Stockland Glasshouse

Glasshouse is a mixed-use office and retail complex at the intersection of King Street and Pitt Street Mall in Sydney, New South Wales. The building sits within one of the city's principal retail precincts, next to Westfield Sydney and opposite MidCity, The Strand Arcade and Sydney Arcade. Its retail component is accessed from Pitt Street Mall, King Street, Westfield Sydney and a skybridge connection from 25 Martin Place. Constructed in 1990, the 25-storey complex was designed as a combination of commercial offices and shopping facilities. The office component originally provided approximately 30,000 square metres of space, while the retail centre occupied multiple lower levels. The original shopping offer was known as Glasshouse on the Mall and comprised 27 specialty stores across three floors, together with a ground-floor food court. The building's L-shaped configuration shaped the layout of the retail arcade between King and Pitt Streets. Stockland became associated with the property after acquiring a 50 percent interest in both the office and retail portions in June 2003. During the period in which Stockland held this interest, the retail centre was commonly referred to as Stockland Glasshouse or Glasshouse Shopping Centre. The centre subsequently underwent a major repositioning. In September 2014, Stockland and Investa Commercial Property Fund prepared plans for a redevelopment reported to be worth approximately A$30 million. The project retained the historic external facade but substantially removed and rebuilt the interior of the former L-shaped arcade to create a more contemporary fashion-led retail environment. The redevelopment was anchored by international fashion retailer H&M, which opened a large store on 31 October 2015. Zara Home followed on 3 December 2015. A temporary Uniqlo store had also operated at the centre from 2 May to 26 November 2014 before relocating to the nearby MidCity complex. Zara Home later left after deciding not to renew its lease; the store closed on 28 November 2018. Its space was subsequently occupied by Platypus Shoes, which opened a flagship store on 11 April 2019. The property is principally distinguished by its combination of office accommodation and high-footfall urban retail rather than by a standalone suburban shopping-centre format. Its retail footprint has been described as approximately 5,000 square metres in the later configuration, while the original centre was reported at approximately 10,000 square metres. Tenant information has included H&M and Platypus Shoes, with the latter occupying multiple levels alongside the major H&M store. Because ownership, management and leasing arrangements may change over time, historical Stockland association should not automatically be treated as evidence of the current owner or operator.

Glasshouse is a 25-storey office and retail building in Sydney's central business district. It occupies a prominent corner at King Street and Pitt Street Mall, within a dense retail environment that also includes Westfield Sydney, MidCity, The Strand Arcade and Sydney Arcade. The building's retail levels have direct access from several surrounding destinations, including Pitt Street Mall, King Street, Westfield Sydney and a skybridge from 25 Martin Place. The complex was completed in 1990 at a reported cost of approximately A$200 million. Its original development program provided about 30,000 square metres of office space and a three-level shopping centre containing about 10,000 square metres of retail space. The shopping centre was initially called Glasshouse on the Mall. Its L-shaped plan reflected the building's configuration between King Street and Pitt Street. The early retail offer included 27 specialty stores distributed across three floors and a food court on the ground floor. In June 2003, Stockland acquired a 50 percent interest in both the office and retail portions of the property. The Stockland association led to the use of names including Stockland Glasshouse and Glasshouse Shopping Centre. The site later entered a substantial repositioning phase intended to strengthen its role as a fashion and lifestyle destination in the Sydney CBD. In September 2014, Stockland and Investa Commercial Property Fund prepared plans for a redevelopment reported at approximately A$30 million. The scheme retained the building's historic facade while demolishing and reconstructing the interior of the former L-shaped arcade. This approach preserved a visible element of the existing building while allowing the retail interior to be reorganised around larger contemporary stores. The redevelopment's principal anchor was H&M, which opened on 31 October 2015. Zara Home opened shortly afterward on 3 December 2015. Before those openings, Uniqlo had operated a temporary pop-up store at Glasshouse from 2 May 2014 until 26 November 2014, after which it moved to the nearby MidCity centre. Zara Home later decided not to renew its lease and closed on 28 November 2018. The former Zara Home space was subsequently occupied by Platypus Shoes, which opened a flagship store on 11 April 2019. Later descriptions of the retail component identify approximately 5,000 square metres of retail space and tenants including H&M and Platypus Shoes across multiple levels. The name Glasshouse remains associated with the building, while Stockland Glasshouse is principally a historical or former branding reference. The available reference material does not establish the current ownership, management company, tenant roster beyond the cited examples, or a separate corporate entity operating under the Stockland Glasshouse name.

