Marrickville Metro

A vibrant new destination for the Inner-West

Marrickville has a strong community identity, and its surrounding suburbs represent one of Sydney’s most diverse, creative, urban communities. The team was inspired by the industrial character and its history of often sustainably repositioned buildings to accommodate new and shifting needs. In maintaining this tradition, the Smidmore Street extension is a sensitive integration with the existing Marrickville Metro and its neighbourhood fabric. The former Shelley’s Drinks Factory has been transformed by carefully considering urban structures, local architecture and public art to create an active community-focused place.

The site is bound by Edinburgh Road, Murray and Smidmore Streets, all with high percentage façade activation. Smidmore Street itself has been reimagined as a lively ‘eat street’ with a multi-layered public domain strategy underpinned by traffic calming and sustainable urban landscaping. The design anticipates the future Sydenham Metro Station, with the permeable ground level linking this part of the Inner West to the future station and ultimately Greater Sydney.

Permeability and pedestrian amenity were enhanced by implementing a mixed-mode ventilation strategy for all the internal circulation space. Large ceiling fans and glass louvres were connected to the BMS for natural ventilation when temperate conditions permit. This resulted in open (yet protected), unimpeded thresholds at North entries off Smidmore Street. The project team implemented environmental and sustainable design strategies to ensure ESD targets set for the project were exceeded. Further initiatives include shading the rooftop car park with a field of solar panels – a 450 kW system injecting approximately 650 Mwh of power into the network of the building and equating to 539.5kgC02; Economy Cycles on all AHU’s, Energy Efficient Lighting Design, central water-cooled chillers and Intelligent Building Controls.

The old drink factory’s brick walls were deemed historically and contextually significant and were retained. New openings with steel architraves create an open, active frontage and new street character. Overhead, new facades are a unifying skin of galvanised steel that varies in opacity and perforation, articulating different functional and ventilation programme requirements behind it. The use of galvanised steel is a nod to the manufacturing heritage of the locale. It will vary in patina according to texture and orientation, maintaining an authentic presence into the future.

The aesthetic motivation was driven by simplicity and authenticity. Surfaces remain unadorned, and building function is unapologetically exposed externally and internally. The raw architecture is a backdrop to activity, diverse tenancies and artwork. Art was commissioned from local artists, for facades and throughout the interior and public realm to foster community ownership and pride.

A minimal bridge passes patrons over Smidmore Street through the tree canopy between the existing Marrickville Metro and the new extension. The slim walkway is suspended from an inverted triangular truss that spans the road width. The truss is concealed with a mirrored surface that reflects trees and people below, while slender posts in tension support a coloured glass skin.

The extension positions Smidmore Street as the bustling heart of this quarter of the Inner-west, a place where the community meets and feels welcome.