Barangaroo House

Located on the edge of the Sydney Harbor, the curved plan form of the Barangaroo House creates a free-flowing space around the building. The striking facade is made of steam-bent charred timber, which is curved in 3 dimensions. Creating a strong visual identity for the building, the charred timber cladding conceals a ring of edible plants as well as cantilevered terrace and dining spaces that project outward.

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Positioned at the southwest extent of the Barangaroo South precinct, Barangaroo House is the outcome of design excellence competition organised by Lendlease and the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, The overarching design strategy was borne of two crucial responses to site and brief: the urban response of a building ‘inthe- round’, and the holistic integration of planting; both edible and ornamental.

The curved plan form creates a free-flowing space around the building, encouraging and welcoming movement, while effectively stretching the waterside terraces around the northern and southern faces of the building, A steam-bent charred timber façade gently curves in 3 dimensions, concealing a continuous ring of edible plants and generating a strong visual identity for the building, while the perimeter balconies cantilever the dining spaces outward, resulting in a uniquely outdoor atmosphere on each level.

From early design investigations, we sought to propose a building which spoke of the nature of the program, as well as the uniqueness of the site, while resetting the limits of how a hospitality venue can act. The ambition of the project is the creation of a welcoming, timeless, convivial structure, that over time becomes a much loved part of the city.

The organic curved facade of Sydney’s Barangaroo House is made from Accoya, a high-performance sustainable wood product that has been steam-bent and charred using the Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban. Inspired by the potential of creating a buidling in the round, the charred Accoya was supplied by leading timber experts, Britton Timbers. 45 of Dowelled Accoya and 45 mm of Half Dowelled Accoya were laminated into a series of predetermined radii with Shou Sugi Ban (medium char) finish applied to create the striking charcoal appearance.

To further enhance the project, a layer of ‘Anthractite’ a WOCA coating from Denmark was applied to compliment the overall design aesthetic. The Accoya wood cladding was then screw fixed to specially made aluminium anodized brackets to ensure dowels were evenly spaced across the structure. 

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Barangaroo House, a free-standing, three-storey restaurant, has become one of the first projects in Sydney to utilise Accoya® wood cladding, the world-leading high performance, sustainable wood product, and the distinctive Japanese charring technique, Shou Sugi Ban. Situated in the heart of Barangaroo, a dynamic commercial and residential urban renewal project on the edge of Sydney Harbour, Barangaroo House opened in December 2017 and is the latest venture by one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, Matt Moran.

The Barangaroo project has sustainability at its heart. With a commitment to becoming the first global precinct that is carbon neutral, the 22-hectare historically significant harbourside site is concerned with creating zero waste emissions, being ‘water wise’ and contributing to the overall well-being of the community. As a result, the internationally recognised mission celebrates design excellence, natural beauty, world-class eco-living and its aboriginal history to preserve the project for future generations.

Inspired by the potential of creating a building in the round, the unique split level restaurant was designed by architects, Collins and Turner, taking on a remarkable organic form clad in charred Accoya®. Supplied by leading timber experts, Britton Timbers, 45mm of Dowelled Accoya® and 45mm of Half Dowelled Accoya® were laminated into a series of predetermined radii with a Shou Sugi Ban (medium char) finish applied to create a striking charcoal appearance.

To further enhance the project, a layer of “Anthractite” a WOCA coating from Denmark was applied to compliment the overall design aesthetic. Due to Accoya® ’s superior dimensional stability, this coating will last twice as long in comparison to typical timbers, and will need minimal maintenance. The Accoya®  wood cladding was then screw fixed to specially made aluminium anodised brackets to ensure the dowels were evenly spaced throughout the stable structure.

Located on a prominent water front site, Accoya® was the the ideal choice for this stunning project thanks to its exceptional durability, reliability and stability properties. With a guarantee of 50 years above ground, Accoya® wood can withstand the harshest of external environments while resisting distortion and warping over its lifetime.

Andrew Elston, Commerical Specifications Account Manager at Britton Timbers, commented: “In the Australian sun and surrounding elements of wind and salt air, we knew Accoya® was a material we could really rely on. It provided complete peace of mind with regards to its performance, its stability and its durability factors.”

Huw Turner, Director of Collins and Turner, said: “It was wholeheartedly agreed that Accoya® would be the best solution for a long term outcome due to its hardwearing, versatile nature. Utilising Shou Sugi Ban was an ideal way to create a unique, striking building form which references ancient craftsmanship and traditions in a very contemporary way. Along with the low maintenance requirements, the sustainability factor of Accoya® also significantly appealed to us and our client.”

The Barangaroo reserve is no stranger to Accoya®. The R7 Tower,a landmark building within Barangaroo used Accoya® wood cladding to create decorative external boxes on the façade of the buildings. Accoya® was selected primarily for its high performance factors and resilience but also for its ability to enhance the visual appearance of the building.

Furthermore, Accoya® was the material of choice for outdoor seating within the heart of the Barangaroo oasis. Aesthetically pleasing but also exceptionally durable and rot resistant, the benches suit the natural surroundings while being perfectly capable of withstanding the extreme Sydney climate.

Accoya® wood is produced using Accsys Group’s proprietary acetylation process, which chemically alters the cell structure of the wood to resist distortion. Certified Cradle to Cradle™ (C2C) Gold in recognition of its sustainability credentials, Accoya® wood has the added benefit of offering peace of mind for the environmentally conscious.