The Urban Interior: Visions for Taylor Square Bicycle Hub

An exhibition of the work of 4thYear students in the Bachelor of Interior Architecture program will be held in the BE Gallery as part of Sydney Design Week from 30 July to 14 August. The students, led by lecturers Russell Rodrigo and Bruce Watson have undertaken the design for the adaptive re-use of 1-5 Flinders St (formerly known as the Taylor Square Hotel), Surry Hills as a multipurpose facility for cycling including facilities for bicycle hire, sales, storage, cafe and offices for cycle tours and events. A multidisciplinary teaching approach, including input from senior Landscape Architecture students as consultants, has been incorporated as part of the project.

The design project has been developed in collaboration with senior staff at the City of Sydney and is part of a plan allocating over $76 million over the next four years to build a 200km cycling network, including 55km of separated cycleways, as part of a strategy to increase the number of people choosing cycling as a safe, sustainable and healthier transport option. As a significant part of this plan, in 2010, the City of Sydney purchased 1-5 Flinders St as a future Cycle Hub. The site is at the main intersection of three major bicycle routes and will create a significant orientation point and important intersection for the City's cycling groups.

Written by Russell Rodrigo
Program Director - Interior Architecture