BE Alumni win Design Excellence 2013

Congratulations to our BE alumni Felicity Stewart (BArch 2009) and Matthias Hollenstein (MArch 2009)! 

City of Sydney Mayor Clover Moore this week announced Felicity and Matthias as the winners of the City of Sydney 2013 Design Excellence competition. Felicity and Matthias collaborated on the project with Felicity’s father and fellow BE alumnus Colin Stewart (BArch 1970) to create a "community living room" theme.  They have won the right to design a $40 million library and plaza at Green Square, on the southern edge of the city centre. 

The below-ground vision will include garden storytelling, rolling hills and a sunken garden for reading and relaxing. It features an amphitheatre, water play area and music rooms where residents can practise on their instruments without disturbing neighbours.  The space will host impromptu concerts, as well as movies and festivals.

Felicity said she was "absolutely thrilled" to win. "The nicest part is that this is a concept we are absolutely passionate about because it puts people above everything," she said.  The library will form the centrepiece of the Green Square town centre and serve the suburbs of Rosebery, Zetland, Beaconsfield, Waterloo and Alexandria.

The $8 billion Green Square project is Australia's largest urban development, and is expected to be home to 40,000 residents. The council had asked for a "beautiful, functional and sustainable design" for the library and community centre that would attract visitors for a range of cultural activities.

The City of Sydney hosted a panel event at Sydney Town Hall Monday 4 March with BE alumni Glenn Murcutt as Chair and Stephen Varady on the panel. The jury discussed the inspiration for their choices and how the design competition process continues to extract the very best results from architects.
 

From SMH article The Story of the Library with a Garden
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-story-of-the-library-with-a-garden-20130226-2f34i.html#ixzz2M9zA5Bk3

For Jury Panel video see City of Sydney article Design Excellence 2013 - Create, explore, connect - a new library & plaza for Sydney
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/council/news-and-updates/podcasts/city-news