AUSTRALIA SQUARE RETAIL PRECINCT
SYDNEY, NSW
“ Our brief to Peter Rektor, was to design concepts to refurbish the retail arcade to rejuvenate it, to regain the prestige of our investment property. The contemporary design for the Gourmet Circle, more than achieved our expectations”.
Ross Bonthorne Lend Lease Retail, Sydney
Retail Transformations in Timeless Buildings
The retail arcade of this prestigious, freestanding circa 1967 circular office tower with surrounding plaza, sited in the centre of the Sydney CBD, was long overdue for refurbishment. Around this time, DesignFocus had just successfully completed the first Rossini Rosticceria restaurant in NAB House (previously the Qantas Centre) - which was directly opposite Australia Square.
The success of Rossini’s led to discussions between Michael Lloyd and Peter Rektor which culminated in DesignFocus being commissioned by the Lend Lease Group. We initially analysed the existing mixed retail and reimagined it, and redesigned the entire precinct as an upmarket food court.
As this was the first renovation of the retail precinct, since the completion of the building in 1967, a condition of our commission was that all submitted designs, required the approval of Harry Seidler, the building’s architect - which we achieved.
Key elements - clearly defined sight lines, innovative continuous LED signage hampers (the largest installation of its kind-at that time), integrated curved glass counter tops, granite counter bases and floors, created a free-flowing space.
The success of this work is evident, as this original design reinvigorated the precinct for over 24 years, lasting considerably longer than CBD Centres generally have between upgrades.
