Smart Design Studio’s next curved brick office building

Smart Design Studio is continuing with its experiments in parametric modelling and curled brick facades in Alexandria, Sydney, revealing designs for another sculptural office building next to the firm's own office on Stokes Avenue.

Dubbed Stokes 18, the new building would house five levels of office space at the transition between Alexandria's heritage conservation area and the taller North Alexandria Enterprise Area and Green Square City to the southwest. The open-plan offices would be flexible spaces that were designed to be repurposed.

In planning documents before the City of Sydney, Smart Design Studio states that the $26 million project would "raise the architectural bar in Alexandria," setting a benchmark for quality sustainable design.

Echoing the earlier Stokes 14 development, the design takes inspiration from the industrial character of the local conservation area, incorporating standard building materials and brick facades that curl out to collect water and provide shade.

"On entering the building, you are greeted with a dramatic five-storey void, 21 metres in height and full of natural light," a design statement reads. "A sculptural stair connects all five office levels and includes curved detailing that continues the external curved language internally, however in concrete. The entire space uses one material to create a monolithic form, which has peeling curves that allow light to enter the space."

The office floors will each feature generous 3.7-metre ceilings.

"Robust materials are used to create dramatic office interiors, including octagonal columns, sand-blasted concrete, and sculptural ceilings with integrated lighting and industrial ceiling fans," the design statement reads.

The project includes a number of sustainability measures, including a large-scale solar array that would make the building's operations "energy positive", hydronic heating and "massive" fans to cut down on airconditioning needs, and end-of-trip facilities to encourage cycling.

Council requires that the development leaves 1,270 metres of land to be dedicated for the future extension of Stokes Avenue, and Smart Design Studio has proposed that the space be used for a lawn in the interim. The landscape design is by Fieldwork.

The project would require the demolition of an existing warehouse.

Planning documents are on exhibition until 5 June.