One Central Park (Sydney)

One Central Park (Sydney)
Name	One Central Park
Location	Chippendale, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Start date	2012
Completion date	2013
Architect	Jean Nouvel; PTW Architects
Developer	Frasers Property; Sekisui House
Floor count	35 and 25 (towers)
Height	117 m (approx.)
Building type	Mixed-use (residential, retail)

One Central Park (Sydney) is a mixed-use high-rise complex in Chippendale, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, comprising twin towers with integrated residential, retail and communal facilities. The project was developed by Frasers Property and Sekisui House, designed by Jean Nouvel in collaboration with PTW Architects, and completed during the early 2010s urban renewal period in inner Sydney. The development is notable for its vertical gardens, heliostat light system and role within the broader redevelopment of the Green Square and Ultimo precincts.

Overview

One Central Park sits on Broadway in the inner-city suburb of Chippendale, adjacent to the Sydney CBD and within close proximity to Pyrmont, Haymarket, and Surry Hills. The site occupies a critical position near Sydney Central Station and the University of Sydney, linking to transport nodes such as the Inner West Light Rail and Parramatta Road corridors. The twin towers contain private apartments, affordable housing delivered through the South Sydney Uniting Church and City of Sydney arrangements, retail tenancies including a shopping centre and supermarket, and ground-level public plazas that interface with the surrounding heritage fabric of Broadway and Central Park Mall. The development arose during a period of increased high-rise residential projects across New South Wales and paralleled contemporary schemes like Barangaroo and Darling Harbour renewal initiatives.

Design and Architecture

The architectural concept was led by Jean Nouvel, whose international practice has produced projects such as the Arab World Institute and the Institut du Monde Arabe, in partnership with PTW Architects, an Australian practice with credits including International Towers Sydney and the Darling Harbour redevelopment. The towers employ a cantilevered design and faceted massing influenced by Nouvel's work in Paris and Doha, with an external podium clad in glass and concrete referencing nearby Victorian industrial buildings. The vertical gardens were conceived with botanist Patrick Blanc, whose installations have appeared at the Fondation Cartier and the Musée du Quai Branly; Blanc’s living wall system integrates with structural engineers Arup and façade specialists Permasteelisa. The scheme incorporates public art commissions and landscape design by McGregor Coxall, aligning with precedents such as the High Line in New York and Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.

Construction and Development

Construction was delivered by Grocon and undertaken during a period of accelerated urban renewal overseen by the City of Sydney and New South Wales planning authorities, following development approvals and contested community consultations involving local residents, the Australian Conservation Foundation and heritage advocates. The development replaced former light industrial sites and was part-funded and marketed by Frasers Property and Sekisui House, reflecting investment patterns seen in projects by Lendlease and Mirvac. Key milestones included staged tower topping-outs, coordination with Sydney Water and Ausgrid for utilities, and integration with Central Park Mall retail openings and the nearby Central Park precinct infrastructure led by the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment.

Sustainability and Environmental Features

One Central Park prioritised green building strategies aligned with Green Star ratings administered by the Green Building Council of Australia and sustainability criteria used in projects like the Melbourne Docklands renewal. Features include a central thermal plant, blackwater recycling, stormwater harvesting, and energy-efficient services engineered by Arup and Jacobs. The heliostat system, developed with designer and engineer Dominique Perrault collaborators and local fabricators, redirects sunlight into the atrium and vertical garden zones, an approach resonant with daylighting strategies in the Reichstag renovation and the Louvre Pyramid interventions. The living walls contribute to urban biodiversity objectives championed by organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, while renewable energy measures echo policy frameworks instituted by the City of Sydney and federal sustainability initiatives.

Art, Landscaping and Public Spaces

Public realm interventions were designed to create animated plazas and retail arcades similar to those in Canary Wharf and Federation Square, with landscape architects McGregor Coxall coordinating plant palettes and plaza furniture. The project features large-scale public art commissions curated in collaboration with the Biennale of Sydney and local arts institutions, integrating sculptures, light installations and kinetic works by artists whose practices align with public commissions in cities such as London, Paris and New York. The roof terraces, communal gardens and ground-level green corridors connect to the nearby Royal Botanic Garden and Chinatown cultural precinct, promoting walkability alongside pedestrian improvements guided by Transport for NSW and local cycling networks.

Reception and Awards

One Central Park has received accolades from institutions including the International Property Awards and the Green Building Council of Australia, with critics in publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and Architecture Australia debating its architectural merits alongside works by Zaha Hadid and Renzo Piano. The vertical garden and heliostat generated international media coverage in outlets like BBC News and The Guardian, while industry recognition placed the project in discussions with other landmark developments such as Marina Bay Sands and the Shard for its skyline impact. Some heritage groups and urbanists raised concerns about density and streetscape continuity, echoing debates seen during the approval of projects like Barangaroo and the Central Park precinct.

Impact and Economic Significance

The development has contributed to increased residential density and retail activity in Chippendale, influencing property values monitored by CoreLogic and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and affecting commuter flows to Sydney CBD and adjacent employment centres including Barangaroo and North Sydney. One Central Park’s mix of luxury apartments and secured affordable housing influenced housing policy discussions at the City of Sydney Council and New South Wales Parliament, while its commercial tenancies impacted retail leasing trends observed by JLL and Colliers International. The project remains a case study in public-private partnerships and urban regeneration, comparable in discourse to projects like Melbourne’s Southbank, Barangaroo, and the redevelopment of Darling Harbour.

Category:Buildings and structures in Sydney