Get Carter

Located adjacent to Olympic Park and the Sydney Showgrounds, the Carter Street Precinct risks being another indistinguishable, expected response to the site, local planning laws, and development objectives. However, at the place where people gather from all over the city to play and to watch games, this proposal sought something different and unusual, something more aligned with the Olympic Park.

The three buildings of the precinct are designed to be playful. Starting with vivid childhood memories of building towers with timber blocks, a simple architectural language of stacking form was developed.

The simple artworks of the ceramicist Bruce Rowe were part of the inspiration of simple forms including arches, sloping roof forms, stairs, and openings. As the forms were manifested into 3D, the shapes became animal like, playful creatures inhabiting the façade.

A vertical playground is incorporated into the part of the building. The vertical aspect was important to instil a sense of drama (even danger) into the play area. As part of the building, covering the loading dock and car parking ramp, the building is the play space.