- 2026 Pioneer Prize
- From Residential Architecture
Pumphouse Waterloo
Project Description
The Pumphouse Waterloo is a mixed-use residential precinct located within Sydney’s Waterloo district, designed as a contemporary urban community shaped by the industrial and environmental history of the site. Developed in collaboration with Fieldwork, the project reimagines a former Sydney Water industrial landscape through the integration of heritage buildings, residential development, public space and landscape.
The proposal draws from the site’s layered history. Historically connected to wetlands and waterways associated with Gadigal and Gameygal Country, the site later became associated with Sydney Water infrastructure and maintenance facilities. The project responds to these histories through an architectural and landscape approach informed by water, materiality and industrial character.
At the centre of the precinct are the heritage-listed pumphouse and valve house buildings, retained as key elements within the new development. The proposal incorporates these structures into a broader network of plazas, through-site links, communal open space and landscaped areas, establishing a connection between heritage fabric and contemporary urban life.
The development includes apartments ranging from studios to larger residential dwellings distributed across multiple buildings. The architecture references the industrial character of the surrounding context through the use of brick, concrete and expressed structural forms, while integrated planting and communal landscape spaces soften the built form and support residential amenity.
A central landscaped “green void” and communal courtyard spaces provide shared outdoor areas for residents and contribute to the spatial organisation of the precinct. Pedestrian connectivity is prioritised through shared zones, activated ground-floor uses and through-site links that connect the development with the surrounding neighbourhood.
Environmental performance is incorporated through building orientation, opportunities for cross-ventilation, integrated landscape and rooftop solar infrastructure. These strategies support environmental responsiveness within a dense urban setting.
The Pumphouse Waterloo proposes an approach to urban renewal that combines heritage retention, residential density and public landscape within a single integrated framework. Through the adaptive reuse of industrial references and the introduction of connected public and communal spaces, the project establishes a contemporary residential precinct grounded in the history and character of Waterloo.
MHNDU is a Sydney-based architectural practice committed to creating enduring architecture shaped by clarity, material integrity and contemporary living. For more than twenty-five years, the practice has delivered residential, multi-residential and urban renewal projects that balance architectural expression with long-term functionality, environmental responsiveness and connection to place.
Led by principals Brian Meyerson, Kevin Ng, Liam Hancock, Michael Waterman and Tanya Awadallah, MHNDU operates as a collaborative design studio bringing together architecture, urban thinking and strategic project delivery. The practice has developed a diverse portfolio of work across Sydney and internationally, ranging from bespoke private residences to large-scale mixed-use and urban renewal developments.
MHNDU’s work is characterised by a modern architectural language informed by climate, landscape and local context. Each project is approached as a unique response to site and brief, with careful consideration given to planning, materiality, public interface and the experience of daily occupation. The studio places strong emphasis on spatial quality, environmental performance and the integration of architecture with landscape and urban conditions.
The practice has established a strong industry reputation through its combination of design ambition, technical precision and commercial understanding. MHNDU’s work has been recognised through numerous national and international awards, with projects acknowledged across architecture, urban design and residential categories for their contribution to contemporary Australian design.
Alongside design excellence, MHNDU is recognised for its experience navigating complex planning and development processes, working closely with clients, consultants, government authorities and stakeholders to deliver thoughtful and viable architectural outcomes.
Across all scales of work, the studio’s focus remains consistent: to create architecture that is enduring, responsive and grounded in its context. Through careful attention to form, proportion, material and atmosphere, MHNDU seeks to produce buildings and spaces that contribute positively to both the built environment and the communities they serve.
MHNDU maintains a close collaborative relationship with interior design studio Lawless & Meyerson, enabling an integrated approach to architecture and interiors across a range of residential and hospitality projects. This collaborative process supports cohesive spatial outcomes that extend from the urban and architectural scale through to interior experience and detail.
