International award for Paddington Reservoir Gardens

9 July 2010

The City of Sydney's stunning Paddington Reservoir Gardens has been recognised as one of the world's most significant new architecture projects.

The International Architecture Awards were announced overnight recognising the world's most important new buildings, landscape architecture and urban planning projects.  The awards are organised annually by The Chicago Athenaeum and The Urban Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

"The magical restoration of the Paddington Reservoir Gardens provides new open space, revives a State Heritage listed site and has created an exciting cultural venue for the local community to enjoy," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP.

"The park on the reservoir roof has been completely rebuilt and a stunning new sunken garden has been established in the reservoir's western chamber."

"We congratulate the architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architect's and JMD Design on this prestigious award and thank them for helping the City bring this project to life."

Opened in March 2009, Paddington Reservoir Gardens provides a community facility within a renovated former underground reservoir consisting of two 1,023 square metre chambers built in 1866 and 1878 respectively. Designed by the City Engineer, Edward Bell, the Paddington Reservoir was a key element in Sydney's early water supply.

"This project presented us with a unique and exciting opportunity to make a new public space out of an historic ruin, in a City as young as Sydney," said Tim Greer from Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects.

The restoration of the State Heritage listed Paddington Reservoir conserves the historic structure and provides sunken garden within in the western chamber ruin, with a water feature interpreting the original reservoir use. Some vibrant graffiti art has been preserved in the eastern chamber, which provides a new space for community and cultural activities. Special lighting highlights the beautiful new timber work and stunning stone of the reservoir. New stairs and viewing platforms now provide access to the chambers.

The new open space and cultural facility restores the civic precinct, linking to Paddington Town Hall, the Post Office and historic Juniper Hall.  Paddington Reservoir Gardens has already been described as a combination of the Baths of Caracalla and The Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

The 2010 International Architecture Awards received over two thousand entries from over 45 countries around the world and 95 new buildings and urban planning projects were selected in the 2010 awards from 38 nations including Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, The Netherlands, Norway, Palestine Territories, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, and Vietnam. 

Media Contact: For more information contact CoS media: Leanne Lincoln (02) 9265 9910 or llincoln@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Related Resources

Paddington Reservoir Gardens (2MB)

Paddington Reservoir Gardens 2 (2MB)