Architectural Design Statement

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ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STATEMENT

Site Analysis
Environmental Factors:
Landform, Topography and Orientation:

The site has two street frontages Cumberland Street to the west and Gloucester Street to the east. The site is bounded by The Australian Hotel to the north, and by existing residential buildings to the south. The site is approximately 2,650 square metres in area, and is divided into three sections by the undefined laneways Cribbs Lane (also known as Cumberland Place) which runs from Cumberland Street to Gloucester Street, and Carahers Lane which runs south from the mid-point of Cribbs Lane, through the site, and joins Longs Lane beyond the site boundary. The site is predominantly exposed bedrock, with remnant sandstone, concrete and masonry walls, footings and paving slabs. Some areas contain fill, placed over a protective membrane at the conclusion of the 1994 archaeological excavation; other areas are not excavated. The topography of the site generally falls from the west to the east across the site, with the greatest fall from the southwest corner of the site, down to the northeast corner of the site, by a height of approximately 5 metres. The highest part of the site is approximately 31.4 m in elevation above the Australian Height Datum (AHD) on Cumberland Street south, and falls to 26.2m in elevation on Gloucester Street, adjacent to the Australian Hotel. The Cumberland Street frontage contains an exposed sandstone shelf which varies in height above the footpath from 1.4 metres at the southern boundary to a height equivalent to the existing footpath level at a point approximately 5 metres to the north of Cribbs Lane. The western end of Cribbs Lane at Cumberland Street is approximately 0.82 metres above the footpath level. The Gloucester Street frontage contains an exposed sandstone shelf at the eastern end of Cribbs Lane, which is approximately 1.5 metres above the Gloucester Street frontage. The southern portion of the Gloucester Street frontage is approximately 1 metre higher than the Gloucester Street frontage, and is composed of retained soil and archaeological remnant walls and other features. The northern portion of the Gloucester Street frontage is equivalent in level to the Gloucester Street footpath. The discrepancy between the levels of Cribbs Lane at both Gloucester and Cumberland Streets is evidence of the history of rock cutting which has taken place throughout the development of The Rocks. Both Cumberland and Gloucester Streets were re-aligned and levels were adjusted in approximately 1919.
Context

The site is located on the western side of Sydney Cove between Cumberland Street and Gloucester Street, adjoining the Australian Hotel to the north and the Jobbins Buildings (and other structures) adjacent to the Cahill Expressway, to the south. The site was previously known as the Dig Site and is an important archaeological site within the historic Rocks precinct. The site comprises sections of two city blocks originally granted in the 1830s and 1840s as Sections 74 and 75 of the town of Sydney. Historical research indicates that the site has __________________________________________________________________________
Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

Architectural Design Statement

__________________________________________________________________________ been occupied by Europeans from at least as early as c1795. During the 1790s and the early part of the nineteenth century it became a focus for settlement by convicts and ex-convicts. It had a rich subsequent history characterised by progressive intensification of occupation during the nineteenth century. Following large scale resumption and clearing by the government between 1902 and 1915, the site has also been used for various light industrial and public utility purposes. It has remained undeveloped since the 1950s, when a concrete slab was laid as the pavement for a bus depot which operated until the early 1907s. Since 1972, the site has been under the control of the Sydney Cove (Redevelopment) Authority, now SHFA. The site was subject to archaeological excavation in 1994. The archaeological excavation of the site exposed the remains of a variety of sandstone and brick features, footings and post holes relating to 46 historic buildings and other surfaces across the site. Sandstone rock features, both natural and worked, were also exposed. Over 750,000 artefacts were recovered from the site. These were catalogued and analysed, and the collection is now held by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. The site has remained as an open archaeological/historic site since the completion of the investigation.

Diagram 01 site within local and regional context

Existing Surrounding Recreational / Tourist Land Uses

The Rocks supports an active and varied range of businesses, which provide visitor and tourist services. To the north and east of the site, and within walking distance, the following businesses operate cultural and tourism services Susannah Place Museum; Bridgeclimb; The Rocks Walking Tours; the Discovery Museum; Sydney Visitors Centre. Visitor groups using these facilities participate in packaged educational programs provided by third parties such as Sydney Learning Adventures and The Historic Houses Trust.

