Harbour Park Design Competition

Year
2023–2023

A celebration of the resilience of Country and culture. A place for all – made from water, light, warmth, and plenty.

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Artwork concept by Jazz Money and Joel Davison

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Artwork concept by Yhonnie Scarce

Our team recognise the Gadigal – people of the grass trees – as the Traditional Custodians of the site, and we honour Barangaroo, a powerful Cammeraygal woman, whose name we use for this precinct.

We were one of five teams shortlisted to participate in the Harbour Park Design Competition for the iconic Barangaroo precinct. The waterfront park is a transition between the naturalistic headland of Barangaroo Reserve and the urban environment of Barangaroo South.

Our highly collaborative team developed an integrated approach to landscape, architecture, art, and Country. OCULUS, DS+R, COLA Studio, and Jiwah, developed the topography of the park in response to light, water, and function, before filling all available spaces with diverse plant communities. Atelier Ten provided sustainability principles for the site, while OCP Architects oversaw heritage components, and Enspire Solutions guided the engineering approach. Barbara Flynn brought the work of artists Yhonnie Scarce, Jazz Money, Joel Davison together, resulting in public art deeply embedded within landscape and Country.

Our concept takes advantage of its incredible location to imagine a series of majestic and contemplative spaces. A large disk is inscribed into the landscape, tilted towards the harbour to reclaim a vital connection to the water and create a pleasurable sloping event space. The high point of the tilted disk provides fantastic views and a place of repose amongst the trees. Site-specific artworks throughout the park offer discovery and delight.

On the opposite side of the park, topography is used to define programmable spaces and enhance environmental performance. By drawing the landscape up, we take advantage of natural sunlight and mitigate wind corridors created by adjacent development, dispersing the sounds of the park and the city.

We designed a public space that is universally accessible and environmentally conscious, driven by connections to water, light, and culture. Our work explored the complex history of this site, responding with a design that fosters connections, stories, and environments for the future.

Image:

Image: Kaylie Salvatori, COLA Studio

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