Rare opportunity to design Sydney’s next great public space, a new park on the city’s famous harbour

Plans for Sydney’s next great public space are underway, opening a rare opportunity for design teams to answer the call to design a 1.85-hectare Harbour Park that will sit at the heart of Barangaroo, right on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour.

Infrastructure NSW as the NSW Government agency responsible for the development of the Barangaroo precinct are now calling for registrations of interest to enter the design competition for the new Harbour Park.

Head of Projects at Infrastructure NSW, Tom Gellibrand said in the last decade Barangaroo has been transformed into a thriving precinct for locals and tourists with the new park set to be the next significant piece of that transformation.

“As part of the competition, we’re looking for ideas that embrace Barangaroo’s commitment to design excellence and sustainability while still ensuring the park celebrates the natural history and living culture of the site,”

Mr Gellibrand said.

The competition jury will be chaired by former Australian Prime Minister, the Hon. Paul Keating, who has been involved in the planning and delivery of the Barangaroo Precinct from its inception. The jury also comprises leading figures from the local and international design community including Australian landscape architect and urban designer Oi Choong.

Ms Choong who has led major landscape and public realm projects in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the UAE said this latest design opportunity at Barangaroo is one of the most exciting for our generation of landscape architects and urban designers.

“Essentially, you have a blank canvas for greening the heart of Barangaroo, adding to the necklace of parklands and icons that define our world-famous harbour,”

Ms Choong said.

“What a gift, to lead the design of this significant public space at Sydney’s latest landmark waterfront destination – it is a project that will be a grand contribution to Sydney, following on the success of Barangaroo Reserve.”

The competition is open to design teams that may include international and interdisciplinary talent within the Australia-led design team. Competitors will first be shortlisted based on their credentials and general approach, before embarking on a design concept that completes the vision for Barangaroo’s open public spaces and continues the precinct’s commitment to honouring the role of First Nations people and the history of the site.

“We’ll be seeking innovative ideas for a flexible and active space, that will add to the art and cultural offerings already in Barangaroo, creating a timeless, welcoming, and connected space,”

Ms Choong said.

The jury will be bolstered by local Australian talent with the expertise of Jefa Greenaway, the founding Director of Greenaway Architects who has championed Indigenous-led design thinking for 30 years. Greenaway, is co-founder of the not-for-profit Indigenous Architecture + Design Australia (IADA), and co-author of the International Indigenous Design Charter.

Other members of the competition jury include; architect and founding partner at London-based practice RSHP, Ivan Harbour, along with landscape architect and the founder of Paris-based design firm mosbach paysagiste, Catherine Mosbach.

Registrations of interest into the Harbour Park design competition are now open with designers able to lodge their interest here.

Formal expressions of interest will open from 17 January 2023, with shortlisted parties announced in March 2023.

Rare opportunity to design Sydney’s next great public space, a new park on the city’s famous harbour Plans for Sydney’s next great public space are underway, opening a rare opportunity for design teams to answer the call to design a 1.85-hectare Harbour Park that will sit at the heart of Barangaroo, right on the foreshore […]