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Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

Architectural Design Statement

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Diagram 02 recreational land uses surrounding the site

Existing Heights

The site is immediately surrounded by predominantly two and three storey buildings built to the street boundaries. Four to six storey buildings form part of the larger context to the east of the site. To the west of the site, the pedestrian walkway on the Cahill Expressway overlooks the site, and is approximately seven to eight metres above the highest level of the site at the south west corner.

Diagram 03 existing building heights surrounding the site

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Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

Architectural Design Statement

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Existing Buildings on Site

There are currently no building structures on the site. The remains of a large concrete slab and structural footings are visible over the site; in particular a concrete driveway currently provides vehicle access to the site from Cumberland Street on the northwest part of the site adjacent to The Australian Hotel. The remains of footings date from the sites most recent period of occupation when the site was used as a bus parking station in the late 1950s.

Diagram 04 Aerial Photo of site - photo by Skyshots Aerial Photography

Public Domain

The Conservation and Management Strategy and Archaeological & Urban Design Parameters document requires managed public access to be provided to the laneways within the site boundary.
Views

The site is currently visible from the pedestrian walkway on the Cahill Expressway, from some buildings located around the northern edge of the CBD, and from surrounding areas within The Rocks, including the pedestrian pathways surrounding the site in Susannah Place. Long distance views towards the site from major public spaces are available from Circular Quay and the promenade leading to the Opera House. Views towards the Opera House and Circular Quay are currently available from the pedestrian footpath on the Bradfield Highway adjacent to the site.
Access

At present, there is no open public access to the site. Tourist group operators currently provide managed public access, where groups are accompanied onto the site by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Sydney Learning Adventures or Historic Houses Trust representatives. The site is currently visually accessible from both the Cumberland and Gloucester Street frontages, and from the southern end of Carahers Lane. __________________________________________________________________________
Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

Architectural Design Statement

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Architectural Design Statement

Key Design Objectives

1. To conserve and protect the archaeological remnants on the site; 2. To manage the remnants through a long-term monitoring program; 3. To educate the public as well as users of the site about the significance of the site; the level of significance of the remnants; and to interpret the history of The Rocks; 4. To achieve a high level of architectural design excellence; 5. To re-invigorate this part of The Rocks by developing synergies with facilities in other areas of The Rocks; 6. To develop an environmentally sustainable development; 7. To fund the ongoing conservation and protection of the remnants; 8. To procure an economically viable facility for YHA NSW Ltd.
Process

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) called for Expressions of Interest from interested consortiums for the site in early 2006. A limited number of consortiums were selected to participate in a design competition for the site, which was held between April and May 2006. In July 2006, the Minister for Planning, Mr Frank Sartor, announced YHA NSW Ltd as the successful tenderer for the site, following which YHA began negotiations with SHFA involving the leasing of the site. In August, 2006, SHFA appointed a Design Review Panel, composed of the following members: Chris Johnson, Chair, (Department Of Planning), Susan Macdonald (NSW Heritage Office), Di Talty (SHFA), Wayne Johnson (SHFA). The panels charter describes the role of the panel (in part), is to help ensure design excellence is achieved for the project throughout the design development and detail documentation phase. At the first DRP meeting, held in August 2006, Chris Johnson described the role of the panel as a supportive and positive body that will assist the design resolution of the proposal. The competition scheme has progressively developed since August 2006, with the design team meeting with the Design Review Panel in August 2006, February, April, May and June 2007.
Concept Evolution

The design concept evolved from consideration of the key heritage planning documents for the site, and for The Rocks (The Rocks Heritage Management Plan and The Conservation Management Strategy and Archaeological and Urban Design Parameters Report). The following sequential process demonstrates the evolution of the design concept in point form:

The archaeological remnants of the site have exceptional value at a national level. Development of the site is dependant upon conserving these and making the remnants more widely available for appreciation; The archaeological significance of the remnants on the site demands a unique and carefully considered design which embodies the means to conserve and protect them; The relative levels of significance of each of the remnants on the Dig Site, suggests a solution which intervenes with the ground minimally at locations of lesser relative significance; The level of intervention prescribes a structural system which minimises intervention onto the remnants, preserving their intactness and providing a rich palette from which a range of creative and effective interpretation approaches can be made over time; The remnants should be visibly accessible to the public; __________________________________________________________________________
Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

