New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 33/03C | Page 58

Project
5 Martin Place
Location:
Sydney
Architect:
Johnson Pilton Walker and
Tanner Kibble Denton Architects in
collaboration
Developer:
Cbus Property and Dexus
STRENGTH OF PURPOSE
This bold yet also understated architectural design sees a new glass office tower
rising alongside and then cantilevering over a beloved heritage Sydney building
Downtown Sydney is home to some of the
most coveted commercial real estate in the world.
But what to do on such prime land, where a heritage
building has to be both preserved and celebrated
and yet progress still has to march on? Well one
rather bold solution is to build a new office tower
that rises up alongside the protected building and
then for its upper floors cantilevers out over the
newly refurbished historic structure.
Such was the revolutionary thinking behind the
upgrade of 5 Martin Place by developers Cbus
Property and Dexus. The design was a collaboration
between architects Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW),
with Peter Blome as project associate, and Tanner
Kibble Denton Architects (TKD), with Megan Jones
in the role of project director. JPW was largely
responsible for the new tower and replacement of
a 1960s addition to the original highly significant
historical building on site, while TKD was responsible
for the sensitive heritage restoration.
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Dexus CEO Darren Steinberg says 5 Martin Place
combines the intricacies of a significant heritage
restoration project with a modern office tower,
to deliver one of the most innovative commercial
workspaces in Australia.
Sitting on the corner of Martin Place and Pitt
Street, the former Commonwealth Bank of Australia
building was the first fully steel-framed building in
Australia. The original building was completed in
1916, with an almost seamless extension made
along Pitt Street between 1929-33, reproducing the
existing sandstone and trachyte exterior detailing. In
1965, the bank was extended in the other direction,
along Martin Place, in a style not entirely sympathetic
to the existing structure. From the ’70s on, the
interiors were progressively adapted/compromised
by filling in light-wells and adding false walls and
ceilings to hide services.
Looking forward, the developer’s brief outlined a
situation where building the new tower out over the
These pages:5 Martin Place
represents a coming together of
Australia’s architectural past and
the future of office design. A new
20-level tower rises alongside
then cantilevers over the historic
10-level former Commonwealth
Bank of Australia building in this
project by JPW and TKD. Facade
art – Wrestling, by Josef Albers.
Previous pages:A through-link
between Martin Place and Rowe
Street includes the commercial
office lobby and retail outlets.
Wall mural – Written in Water,
by Imants Tiller.