Barangaroo deserves the tower with Brancusi effect
Assuming a winner gets through the NSW planning system with its aesthetics intact, this will be a boost for Sydney's confidence as a global city.
Many cities have used the symbolism of an iconic tower to lift their image as global powerhouses. Think of the 102-storey Empire State Building and what it did to lift New York's confidence 80 years ago, or the pagoda-like Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai.
We don't know how high the proposed Barangaroo tower options are, but each seems well above the tallest building on the site. What they do have is the "Brancusi effect". Former prime minister Paul Keating called for Brancusi-like elegance, reflecting on the work of the master sculptor.
Clearly Crown and Lend Lease have done their homework, as the three shortlisted architects designed many iconic towers.
Smith and Gill's shortlisted design tops my list, with an elegant flowing shape that reflects the curves of shells and molluscs, followed by Wilkinson and Eyre's interlocking cylinders that reflect petals on a flower as the building moves upwards. Third I place the sail-like structure of Kohn Pedersen Fox, which doesn't sing to quite the same level as the others.
The references to sails, shells and flowers, of course, are not literal but explain how fluid curving geometries have created the building forms. This is what an iconic building in the round needs to give it the sculptural quality that makes it picture-postcard material.
All this has a fair way to go, with multiple approvals and negotiations with the government before a winning scheme is approved.
However, the most important quality is the Brancusi effect, which comes only from a master sculptor and will be diminished if too many expert reviewers, planners and community groups make their own modifications.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The proposal for the Crown‑Lend Lease hotel at Barangaroo includes three shortlisted design options that mark a shift toward more fluid, sculptural skyscraper shapes. The images suggest each option would rise well above the current tallest building on the site and aim to create an iconic addition to the Sydney skyline.
The article says three high‑profile design teams were shortlisted: Smith and Gill, Wilkinson and Eyre, and Kohn Pedersen Fox. Each team has experience designing distinctive towers and produced markedly different, fluid design concepts for the site.
The 'Brancusi effect'—a phrase invoked by former prime minister Paul Keating—refers to a master‑sculptor level of elegance and sculptural quality in a building. For Barangaroo, it means an iconic tower should have fluid, picture‑postcard geometry that feels like a work of art rather than a purely functional block.
According to the article, Smith and Gill's design features an elegant, flowing shape inspired by shells and molluscs; Wilkinson and Eyre proposed interlocking cylinders that evoke petals; and Kohn Pedersen Fox offered a sail‑like structure. All emphasize curving, fluid geometries rather than rectilinear forms.
The article argues that an iconic tower with strong aesthetics can boost Sydney's confidence as a global city—similar to how the Empire State Building and Shanghai's Jin Mao Tower helped lift their cities' images. For investors, such symbolism can contribute to positive sentiment about a city's global standing.
Not necessarily. The piece notes there are multiple approvals and negotiations ahead with government and other stakeholders, and too many modifications by reviewers, planners or community groups could diminish the intended 'Brancusi effect' of the winning design.
The article makes clear there is 'a fair way to go'—the scheme will need multiple approvals and negotiations before a final design is approved. No specific timeline is given, so expect a prolonged process involving detailed review and potential design changes.
Based on the article, everyday investors should watch whether the final design retains its sculptural 'Brancusi' qualities, how approvals progress, and the broader effect the tower might have on Sydney's image and sentiment. These aesthetic and planning outcomes can influence tourism and property perceptions, even if the article doesn’t offer direct financial forecasts.
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