Central Element lodge $100 million mixed use Sydney CBD plans

Boutique Sydney developer Central Element, who are behind the luxury Neutral Bay apartment development Pienza, has lodged plans for the construction of a 19-storey mixed-use building on the fringe of Hyde Park.

There will be three retail tenancies at lower and upper ground floor levels, with 53 residential apartments above.

The plans involve the amalgamation of two lots at 262-266 Castlereagh Street and 271-279 Elizabeth Street, which will see the site area come to around 875 sqm. 

The subject sites are currently occupied by a vacant four-storey commercial building as well as the 16-storey Hyde Park Inn hotel.

Central Element were granted special dispensation to forego the standardised design competition after engaging with Pritzker Prize-winner Glenn Murcutt and the respected architecture firm Candelapas, the latter also designing Shanghai Development Group's Castle Residences down the road.

"This proposal is based around building forms with elegant rectilinear proportions, a sense of depth and rhythm across the façades as well as high levels of detailed building articulation,” the application documents outlined.  

The apartment design has been considered throughout the development to ensure that future layouts remain universal and flexible. Living rooms will be typically located on the façade adjoining the inset balconies, which allow for solar access. Further internal apartment areas and room sizes generally exceed the ADG requirements, with the one, two, three and four-bedroom apartment configurations outlined.  

The apartments will feature generous private open space with views to the park and city, as well as spacious, open-plan living areas and well-designed communal open spaces.

“The development will provide housing opportunities within proximity to employment opportunities, major transport routes and community facilities in the City of Sydney,” Murcutt and Candelapas noted in the submission.

Aspect Studio is handling the landscape design, proposing a new garden light court to Elizabeth Street, which will be a key feature of the development.

There will be a sky garden located on level 16, with an east facing terrace along with another sky garden on level 17, which will provide another communal space for residents.

In addition, the proposal includes a rooftop garden, terrace, and pool area on level 18. Notably, the rooftop is given away to dense gardens and stepped terraces, carefully designed for residents’ recreation, with views across Hyde Park towards St Mary’s Cathedral and Sydney harbour beyond.