Paddington Reservoir - TZG

Paddington Reservoir is a great example of adaptive reuse, transforming a disused water reservoir into a vibrant community park and public space. Commisioned in 2006 by the City of Sydney, the reimagining of the reservoir opened the space to the public for the first time since 1990. 

Perhaps the most iconic part of the park is the sunken garden, where TZG has opened up the reservoir, and brought the landscaped public space into the chamber. A precast concrete boardwalk surrounds a central pond, with the internal space broken up by columns and arches from the original heritage reservoir structure. 

Representing the original form of the reservoir, two floating awnings take the arched form of the structure and reimagine it as shading devices, showing the entry points into the site. The materiality of the design reflects the industrial and functionalist nature of the site's heritage, with a focus on precast concrete, steel, and brickwork. Timber elements were also used, contrasting the heavier materials with a more natural texture. 

What makes Paddington Reservoir significant is not just its success as a public space, or the success of adaptive reuse, but the designer's decision to deliberatly change the heritage form. The removal of parts of the heritage structure to open up the void for the sunken garden, and to bring light down into the bottom level are central to the success of the project. This presents a strong precedent for considering the role of heritage in the modern world, and not being afraid to alter heritage structures to achieve a more succesful space for the community.