For his first assignment in Australia, Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has designed The Exchange, a multipurpose structure located at Darling Square in Sydney, and housing a library, food hall, restaurants and a day-care facility. In contrast to the high-rise buildings in the surrounding area, the exchange is a spiraling, light-filled ‘hive’ designed to be a soft and warm low-rise structure integrated with the square.
The distinguished and elaborate facade is made from bent accoya wooden threads that are wrapped around the building in an irregular pattern to form a hive shape. The spiraling facade extends into the square, morphing into a pergola that provides shade.
“This structure resulted in interior space that resembles a silkworm cocoon, and a primitive façade which looks like a bird’s nest,” said the architects, “creating an oasis in the middle of an urban jungle.”
February 16, 2020 at 2:17 am
It is a lovely building, I hadn’t seen the view from some of the vantage points of your pics which make it look even better. Good thing is it is free and easy to explore all but the first floor since it is completely open to the public.