This new 28-storey tower re-establishes Martin Place as the financial heart of the Sydney CBD. The development, located above the southern entrance of the Sydney Martin Place Metro Station, seamlessly integrates an award-winning commercial centre with Australia’s largest public transport project, the Sydney Metro.
Tzannes conducted a forensic urban design investigation of the site when it was first engaged to undertake a Peer Review of the Martin Place Metro Precinct Plan in 2018. The urban analysis led to the development of new planning controls that reduced tower setbacks and increased the available commercial floor space for the site — these minimised overshadowing, as well as establishing more refined and place-specific architectural standards.
Tzannes was then engaged to design 39 Martin Place as one of the precinct’s two key over-station buildings. This development required highly considered urban design and architecture above and below ground level. The history of the building opposite, the 1920s heritage-listed 50 Martin Place, is explicitly acknowledged and celebrated through design and the use of materials such as granite, bronze and ceramic tiles.
The urban design for the precinct and the redevelopment of 39 Martin Place reflect Tzannes’ deep understanding of how architecture can enhance urban experience and contribute to a more sustainable form of development.
Designed for longevity, the tower exemplifies a new generation of tall buildings that deliver appropriate density, integrate new infrastructure, and contribute to the improvement of the public domain, interconnecting layers of urban relationships to become an extension of the city.
The tower is designed to be subordinate to the podium when viewed from Martin Place, with an 8-metre setback from the podium in deference to its sensitive setting. Its reflective aspects also enhance the quality of light at street level. Above the podium, a terrace creates a void to separate the tower form above. Strong masonry, deep reveals, distinctive contemporary forms, well-conceived details and integration with the interior architecture are hallmarks of the design.
Tzannes’ design includes an innovative approach to sustainability, with 39 Martin Place featuring a combination of solid and glazed facades, unlike conventional commercial towers that rely heavily on glass. The podium is designed to respond to the heritage context through its use of masonry, providing carefully framed views. The reduced façade glazing mitigates urban heat island impacts and energy consumption without reducing internal amenity.
