Sydney, Australia

For the design of the Powerhouse Parramatta, the architect team of Paris-based Moreau Kusunoki Architects and Australian-based Genton devised an open, latticed hyper-platform, a building with many functions and limitless potential.

Moreau Kusunoki and Genton’s design consists of structural steel lattices that minimizes the building’s weight and carbon footprint.

The lattices transition to structural timber at the top of the building, “giving the impression that the building is dissolving into the sky.”

The elegant design was unanimously chosen as the winner of the international competition to design the new Powerhouse Parramatta in Sydney.

The design team succeeded over five other shortlisted contenders: Amanda Levete Architects (UK) and Architectus (Australia); Bernardes Architecture (Brazil) and Scale Architecture (Australia); BVN Architecture (Australia) and Carlo Ratti Associati (Italy)l Chrofi (Australia) with Reko Rennie (Australia); and Steven Holl Architects (United States) and Conrad Gargett (Australia).

The competition, organized by Malcolm Reading Consultants, was endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects.

Nicholas Moreau is a laureate of Europe 40 under 40 awarded by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies in 2016.

The Powerhouse will transcend scale to exist simultaneously as both intimate and iconic.

The built form will tread lightly on the site, creating a porous ground plane.

The architecture will open up towards the river, providing generous public space and creating an open 24-hour precinct.

Seven large-scale presentation spaces are at the core of the Powerhouse.

These immense volumes will act as continual social and cultural amplifiers.

The exterior structural frame will hold these spaces, facilitating dynamic programming by providing total interior flexibility.

The Competition Jury was unanimous in recommending the team of Moreau Kusunoki and Genton as the winner of the Powerhouse Parramatta International Design Competition.

The Jury found the proposal to be a standout, simple and elegant solution, with a strong identity derived from the building’s architecture and structure. The generosity of space, transparency and lightness of the structure created a ‘sense of joy’ that encapsulates the ambitions of Powerhouse Parramatta.

The public realm was considered to be generous and welcoming, with the potential to develop into an exceptional open space for Parramatta, incorporating a clear continuation of the civic link and connecting the city and the river. The design maximized the public realm and incorporated spectacular views of the surrounding city and landscape.

In response to initial engagement undertaken with the Powerhouse and the local Indigenous communities, the design proposes to include Indigenous elements with a specific focus on teaching and learning, celebrating the sophistication of Indigenous knowledge from this place, through time.

The team demonstrated a strong understanding and willingness to engage with local Indigenous communities to further enrich the project throughout the next stages of the design process.

The Moreau Kusunoki and Genton team was inspired by the Japanese concept of ‘mâ’ – an in between space, which is undefined and activated by its users. This concept was reflected across the design in the inclusion of spaces throughout the building described by the team as: “a quiet place for reflection, a lively place for interaction, a safe, neutral space for meetings, conversations and the creation of new shared memories.”

The placement of circulation within the building is intuitive and visual, overlooking the main public space of the scheme and setting up a direct relationship between the movement of people and the theatre of public space.

“Moreau Kusunoki and Genton will develop an exceptional design to carry forward the great legacy of the Powerhouse and its collection for future generations,” said NSW arts minister Don Harwin.

Lead Designer: Moreau Kusunoki
Local Architect: Genton
Client: State of New South Wales