A competition for emerging architectural firms to create an exceptional restaurant and bar building on the waterfront promenade at Barangaroo South has been taken out by a unique design resembling stacked bamboo bowls.

Surry Hills-based firm Collins and Turner have been selected to design the low-rise harbourside building, Lend Lease’s Barangaroo South managing director Andrew Wilson announced.

The practice was established in 2002 by Penny Collins and Huw Turner, who both worked internationally beforehand.

Key features of the design include a visually striking bamboo cladding, a spectacular rooftop terrace and extensive outdoor dining.

“Our commitment to design excellence includes not only working with internationally renowned architectural practices but also identifying and supporting emerging local firms,” Wilson says.

“Collins and Turner submitted an exciting, stylish concept that makes a strong visual statement and confidently holds its own among the other world-class designs at Barangaroo. We were also impressed that Collins and Turner ensured the restaurant and bar customers will be able to thoroughly enjoy the vibrancy and the views of the Sydney Harbour waterfront.”

A judging panel included Lend Lease team members, a Barangaroo Delivery Authority representative and Ivan Harbour from Barangaroo South master planners Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners.

They praised Collins and Turner for its “artistic design” and “well-researched, well organised and flexible approach”.

On the firm’s win, Turner says, “We are thrilled to now be part of such a transformational project as Barangaroo South.”

Additionally, judges commended Darlinghurst firm Scale Architecture for its “delightful proposal” involving two connected timber table forms which create a floating rectilinear space. Because of the quality of the Scale proposal, the panel recommended that the firm and its director Matt Chan be offered an opportunity to work on public realm elements at Barangaroo.

During the two-month long design competition, Lend Lease, the Barangaroo Delivery Authority and the City of Sydney nominated a range of NSW architectural firms.

From this, 15 emerging architectural firms were invited to submit ‘Expressions of Interest’.

A shortlist of six firms were selected to take part in the competition, comprising of Collins and Turner, Draw, Lacoste + Stevenson, LAVA, Scale Architecture and Silvester Fuller.

The emerging architectural firms’ design competition was undertaken in accordance with Lend Lease’s Design Excellence Strategy for Barangaroo South. The design of the building will be submitted to the Barangaroo Delivery Authority for approval under the Development Agreement prior to being submitted to the NSW Department of Planning as part of the statutory planning process.

Lisa Rapley

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