Shibuya Comes to Newtown

In this design for 2 town houses in the Sydney inner-city suburb of Newtown, Tony Owen Partners looked for inspiration to the pocket design solutions of Japan. The result; ‘Shiuya-Newtown, is a study of sculptural possibilities on a tight urban sight. The site is located in a dense historic part of Newtown. This area is characterised by close packed 19th century 2-3 storey terrace housing stock and industrial workshops.

The angular prism volumes are a direct expression of the solar performance. These walls are made from light weight metal panels and translucent polypropylene, The stark white walls are in contrast to the robust existing industrial façade of the building. The result is a compact urban insertion which, like a sculpture in a gallery stands out and compliments its surroundings. With its compact and opportunistic use of space and stark angular facades, the design pays tribute to the ingenious spatial solutions of inner city Japan.