Architects dismiss Darling Harbour revamp

Revised: The proposed theatre. Photo: Darling Harbour Live

The revised plans for Darling Harbour's redevelopment have been dismissed as ''PR window dressing'' by the nation's peak architectural body, which says the underlying planning faults of the precinct's overhaul remain.

Australian Institute of Architects president Paul Berkemeier questioned whether the changes to the $1 billion entertainment, exhibition and convention precinct were a genuine response to public feedback or just the next stage in its design development.

They could be made out of green cheese for that matter and you'd be no wiser.

'They're dressed up as changes to take account of public comment, but I don't see it that way,'' he said. ''It's hard to get through the spin.''

The Lend Lease-led consortium said that in the wake of community feedback, it revised the plans, most notably the facade of the international convention centre to ''minimise the perceived bulk and scale''.

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But Mr Berkemeier called for a ''significant'' exhibition of the complete drawings and models for the proposal, which he said, to date, had offered the public little insight into the real scale or footprint.

''They're just ephemeral images. They could be made out of green cheese for that matter and you'd be no wiser,'' he said.

He said the fault did not lie with the proponent or its architects Hassell and Populous, but a ''fast-tracked'' government process that tried to squeeze too much into too small a space. ''The buildings can be made to work, although they have been forced to be much bulkier than is desirable because of the nature of the plan,'' he said.

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Architects dismiss Darling Harbour revamp