Monday 6 November 2017

Views from the top of the AMP Building

Yesterday I wrote about the Reserve Bank of Australia building, which was completed in 1965 to house the new organisation. But I also visited the AMP Building at Circular Quay in the afternoon and went up to the observation deck at the top of the building. The 1962 building is on the state heritage list (it was Sydney's first skyscraper), and has to be conserved, but the even larger 1976 building behind it, at 50 Bridge Street, will be demolished to make way for a new structure.

I went to see the newly-completed 200 George Street on Friday as part of a gig I was doing for the Urban Land Institute and heard an AMP employee talk about the new building that will be built at 50 Bridge Street. He was talking about Circular Quay being abandoned on weekends, and about "activation" of the area through development. There was a lot of talk about the movement of people through the podium of the new structure, and retail space to be completed, but I think it's a shame to lose something that has stood for such a long time and that is still perfectly functional. Although not quite long enough, it seems.


Above: Looking northeast from the top of the AMP Building, you can see all the way to the Heads and Watsons Bay.


Above: Looking north from the building you can see North Sydney and Chatswood further out.



Above two photos: The building was constructed in the international style.

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