Besley & Spresser has designed the Pier Pavilion in Sydney, Australia.

After winning a national competition, the Pier Pavilion is a permanent civic space on Sydney Harbour.

Recently described by the Architectural Review as "A people's pavilion," the building asserts public values within a precinct dominated by commercial towers.

Its form responds to the geometry of surrounding coves and peninsulas, opening toward a view to Me-Mel (Goat Island).

Perimeter columns support a landscape roof of endemic planting, while a large oculus draws a circle of light across the ground.

The pavilion is entirely clad in Oyster Terrazzo, a material developed for the project from 500,000 recycled Sydney Rock Oyster shells.