Viking by Crown is an unusual building for an unusual site. The building reflects the acutely triangular site and resembles a compass point facing north towards the city skyline. The project’s east and west facades are long and calm, while the south presents a kinetic art façade to the busier traffic street. Colours and forms inspired by the kinetic artworks of Yavoc Agam are significant features of the project and contribute to the making of the public domain. The project is outward looking, positive and joyful. Public domain + context The site is in a former industrial area that has recently undergone large scale redevelopment to create a high density residential neighbourhood provided with high quality public domain and services. The project incorporates landscaped land dedications on all sides, and a voluminous through-site link that not only frames the public domain but also contributes to it by linking new streets on the east of the building with the extensive parkland to the west. A small café on the northern tip creates a welcoming backdrop to the new parks, while a larger retail space on the south robustly anchors the project against the busier street. Building form The long triangular site results in a sharply tapering building that has no rear elevation. The tapering form is augmented by a building profile that steps from 10 storeys at the south down to 7 storeys at the north. The two storey podium reduces the scale of the building to create a suitable backdrop to Sydney Gate Park and Sam Sing Street. The podium is further broken down in scale by creating smaller, brightly coloured balconies and window boxes that are inset within the darkly coloured podium. Above the building continues in a sinuous fashion. The kinetic art façade is composed of triangular bay windows that project from the south facing apartments, providing these units with an outlook to either the east or west. These projections are coloured externally so that when viewed from the west the dominant colour is red, and when viewed from the east the dominant colour is yellow. The result is a perception of shifting colour related to movement that is underscored by the dynamic formal composition. The long east and west facades of the project are sheathed in adjustable bi-folding louvre screens. When the louvres are closed the impression is of a sleekly sinuous building, rippling with a bronze metallic finish. When opened, thin slices of colour are revealed on the edge of the louvre panels, adding other kinetic elements to the façade.

Accommodation The project accommodates 110 apartments, including a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartment types. The apartment layouts include open-planned living, dining and kitchen areas that face onto large terraces. The terraces are screened with louvres, which may be adjusted to suit changing sunlight and wind conditions, or to modulate between privacy and outlook. Kitchen splash-backs and bathroom feature walls are coloured bright yellow and recall the colouring of the kinetic façade. A gym and 25 metre lap pool are located on Level 2, overlooking Sydney Gate Park and the city skyline beyond. Construction, services, structure, etc Careful and exhaustive detailing alongside a client and sub-contractors who were firmly committed to the quality of the outcome kept overall costs sustainable and the project deliverable and profitable, whilst still delivering exceptional levels of finish and facilities. Cost/ value The inclusion of the kinetic art façade, louvres and dramatic architectural forms increased the build cost from the start, so the involvement of the client in early decision-making was pivotal. Due to the slim nature of the site, with its inevitable inefficiency, the project targeted the local owner-occupier, rather than overseas investors. This allowed a process focusing on value for money rather than a bottom line, which paid off. Sale prices well exceeding local averages reinforced the positive approach of the design, with many purchasers trading up from other buildings in the area. The result is not only a commercial success for the developer, but also occupants who are enthusiastic and passionate about living in the building. Sustainability The project’s sustainability focuses on clear, yet elegant responses to its difficult east-west exposures. Every dwelling gets direct sun in winter, and is shielded by a fully adjustable second skin of bifolding, sliding louvres, both for privacy and to control excessive heat loads. The screens use a vertical blade to effectively filter the early morning and late afternoon sun, whilst also retracting and opening to their surrounds. As these move, they reveal thin slices of colour on their ends, the geometric patterning of which creates life and playfulness as the occupants interact with the façade. The project also provides all of today’s desired ESD contributions, such as increased insulation, low-energy & water use fixtures and fittings and rainwater storage and re-use. Conclusion The project demonstrates the feasibility of delivering multi-unit residential architecture that engages with the artistic endeavour, enlivens its surroundings and enriches its occupants.