 smaller buildings first. 8 storeys gone, 6 to go (at least on Bligh St - maybe 8 on O'Connell). Appears as though they're stripping windows to prep the Bent St tower...

Major plant was lifted off the top of 15 Bent st yesterday, demo must be surely about to start. I'll try to get some fresh snaps.

^you mean 13 bent? i think 15 is Norwich hs.
i havent been past for a while.

Culwulla - Bent, not Bligh!:)

The triple street frontage throws me at times too....

^oh, the original Oconnell House? thats tallest to come down for a while at 80m tall.
The Goodsell is little higher at 84m.

They still haven't cleaned the windows, so no pics from me yet.

But there's currently 6 jackhammers going (what do you call them - the ones fitted to mini excavators) on this site, demolishing the 3 smaller buildings first. 8 storeys gone, 6 to go (at least on Bligh St - maybe 8 on O'Connell). Appears as though they're stripping windows to prep the Bent St tower...

the jackhammers on excavators are called hammers

as mc hammer says- hammertime!!

cant believe the speed these buildings are being demolished!!
the bldgs behind Oconnell house are going fast. maybe a month or so they will be history


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Ta for the pics. I estimate they're doing about 3/4 a storey a day at present. Still working flat-out in the rain at the moment.

Kent

Thats great progress!!! It has been slow as of late and then...kaboom.

maybe 2 weeks and the 4 bldgs behind oconnell house will be razed.
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should get great view soon of Aurora
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/2762084404_dd79b6c1c2.jpg?v=0

Even some good views of GPT will soon appear.

Detail of the facade:

http://media.australianinnovation.net.au/images/photos/124_02.jpg

Has adjustable blinds in the cavity between the two layers of glass.

^ good find!

Damn GPT's a fine looking building - absolutely timeless. I wish DCM could have put the same quality into some of the buildings in their home town

I'm pretty sure it was designed by the Sydney office (now Johnson Pilton Walker).

ta archi, that facade is going to be unreal.

nearly gone
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Ta for the pics - the windows here are still filthy! :)

Looks like the rooftop structures and at least one level of 15 Bent have gone too. Not too long to go until I have my (temporary) harbour Bridge vista!!

Kent

Cul, I think I saw you taking those photos yesterday - yellow and black backpack ?? I was going to say hello but...

Dexus have put a spiffing webcam on the top of GPT which you can control online, great view down on the building site. You can also get spectacular panoramas of the skyline.

It's pretty neat.

http://www.dexus.com.au/getdoc/583febd9-5456-4b5c-9fcd-57626892d0b8/1-Bligh-Webcam.aspx

^nah sorry i dont have a back pack.
thanks for webcam link. excellent

deleted

I was just playing around with it. It's great and even gives us a chance to enjoy live views of our city as well.

not much left of other bldgs. the tallest one has finally started to come down.

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Went by there today with Muse...

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Norwich House looks good and will be even more so when the remaining buildings are jacked down

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/173/dscf5795ws3.jpg

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Went by there today with Muse...


half day fridays hey? bankers hours yeah?

Just curious how do they actally disassemble a skyscraper. I know they can blow it up but that hasn't happen in most cases. So how do they to do it?

^ very precariously, floor by floor. after seeing some recent shots it looks hell dangerous with the jcb's jack hammering the floor below them. surely there is there potential to fall through.

yes lots of jackhammering and use of small bulldozer.the last bldg left (Oconnellhouse) will take longer as its a real tuffy. one of first reinforced concrete skyscrapers in sydney.

half day fridays hey? bankers hours yeah?

lol, I dont have classes at uni on Fridays :)

expect to see some historic images on scaffolding mesh soon. a new idea from heritage dept.

They have already done it with Myer in Market St and actually it's nice. Something good to look at rather than green mesh.

yeah but the myer one is basically a photo of the facade behind. the new images will have historic scenes ect
today
oconnell house is coming down fast

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I have been watching nine news each night, and I've noticed over the past week or so (helped by more background light at 6pm) that it's coming down quick. The crane is big!!!

expect to see some historic images on scaffolding mesh soon. a new idea from heritage dept.

