The New Sydney School

The New Sydney School rethinks the architectural design process by integrating emerging AI technologies and collage techniques, drawing inspiration from Colin Rowe’s Collage City. Set on Cockatoo Island, this speculative 2040 campus envisions contributions from various Sydney architects, each adding their own built work to the island’s masterplan. The project then layers Sydney’s diverse architectural styles into a new architecture school, serving as both a living archive and a hub for innovation. By challenging traditional design practices, The New Sydney School demonstrates how emerging technology can shape a fresh architectural language for Sydney’s future.

The site plan envisions Cockatoo Island as an open campus, integrating diverse architectural styles across the landscape. Built projects are collaged, creating a vibrant hub, reflecting Sydney’s evolving architectural identity.

The ground floor features open areas for exhibitions, dining, and community programs. Designed to engage visitors, much of the ground floor is public space, sheltered under the floor plate above.

The first floor plan houses core academic spaces, including studios, a library, and faculty offices. It offers collaborative areas and maximises natural light through a series of voids.

The long section reveals the school’s layered design, with open, double-height spaces that flood interiors with natural light. Academic spaces sit above, while public programs are positioned on the ground.

This panel showcases three perspectives of the school’s vibrant spaces, highlighting the interplay of architecture, light, and community areas designed to inspire collaboration and innovation within the campus environment.