Architectural Design Statement

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The site should be physically accessible to the public, with appropriate varying degrees of access to specific areas; The inclusion of an educational use facilitates interpretation and enhances the capacity for the sites cultural significance to be understood and accessed by stakeholders, visitors and the community; A recreational use attracts visitors to The Rocks and supports and sustains existing business, creating synergies within the local community; A constructional system is determined by the need to minimise disturbances to the site during construction; Building components involving high levels of site intervention are minimised; Environmental sustainability is a key driver of built form; Historic urban structure and scale are referenced through reinstatement of Cribbs and Carahers Laneways, and through interpretive screens along streets and laneways. The interpretive screens protect the remnants and increase opportunities for interpretation; Existing context determines overall bulk and scale.

Description of Proposal

The proposed development is comprised of an approximately 350-bed youth hostel with communal kitchen, dining, and activity areas, staff areas, a small retail component and education centre. The hostel is divided into two separate three-storey buildings by Cribbs Lane - the north hostel building, and the south hostel building. The two separate components of the hostel are linked via a suspended glazed bridge suspended over Cribbs Lane. The southern building is separated from the education centre building by Carahers Lane. Each of the hostel buildings is suspended approximately one storey above the remnants, providing access to the majority of the site. Both hostel buildings have an internal courtyard, which provides open walkway access to the hostel bedrooms. This allows each of the bedrooms the potential for crossventilation, and provides visual access to the remnants from the interior of the hostel. The courtyard of the southern building is roofed to provide weather protection to the open walkways. The roof of the northern building overhangs the open walkways to provide weather protection. The structure of the proposed building is predominantly prefabricated steel trusses which are craned into position from an off-site location, thus minimising contact with the ground during construction, and limiting the number of points at which the building touches the ground plane. The location of the footings has been carefully negotiated between architectural, heritage, archaeological, structural and geotechnical consultants, while liaising with the Authority and the Design Review Panel. All building services are suspended from the structure of the building and exit the site close to the boundary to reduce impacts on the remnants. An at-grade service platform adjacent to the north boundary contains the majority of service equipment, including fire control services, generator, greasetrap, rubbish and dirty linen storage. Metal screens with lightweight metal mesh infill provide security to the remnants and assist with interpretation of previous buildings which existed on the site. The screens represent the scale and form of buildings in two-dimensional form. Openings in the screens will be located at the location of original window and door openings, and will provide both interpretive display areas, and managed access to the archaeological remnants. The screens are located at Cumberland and Gloucester Streets, along both sides of Cribbs and Carahers Lanes and vary in height according to the original structures. The screens are supported from the structure of the hostel buildings and do not require additional footings on site. The open area adjacent to the education centre (along Carahers and Cribbs Lanes) is separated from the laneways by a one metre high metal fence. It is proposed that the fence will be supported __________________________________________________________________________
Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

Architectural Design Statement

__________________________________________________________________________ from upright posts located at the location of original post supports, now removed (refer Diagram 05 Cribbs Laneway).

Diagram 05 Cribbs Laneway showing previous post support locations The hostel foyer is accessed from Cumberland Street at ground level, close to the location of the site of the original Australian Hotel. The arrangements of spaces within the original hotel building have been referenced in the design of the proposed foyer to assist with the interpretation of the original building. The proposed floor level of the foyer is slightly above the original external yard floor level, and original external walls and steps to the basement areas are visible within the new floor surface via glass floor panels. Small sections of original stone paving slabs to the yard area are also visible through glass floor panels. New stone paving slabs adjacent to the original slabs infill the remainder of the original yard area, and demarcate the northern boundary of the original hotel allotment via a change in floor finish. As parts of the foyer are located over what was previously the basement area of the Hotel, access is provided via walkway panels, suspended over the basement rooms, allowing visual access to hand-hewn sandstone walls, original stone steps and stone paving. These panels are removable, allowing occasional access to basement areas for cleaning and maintenance as required. Part of the eastern wall follows the outline of the original external wall of the hotel and is proposed to be glazed, allowing a view to the original throughway access to the rear yard. A proposed stair and lift give access from the foyer to the main floor level of the hostel and reception areas above. The lift pit requires approximately 750 mm of excavation to the basement floor surface. The proposed stair is suspended from the structure above. The education centre is accessed via Carahers Lane and contains two classrooms, bathroom facilities, ancillary storage, and a simulated archaeological dig area. The dig area is constructed as a steel pit which is supported from existing masonry and sandstone remnants walls and is capable of being removed without impacting on the remnants. The footprint of the education centre references the historical subdivision and building orientation and allows the area of the last incarnation of George Cribbs property to be fully visible. __________________________________________________________________________
Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

