Conceived as the ‘big cousin’ and neighbour to our own studio, Stokes 14, Büro shifts from the lower scale of Alexandria’s adjoining conservation area to the emerging density of Green Square City to the southwest. To make this transition, the new building’s form and materials echo the architectural language of our own studio — which takes inspiration from the surrounding industrial area — and amplifies this to a new scale.
Akin to our studio, Büro runs off the energy that it produces (estimated to produce 1.3 times its annual consumption). To achieve this, 400 solar photovoltaic panels, coupled with battery storage, are integrated into the façades and roof. Concurrently, the building is designed to be very energy efficient through high performance fixtures and fittings, natural cross ventilation, daylight harvesting and minimising air conditioning.
Expand ContentA light-filled off-form concrete stair and entrance hall connects the five floors of the building. With its curved landings, the staircase continues the sculpted language of the external building form while creating small breakout spaces adjacent to the office areas. The all-concrete material palette of the hall creates a monolithic interior, washed with natural light from the clerestory windows and vertical slots at both ends of the 23-metre-long room.
Büro will deliver premium office floors that include generous four-metre ceiling heights, with abundant natural daylight and fresh air from glazing on three sides. Robust features such as sand-blasted concrete octagonal columns and polished concrete floors reinforce the desired ‘warehouse’ character of this precinct. The coffers of the concrete slab and beam structure are exposed and integrate up-lighting with 7-metre-diameter ceiling fans. These offices, moreover, are flexible spaces adaptable to various uses, ensuring longevity and sustainability.
This energy positive project’s sustainability merits include: natural ventilation, radiant heating and cooling, minimal air conditioning, daylight harvesting, excellent end of journey facilities, waste minimisation rainwater collection and reuse, and drought tolerant gardens.
This development also dedicates 1270m2 of land to the City of Sydney to become public gardens, roads and laneways to assist in the vital transformation of the Alexandria area.
