There has been a widespread reaction to the announcement developers have secured approval to demolish a well-recognised brutalist landmark on Sydney’s north shore.
A recent post to Facebook page Sydney Explained generated a widespread response to plans for the circa 1974 AKAI 12-storey commercial tower to be demolished and replaced with a 50-storey residential tower.
Following a decade-long vacancy, its days are said to be numbered with demolition scaffolding expected to be erected any day now.
AKAI building. Picture: Facebook, Sydney Explained
The Facebook post currently has about 600 reactions and 200 comments, with varied opinions regarding its plans for demolition.
“Good riddance” one user said, while another commented: “Such an eyesore, finally it’ll be gone.”
“Drove past only last night and wondered what its future was. Its been in a derelict condition for many years,” another user commented.
Other responses were not as supportive for the new plans.
“Good examples of brutalism needs to be preserved,” one user said.
“Such a shame. Very little examples of great brutalist architecture are going to be left in Sydney if we keep demolishing them rather than repurposing.” while another said “what a shame that everything brutalist is being demolished.”
Render of the proposed skyscraper to replace the AKAI building. Picture: Facebook, Sydney Explained
Sydney is well-known for its brutalist architecture, including the UTS building in Ultimo and the Sirius Building in The Rocks, which was redeveloped a few years ago.
The original Sirius Building design, dating to circa 1979, was one of Sydney’s most famous brutalist structures, along with one of its most controversial.
Designed to provide public housing near the harbor, it boasted a stack of geometric concrete boxes.
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The former Sirius Building, 48 Cumberland St, The Rocks.
The UTS Tower in Ultimo, pictured in 2022. Picture: Justin Lloyd
The flagship building of the University of Technology Sydney, the circa 1979 UTS Tower in Ultimo stands 120m tall as another marker of the design in the city.