That's a really neat idea.

trucks coimg out today with lots of dirt.digging has started

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From what I can see, 1 level below ground on O'Connell St, just starting on Bligh.

I'm not in the office tomorrow, but hoping that I'll come in on Monday to an end to end view of the Harbour Bridge!

we should take bets on who thinks this will end up as an extended hole in the ground? city offices are emptying as i write and companies are trying desperately to sub-lease their now over-extended allocation.

it wont end up a hole. this and all other projects will keep on track. dont panic.

no more financial crisis talks in every thread. this is construction thread
please contain to relevant thread>
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=573072&page=4
__________________

no more financial crisis talks in every thread. this is construction thread
please contain to relevant thread>
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=573072&page=4
__________________

no more financial crisis talks in every thread. this is construction thread
please contain to relevant thread>
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=573072&page=4
__________________

404 - Not Found
someone deleted that one?

^ i think it's a truncated link, cul musn't have posted it correctly -

here you go...

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=573072&page=5

Fabs was out today checking out the action

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Poked my camera through a hole in Bligh St

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From Level 32 Westpac World HQ

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how much of oconnell house is left?

the hoarding displays will be interesting
\

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Almost gone. About four floors left.

And they're already 3 floors into rock on the O'Connell St side.....

thanks.
yes/ Space has 4 basements or will be 12m deep.
cheers

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Windows still filthy, but I'll try and remember the camera for some overhead shots

They have made sensational progress.

Here's news. Dexus have announced this afternoon that top tier law firm Clayton Utz has signed on for 15 floors in Space, 23,000 sq metres in total. Good news. Big job to fill the hole over the road at 1 O'connell when they move out.

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You beat me again

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i take photos only every thursday now. i swim every other lunch time.

nearly gone
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.

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Those in the Wentworth Hotel certainly have some great views of the action and harbour views.

Don't you have to agree with me that Norwich House looks alot better without the buildings surrounding it?

great photos lance. only small portion of oconnell house lft. the excavation is well under for weeks now. time for thread title change

basement just about gone
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Damn that's going to look hot in that location. That first pic is great, it gives you an idea of how bloody awesome this area is going to be in a few years...

cul, did they let you on-site?

the fist shot (not the small one) is from a 1m high ledge in driveway entry to norwich house.great vantage point. 2nd pic i just opened door and stood on walkway. if they asked me what i was doing i was going tom say i was from work cover. game over/lol

^ ahh, but someone from workcover would know to wear their helmet now wouldn't they? :) i wanted to stand on that walkway but it was well guarded when i was there.

i had a helmet with me from council. even better.;-)

I particularly like that photo showing the green delta crane LanceDriver.

Latest shots of Space site :-)
http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_DAMx/image/17/131/hall_35069h.jpg

Gee, that went up quick! When I see shots like that I often ask myself "will those hats every come back into fashion again in such numbers?" I don't think anyone didn't wear one back then.

Haven't they tried to bring back fedoras form time to time?

It's interesting that Space is the 3rd generation highrise on the site, and probably the fifth generation building....

Kent

What a great looking street it was, and what a shiite street it became with the ugly 60's block, hopefully Dick Jonno site and Space will perk it up a bit.

What is behind the wall on the left?

It's the Union Club, which was demolished for the Wentworth and Temple House (http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_DAMx/image/12/142/d2_19595h.jpg). A reverse view is here (http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_DAMx/image/11/116/d1_16647h.jpg)

it was a park before 1956 temple House

heres pic of 1943
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Thanks Cul - and, technically, there's also the current Union Club on the Bent/Phillip corner.

Is your shot from the SIX site? Amazingly interesting resource with the transparencies.....

the site may eventually get a big one
see thread>
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=560314&page=3

Ah those pics are depressing, this was a beautiful street once upon a time :o(

Sorry about the historical shots when I can see the excavation out my window - but here's the Bent St frontage even earlier...piccie (http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_DAMx/image/18/123/a089512h.jpg)

Awesome pic. Is anything there still standing!?

