Permanent Public Pavilion, Won in a national competition in 2020, the Pier Pavilion is a new permanent civic pavilion on Sydney Harbour. The building functions as a host for special events and as a place of public repose to take in harbour views and enjoy the public realm. The site forms part of a wider harbourside regeneration effort focusing on the western edge of Sydney’s city centre in Barangaroo. The Pier Pavilion references land, sea, and sky through its various formal and material components.
© Rory Gardiner
The plan responds to the geometry of coves and peninsulas, which characterise Sydney Harbour. A complex play of columns supports a landscape roof and variously screens and modulates internal and external spaces. A circle of light from a large roof oculus roams across the ground and double colonnade, balancing internal and external daylighting. Inside the Pavilion is a second, freestanding building housing a servery with bar, store, and technical area that supports events.
© Rory Gardiner
The envelope of the Pier Pavilion is made of “oyster terrazzo”, a material specially formulated for the project by Besley & Spresser, combining whole Sydney Rock Oyster shells with a variety of recycled aggregates. A year in mix experimentation and testing, the resultant material, when honed, expresses the distinctive and variegated forms of the shell across its face. The oyster terrazzo material ties the building to its site, where these oysters have flourished for millennia, and connects to long traditions in architecture of materiality and ornament. Nearly half a million oyster shells were recycled and used in the construction, which would otherwise have been committed to landfill.
© Rory Gardiner
The structure allows a long free span, with roof trusses resolving around the oculus, supported only at the perimeter by 86 moment-resisting columns. The oyster terrazzo is hung in the manner of stone from the ceiling, columns, walls, and fascia. A folding laminated timber deck supports the landscape roof, which consists of endemic planting, sandstone, and hollow logs typical of the surrounding headlands. Species were sought to attract native insects and birds to create microhabitats. Columns house the building’s service routes, including drainage, electricity, and communications, in lieu of exposed downpipes and risers.
Project Info:
Architects: Besley & Spresser
Country: Australia
Area: 400 m²
Year: 2025
Photographs: Rory Gardiner
Lead Team: Peter Besley
General Contractor: Stephen Edwards Constructions
Project Management: NPC
Engineering & Consulting > Structural: SDA Structures
Engineering & Consulting > Other: Group DLA
Engineering & Consulting > Lighting: Steensen Varming
Landscape Architecture: CJ Arms
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.