A new public pavilion made of an unusual material has opened on Sydney’s waterfront. It is a terrazzo containing recycled oyster shells. The Pier Pavilion project by Besley & Spresser was selected in a national competition in 2020 and took five years to complete. The building is part of a larger regeneration programme for the west coast of the city centre in the Barangaroo district.
Pier Pavilion inspired by the bay landscape
Pier Pavilion functions as a cultural event space and a resting place overlooking the water. Its plan follows the distinctive shoreline of Sydney Harbour. A lightweight columnar structure supports a roof with a garden that connects the interior to the outdoors. A large oculus in the roof opens the building to the sky and introduces light that travels across the floor and columns during the day. Inside, a separate building with bar and technical facilities has been placed to help with events.
Jessica Spresser explains, ‘We started the design process by focusing on the natural elements that make up the place. Sydney Harbour is a unique landscape and the building is designed to respond to it. The plan opens up like a book towards the mouth of the bay. There is a large oculus in the roof that is open to the sky, allowing light and the elements to penetrate inside.”
Oyster terrazzo linked to history
The pavilion’s surface was made from a material created specifically for this project by the Besley & Spresser studio. Oyster terrazzo is a blend of recycled oyster shells and recycled aggregates. The composition took a year to develop and produced a surface in which the natural shapes of the shells can be seen. Almost half a million of them were used in the construction, whereas otherwise they would have ended up in landfill. This is a gesture to local heritage and a responsibility in design.
Shell pavilion and green roof
The roof structure is based on steel trusses clustered around a central oculus and supported by 86 columns. Terrazzo panels are suspended from the ceilings, facades and walls like stone panels. The laminated terrace supports a roof garden with native plants, sandstone and hollow tree trunks that create microhabitats for insects and birds. The technical installations were hidden inside the columns, keeping the form pristine and avoiding visible wires.
Pier Pavilion open to all
The authors of the project emphasise the social role of the pavilion. “We wanted the pavilion to have a distinctly urban character; everyone is welcome here,” – says Peter Besley. In his view, the building was designed to fit into the everyday life of the city and to connect with the memory of the residents.
“The pavilion is meant to stay for a long time and become part of the memories of Sydney. I think the shells will be particularly memorable for children,” adds Besley.
Design: Besley & Spresser
Location: Sydney, Australia
Photography: Rory Gardiner
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