Located on Hickson Road, the gateway to Barangaroo, north-west of the CBD, the low-rise office straddles a prominent corner with Scotch Row laneway to the rear.

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Tzannes was not only mindful of addressing the irregular-shaped site, but steering the northern views to the harbour and to the city skyline: and importantly, ensuring outlooks were not directed into neighbouring apartments.

The curvaceous glass walls also create a liquid-like feel rather than hard edges as is often the case.

Rather than conceal the mechanics of Daramu House, they’re fully exposed both inside and out.

The timber structural columns are expressed as well as the chunky timber bracing behind the curtain glass walls.

Timber awnings on the podium level are carefully spaced to deflect the harsher sunlight and aluminium sun-shading screens virtually wrap around the entire glazed building.

Tzannes was also mindful of creating a building that could be disassembled well down the track, and the ability to re-use materials.

Timber features at every turn, from the timber-battened ceiling in the foyer that creates a link to the laneway, as well as the engraved timber art installation by artist Nicole Larkin, whose work depicts the moving shorelines of the harbour from 1788 until the time Daramu House was completed.

And given this project straddles two conditions, a main thoroughfare and an intimate laneway, there’s a different handling of both environments.

One is more public with the laneway being more intimate, more akin to a European-style cobbled street with awnings, obviously in timber rather than canvas, creating protection from the elements.

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As the brief was to create flexible workspaces, Tzannes designed open-plan spaces of approximately 1500 square metres on each floor, with a terrace on level six and a green roof to reduce heat load and create a green outlook for neighbouring towers, be they offices or apartments.

Tzannes could have easily delivered another concrete office tower, appeasing any concern by the developer or future tenants.

Instead, he went outside the box, not only in form, but also focusing on timber.

“As soon as you enter, you get that feel of timber, whether it’s through touch or smell,” says Tzannes.

“It’s about creating a better place to work in, not just now, but in the future.

The market will respond but you need to lead by example,” he adds.