Office buildings and the signature architect : Piano and Foster in Sydney

In this paper I examine the growing trend in commercial office development of the use of globally operative ââ"šÂ¬Ã‹Å“signatureââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ architects, famed design leaders who are sought out and contracted to provide design products in cities far from their head office. The engagement of two leading international design firms - Renzo Piano Building Workshop and Foster and Partners - by Australian developers for new Sydney office towers (Aurora Place and 126 Phillip Street, respectively) is analyzed in detail. I identify three areas where the design of office buildings is seen to make a commercial difference: in lubricating the planning-approval process in sensitive urban contexts; in adding value to the building through reconciling urban context and architectural form with commercial development rationalities; and in selling the interior space of the building to prospective commercial tenants.