Birkenhead Point is Sydney’s largest brand outlet with 170 stores, located only six kilometers from the CBD on Sydney Harbour. It is one of the only destinations in Sydney where you can shop at over 120 premium outlet brands and dine at the water’s edge whilst enjoying the spectacular harbor views in an open-air shopping environment. Ignite designed the full refurbishment and repositioning of the asset in 2004 taking it from a rundown assembly of separate buildings into a single cohesive centre.

Birkenhead Point has the second largest trade area of any other regional Shopping Centre in Sydney with a population growth in the main trade area forecast at 1.3% or 4,800 new residents per year over the next 10 years and per capita income +25% higher than the Sydney Average.

Of heritage significance, Birkenhead Point required a sensitive approach to what was existing while bringing contemporary relevance to the asset as a destination. The heritage fabric needed to be respected by modern insertions used to make the center relevant and attractive to modern patrons. The historical aspects of the asset work to ground the design with cultural importance and pedigree.

The central glass canopy was designed to enable the center to function as a four-season offering, as well as a spine that ties the complex together as a whole. This canopy creates a comfortable alfresco shopping and dining experience while bringing a signature and memorable architectural element to the venue. This canopy was conceived by both architects and engineers to ensure a beautifully light and transparent element would delicately hover over busy shoppers.