Panov—Scott

Panov—Scott was engaged for this city precinct wide project as part of an invited City of Sydney Council competitive design excellence process. We are working alongside friends and project partners Tonkin Zulaikha Greer to develop a masterplan and then deliver 5 distinct fine grain buildings in the heart of Kings Cross.

Previous attempts at development of the amalgamated site had been thwarted by community protest, which resulted in the withdrawal of an earlier development application, prior to our engagement. As a result the City of Sydney commissioned a detailed use/urban design study and undertook a series of community consultation meetings with local residents. These processes then informed a site-specific development control plan for the site, with input from the Council Design Advisory Panel, and the establishment of the competition brief that informed our ultimately selected scheme.

Coincidentally and concurrently we had been studying this particular site over a number of years in an Urban Design Studio at the University of New South Wales called Making Urban: Nothing Matters.

The historically significant Charlemont building is one of the buildings to be retained and redeveloped within the overall masterplan. The design for this building was led by Panov—Scott. It is a complex mixed use building comprising basement carparking and servicing via the rear lane, a new publicly accessible through-site link and revitalisation of the lane. The building also comprises renewal of the culturally significant hotel premises on ground floor and on the level above new hotel accommodation, along with a multi-storey rooftop addition comprising apartments.

Working closely with heritage experts at Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Council a detailed strategy of restoration and reconstruction was developed to bring the remaining parts of the historic hospital building together to establish a newly revitalised and coherent whole.

We see our engagement in this project as an example of a new model of city making. One which acknowledges and enhances the complexity of an urban condition that has evolved over many years yet seeks to engender positive change via great clarity in way-finding, safety, density, vibrancy, all the while mindful of impacts on surrounding residents, workers and the environment more generally.