The Building
bold Brutalist architecture and strong social intent
The Sirius building is a landmark example of late 20th-century public housing design, notable for its bold Brutalist architecture and strong social intent.
Designed by architect Tao Gofers in the late 1970s, the building is characterised by its raw concrete construction, modular form, and geometric repetition. Its stacked, box-like apartments create a stepped profile, giving many units access to light, air, and views of Sydney Harbour.
Designed by architect Tao Gofers between 1978 and 1979
A key aspect of the design is its influence from Japanese Metabolist architecture, visible in the way individual dwelling “modules” are expressed externally and appear almost plug-in or prefabricated.
Beyond its visual style, the building was designed with a strong social purpose. It provided a mix of apartment types—ranging from single-level to multi-storey units—to accommodate a diverse community displaced from The Rocks area. The layout aimed to foster community interaction, while still offering privacy and access to outdoor spaces.
Overall, the Sirius building’s design combines monumental, sculptural form with human-centred social housing principles, making it both architecturally distinctive and culturally significant within Sydney’s urban landscape.
Awards
Won:
- 2025 World Architecture Festival, Winner, Completed Buildings – Retrofit
- 2025 Australian Institute of Architects National Awards, Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing, Commendation
- 2025 Australian Institute of Architects (NSW) Chapter Awards, Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
- 2025 INDE.Awards, The Building
- 2025 INDE.Awards, The Multi-Residential Building
- 2025 Council Tall Building and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Awards, Best Tall Building by Height (Under 100 metres)
- 2025 Council Tall Building and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Awards, Award of Excellence, Best Tall Building, Oceania
- 2025 NSW Apartment Awards for Excellence, Luxury Award
- 2025 NSW Apartment Awards for Excellence, Innovation & Technology Award, High Commendation
- 2025 ZAK Awards for Excellence in Facade Design & Engineering, Adaptive Reuse Project of the Year
- 2022 Urban Design Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW Chapter Awards, Design Excellence Award
- 2022 Urban Design Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW Chapter Awards, Marketing Excellence Award
Shortlisted:
- Dezeen Awards, Housing Project of the Year 2025
- 2025 UDIA Awards, Apartments (High Rise)
Architecture & Design
The Sirius building is one of Sydney’s most distinctive examples of late 20th-century housing design, notable for its bold form, social purpose, and Brutalist architectural language.
Style & Design Approach
The building is a prominent example of Brutalist architecture, characterised by raw concrete, heavy massing, and an emphasis on structural expression. It was designed in 1978–79 by Tao Gofers for the NSW Housing Commission.
- The design features exposed concrete (béton brut) and a rugged, sculptural aesthetic.
- Its form reflects influences from Japanese Metabolist architecture, particularly in its modular, repetitive geometry.
Form & Massing
One of the most recognisable aspects of the Sirius building is its stepped, terraced form:
- Composed of stacked, cube-like modules that create a cascading profile.
- Heights vary from 1 to 12 storeys, giving it a fragmented, non-uniform skyline.
- The arrangement maximises views of Sydney Harbour while allowing light and air into each dwelling.
This modular stacking also visually breaks down the scale of the building, helping it sit within the historic low-rise context of The Rocks.
Spatial & Social Design
The architecture is closely tied to its original purpose as social housing:
- Built to house residents displaced by redevelopment in The Rocks during the 1960s–70s.
- 75 apartments, 4 commercial suites and 3 retail spaces.
- Designed to support a mixed community, including families and elderly residents.
Key spatial ideas include:
- Private balconies and terraces integrated into the stepped form
- Interlocking apartment layouts to maximise space efficiency
- Emphasis on community cohesion within a dense urban setting
Materiality & Construction
- Built using a concrete frame with precast concrete elements.
- The repetitive modules reflect a semi-prefabricated approach.
- The rough concrete finish reinforces the Brutalist aesthetic while also being economical for public housing construction.
Urban Context & Significance
- Located in The Rocks, it is the only high-rise residential building in the area.
- Its bold, sculptural form contrasts with the surrounding historic sandstone buildings.
- The building has become both iconic and controversial—praised as a landmark of social architecture and criticised for its stark appearance.
In Summary
The Sirius building is architecturally significant because it combines:
- Brutalist aesthetics (raw concrete, monumental form)
- Modular, metabolist-inspired geometry
- Social housing principles, prioritising community and liveability
It stands as both a design experiment in high-density public housing and a lasting symbol of Sydney’s architectural and social history.
BVN Reports and Statements
- Architectural Design Report – (PDF)
- Heritage Impact Statement – (PDF)
- Historic Archeological Assessment Report – (PDF)
- Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report – (PDF)
- The Competition Design Report- (PDF)
More at NSW Gov: State Significant Development – Sirius building
Redevelopment
The recent redevelopment of the Sirius building is a significant example of adaptive reuse in Sydney, transforming a controversial former public housing complex into a high-end residential development while retaining its iconic Brutalist character.
Originally built in the late 1970s as social housing, Sirius became the subject of intense public debate when the NSW Government sold the building in 2019 for redevelopment. Rather than demolishing it, the project—completed between 2021 and 2024—focused on retaining and upgrading the existing structure.
The redevelopment, led by BVN and developer JDH Capital, with development management by Dedico Development Services, involved a comprehensive refurbishment and extension. Key works included structural repairs, new building services, additional lift cores, and upgrades to meet modern safety and compliance standards. At the same time, the design carefully preserved the building’s distinctive modular concrete form, a hallmark of its Brutalist architecture.
A major aspect of the redesign was the conversion into approximately 75 boutique apartments, along with new retail and communal spaces, repositioning the building as premium housing overlooking Sydney Harbour. New copper-clad balcony extensions and reconfigured interiors modernised the apartments while maintaining the original architectural language.
The project also emphasised urban integration and public access, introducing improved pedestrian connections, landscaped areas, and revitalised communal spaces such as the restored “Phillip Room.”
Overall, the redevelopment is widely seen as a balance between heritage preservation and contemporary living, demonstrating how a socially and architecturally significant building can be adapted for new uses—though it remains politically and socially contentious due to the loss of its original public housing function.
See more details or the development from the companies involved: