Australian architect firm BVN has been named as the successful entrant in an international design competition for a redeveloped City Tattersalls Club in Sydney which will include a hotel and residential apartments.
Following the five-week contest, BVN’s design – featuring a crafted podium linking the existing club facilities below and a sleek, futuristic 49-storey tower above – was unanimously selected by a panel of six judges for the 194 Pitt Street site. The winning look was chosen for paying homage to the building’s heritage components while improving the overall look of the Sydney skyline.
The new tower will include a 100-room boutique hotel and retail offerings aimed at offering a wide variety of facilities for its members, guests and both domestic and international travellers.
BVN Principal Architects, Matthew Blair and Phillip Rossington, said the company was thrilled at having been accepted to work closely on the new tower.
“We are focused on making great places to live and stay whilst adding to the architectural richness of both the Club and the City,” the duo said.
“Our scheme seeks to create an elegant and sophisticated tower that greatly enhances the Club’s presence and identity in the City, linking street to sky to Harbour to Place.”
Natural light will permeate the tower’s operations, aimed at maximising views and amplifying the guest and resident experience. BVN will collaborate closely with design firm FJMT, which has been selected to oversee the restoration and integration of the lower heritage levels.
FJMT Design Director, Richard Francis-Jones, said the chosen design was a wonderful outcome for the integration of city apartments, a hotel and the unique Tattersalls Club.
“BVN’s insightful concept for a tower characterised by lightness, floating above a more solid hotel podium will form a gentle back drop and transition
with the landmark heritage buildings of Pitt Street. It is a great concept and we are looking forward to working with BVN to realise a project both of sensitivity and landmark quality.”
City Tattersalls Club CEO, Marcelo Veloz, said the redevelopment would revolutionise the club’s amenities through its hotel and retail services – located across the road from Westfield Sydney.
“The Club has been a longstanding location for our members over several generations,” Veloz said.
“We have always strived to provide exemplary entertainment facilities and this redevelopment will allow us to significantly upgrade our existing Club offering and play a part in reactivating the economy. We are extremely excited to be working along the consortium led by First Sponsor and ICD Property, and the BVN team, to deliver the amazing transformation of our great Club.”
“We understand the significance of this project to the wider Sydney community and in
particular to the 19,000 members of the Club. This building has been part of the city for over 125-years to date and we want to safeguard its future for a further 125 years by upgrading its existing structure to provide even more benefit to the Club’s members and the overall neighbouring community,” said First Sponsor Group Chief Executive Officer, Neo Teck Pheng.
Five major design firms – Hassell, Bates Smart, SJB, Candalepas Associates and DP Architects – were all shortlisted for consideration by judges. The overall project is a collaboration between the City Tattersalls Club, Singapore-based First Sponsor Group Limited and ICD Property.
Developers are now working closely with BVN to finalise its Stage 2 Development Application with the City of Sydney Council later this year.