The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) recently named One Central Park the Best Tall Building Worldwide for 2014. The One Central Park development located in Sydney, Australia combines technology, design, and vegetation. The development is designed by world-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, French artist and botanist Patrick Blanc, and PTW Architects. The buildings uniquely offer residents city living combined with nature.
The two residential towers rise above the expansive Central Park and hold shops, restaurants, cafes, offices, apartments, and penthouse suites. The garden, complete with 250 species of Australian flowers and plants, is incorporated into the façade and wraps the towers providing a lush, leafy frame. Jutting off of the East Tower is the heliostat, a light reflector installation, which creates the platform for the Sky Garden. The heliostat has motorized mirrors that capture sunlight and direct it below to the Central Park gardens. At night, the mirrors project an LED art installation created by artist Yann Kersalé.
Watpac hired CPP to determine wind-related effects on the buildings, heliostat, and surrounding areas. CPP conducted wind tunnel tests to investigate the wind loading on the unique reflector array and Sky Garden cantilevered from the eastern building. CPP assessed Sky Garden wind conditions to determine pedestrian comfort, and analyzed indoor air quality as well.
With help from CPP’s analyses and recommendations, Watpac was able to economically design the structure for the buildings, cantilever, and reflector rack while accounting for the effects of wind. CPP also assisted landscape architecture company Oculus to design the positioning of the vegetation on the building to prevent wind damage to plants. Finally, CPP presented design suggestions to meet building emission criteria and ensure exceptional indoor air quality.
One Central Park is the newest and most innovative development in Central Park, and features the world’s tallest vertical gardens and the largest residential cantilevered structure in Australia. CPP is proud to be a part of the team that made such a remarkable building possible.
Click here to read about the project in Engineers Australia magazine and here to read the announcement from CTBUH.