Hill Thalis

Hill Thalis, Aspect and CAB collaborated on the Master Planning and design of a 2 hectare expansion to Pyrmont Point Park on the ex Water Police site at Pyrmont for the City of Sydney. Hill Thalis designed documented a series of architectural elements within the park. The recently completed park is now one of Sydney’s major civic parks on the harbour foreshore.

The park design interprets the site’s successive shorelines and rich maritime associations, and aims to heighten the experience of tidal water movement. Foreshore elements include outboard walks, maritime remnants and platforms sunken and revealed by monthly and annual tidal cycles. A new sheltered bay has been cut into the previously reclaimed land.

New architectural elements include a steel stair hung from the sandstone cliff face to connect with Herbert Street, three shade pavilions, and a Canopy and Belvedere that help define a landscaped square at the harbourfront termination of Harris Street.
The canopy provides a civic-scaled shelter that announces the presence of the park to the streets and harbour.

The belvedere provides an elevated outlook from the street across the park. At park level, it provides a café, toilets and park services.

The square is defined by the sandstone cliff on the curve of Pirrima Road, the canopy, pavilion and indented bay. This sunny, sheltered place can accommodate a range of public uses including cultural events + performances, meetings, markets, festivals and the like.

The Master Planning of the project received the major AILA NSW Planning Excellence Award in 2007, has been published internationally and was part of the Australian exhibition at the 2008 Architecture Biennale in Venice.

HILL THALIS TEAM
Philip Thalis, Sheila Tawalo, Wesley Grunsell, Benjamin Driver

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Aspect Studios (Lead consultant) and CAB Consulting

DRAWINGS + PHOTOGRAPHY
© Photographs Adrian Boddy
© Aspect Studios + © Hill Thalis Architects