Woods Bagot wins competition to design Sydney’s first luxury hotel in 20 years

Woods Bagot’s winning scheme for the new 55-story tower will be built in the city’s central business district at 4-6 Bligh Street. Creating two addresses—one for the hotel operated by Andaz Hotels by Hyatt and the other for commercial uses—the project will be integrated among other commercial and hotel buildings, shops, restaurants and cafes. The competition was organized by Singapore-based investment group SC Capital Partners Group.

“The design was the unanimous choice of the six-member jury,” Graham Jahn, competition juror and City of Sydney’s Director of City Planning, Development and Transport, said. Jahn was joined by jury chair Olivia Hyde, Acting New South Wales’ Government Architect; Bruce T. Hennen, Executive Director of Development, SC Capital Partners; Lisa Maree Carrigan, Architect and Director at Group GSA; Ken Maher, architect at HASSELL.

Standing at 205 meters, the building’s sculptural form will contribute to the city skyline and respond to its metropolitan context. Internally, each function will be located in its optimum location. The first three stories will include the “urban room” which will be comprised of retail as well as separate entries for both the hotel and offices. Commuters and guests can also utilize a discrete porte-cochere aside the shaded veranda that leads to gardens, grand stairs, and retail. The upper levels will include a city brasserie and co-working spaces.

Atop the urban room will be a nine-level commercial office podium that will also include a pool, wellness center, childcare services, and more co-working facilities topped by roof gardens. The next 38 stories will hold hotel rooms and suites which stop at the fiftieth floor. There, guests can enjoy a rooftop restaurant, bar and garden with panoramic views of the Sydney Harbour, the Heads and surrounding parks.

“The building will be instantly recognizable from every angle, as the tower changes form and emphasis in response to context, orientation and internal function,” Principal and Sydney studio Design Leader Ian Lomas said.

It will also set two new environmental and planning standards for the city. 4-6 Bligh Street will be the first hotel to achieve the City of Sydney’s Central Sydney Planning Strategy.

4-6 Bligh Street is expected to be complete by 2022.