Reinterpret and reimagine through adaptive reuse by Tom Oliver Payne

Back in London a couple of months ago I visited Battersea Power Station, Coal Drops Yard and The Standard (one I worked on back 2015). These adaptive reuse projects entice people to visit. They’re bold. They tell a story.

The bricks and mortar honour the past, but the playful elements like chimney lift shaft, themed bar, encircling shared street and basketball courts engage with the city in a contemporary way.

We’re lucky in Sydney: we can learn from international projects like these (the pros and cons) to apply thinking to White Bay Power Station, Newtown Tram Sheds and North Eveleigh, to name a few. Heritage isn’t a burden, but an opportunity to reinterpret and reimagine.

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Why Australian cities should become vertical, multi-dimensional experiences by Tom Oliver Payne

“On a recent trip overseas, I finally experienced the spectacle of the city of Hong Kong. Sipping on a beer from an upper floor bar, I was engrossed by immense, vertical cityscape – made even more intriguing by thick layer of fog below. I was guided up narrow stairwells to rooftop parks and podium bars, seemingly hidden from its meandering streets. I watched kids playing cheerfully in inner city parks, next to teenagers during an intense game of basketball. The word “vibrant” sprang to mind. Although I promised myself to stop using it.

I thought back to life in the Sydney CBD. It seemed dull by comparison. Suits by day, commuters by night – scrambling to get home before the peak hour rush. Yes, a few bars with a steady flow into the evening. But surely it could be so much more? I imagined ascending Sydney’s tallest towers for live music, swimming pools with panoramic harbour views, dazzling art installations hanging from grey infrastructure, and colourful playgrounds set in-amongst the buildings ensuring play, fun and joy isn’t just something for the weekends.

Surely, Sydney could be so much more. And why wouldn’t it?…”

Blog post written for Hoyne about Sydney from some recent insights from Hong Kong. Read the full article here.

Re-imagining Glebe Island Bridge by Tom Oliver Payne

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I remember as a kid, Mum’s car would sit idling in traffic as the Glebe Island Bridge sat cantilevered open for boats to pass through. I’d sit fixated on the construction of the monstrous pylons next door that would soon become the Anzac Bridge.

Anzac has since become iconic - serving in films and commercials and becoming a much-loved part of the city’s skyline. But it’s limited by its own height. Cars are suited to grade separation and steep inclines, but pedestrians and cyclists move better closer to the ground plane.

Glebe Island Bridge has sat a disused relic. But imagine it was re-instated: connecting cyclists and pedestrians across one of our harbour’s most loved Bays. One of Australia’s last swing bridges, its historical significance is physical - but it’s also deeply rooted to Sydney’s cultural identity. Particularly that of the inner west.

Excited that these two beautiful bridges could one day operate side-by-side.

(Image courtesy NewCorp)


To restore our economy, Australian cities should embrace culture and imagination by Tom Oliver Payne

Covid-19 has sent Australia’s creative industries into distress, and the damage has been severe. More than half of the jobs (53%) in this sector ceased to function during lockdowns, resulting in hundreds of thousands of job losses across Australian cities. But what if we actively invest in making places more unique, exciting and creative? Could we make domestic travel more appealing – or even – make Australian cities the envy of the world?

Thought-piece I’ve written for RobertsDay - you can read online here.

Perth artist Matt Adnate’s work of celebrates Aboriginal culture. Photo courtesy Juddy Roller/Nicole Reed.

Perth artist Matt Adnate’s work of celebrates Aboriginal culture. Photo courtesy Juddy Roller/Nicole Reed.

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Sydney's summer spaces by Tom Oliver Payne

It was the summer defined by smoked-filled air and underlying anxiety, as NSW dealt with some of its worst bushfires on record. But for a lot of Sydneysiders, life went on: beaches were full, and joggers were out each morning braving the haze.

Spending a lot of time at Bondi’s North Rocks this summer, I thought about the incredible value that these places give to the city... They offer respite - but are also social and leisure spaces where people gather to exercise, talk and spend time with their families. Sitting next to what are sometimes $7, $8, or $9 million dollar private properties, its nice to remind ourselves that we have some of the world’s best public spaces right along our coastline. And perhaps the importance of our beaches was even more apparent this summer as people sought fresh ocean breeze to avoid the ever-present smoke.

