Architecture News Plus (ANP) – Architecture and Design Magazine

Roslyn Street Bar/Restaurant

This is a project by Durbach Block Jaggers Architects and it is located at Potts Point, Sydney, Australia. Project's program: Restaurant, bar, office. There are eighteen images for Roslyn Street Bar/Restaurant.

: © Peter Bennetts

Project details

Project name: Roslyn Street Bar/Restaurant
Location: Potts Point, Sydney, Australia
Program: Restaurant, bar, office
Area: Site Area: 197 m2 • Gross Area: 620 m2 • Landscaped Area: 64 m2
Year: Completion: September 2009
More details: Building Scale: 4 storeys • Structure: Reinforced concrete • Exterior finish: Gloss and matte, white and biscuit ceramic tiles
Client: Ron White, Cameron White and Damien Pignolet, for the Woollahra and Bellevue Hotels Group
Project by: Durbach Block Jaggers Architects
Team: Project Team: Neil Durbach, Camilla Block, David Jaggers, Stefan Heim, Lisa Le Van, Deborah Hodge, Brigitte Thearle
Others: Builder: Beebo Constructions

Project images

Designer's statement

5-9 Roslyn Street Potts Point is a triangular shaped site, less than 200m2 in size. The rounded end looks directly onto a small public space. The shape of the site exaggerates perspective, the tiny footprint amplifies the perception of height.

We wanted the building to sit easily in its place, to recognise the architectural traits of its neighbours. We also wanted to take a new view of the thick masonry walls, small detailed windows and overhanging cornices typical of the area. The cornice is exaggerated to overhang the street, to suggest a room. The fine steel lined windows are slightly offset and casually misaligned. The awning splits to mark individual entry points on the street.

On the street, it seems an ephemeral version of the neighbourhood buildings, the rhythm held by the openings as the wall recedes. Then, at the corner the building shifts to being strongly surfaced, curving in two directions, becoming a peninsular of moulded light.

The surface of crackled tiles, a mixture of gloss and matt, white and biscuit, reflect and refract the surroundings. An exotic roof top garden of frangipani trees and seasonal plantings is framed in the sky through buckled openings.

The softly modulated interior of the restaurant accommodates the shifting geometry of the site, uses of the room and its services. The palette of timber, off white concrete, graded textiles and delicate white furniture gives the room a calm and slight remove from the intensity of its urban setting.

Program: Four levels plus basement service area. (Level -1) Restaurant Service (Level 0) Restaurant (Level +1) Bar with direct street access (Level +2) Commercial (Level +3) Commercial and Roof garden

Energy Efficiency:

The building observes the fundamental principles of energy efficiency and good design for a medium scaled city building:

Solid masonry walls provide insulation from outside temperatures, while windows with recessed reveals provide natural light without excessive heat gain.

High floor to ceiling heights admit plenty of solar access in winter, excluding sun in summer and contribute to the volume and efficiency of natural ventilation

Opening sections in the windows reduce the reliance of interior spaces on air conditioning, providing floor by floor choice for occupants.

A deep street awning on the north side shades the full height glazing of the restaurant Roof garden provides insulation and contributes to the greening (and bird life!) of Kings Cross.