The Sirius Redevelopment project by BVN Architecture has been honored with the 2025 National Commendation for Residential Architecture in the Multiple Housing category. Located in The Rocks, New South Wales on Gadigal Country, this complex and politically charged public project has garnered recognition for its innovative approach to heritage preservation and urban renewal.
According to the jury citation, BVN strategically embraced the challenge of delivering a compelling architectural response that successfully retains the existing brutalist architecture while addressing commercial realities and enhancing the public realm of the streetscape. The project represents a sophisticated balance between preservation and modernization in one of Sydney's most historically significant areas.
Working within the constraints of a heritage asset, the architects demonstrated careful and deliberate planning to maximize the potential of Tetris-like configurations. The design cleverly connects adjoining existing apartments, extends some units through innovative prefabricated balcony units, and creates new dwellings and amenities from residual space. This approach showcases how adaptive reuse can breathe new life into brutalist architecture while respecting its original character.
The project also addressed critical urban planning issues at street level through the strategic removal of a series of ground-floor apartments. This intervention activated a previously concealed walkway, providing a crucial mid-block pedestrian connection down to the historic Rocks area. The solution enhances pedestrian flow and connectivity in this densely developed urban environment.
The jury praised the project for questioning the architect's role and testing the boundaries of the brief, noting that this ambitious approach has been impressively reflected in the excellence of the architectural response. The Sirius Redevelopment demonstrates how thoughtful architectural intervention can transform controversial brutalist housing into a model for contemporary urban living.
The extensive project team was led by Peter Titmuss and Phillip Rossington, with key contributors including Sally Campbell, Vaughn Lane, Selina Qiu, Byron Sullivan, Anna Longmore, and Andrew Buchanan. Additional team members included Gary Cai, Baran Ekinci, Sara Solaimanian, Adrian Mignot, Nafis Hassani, Jessica Cowie, Michelle Farman, Hannah Watt, Nirvan Basnet, San David, Daniel Cruddace, Ed Leong, Rana Abboud, Awais Anees, Mimi Weiss, James Paviour, Jan Christel, Jamie Don, Nathan Harry, Craig Burns, Mitch Page, Tim Gibson, Tom Keeley-Reid, Louise Barbour, Jonathan Capparelli, Lucy Turnbull, Phillip Rowden, and Yasmin Tamberlin.
The project involved collaboration with numerous specialist consultants, including Kelly Hoppen Interiors for interior design, 360 Degrees Landscaping for landscape consultation, and SCP Consulting for structural engineering. Building surveyors Philip Chun and BCA Logic, along with Holmes Fire for engineering services, ensured compliance with safety standards. Morris Goding Accessibility Consulting provided access consultation, while Floth served as services consultant.
Heritage consultation was provided by Urbis, with town planning services delivered by Architectus and File Planning. E-Lab handled acoustic consultation, Citizen managed signage and wayfinding, and UAP served as public art consultant. The project also featured artistic contributions from Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan, adding cultural depth to the architectural intervention.
The award recognition, published in Architecture Australia's November 2025 issue, includes photography by Bryn Donkersloot and Trevor Mein that captures the transformation of this iconic brutalist structure. The Sirius Redevelopment stands as a testament to the potential for sensitive heritage redevelopment in Australia's urban centers, setting a new standard for multiple housing projects that honor architectural history while meeting contemporary needs.
