Architect to take fresh look at Barangaroo

AFTER five years on the sidelines, the NSW government architect has been brought in to advise on the design of the state's biggest project at Barangaroo.

In one of his first acts since taking control of the $6 billion project this month, the NSW Premier, Barry O'Farrell, has appointed the head of the NSW Government Architect's Office, Peter Mould, and the co-author of a report on Barangaroo, Shelley Penn, to a panel to examine key design aspects.

Establishing a Barangaroo design review panel was one of the main recommendations of the report published earlier this month by Ms Penn and another Melbourne design expert, Meredith Sussex. The report also suggested relocating on to land a hotel which the developer Lend Lease had approval to build in the harbour.

The design review panel will look at other contentious aspects of the project highlighted in the report including the density of the commercial buildings in the southern part of the site and the design of the public areas.

Their report found: ''The community is still concerned about the 'visual bulk' of the towers which rely on good design and the planning provisions to be successful. It is therefore suggested that a 'snapshot' design review be undertaken to assess and advise on the quality of the forthcoming proposals and to reassure the community.''

Ms Penn said the review would also look at the design of the public domain and the impact of the development on the microclimate at the site.

In several critical submissions on Barangaroo, the City of Sydney has argued the office towers should be tapered at the upper levels to reduce their visual impact and the amount of winter sun they block, concerns the Sussex and Penn report said should be addressed in the design review.