2014 National Architecture Awards: Harry Seidler Award

White Bay Cruise Terminal by Johnson Pilton Walker Commercial Architecture: Harry Seidler Award Australian Institute of Architects

Jury citation

The White Bay Cruise Terminal started with a competition. After winning the project, the architect made the brave decision to tell the client they had had second thoughts and would like to propose a new design that retained elements of the 1960s container shed, which covered a large part of the site. Luckily the client had faith and a second scheme was quickly developed. This new scheme had a dramatic new diagram centred on the two giant steel gantry crane beams that had been scheduled for demolition, allowing the project to retain an evocative reminder of Sydney Harbour’s working history.

One strong, single move defines the project – a sinuous steel and aluminium roof suspended between the twin gantry beams in a giant, wave-like form. The plan is orchestrated around this singular move: added to it are a low-scale, linear service and amenities block on the land-side gantry, glass enclosing walls on the other three sides and muscular steel passenger embarkation bridges. The interior is bold but refined, a massive clear span disciplined by a limited palette of materials. The roof is supported by suspended steel tubes that are curved to the varying wave profiles. Aramax cladding spans between the ribs, its shape easily accommodating the curvature. The ceiling soffit has perforated Aramax lining, while the interstitial space is lined with thermal insulation and acoustic treatment. Freestanding service bollards supply tempered air and support uplights. The lighting scheme is particularly effective – inside, light shimmers on the multifaceted surface of the ceiling.

The massive concrete wharf apron, gantries, roof and sandstone cliffs frame the whole project and are of a scale that matches the cruise ships that the terminal serves. Although commissioned by a public authority, the White Bay Cruise Terminal provides a great new venue for commercial events and functions and also delivers a striking facility for Sydney’s burgeoning cruise industry.

Credits

Project
White Bay Cruise Terminal
Architect
Johnson Pilton Walker
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Project Team
Paul van Ratingen, Graeme Dix (project directors); Brendan Murray (project architect); Mathew Howard, Gareth Jenkins, Zoe Jenkins, Supinder Matharu, Natalie Minasian,, James Polyhron, Daniel Upton; Andrew Christie, Adam Robilliard, David Baker
Consultants
BCA consultant BCA Logic
Builder A W Edwards
Civil and structural consultant Taylor Thomson Whitting (TTW)
Fire engineer Engineered Fire & Safety Solutions
Services & environmental consultant Hyder Consulting
Site Details
Location Sydney,  NSW,  Australia
Project Details
Status Built
Category Commercial

Source

Award

Published online: 6 Nov 2014
Words: National Architecture Awards Jury 2014
Images: Belle Laide Events Corporate, Brett Boardman, Ethan Rohloff

Issue

Architecture Australia, November 2014

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