Awabakal and Worimi
New South Wales
Running parallel to the Hunter River, Huntington at 35 Honeysuckle Drive is a key node in the Newcastle Honeysuckle Precinct urban renewal corridor, evolving the foreshore into a highly connected, mixed use precinct. Poised to play an important role in enlivening the precinct this new residential development introduces significant retail to the ground plane and 90 apartments above, across two buildings.
The success of the Honeysuckle precinct is intrinsically linked to the connectivity between the city and the water’s edge and its activation. Huntington stitches the old town at the south to the foreshore boulevard through permeability and the introduction of protected, north facing retail spaces. The material palette also speaks to the site’s differing conditions, with a playful brick façade facing Honeysuckle Drive which opens to the north to capture views and light and reflect the palette of industry across the river.
Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Huntington by SJB, located on the harbour in Newcastle, is a beautiful project that clearly responds to its context. The architecture and materiality are rich, responsive to the environment, and includes a subtle use of colour and texture. Forms reminiscent of the area’s industrial history present as sculptures to the city, while an increasing open-ness addresses the landscape of the foreshore and harbour.
The reduction of the building footprint to the harbour creates an extension of public space at the fold in the foreshore promenade, promoting a positive retail and landscape outcome.
Huntington has become a recognisable landmark within the thriving Honeysuckle precinct. This development provided a unique opportunity to be part of the immense transformation that’s occurring along Newcastle’s waterfront.
By incorporating a playful rhythm into its design, Huntington adds a unique character to the skyline and provides a welcome contrast to the flat topped buildings that dominate the area. Architectural masterpieces like Huntington contribute to the creation of lively urban environments that cater to people from all walks of life and at various scales. By promoting density and activity, they provide a rich and rewarding inner city experience.
Yi Xiang Huang, Graduate of Architecture
KDC Newcastle, Town Planner
Northrop Newcastle, Structural and Civil Engineer
S4B, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers
Sydney Design Collective, Landscape Architect
Wallace Design Group, Hydraulic and Dry Fire Engineers