Since receiving its massive renovation, the Sydney project has helped to transport an average of 20,000 commuters an hour smoothly. This year’s jury praised the project for its sustainability, noting how its redesign is expected to last for another 100 years.
The project increases the immediate location’s walkability—cutting the walk from Wynyard Station to the Barangaroo waterfront from 15 minutes down to six by avoiding steep inclines and road crossings in the city’s central business district. This aspect encourages ridership and ultimately reduces carbon footprints.
Wayfinding tools help to make this space more efficient. By integrating LED strip lighting and transparent glass panels, commuters naturally follow a path with little confusion. And while the project is underground, it manages to consider the natural environment with a canopy that was tested to withstand strong winds and weather protection that still allows for fresh air and natural light into the corridors.
The Design Institute of Australia, an organization dedicated to promoting and providing employment to Australian design professionals, conducts the Australian Interior Design Awards program which is in its fifteenth year.