Frank Gehry unveils design for his first Australian building
University of Technology, Sydney, Dr Chau Chak Wing
Frank Gehry, one of the world’s best-known architects has unveiled his design for a $150 million building at the University of Technology Sydney's business school, The Dr Chau Chak Wing; named after it's benefactor, an Australian-Chinese businessman, who donated $20 million for the project. This will be Gehry's first building in Australia.
His most prominent projects include the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum and the Los Angeles Walt Disney Concert Hall, both of which have become tourist attractions in their cities.
Every project undertaken by Gehry Partners is designed personally and directly by Frank Gehry and it has been said that Gehry had been thinking about a building in the area for some time.
UTS vice-chancellor, Professor Ross Milbourne commented "He gave a lecture in this very room and said he'd love to build a building in Australia, in Sydney, and went back to the United States and he said he sat by the phone and waited for 20 years and finally the call happened."
The design itself is based on the idea of a tree-house; "a trunk and core of activity and... branches for people to connect and do their private work" says Gehry, “The business school needed to open up to creative processes, and open itself up to creative thinking...The sense of creative play is a human need.”
The building will have two distinct facades, one side composed of undulating brick, in reference to Sydney’s urban brick heritage, and the other of angled sheets of glass to catch the light and mirror the image of it's environment.
The team are keen to get the support of local communities in the coming consultation period; "This is a building for all of Sydney. There will be extensive public spaces with an external design that complements and acknowledges its place within the immediate area and within the city." Though Gehry acknowledges that the design is likely to create some discussion saying “Anything new seems to generate questions" adding "This is a small building - I don't think it is going to destroy the town, I promise!"
All images courtesy of Gehry Partners, LLP
Section view of west elevation, model scale: 1-to-50
East elevation, model scale: 1-to-100
View north along Ultimo Pedestrian Network, model scale: 1-to-100
West elevation, model scale: 1-to-100
