The Curtain: Draw the Curtain for Air and Light
The Curtain by Tony Owen Partners is a unique and exciting new apartment building which has recently been approved in Sydney. The 15 storey building with an undulating facade contains 200 units, retail and commercial space. All apartments face north towards the view. This ensures all units have wide frontages and all rooms have balconies to take advantage of the site. The site is located in Wolli Creek near Sydney Airport in the city’s South. This site fronts onto a large park with the waterfront beyond. The 200-apartment building is located at the waterfront and has panoramic views of Sydney’s skyline. The Curtain also fronts onto a large park and Botany Bay. As such maximizing views is a very important aspect of the design.
Design
The building occupies a prominent site on Cahill Park and on the Princess Highway and such it is highly visible in the surrounding areas. The council required a remarkable ‘gateway’ design suitable for its location. Accordingly the architects have sought to design an iconic and progressive residential tower that will be a landmark for the area.
The design is inspired by the wave patterns of the nearby waterfront coastline. The supple curves reflect the tidal flows. The structure is inspired by the waterfront views, with a wave-like facade mimicking the estuarine forms of the nearby bay. The undulating effect will be achieved by alternating coloured glass panels on the wide apartment balconies. The undulating hyperbolic facade resembles a curtain and reflects the estuarine forms of the nearby waterfront. The curved forms are created using alternating coloured glass on the balconies.
The main tower consists of a series of undulating balconies with clear glass balustrades. A white wave pattern is inscribed on the glass to create the curves of the facade. This pattern is achieved by a white fritte on the glass or a film. The result of this wave pattern is a curtain effect which turns the building into a sculptural form. The pattern is enhanced by planter boxes which soften the facade and add greenery and life to the building.
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Materials provided by Tony Owen Partners