Pier Pavilion Is Barangaroo's New Permanent Public Events and Leisure Space — and It's Made from Recycled Oyster Shells
This vital new piece of Barangaroo's ongoing revitalisation features uninterrupted harbour views, a seven-metre-wide rooftop oculus and a structure made with over half a million Sydney rock oyster shells.
Build it and they will come. With apologies to Kevin Costner, it seems that this mentality doesn't just apply to baseball fields in rural USA — it could just as easily apply closer to home. And perhaps there is no more prominent example in Sydney than the slow, steady and dramatic transformation of Barangaroo. Just two decades ago, the northwestern corner of the Sydney CBD was used mainly for shipping and stevedoring — now, it's home to commercial and residential spaces, bustling restaurants and bars, a public swimming hole and a truly world-class metro station. And from Thursday, May 1, one more piece of the proverbial Barangaroo puzzle will be unveiled in the form of Pier Pavilion.
Designed by Besley & Spresser (the Surry Hills-based studio won a national competition for Pier Pavilion in 2020), the striking new space has been envisioned a permanent public events and leisure space perched right on Sydney Harbour. It's set to be a prime location for special events, as well as a spot to soak up uninterrupted harbour views.
The pavilion's design draws from its surrounding landscape, with land, sea and sky all referenced in its form and materials. Its standout feature is one that's probably best appreciated from up close — the structure's envelope is made of a bespoke oyster terrazzo, made by mixing whole Sydney Rock Oyster shells with recycled aggregates. After over a year of experimentation, more than half a million oyster shells once destined for landfill now shimmer across the pavilion's walls, columns and ceilings.
Inside, the structure is just as thoughtful. A landscaped roof planted with endemic species attracts birds and insects, while a circular, seven-metre-wide oculus overhead lets daylight spread across the pavilion floor. Supporting the free span roof are 85 slender columns, which double as conduits for services like drainage and power, keeping things aesthetically streamlined.
"We gave the pavilion a distinctly civic feel — all are welcome here," says architect Peter Besley. "The Pavilion is intended to remain for a long time, and to figure in people's memories of Sydney." Adds Jessica Spresser: "We wanted to pay respect to the long history of oyster feasting in the area, and to celebrate the use of a recycled material in the public realm."
With its striking form, sweeping sight lines and thoughtful environmental touches, Pier Pavilion has added a crucial open public space to the northwest corner of the Sydney CBD, giving Sydneysiders and visitors alike a new way to engage with the world's largest natural harbour.
For more information on Pier Pavilion, head to the Barangaroo website.
Images: Maxime Delvaux.
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