Great stuff! That last older pic reminds me of parts of Balmain, with horses and carriages deleted. Is the one on the left, turning the corner a phaeton?! What is it, 1850s? plus or minus? (trying to remember when the daguerrotype and camera were invented!!!)

From what I can see, not a thing that you can see in that pic, although there are a couple of buildings hidden which are still around.

The rubbish strewn area behind the fence has been Farrer Place (outside GPT/GMT to make a skyscraper link) for 80-90 years, most of the rest of the city has developed, and the bridge approaches along the ridge got risd of most of that....

Edit: sorry, I was using overhead shots to check and the angle was difficult. I think the church on the on Jamison St between York and Clarence (can't find the name anywhere) in the very rear of the shot is still there. Edit again - it's St Philips, Church Hill - been there since 1856...

Great pics!

Just as well we can't time travel because looking at those pics I think I would get lost around old sydney! Great pics, very sad tho.

Beat me to it: yes, it's St Phillip's.

Inego and Cul the pics on this page should go on the 'Sydney's wonderful old buildings' thread: they are too good to get lost in this thread which is clearly going to be major but focussed on the much awaited Space. Can identification and dates be attached?
Or maybe there could be a new thread: The streets of Old Sydney...

(Sorry if I sound bossy but I got a bit excited and slipped into Organising the Bloody Kids mode.)

Brizer

Fair comment - I'd found the pic I embedded on the State Library site, and realised the location, so I thought I'd post it in this thread for a bit of a laugh.

Will post in the old buildings thread, but not sure I can resize.....

Kent

I think it would be awesome to have a thread for the old streets of sydney and then mark out buildings on the old pics and find the ones that still exist. Probably time consuming though. It would be nice to find some of the smaller and forgotten ones as we all know that the Post Office/Town Hall/QVB still stand but I am sure there are a few tiny buildings tucked away somewhere.

Dalgety head office -pulled down for oconnell house of 1970
not a bad bldg.
http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_DAMx/image/17/130/hall_34842h.jpg

'Dalgety house' had also been on the Cnr of Bridge & Loftus sts (until it was converted to Bridgeport apartments in 1998)..Any pix of this 60s building?

btw, is Space gonna be u/c in early 2009?

I think it would be awesome to have a thread for the old streets of sydney and then mark out buildings on the old pics and find the ones that still exist. Probably time consuming though. It would be nice to find some of the smaller and forgotten ones as we all know that the Post Office/Town Hall/QVB still stand but I am sure there are a few tiny buildings tucked away somewhere.
I totally agree!

btw, is Space gonna be u/c in early 2009?

my bet's still on a prolonged hole. who's agreed to move in yet? vacancies are growing as i write...

my bet's still on a prolonged hole. who's agreed to move in yet? vacancies are growing as i write...

According to Eli Zarr on 29 October:

Here's news. Dexus have announced this afternoon that top tier law firm Clayton Utz has signed on for 15 floors in Space, 23,000 sq metres in total.

my bet's still on a prolonged hole. who's agreed to move in yet? vacancies are growing as i write...

it wont be a hole. space will be built by grocon and completed in 1010. the bldg will be filled in 2011. its a landmark.
you have to stop being negative.leave that for the specific thread on global crisis.

If it's already started, it will be finished.

its going full steam ahead, it will be built, excavation will be finished around feb/march with construction going from then.

it wont be a hole. space will be built by grocon and completed in 1010. the bldg will be filled in 2011. its a landmark.
you have to stop being negative.leave that for the specific thread on global crisis.

look cul, i'm not being negative, i'm moreso being a realist and preparing myself for what may be the inevitable. anything better than that will be a bonus! and everything in construction right now is related to the current environment, you'd be foolish not to realise that.

this article sums up why i think there's a good chance that office developments may halt in their tracks. i know that a law firm is hoping to move into this building but that could easily change any day now that vacancies in the city are growing rapidly.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/bad-signs-as-the-cbd-empties/2008/12/09/1228584832867.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Well as far as I have heard on the inside from developers is that Space is definitely going ahead and their funding is secure, as well as the the Bathurst Street Tower (but they are concentrating on the heritage item which will begin in Jan/Feb) and John Boyd is about $30m short, but going ahead.