A couple of summer snaps below.

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Autopsy on a Dream by Tom Oliver Payne

It might be wondered looking at it… whether people’s monuments accurately reflect their natures; whether this sheery mess, this hollow gesture, this smiling shrug of the ideals we trade, is a mirror of its makers. Likely because of its brilliant outside is likely now to bring them universal calumny. And it might be wondered too whether such things never come to pass. Because they require the cooperation of fallible men and the leadership of inspired men who can only finally repel because of their obsession. But, it stands a frosty, glad symbol of whatever you like. Destroyed by cussedness. Betrayed by cowardice. Brought to this quietus by the politics that giveth and the politics that taketh away. Hallelujah, we guess. Hosanna, to whatever’s possible, in the best of all possible climates. She’ll do mate. Or will she?

In 1968 an Aussie in London called John Weiley decided to make a film on the construction of the Sydney Opera House. He pitched his idea to young film maker, David Attenborough, who thought it was an amazing idea. Despite Australian ABC’s opposition, they managed to interview some of most of the key designers and politicians at a point when the entire project was in shambles. The film was super critical of the NSW government and was supportive of Utzon - the architect who had just lost his job on the building. After 2 years of scripting, interviewing, filming and editing, Weiley finished his project and took a trip to Greece. Upon his return to London, he learned that it had been destroyed. There was no trace of the reel and no one would tell him where it went. To this day he doesn’t know what happened, but suspects foul play.

… Almost 45 years later in 2012 an email showed up in Weileys inbox asking if he was the man who made the Opera House film. Collecting archived footage in London, someone had stumbled across a reject reel. It was pieced together and broadcast in 2013.

Here it is in all its glory. One of the best docs I’ve ever seen.

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Another year, another trip to Copenhagen by Tom Oliver Payne

Last week I managed to fit in another quick trip over to Copenhagen. There are a million reasons why I love this city so much, but mainly because it's not an aggressive, traffic heavy, overdeveloped city... People are friendly, bike riders are respected and encouraged, the architecture - old and new - is elegant, nightlife is fun, and the Baltic is clean (swimming in the harbour ... amongst the ferries is fine).

There seems to be a simplicity, pragmatism and calmness that I haven't experienced in any other city. It's no wonder it's architects and urban designers are in demand in around the world.

This year my friend Mark and I rode our bikes up north and crossed over into Sweden for a couple of days. Awesome little trip and as always - can't wait to get back.

A few holiday snaps below. :-) 

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Launch of a Copenhagen street with Mikael Colville-Andersen by Tom Oliver Payne

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I met with urban design legend Mikael Colville-Andersen in 2015 at the launch of a new street in Copenhagen. Here is what he had to say about Istedgade in the neighbourhood of Vesterbro.

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East London's Fredd Wigg and John Walsh Towers by Tom Oliver Payne

Often a city's ugliest buildings are its most controversial.

The Fred Wigg and John Walsh Towers in London’s were loaded up with missile launchers during the London olympics - making the tenants inside a potential target. Now, at the forefront of the gentrifying east end, it’s likely that the towers will soon be demolished and redeveloped. The tenants, however, still don't know how long until they will be 'decanted'.

The speed at which this city changes constantly amazes me - but unfortunately - affordable housing tenants are too often left in limbo during the development process. I'd love to see these buildings recreated into something beautiful. I'd also love to see space made for existing tenants who have spent decades building a life within the community.

Either way, it looks like these buildings will soon be cleared from London's landscape, or - at least - remade into something new. I made the images below to document their place within amongst the skyline before they're no more.

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Demolition has begun: photos from Robin Hood Gardens by Tom Oliver Payne

Despite years of campaigning from heritage groups and architects, the bulldozers have now moved in. The demolition of Robin Hood Gardens is now well underway. The western block is now in partial ruins. The eastern block is still occupied and is set to be razed in the new year. 

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