Architectural Design Statement

__________________________________________________________________________ Physical access to the remains in the open area adjacent to the Education Centre is controlled and occurs either as part of a structured, supervised program, or by authorised personnel. Access to the site is via new stairs and landings at the east and west ends of Cribbs Lane built outside the site boundary to prevent intervention with the existing bedrock. The stairs are to be constructed from concrete, with metal handrails and balustrades. Access to each of the laneways from outside the site is controlled via a gate, which is locked by YHA staff during the evening. An additional stair, constructed similarly, is located at the southern end of Gloucester Street, and provides access via a locked gate to the education centre. Each of the separate hostel buildings has a fire escape route through individual stairs down to ground level, across the site to exit on Cumberland Street. An additional fire escape route is provided via the central suspended bridge which exits to Cumberland Street via the foyer.

Derivation of Scheme:
Building Heights

The site is subject to a height control for this part of The Rocks; namely the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA) Building Height Control Diagram XXXIV (1984). The SCRA Scheme provides a maximum height limit of RL 45.00 (comparable to the height of the adjacent Bradfield Highway road platform and rooftop ridge of the Terraces adjoining the southern boundary along the majority of the Cumberland Street frontage, and steps down to RL 41.00 adjacent to The Australian Hotel. The entire Gloucester Street frontage is subject to the lower height limit of RL 41.00. Although the height of the building is generally consistent with the maximum heights prescribed above, the proposal does not comply with the SCRA Scheme at the following locations, (see Diagram 06): 1. Cumberland Street - north building, roof plant (approximate RL 46.7 at top); 2. Cumberland Street north building, adjacent to The Australian Hotel (approximate RL 45.0 at ridge); 3. Cumberland Street - south building, roof plant (approximate RL 46.25 at top); courtyard roof (RL 46.6 at ridge); 4. Gloucester Street north building, roof terrace balustrade (RL 42.3).
Site Areas

The site is redefined into three historic sub-areas by the reinstatement of the two historic laneways. The two largest sub-areas are occupied by the hostel buildings, which are built predominantly to the extent of the sub-areas. The hostel buildings are built to the street boundaries, with the interpretive screens located outside of the site boundary. The smallest of the three sub-areas is occupied by the education centre, which is aligned to the south of this area. As an interpretive measure, the portion of this sub-area which is not occupied by the footprint of the education centre demarcates the landholdings of one of the historical owners of the site, Cribb. The building has a presence on both Gloucester Street and on Carahers Lane. The site sub-areas and laneway boundaries are further defined by the placement of the interpretive screens.

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Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

Architectural Design Statement

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Diagram 06 View of Proposed Building from Cumberland Street with SCRA Building Height Control exceedances shown in Red/Grey.

Diagram 07 View of Proposed Building from Gloucester Street with SCRA Building Height Control exceedances shown in Red/Grey.

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Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

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Built Form

The development envelope is derived from the sub-division of the site into three sub-areas; from client brief requirements; from SCRA Scheme height controls; and from the heritage significance of the site. Physical access, when required, is possible to almost all of the site area by locating the underside of the first level of the building at a height of approximately 2.1 metres above ground level. At a limited number of locations, the height clearance to the underside of the building is less than 2.1 metres. Areas which do not provide physical access (less than 2.1m head height clearance) to the sub-floor areas include the foyer, retail, service deck, fire escape routes, education centre, and small parts of the area below the Level 00 hostel rooms along Gloucester Street, and the Level 01 hostel rooms along Cumberland Street at the southern boundary. However, visual access is available to parts of the site and remnants under the foyer floor, and to the areas below the Level 00 and Level 01 hostel rooms listed above. The two hostel buildings are both composed of three and four storey buildings arranged around a central courtyard. The central courtyard makes cross-ventilation to the hostel rooms possible, and allows visual access to the site from most areas in the hostel. A room depth suitable for achieving cross-ventilation generated the depth of the hostel building. The addition of a roof to the courtyard of the south building provides the means to control environmental exposure to the remnants below; and to control the environmental conditions to the internal walkways connecting the hostel rooms. The roof structure is elevated by approximately 1.5 metres above the highest roof of the hostel building to allow through ventilation and smoke exhaustion in the event of fire. The elevation of the building one storey above street level also allows members of the public visual access to the interior of the site from both street frontages.
Street Frontage

