Photo by Veronique Jenkins.

Photo by Veronique Jenkins.

Photo by Ross Honeysett.

Constructing such seamless, monolithic arches out of brick is no mean feat of engineering and architecture. Above challenges pertaining to physics or physical material, however, William Smart says the biggest obstacle was not being dissuaded by doubts and sticking to his vision.

“With these projects, there’s a pressure to opt for a less risky form of construction, to use concrete and paint it or to use less detail, to dumb it down or reduce it. The challenge is holding on to the true vision – it’s a very simple gesture, a big brick building with an arch that expresses itself as a piece of railway infrastructure – holding on to this idea to the very end,” says Smart.

“That meant if the arch went then the concept didn’t work, and if it wasn’t in brick, then the arch makes no sense. That’s the kind of thing I am talking about – holding onto the essence and being able to steward that through all the opinions you receive along the way,” he explains.

Sketches by Smart Design Studio.

Beyond addressing a connection to the building’s purpose as a piece of railway infrastructure, the archways answered strict requirements for a building with solid upper walls and a transparent base. Structurally, they work as substantial beams supporting the heavy brick walls above and allowing for the glazed openings below. The entire building is enclosed within a masonry wall for structural support and security. Skylights punctuate the high ceilings of the expansive control room, directing natural light over the work environment.

On working with Brickworks brick, Smart says the material was “absolutely essential to the expression of the building. On a fundamental level, the expression of the structure is large which is how the load is transferred through the building. You really are offered up a couple of materials that perform well in compression and the logical one is brick.”

He adds, “On another level, I like the modesty and the fact that it’s robust, basic, and it feels like a part of Sydney’s train stations and it’s very durable and low maintenance.”

Photo by Ross Honeysett.

Photo by Ross Honeysett.

Photo by Ross Honeysett.

Photo by Martin Siegner.

Though standing out amongst the urban fabric of Green Square, the architects equally wished to harmonise the ROC building with its locale; the arched openings aid in moderating the buildings imposing mass and creating connections with the surrounding streets. The red brick references the dominant colour of local warehouses and Sydney’s historic buildings.

Smart explains, “We chose that particular colour brick because it’s inherent in that specific part of Alexandria. It, therefore, makes a connection back to its context even though the form is quite different from the surrounding buildings.”

As well as integrating the ROC Building with its immediate surrounds, the use of red brick enforces a broader connection to Australia as a whole, redolent of the desert’s red earth. “When you see the land from the air you realise so much of our country is beautiful red earth. I feel like if we run with that expression in our buildings, then we reflect what our country is made from,” says Smart.

Smart Design Studio’s ROC Perspective drawing.

ROC balsa wood model by Smart Design Studio.

The specific Brickworks brick used for the ROC is the dry-pressed Capital brick. “It’s a Bowral brick so it’s made locally which means it’s not transported all around the world. There’s a very lovely rich texture to the surface of these bricks that were originally made for the Capitol Theatre and are still produced today,” he says.

The architects employ the commonplace nature of brickwork, its familiar texture and aesthetic, as a counterpoint to the extraordinary scale of the architectural gestures that establish the structure’s identity.

The ROC Building was the joint winner of the Horbury Hunt Commercial Award at the 2019 Think Brick Awards, which celebrates excellence in the use of clay brick, concrete masonry and roof tiles by architects, designers and builders.

See other projects by Smart Design Studio on Yellowtrace here.