Across a complete block of Kings Cross, seven fine-grain, brick buildings are carefully composed amongst the site’s eclectic heritage fabric and organised around a central courtyard. The buildings house a diverse mix of functions. Two pub venues bookend the site at prominent corners of Darlinghust Road, Sydney’s most famous nightlife strip. Small commercial tenancies, residential entrances and hotel venues add detail to a richly articulated street edge. The tall arched rooms of a grand hospital from the early 1900s are repurposed for a boutique hotel’s public bar and foyer. Above, on level two to eight, dual-aspect apartments enjoy outlooks to both the city skyline and the inner garden. The densely planted courtyard forms a micro-climate for relief from the bustling surrounds.Â

By Toby Breakspear, Matthew Argent, Ciaran Acton, John Kang, in collaboration with Fender Katsalidis, 2019

Invited City of Sydney Design Excellence Competition