Architects make their mark on Sydney

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Source: The Daily Telegraph

IT looms as the most iconic building to be constructed in Sydney since the Opera House - judging by the architectural royalty lining up to design it.

Four of the finest designers on the planet have been shortlisted to build James Packer's $1 billion six-star Crown Sydney resort at Barangaroo, each promising to gift the city a dramatic masterpiece of world renown.

The Daily Telegraph understands that while there is no prize for the winning design, the commission from the construction could be worth $10 million to the successful firm.

The four, including famous designer Renzo Piano, who graced London's skyline with The Shard, have been given until April to present their concept plans to Crown.

Their objective is simple, as expressed personally by Mr Packer, who is eager to leave his mark on his home town - make it the talk of the world.

"Sydney deserves one of the world's best hotels and with these amazing architects I'm confident we will see the most iconic building constructed here since the Opera House," he told The Daily Telegraph. "I want this hotel resort to be instantly recognisable around the world and feature on postcards and memorabilia promoting Sydney. That's how you attract international tourists, create jobs and put Sydney on the map."

Mr Piano already has his fingerprints on Sydney's CBD skyline, having designed Aurora Place, the award-winning office tower and residential block on Macquarie St.

The Italian also conceived the high-tech post-modern Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

Where his quirky designs break the mould, his competitors for the Crown Sydney contract are adept at breaking height records. The Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture firm sits atop the apex when it comes to soaring towers, with co-founder Adrian Smith designing the world's tallest man-made structure - the 829.8m Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

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Source: The Daily Telegraph

That is soon to be surpassed by a tower he designed, the proposed 1000m Kingdom Tower to be built in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Concepts for Crown Sydney also will come from NY firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and UK group Wilkinson Eyre Architects, who between them have produced the Shanghai World Financial Center, the remarkable Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, and Hong Kong's iconic International Commerce Centre (the fifth-tallest building in the world). Each of the firms have been given  creative licence that adheres to Crown's height restriction of 235m, making it one of Sydney's tallest buildings.

The design must include at least 350 rooms - 70 opulent suites on the upper levels of the 65-storey building, 100 private luxury apartments, two fine dining restaurants, luxury retail, spa and beauty facilities, an executive lounge and multiple levels of VIP gaming. This will include Crown's branded experience known as the Mahogany Room, Chairman's Club and 10 Sky Private

Gaming suites, plus VIP "Crystal Club" facilities and an outdoor view deck.

Rooms will have a massive footprint of 47-50sq m, while the complex will sit on 6000sq m.

Three of the four firms have already toured the Barangaroo site, with the fourth expected in town in the coming weeks.

Designs must be in by April. Representatives from Crown, the Barangaroo Delivery Authority and builders Lend Lease, will award the winning design in May.

Expected to lead that team is Crown director Todd Nisbet, who Mr Packer poached from giant global casino company Wynn Resorts in 2007, where he was responsible for all project development and construction operations in the US and Macau. He has been charged with the planning, architecture and construction for Crown Sydney.

"The four architects have been advised they are competing for the right to design Crown Sydney. All of them view this as a fantastic opportunity to create a truly global statement that will become synonymous with Sydney," Mr Nisbet, Crown's Executive Vice-President for strategy and development, said.

Construction of Crown Sydney is scheduled for 2014 if planning approval is granted.

It would open in 2018, with the casino to get its licence the following year when Star City's 12-year exclusivity arrangement comes to an end.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

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