A 17-storey student accommodation tower proposed for Sydney’s Chinatown has been recommended for approval, following some amendments to the design spurred by criticism from the Design Advisory Panel.
Designed by PTW Architects, the complex will incorporate the former Kwong War Chong building 82-84 Dixon Street, significant as one of the earliest Chinese-owned buildings in the CBD street that has now become the centre of Chinatown.
The Design Advisory Panel, considering the proposal at an 11 March 2021 meeting, commended the incorporation of the existing building into the design but said the overall street elevations were weak, with the full-height glazing at ground level not responding to the urban context. The panel also noted that Peter McGregor’s hanging artwork Heaven and Earth, which was not included in initial renders, would need to be retained as part of the build.
View of proposed the tower designed by PTW Architects from Dixon Street.
PTW has amended the design to incorporate substantial masonry elements at ground level, achieving a “fine grain rhythm that respects its context.”
The number of student rooms has also been reduced from 336 to 306 to increase amenity.
The tower will include four levels of retail, while levels two and three of the Kwong War Chong building will be repurposed as a public museum celebrating the buildings’ heritage significance and connections with the Chinese migrant community. The City of Sydney waved the requirement for a competitive design process due to the inclusion of this cultural component.
The Central Sydney Planning Committee will vote on the proposal on 22 July.
