International House Sydney (IHS) is Australia’s first engineered timber office building. The design proves that timber is both a viable low-carbon alternative to concrete and a highly desirable property investment. Its commercial success immediately led to the commissioning of Daramu House by the same client.
Using mass timber technology facilitates easy adaptation, enabling a more seamless adaptation to changing tenant needs within the building structure. Both projects were designed using pre-fabricated wooden components, allowing for easy assembly during construction and potential future disassembly. This facilitates the complete reuse of all timber at the end of the investment’s commercial life.
The above-ground structure and mezzanine, including floors, walls, columns, roof, lift shafts, and stairs, are made from ethically sourced CLT (cross-laminated timber), Glulam, and LVL (laminated veneer lumber), as well as spruce timber and recycled Australian hardwoods. This results in approximately 50% less embodied carbon compared to a conventional concrete structure. Structural and façade elements are prefabricated, further minimising construction waste and allowing fast, efficient, clean and safe installation procedures.
The interior reflects the innate visual beauty, textural tactility, and calming scent of timber, a natural material that evokes a biophilic human response and connection rarely experienced in commercial properties.
The two sites create an iconic presence at the north-eastern gateway of Sydney’s Barangaroo. Set in a densely developed new harbourside precinct, the design creates engaging and functional public spaces for events, art, performance, and an outdoor food-oriented experience. Shaded public seating, including special gathering spaces, is connected by a monumental timber colonnade made from recycled ironbark, echoing Sydney’s maritime heritage. An improved pedestrian network is the result of better solar access and decreased negative wind effects, contributing to the identity and success of the precinct.
Tzannes’ commitment to sustainability, placemaking, and innovation is demonstrated through these projects — a commitment shared by our client, Lendlease, which was prepared to take on the risk of bringing this new type of commercial development to market. Both buildings exemplify a new type of enduring beauty in architecture, designed to contribute to a more sustainable future for cities.
