Australia to build 'pencil tower'—one of the world's narrowest skyscrapers
Initial work has begun in Sydney's Haymarket district on a 33-storey hotel tower with 173 rooms. Upon completion, it will become the city's narrowest high-rise building.
Construction is underway on Pitt Street, on a site covering approximately 345 square metres. The building's facade width on Pitt Street will measure just 6.4 metres—roughly the length of two small hatchbacks parked bumper-to-bumper.
The project underwent several years of development and approvals before recently moving to the practical stage, with preliminary construction work now underway on the site. Once completed, the structure will become Sydney's narrowest high-rise building and potentially one of the narrowest skyscrapers in the world.
The tower will house a 173-room hotel. The entire building will be serviced by only two passenger lifts. Project documentation describes the structure as a 33-storey 'pencil tower.'
The construction application was prepared by urban planning consultancy Mecone. Four firms were invited to develop the architectural concept, and in 2021, the design by Durbach Block Jaggers was selected.
Architect Neil Durbach stated that the hotel rooms would be very compact: 'almost like a train compartment.' The small room sizes are planned to be offset by spacious communal areas, including a rooftop pool and a large public space on the building's lower levels.
The project has sparked mixed reactions from local residents and other observers. Some have praised the architects' ingenuity and the proposed technical solutions, while others have questioned the feasibility of constructing such a narrow building.
