Visions & Never Built's

Visions & "Never Built"

This section contains entries of interest relating to the following:
  • Concept plans for existing buildings and projects that differ from the final design.
  • Alternative designs or visions for a building, site or project.
  • Buildings and projects that were approved but never proceeded.
  • Alternative visions or plans for buildings or projects that were presented by those not involved.
  • Artists' impressions/superimposed images etc., of how Sydney might appear in the future. 
1950's
1957 - Alternative Scheme - Gladesville Bridge
1957 - McMahons Point Residential Scheme - Proposed by architect Harry Seidler in response to plans to zone the area for industrial use.
1959 - Demolition of Queen Victoria Building - Popular entry.

1960's

1960 - Imperial Arcade Tower - A major tower was planned as part of the Imperial Arcade redevelopment. Sadly the office component built during that decade would not be as tall as this.
1961 - Harry Seidler calls for demolition of the QVB -  Popular entry. Harry Seidler supports the 1959 proposal for Sydney City Council to demolish the Queen Victoria Building.
1962 - Tom Ugly's Bridge Double Decker Vision - Why have a second bridge built when you could build over the top of the existing road deck?
1964 - Hotel at The Gap (Watsons Bay)
1965 - Hurstville Supercentre - The shopping centre was built, but the extra shops and office block never eventuated.
1968 - Bondi of the Future - Architecture students showcased their visions for Bondi in the year 2000.
1968 - Haymarket Redevelopment Scheme - Vision to redevelop the City Markets Precinct that appeared in The Sun Herald that year.
1968 - Sydney Square Scheme - Sydney City Council unveiled four plans for the construction of a public square at Town Hall. Three of the schemes included either partial or total demolition of the Queen Victoria Building.
1969 - Regent Theatre Redevelopment - A very early proposal for the redevelopment of the site of the Regent Theatre. It did include two new theatres to replace the original theatre.

1970's
1970 - Redevelopment of Birkenhead Point - Recommended by the Author.
1971 - SCEGGS Darlinghurst Redevelopment - Twin tower development. 
1971 - 420 George Street 
1972 - Double Decker Walkways for Wynyard
1972 - Sydney skyline in 1975 - The Daily Telegraph created an artist's impression of the Sydney skyline just three years into the future as the 1970s building boom reached its peak.
1973 - 60 Margaret Street/MetCentre Site - The "lego" tower that occupies the site today was originally designed as an apartment block. 
1973 - Sydney Harbour Development - Featured plans for a marina at Balmoral and improving access to North and South Head.

1980's
1983 - Shangri-La Hotel, Haymarket - Proposal to redevelop the site of Paddys Market. 
1984 - 2 Market Street - Early proposal for what is now the Allianz Centre.
1985 - Chatswood's "Twin Towers" - A major commercial and hotel development was planned for the airspace to the north of Chatswood Station, costing $1.4 billion.  
1986 - Donald Trump & his Sydney casino plans - We bought this up before The Australian did.
1986 - Novotel Brighton Beach - An earlier and taller scheme for the current hotel at Brighton-Le-Sands.
1987 - Concord Oval Scheme - There was a plan to build a 39 000 seat stadium at Concord Oval, which never proceeded.
1987 - CBD-1 - This was the tallest ever building proposed for Sydney on the site of what is now Cove Apartments. Never built
1987 - Hurstville Twin Tower Scheme - Currently an apartment complex, this was formerly a six-level office building. There were originally plans for two office buildings on the site in the 1980s.
1987 - 400 George Street - Early proposal.
1987 - Northbourne Central - Proposed for the site of what is now the Marriott Sydney hotel. 
1988 - 2 Bond Street - Architect John Andrews designed an office tower for 2 Bond Street that was also suspended over the George Patterson Building. Recommended. 
1988 - Angel Arcade - Proposed for the site of Angel Place. At 244 metres, it was, at the time, the tallest skyscraper ever approved in Sydney.
1989 - Capitol Theatre Redevelopment - Features alternate schemes.
1989 - Commonwealth Bank Tower - A proposal to build a major tower above the Commonwealth Bank Building at Martin Place & Pitt Street.
1989 - Hyde Park United - Construction of what would become the Cross City Tunnel provided an opportunity to close Park Street at Hyde Park and connect both sides of the park together
1989 - Southpoint Tower - Located on the current site of the Regis Towers. 

1990 - East Circular Quay Redevelopment Scheme - UNSW Students created their own proposal for the redevelopment of East Circular Quay.
1991 - Village Centre Redevelopment - Currently home to Meriton Tower.
1992 - Redevelopment of East Darling Harbour - The earliest vision for what is now Barangaroo.
1993 - Early concept for Star City/The Star
1998 - Deutsche Bank Place - Alternate Scheme with curved roof
1999 - Westpac Place site - The block bounded by Kent, Erskine, Napoleon and Sussex Street's was originally proposed as a three-tower residential development.

Updated: January 2023

No comments:

Post a Comment