• 2019

  Platypus Shoes opens flagship store

  [1]Glasshouse (Sydney)en.wikipedia.org

  Platypus Shoes opens a flagship store in the former Zara Home premises on 11 April.

• 2018

  Zara Home departs

  [1]Glasshouse (Sydney)en.wikipedia.org

  Zara Home closes on 28 November after deciding not to renew its lease.

• 2015

  H&M opens

  [1]Glasshouse (Sydney)en.wikipedia.org

  H&M opens its store at the redeveloped centre on 31 October.

• 2015

  Zara Home opens

  [1]Glasshouse (Sydney)en.wikipedia.org

  Zara Home opens at Glasshouse on 3 December.

• 2014

  Uniqlo pop-up opens

  [1]Glasshouse (Sydney)en.wikipedia.org

  Uniqlo begins operating a temporary store at the centre on 2 May.

• 2014

  Retail redevelopment plans are prepared

  [1]Glasshouse (Sydney)en.wikipedia.org

  Stockland and Investa Commercial Property Fund prepare plans for a major interior redevelopment with H&M as anchor tenant.

• 2003

  Stockland acquires a half interest

  [1]Glasshouse (Sydney)en.wikipedia.org

  Stockland acquires a 50 percent interest in both the office and retail portions of the building.

• 1990

  Glasshouse complex is completed

  [1]Glasshouse (Sydney)en.wikipedia.org

  The 25-storey office and retail complex is built in Sydney's central business district at a reported cost of approximately A$200 million.

A centrally located, fashion-oriented urban retail destination integrated into a major Sydney office building and connected to the Pitt Street Mall shopping network.

• Shopping-centre retail · 1990

  Retail arcade

  The retail component occupies the lower levels of the mixed-use building and has historically included specialty shops, fashion retailers, footwear stores, homewares and food-court facilities. Its location connects it directly with Pitt Street Mall and neighbouring CBD retail destinations. The interior was substantially rebuilt during the redevelopment associated with the H&M opening.

• Fashion retail · 2015

  H&M Glasshouse

  H&M became the principal anchor of the redeveloped retail centre and opened on 31 October 2015. The store is described in the reference material as one of Sydney's largest H&M locations and occupies a substantial multi-level retail presence within Glasshouse.

• Footwear retail · 2019

  Platypus Shoes flagship store

  Platypus Shoes took over the premises formerly occupied by Zara Home and opened a flagship store on 11 April 2019. It forms part of the centre's later fashion and footwear-oriented tenant mix.

• Homewares retail · 2015

  Zara Home Glasshouse

  Zara Home opened at the centre on 3 December 2015 following the retail redevelopment. The store closed on 28 November 2018 after the retailer chose not to renew its lease.

• 2018

  Zara Home lease exitOther

  Background

  Zara Home's lease at Glasshouse reached a point at which the retailer chose not to continue its tenancy.

  Action taken

  The store closed on 28 November 2018.

  Aftermath

  Platypus Shoes subsequently took over the space and opened a flagship store in April 2019.

  Source

• 2014

  Repositioning and redevelopment of the retail arcadeStrategy

  Background

  The existing retail arcade required a substantial update, and the owners sought to strengthen Glasshouse's role within the competitive Pitt Street Mall fashion precinct.

  Action taken

  Stockland and Investa Commercial Property Fund prepared a reported A$30 million redevelopment plan. The historic facade was retained, while the interior of the L-shaped arcade was demolished and rebuilt around a large H&M tenancy.

  Aftermath

  H&M opened in October 2015 and Zara Home followed in December 2015, establishing a more fashion- and lifestyle-oriented tenant mix.

  Reported redevelopment cost. A$30 million planned redevelopment (2014 plan)

  Source

• 2014

  Temporary Uniqlo tenancyProduct launch

  Background

  Uniqlo used Glasshouse as a temporary Sydney CBD retail location during the centre's broader transition.

  Action taken

  Uniqlo opened a pop-up store on 2 May 2014 and operated it until 26 November 2014.

  Aftermath

  The retailer moved its operation to MidCity rather than continuing at Glasshouse.

  Source

1. 1Glasshouse (Sydney)en.wikipedia.org