The context of Sydney Olympic Park varies between traditional urban typologies and monumental sporting structures. Australia Towers’ striking elliptical forms recall the iconic geometry of the nearby sport stadia while being designed to sit alongside an existing rectilinear high-rise apartment building in a harmonious composition.

The towers are strategically oriented to reconcile the site’s irregular geometry, avoid overlooking to provide privacy between apartments, and minimising overshadowing. The elliptical geometry reduces the building’s bulk while maximising views and access to sunlight for residents. The double ellipse geometry is offset creating slots that provide natural light and ventilation to the common areas as well as increasing the number of units with dual orientation for cross ventilation. Apartments are planned with living areas on the façade for solar access. Apartment types are located based on the varying depth created by the elliptical geometry, with two beds on the points of the ellipse and adjacent to slots where a second bedroom can be located on the slot.

The composition of the building volumes offer variety in form and height. The massing transitions from a low rectilinear form that completes the stepped sequence of the adjacent rectilinear tower, through stepped heights of the offset elliptical geometry. The ensemble culminates in a pure elliptical glass crown with vertical fins on the taller tower, creating a landmark on the Australia Avenue entry to Sydney Olympic Park.

At the ground the towers are united by two organically shaped podium buildings, comprising office and retail tenancies,that define a human scaled streetscape.The podiumsallow the towers to be honestly expressed by meeting the ground with a double height apartment lobby. A curvilinear internal street links the two tower lobbiesthat are expressed as timber clad ellipses. A large garden on the podium roof provides communal amenity for residents.

A restrained palette of warm natural materials creates an inviting and sophisticated residential character. Timber fins on the podium create a tactile base. The towers are encircled in deep horizontal sun-shading bands in three tones of bronze aluminium, with depthsthat vary in response to orientation and interior function.