Originally completed in 1925, Substation No. 175 was a small face-brick building housing oil-filled transformers for the City of Sydney’s power supply until its decommissioning in 1996.
This development grafts a lightweight zinc-clad addition onto the substation shell, transforming a redundant industrial relic into a miniature city tower. The site now holds a street level cafe and 2 residential apartments over 6 storeys.
Image credit: Brett Boardman. Image source: Hill Thalis A+UP. 
Image credit: Brett Boardman. Image source: Hill Thalis A+UP. 
Image credit: Brett Boardman. Image source: Hill Thalis A+UP. 
Image credit: Brett Boardman. Image source: Hill Thalis A+UP.
Stairs and circulation spaces are strategically located to exaggerate the experience of moving vertically through the building. The apartments have dual orientation, addressing the park and street frontages while maximising light and ventilation.
Windows and zinc panels present a new urban facade to the pocket park. Unlike the land use characteristic of low-density Australian cities, this project makes the most of its tiny site, demonstrating that no lot is too small to be used effectively.