A 13-story high-rise building Approved for the development in Sydney's CBD, the highest commercial mass wood building in New South Wales is planned.
The building was designed by Architecture and Urban Design Practice Tzannes for the real estate developer NGI Investments and was for the 4-6 York Street, next to Wynyard Park and next to 341 George Street, the former Bank of New South Wales, for the 4-6 York Street , approved in addition to 341 George Street. The site currently serves as a parking lot for the George Street building.
The weight of the building was a considerable consideration during the design process. The structure had to be easy because the location is located above the underground railway tunnels. Tzanne's approach to addressing included the transfer of the load from the west side of the building with a hybrid concrete and steel structure to a central core. This system then supports 12 commercial wooden floors, with 11 levels rise above the load transmission structure and one is suspended below. According to a communique published by Tzans, all wood and steel elements are manufactured for future disassembly and reuse “.
In the communique it was found that facade materials and dimensions were selected to “respect the architectural language of the neighboring former bank and to react to the architectural language. A concrete proportion on the lower levels of the facade should reflect the granite base of the Heritage Bank. In addition, a terrace with double heights establishes a visual connection to the historic building.
The project marks the third use of the timber construction by the design company in a commercial building according to the international house of Sydney and Daramu House. International House, which was completed in 2017, is considered the Australian first wooden trade building.