Infinity (Sydney, Australia) features on Japan’s TV Asahi. Aired, 23 Sept 2023
TV Asahi analyses the building’s cooling effects, that were achieved by strategic appertures to direct wind over the pool and through the central courtyard.
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Infinity is a 20-storey mixed-use development located on the prominent corner of Bourke Street and Botany Road – a gateway site to Green Square, Sydney. The building houses 329 apartments, 75 boutique hotel rooms and 30 retail tennancies, and as such is designed around the concept of “cities within cities” that offer a direct connection with the Green Square train station and library courtyard.
The aerodynamic form and large opening in the middle of the building serves as an entryway for daylight and natural ventilation as well as enhances the experience of end users and influences how the building integrates with its surroundings. Infinity’s large outdoor swimming pool is situated at the base of the opening, and when the wind passes over this large body of water, it cools the air and drives it into the heart of the architecture – a central public courtyard. Infinity is designed to breathe. By facilitating natural ventilation throughout the building, the opening becomes a key component in providing better indoor air quality and thermal comfort for the residents and reduces energy consumption by minimising the reliance on air-conditioning. The complexity of the design required exhaustive simulations, wind-tunnel testing and computer modelling to ensure the performance goals were realised. The building prioritises performance and while the opening creates a unique architectural appeal, it becomes an important design strategy that improves not just the living conditions, but a sustainable contribution to the built environment.
