SYDNEY, Australia — We’ve all seen narrow buildings that stick out like fingers into the intersections of several different streets. They usually look to be of a type and the novelty wears off quickly. But studio Durbach Block Jaggers took one such building in Sydney and turned that into a positive. Indeed, it’s hard to look away.
This type of building gave the builders an opportunity to play with perspective. The cinched part curving inward near the top of the building, complete with curved windows, create a looming effect that really accentuates the height of the structure. Add some brilliant white cracked tiles for texture and you have a very arresting work.
The designers told ArchDaily:
5-9 Roslyn Street Potts Point is a triangular shaped site, less than 200m2 in size. The rounded end looks directly onto a small public space. The shape of the site exaggerates perspective, the tiny footprint amplifies the perception of height. We wanted the building to sit easily in its place, to recognize the architectural traits of its neighbors.
We also wanted to take a new view of the thick masonry walls, small detailed windows and overhanging cornices typical of the area. The cornice is exaggerated to overhang the street, to suggest a room. The fine steel lined windows are slightly offset and casually misaligned. The awning splits to mark individual entry points on the street. On the street, it seems an ephemeral version of the neighborhood buildings, the rhythm held by the openings as the wall recedes.
I could see my eye being drawn to this building often, if I were in proximity to it. Maybe that’s not a great thing, but it’s a lot of effect for such a simple shape. What do you think, though? Weigh in!
Do you love or loathe this use of contemporary ceramics in architecture? Let us know in the comments.
Photographs courtesy of the studio.
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