Winning design for Parramatta Mission building as part of Square revealed

Weeks after the ‘remarkable’ winning design for a historic church site was selected for the $3.2 billion Parramatta Square development, an architect has released images of an equally-striking entry.

Parramatta Mission has unveiled potential designs for its new building — The Gathering Place — that will stand beside the historic, 200-year-old Leigh Memorial Church site.

The mission and Parramatta Council has unveiled architects Durbach Block Jaggers’ winning design for the centre, that will be part of the $3.2 billion Parramatta Square redevelopment, and will be constructed in contrast to the towering glass piles surrounding the Macquarie St site.

The innovative design has been likened to a banksia pod with a soft silhouette that will include a rooftop chapel and reflective garden, complemented by the rebuilding of the spire on Leigh Memorial Church.

The winning design for Gathering Place. Picture: Durbach Block Jaggers

Parramatta Mission board and church council member Ian Gray said The Gathering Place would allow the Uniting Church parish to continue serving the community.

“Through the life and witness of its congregations and through its delivery of social services, Parramatta Mission is seeking to redevelop this site to be a source of inspiration in the life of Sydney’s ‘central city’,’’ he said.

“The Gathering Place will be accessed by people from all walks of life.”

A Durbach Block Jaggers spokesman said the building was ‘friendly and familiar”.

“Its gentle connection to the Leigh Memorial Church preserves both light and visibility,’’ he said.

“The circular geometry of the new welcomes all, complementing the inward nature of the existing church.”

Parramatta Lord Mayor Steven Issa lauded the design.

“The Gathering Place is a remarkable design and will be a wonderful addition to Parramatta’s Civic Link – a green, pedestrianised pathway that will connect the heart of the Parramatta CBD to the river,’’ he said.

“We welcome the lodgement of the development application for this building in the near future and look forward to seeing this important community facility becoming a reality.”

The Leigh Memorial Church building is the third church to operate on the site since 1821 and the campus has been a focus of Christian worship and the provision of community assistance for 200 years.

Most recently, it has assisted homeless people.

Mr Gray said further detailed design work could be required and it was intended to proceed directly to prepare development application once the design was finalised.

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger raised the shape of the building.

“It’s clear in Parramatta the curve is back,’’ he said.

Smart Design Studio opted for a gothic-inspired design.

“It’s time for the rest of Sydney to embrace the flowing lines of nature and bring it to the built environment.

“The Gathering Place is a wonderful human scale counterpoint to the heights of Parramatta Square, contrasting the glass and metal with traditional materials such as brick as well as one of Parramatta’s first green rooftops.”

Despite missing out on winning the design competition, Smart Design Studio has released its captivating entries which are a nod to gothic-era architecture with high ceilings, arches and colours to match the Leigh Memorial Church next door.

Smart Design Studio's proposal included striking interiors but it was not chosen as the winning design.

“Brick external walls and a sandstone plinth at ground level ties in with the existing foundation walls while fine steel-framed, glazed double hung windows and doors speak to the stained glass of the lancet-shaped windows of the church,’’ architects William Smart said.

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