The external face of the proposed hostel buildings are built to the site boundary on both Gloucester Street, (northern hostel building) and Cumberland Street, (northern and southern hostel buildings), to reinforce and define the street frontages. The metal interpretive screens are fixed to the external face of the building located approximately 0.1 metres outside the site boundary. Adjoining existing buildings along Cumberland Street encroach on the street boundary by 0.23 metres at the southern boundary, and 0.08 metres at the northern boundary. Adjoining buildings along Gloucester Street encroach on the street boundary by 0.43 metres on the southern boundary. Access to the hostel foyer, service areas, and retail component occur at ground level along Cumberland Street. Two fire egress routes exit the building along Cumberland Street, one from each of the hostel buildings. All of the openings approximately align in plan with historical openings. Access is also provided to the rear of the Education Centre from Gloucester Street via a new stair. The frontages of the laneways are defined by the placement of the metal interpretive screens at the approximate locations of the historic buildings, and by the placement of the metal fence around the site of Cribbs allotment, adjacent to the Education Centre.
Scale

The predominant scale of buildings surrounding the site is of two to three storey buildings built to the street boundary. The existing SCRA height control for the site prescribes a maximum height which is comparable with the height of the Bradfield Highway pedestrian walkway opposite the site and the ridge height of the southern boundary terraces. When the __________________________________________________________________________
Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

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__________________________________________________________________________ SCRA height control is overlaid, the height control is approximately just above the ridge height of the highest building adjoining the site along Cumberland Street.

Diagram 08 Cumberland Street Elevation showing context

Materials / Colours North and South Hostel Buildings:

External Cladding Material: Terracotta cladding system; colour equal to Austral Bricks Derwent Folded metal profile sheeting; colour equal to Colorbond Windspray Metal sheeting; colour equal to Colorbond Windspray Doors / Windows: aluminium frame; finish: metallic powdercoat Glass Louvres: glass, aluminium frame Shutters: sliding aluminium frame; finish: metallic powdercoat Louvres (to plant area): Aluminium, finish: powdercoat Roof: Metal sheeting; colour equal to Colorbond Windspray Metal Screens: Galvanised Metalwork: Galvanised Education Centre Building: External Cladding Material: Terracotta cladding system; colour equal to Austral Bricks Martius Cement Rendered Brickwork; paint finish Doors / Windows: aluminium frame; finish metallic powdercoat Metalwork: Galvanised Roof: Metal sheeting; colour equal to Colorbond Windspray Handrails / Fence: Metal External Areas: Stairs: Masonry Handrails: Metal __________________________________________________________________________
Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

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Security

Physical separation from the remnants is provided by the metal screens located along the street boundaries, and along the internal lanes, with the exception of the sub-area to the south east of the site. A one metre high metal fence is proposed to be located here rather than the higher interpretive screens to provide increased visual access to Cribbs allotment. Access to the laneways is unrestricted during YHAs operating hours (the gates to the laneways will be unlocked from 7am until 10pm each day or until sunset for security reasons). Outside these hours, the gates at both ends of Cribbs Lane and the southern end of Carahers Lane at the site boundary will be locked. Security cameras are proposed to be located at various locations over the site to provide security to the site and to members of the public (including hostel users). Details of the cameras are provided in the YHA Plan of Management.
Consideration of Alternatives

