The prominent site on the corner of South Dowling and Fitzroy Streets offered an extraordinary opportunity to create a five-storey landmark commercial building and home to a leading creative agency.

The project establishes this highly visible corner location as the eastern gateway to Surry Hills. Seen on three sides, the bold new twisted form of the contemporary addition to the adjoining restored terrace house is achieved by angled zinc fins attached to a curtain wall of double curved glass. These fins control solar access to the office spaces and screen them from its exposed environment, while allowing in an abundance of light.

The design respects its context by building up to the corner and stepping down at the back lane. The tiered rear addition enables landscaped balconies for the building’s occupants to enjoy. The interior fit out, designed by Those Architects, places long central desks on the three levels of the new addition, while different styles of meeting rooms are housed in the restored terrace house. The lower ground floor has a communal kitchen and canteen seating shielded from the footpath with a vertical brick screen, resulting in a private yet inviting light-filled space.

Photography: Romello Pereira, Luc Remond