THE STORY OF CONYBEARE MORRISON F ew designers have made such an indelible mark on Sydney’s urban spaces, infrastructure and architecture as Darrel Conybeare and Bill Morrison. Together, these two have produced innovations so pervasive through Sydney that they have become part of the ‘furniture’ – yet their significance has largely gone unrecognised. Outdoor Design Source takes a closer look at Conybeare and Morrison’s contribution to the design of the Harbour City and seeks to discover the secret to their extraordinary partnership. 66 LUMINARY I www.outdoordesign.com.au LUMINARY 67 "Their work has subtly and skilfully become part of the fabric of Sydney's metropolitan landscape." Previous page: Bill Morrison n 1962 Darrel Conybeare graduated from the Sydney Park and Parramatta Park. Through this and Darrel Conybeare on their University of Sydney with First Class Honours period he sought to raise consciousness towards SFA classic, The Plaza Seat Iin Architecture winning the prestigious a redesign for Circular Quay. Top left: Mixed-use residential University Medal. He attained a Masters in William Morrison graduated in architecture and commercial towers, Architecture and City Planning at the University at the University of Sydney in 1965. His early Figtree Drive, Homebush of Pennsylvania and went on to work in various years were spent with the Commonwealth Bottom left: Conybeare American architectural practices, including the Department of Works and at the National Morrison’s recent residential esteemed office of Ray & Charles Eames as the Capital Development Commission, Canberra, I was extensive, and given the innovative nature Street Furniture Australia. Founded in 1986 Darling Harbour; George Street North, work, Epping Road, Lane Cove Project Design Director of the National Fisheries which introduced him to a broader vision. He of much of our work (after all in those days it was under the directorship of Conybeare and The Rocks; Glebe Point Road; Luna Park; Top right: Rose Bay Promenade Centre and Aquarium. travelled to London and worked with William necessary to explain what urban design was) the Morrison, Street Furniture Australia became Macquarie Street Boulevarde and Springfield (Winner 2008 Woollahra His work with the Eames practice has had an Holford and Partners, Holford being one of a early practice flourished.” market front-runners in the design of high Precinct in Kings Cross. Conservation Award) enduring influence on Conybeare’s work and small group from Liverpool University credited In the lead up to the Bicentenary in quality urban seating, litter bins, bollards, In 1990, they founded Context Landscape © Michael Nicholson life. He suggests the Eames’ success was due to with the birth of post-war town planning in 1988, Conybeare Morrison was engaged to drinking fountains, bike parking products and Design together with Oi Choong, creating a Bottom right: Street Furniture their unique approach to working out design Britain. Morrison subsequently joined a radically improve the visual amenity of Circular Quay more. The Street Furniture Australia range truly multi-disciplinary practice, and one of the Galleria Seats, Pyrmont directions using model-making. “Charles and different practice, a young start-up company – transforming what was a drab transport has become iconic in Sydney having been first in Australia. The cross-fertilisation of the Ray were an extraordinary design partnership. which was making waves, challenging traditional interchange, shabby wharves and government incorporated in so many of the major public disciplines of architecture, urban design and To work there was to witness the incredible concepts of architectural design and urbanism. workshops into a vital focus for tourists flanked spaces and promenades Conybeare Morrison landscape architecture offered the two firms ‘backroom’ machinery that was their support The Farrell Grimshaw Partnership grew from by two world-famous landmarks, the Opera have redesigned, including: Circular Quay; the advantages of an expanded viewpoint and ➥ infrastructure. Much of this involved modelling… 12 to 40 staff in Morrison’s first year. “Looking House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Conybeare Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach; Darling Walk, integrated design expertise. to sketch and then to fabricate these spaces as back it is extraordinary to think that these Morrison created an urban design masterplan camera ready make the experience so real and young trend setting architects should become for the entire Circular Quay precinct, including believable. The joy and delight of design activity leading international figures of contemporary detailed design and documentation of Circular was made palpable.” architecture. Terry has gone on to become Quay West, First Fleet Park, Hickson Road, On his return to Australia, he worked in a the UK’s pre-eminent urban designer whilst Campbells Cove, Dawes Point Park and the range of practices before being appointed the Grimshaw’s approach has resulted in many waterfront promenade. Their work won a Principal Environmental Designer of the City ‘high-tech’ architectural masterpieces around national award in Civic Design and Landscape E of Sydney Strategic Plan 1970. Hailed by many the world.” xcellence (AILA National Award in Landscape as the introduction of urban design to the On his return to Australia in 1974, Morrison Architecture 1988) and was heralded for being Australian consciousness, the ambitious task for says “I felt it impossible to join an established “highly effective in unifying the surrounds Conybeare and others was to ‘reshape’ a city that practice, and sought a company itself setting of Sydney Cove [forging] a connection with had until then been devoid of an overall guiding out on a new future. A colleague suggested that the eastern side of Sydney Cove to link with strategy: to foster economic growth; improve Darrel Conybeare had started a new practice and the Opera House [and using] a continuity of accessibility to and within the city network; that I should look him up. The multi-disciplinary materials with a good mix of broad scale space, increase the diversity of the city’s activities and practice (Planning Workshop) covered many and more intimate spaces”. services; open up the potential for residential of my interests but with a weighting toward During the two-year Circular Quay project, uses and conserve and improve the City’s planning. The challenge was to bring that back Conybeare and Morrison created their own public domain. The visionary work of the to architecture and urban design where Darrel range of civic furniture. The original idea for the Strategic Plan set Sydney on the path to and my interests lay.” Conybeare agrees “In street furniture concept came in 1978 when, as becoming a global city. hindsight I devoted too much of my professional part of a commission to design a public mall in In 1971 Conybeare went on to jointly establish life to Planning Workshop. Design excellence was Canberra, they were unable to find a suitable Planning Workshop. At a time when urban not a priority there, but that is what Bill brought Australian producer: “The sourcing of high planning was still developing as a concept the to the business.” quality locally designed and produced street firm tendered for and won the Geelong Growth In 1980, the pair founded their architectural furniture products proved an impossible task,” Centre Project together with sundry Council practice Conybeare Morrison and Partners (now Conybeare recalls. Their first seat, the ‘CM Plaza’ eat') was t design projects, the extension of Martin Place, Conybeare Morrison International). Morrison (now known as the 'Classic Plaza S o the restoration and adaptive re-use of Luna Park, recalls “The common ground between Darrel and become the flagship of their future venture, 68 LUMINARY I www.outdoordesign.com.au LUMINARY 69 "With a multi-disciplinary approach the firm has designed and master planned entire satellite cities in Vietnam and China." O ver 23 years, the firms have collaborated on throughout the world. With a multi-disciplinary many infrastructure and urban design projects approach the firm has designed and master in Sydney and throughout the world. Conybeare planned entire satellite cities in Vietnam and Top left: Heirisson Island and Morrison maintain an active engagement China. Their campus design work has included Bridge, Perth WA with Context, though Conybeare says “Context universities in China, Botswana, Vietnam, Middle left: Map - Conybeare runs its own race, competently guided by Oi. Malaysia, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. Morrison's projects in inner Sydney It now has the potential to evolve into a great, For over 40 years Conybeare Morrison’s Bottom left: Street Furniture Arqua ecologically driven landscape practice.” award-winning designs have sensitively Fountain at Circular Quay Prior to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Darrel anticipated the changing needs of the city Top right: North Beach Bathers Conybeare and Oi Choong were appointed and asserted the importance of vibrant public Pavilion, Wollongong to a select group of architects and landscape environments. Their work has subtly and (Winner 2013 National Trust designers to review and prepare a new skilfully become part of the fabric of Sydney’s Heritage Award for Regeneration masterplan for the 2000 Olympic Games site at metropolitan landscape. As arguably Australia’s and New Development) Homebush Bay. The work was carried out over seminal urban designers, Conybeare and Middle right: Westlink M7 a four month period and established the urban Morrison’s contribution to the city has enriched © Brett Boardman and open space structure of the site and all its life for its communities both past and future. Bottom right: Waterpoint, Vietnam principal functions. The team also introduced When asked the secret to a successful the concept of surrounding this harbourside site partnership Conybeare responds, “Mutual with Millenium Parklands. Conybeare Morrison respect has provided the foundation. We have was then involved in the development of the our ups and downs but in the end there is a Sydney Showground together with Cox Group strong common uniformity of purpose.