The design competition entry, submitted in May 2006, the result of approximately 6 weeks of intense design development, described a scheme similar in concept to the current proposal, with the following differences: The proposal contained split floor levels which responded to the fall across the site, from Cumberland Street to Gloucester Street, which were connected via continuous suspended ramps; Footings at critical locations were located outside the site boundary to minimise intervention impacts; As the floors of each level of the hostel were able to be accessed via the ramps, the proposal did not contain a lift. The foyer was located less than one full storey above ground level, and was accessible via a stair and platform hoist which required minimal excavation; The proposal placed all communal areas (kitchen, dining, recreation areas) at the top level of the building in response to the expected increase in noise levels due to the proximity of the Bradfield Highway; Lightweight steel trusses were located perpendicular to street frontages and were continuous through courtyard void areas; Education centre was smaller and oriented with main frontage along Carahers Lane; Ramps and stairs at both Cumberland and Gloucester Streets provided access from street level to Cribbs Lane; Fire egress routes were not shown in the competition entry; The scheme did not contain a retail component; Non-conformances with the SCRA Scheme were as follows: o At the northwest corner of the site, where the proposed building adjoined the Australian Hotel, the height limit of RL 41.00 was exceeded by 1.4 metres; o Along Cumberland Street, the proposed building form extended over the site boundary and into the street reservation by 0.6 metres at a height of one storey above ground level. An iterative process involving presentations and liaison with the Design Review Panel was undertaken in the period August 2006 to June 2007. The main points of discussion and feedback received from the Panel which have resulted in development and / or changes to the overall scheme are summarised as follows: 1. Lift: The inclusion of ramps versus inclusion of a lift In October 2006, the panel queried the inclusion of the ramps to the split levels, and asked that the design team investigate replacing the ramps with a lift. This resulted in the addition of a lift within __________________________________________________________________________
Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.

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__________________________________________________________________________ the area of the excavated basement to the first Australian Hotel site to minimise site excavation. The inclusion of the lift resulted in the loss of the split floor levels which allowed a close relationship between the natural site falls and the floor levels of the hostel. The original foyer level of the building was less than one storey above the street level; with the inclusion of the lift, a full storey was required under the first floor level of the building to serve the ground level and thus the platform hoist was deleted. The key result of this change was the increase in the overall height of the building. 2. Site Boundaries: In August 2006, the design team noted to the panel that locating some footings outside the site boundaries would result in the minimisation of heritage impacts. In April 2007, the Design Review Panel advised YHA that it would not be possible to locate structural supports outside the site boundary. As a result of this decision, some footing locations were amended to be located fully within the site boundaries. The key outcome of this decision was an increase in heritage impact to some remnants. 3. Structural System: The initial structural concept proposed steel trusses running in parallel and located on site perpendicular to the street frontages. This allowed freedom for the design of window and doors within the bays between the trusses, but required the open courtyards to have exposed trusses running through them. The panel expressed concern in August 2006 that the structural system may be posing limitations on the design, and suggested the design team consider alternative structural systems to reduce those limitations. The design team considered various alternatives for the structural system, including steel post and beam construction which involved an increase in number of column and footing supports overall; and a variation to the steel truss system where the trusses ran parallel to the street frontages. This second option has been adopted as the basis of the current proposal, with modifications to parts of the system to enable the location of window positions within the diagonal truss components. The trusses are now not exposed within the courtyard voids. 4. Extent of accessibility: The competition scheme contained accessibility ramps to both the Cumberland and Gloucester Street frontages so as to provide disabled access to both ends of Cribbs Lane. Because of the height difference between existing footpath levels and the end of the lanes, the ramp length required was considered to be excessive in terms of the amount of footpath space required. Other options for providing access were investigated, including the re-grading of part of Longs Lane and Carahers Lane (outside the site boundary) and the installation of a ramp at the eastern end of Longs Lane to provide an accessible route from the southern end of Carahers Lane to the Education Centre. Due to the high level of intervention required by this solution, a third solution has been adopted, which provides an accessible route from Cumberland Street via the foyer of the hostel to the western end of Cribbs Lane. 5. Inclusion of a roof to the courtyards: The design team noted in August 2006 that the roofs would not be provided to the courtyards on the basis of the atrium provisions in the BCA, and the ensuing complexity in terms of fire control. In May 2007, YHA made the decision to provide a roof to the courtyard of the southern building for the purpose of improving amenity to the internal walkways and for the control of environmental conditions to the courtyard space. The inclusion of this roof has increased the overall height of the southern building. 6. Education Centre: Following stakeholder input, the brief for the Education Centre was developed in consultation with an educational consultant. This expanded the functional requirements of the education centre and increased the overall size of the building beyond that shown at the time of the competition. Discussions with the panel concerning the siting of the building and the street frontages resulted in the revised location of the building with frontages to both Carahers Lane, and Gloucester Street, and a larger exposed area of site available to the north of the Education Centre for interpretive use. __________________________________________________________________________
Tzannes Associates, Architects. 63 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008.