Blues Point Tower

Blues Point Tower is an apartment block in Sydney, Australia. Located in McMahons Point, close to North Sydney, the tower is 83 metres (272 ft) tall with 144 apartments over 25 levels.[1] The building is regarded by some critics as one of the ugliest buildings in Sydney.[2][3]

Blues Point Tower
Blues Point Tower
General information
StatusComplete
TypeResidential
Architectural styleModernist
LocationSydney
Address14–28 Blues Point Road, McMahons Point
Coordinates33°50′57″S 151°12′12″E
Completed1962
Height
Roof83 m (272 ft)
Technical details
Floor count25
Design and construction
ArchitectHarry Seidler and Associates

History

Construction was completed in 1962, and it was Australia's tallest residential building until 1970.[2]

The architect was Harry Seidler and Associates, who had planned a high-density redevelopment for the entire suburb.[4][5] Reacting to a 1957 suggestion that the area be zoned for industrial use, Seidler proposed that McMahons Point could instead house hundreds of apartments, all with harbour views.[2] Although the industrial zoning was rejected, political support for Seidler's plan quickly faded, and Blues Point Tower was the only element of the plan to be built.

Seidler was commissioned by Dick Dusseldorp, through his company Civil & Civic.[1] The company's site office during construction was located in an 1870s Victorian villa named Bellvue, which formerly occupied the site.[4]

In February 2011, a 6 metres (20 ft) tall maritime radar was added to the building's roof.[6][7]

Architecture and heritage value

The heritage listing for the Tower describes it as a "Conspicuous, though unpopular, example of Internationalist style. This landmark building was innovative in its day and intended as a forerunner of a whole movement in architecture and high-density housing".[8]

Criticism

Blues Point Tower is considered by many Sydney residents to be inconsistent with its surrounding buildings and cityscape.[9] Over time, many public figures have criticised it, or even called for its demolition.[3] However, in 1993, North Sydney Council added the building to its local heritage register.[10]

"Come on, this is old news, stupid bloody nonsense, I'm sick to death of it. ... I've always thought Blues Point Tower is one of my best buildings and I stand by that. Anybody who can't see anything in it ought to go back to school."

— Seidler, responding to questions from journalist Stephen Lacey[1]

References
  1. Lacey, Stephen (28 September 2002). "Towering ambition". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  2. Dale, David (17 May 1991). "Eyeful tower". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  3. Susskind, Anne (30 July 1995). "Harry's Dream". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  4. Masson, Léonie (April 2005). "From Track to Tarmac" (PDF). North Sydney Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  5. Seidler, Harry. Seidler's scrapbooks. 2. State Library of NSW. Archived from the original on 31 March 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  6. Eriksson, Boel (23 August 2010). "Heritage woe on the radar". The Mosman Daily. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  7. Whitten, Phil. "New maritime radar". Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  8. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2180599
  9. Benedictus, Luke. "Walkabout: #1 Blues Point Road". Time Out Sydney. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  10. "Blues Point Tower". NSW State Heritage Register. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
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