Pitt Street Mall
City of Sydney
Sydney, NSW
Credit:
Damian Shaw, City of Sydney 2013
Partners
Awards
2013 AIA NSW Architecture Award Urban Design
2013 National AIA Architecture Awards Commendation
SMM in association with Tony Caro Architecture, were engaged to provide a complete package of design services for the Pitt Street Mall Upgrade.
Previously allowing service vehicular traffic and with ongoing maintenance issues for the City, replacement of the original paving provided a platform for a much needed, long-term improvement to Sydney’s premier retail destination. Removal of service vehicles significantly enhanced the pedestrian environment, while high quality and finely detailed finishes and furniture have create a rejuvenated and vibrant public space.
The Pitt Street Mall Public Domain Upgrade is functional and yet poetic.
Through their simplicity, clarity and understatement each element of the project – the carpet of paving, the placement of trees to shade seats and intelligent lighting – combine to equal more than the sum of the parts.
2013 NSW Architecture Award for Urban Design Jury
2013 NSW ARCHITECTURE AWARD FOR URBAN DESIGN JURY CITATION:
The Pitt Street Mall Public Domain Upgrade is functional and yet poetic.
Through their simplicity, clarity and understatement each element of the project – the carpet of paving, the placement of trees to shade seats and intelligent lighting – combine to equal more than the sum of the parts. The paving is more than practical. A former crest along the centre of the mall has been regraded to a trough with a single centreline drain that catches the water and echoes the historic tank stream in its alignment and detail. The seats are elegant in form and detail. They are arranged to accommodate incidental perching or planned meetings and are carefully placed out of the way of pedestrian movement, while the fine catenaries of lights just above adjust to neighbouring ambient light levels or special events. The restrained aesthetic language is designed to be elegant, robust and timeless. It is a refreshing change from the mall designs of the 80s. Here, less is more and the result is calm and smart. It is smart because it enables the rapid movement of people between the retail clutter. It is calm – some will look at this work and award and ask ‘But what has the designer done?’ because it feels just right. The jury felt that the subliminal presence of the design works perfectly for this frenzied environment. The jury awards and acknowledges the project team and the committed patronage of the City of Sydney to ensure design excellence flourishes in the city’s public domain.
