Parramatta Rockpool and the Gorge.

“Here the tide ceased to flow and all further progress for boats was stopped by a flat space of large broad stones over which a fresh water stream ran.”
Surgeon John White (with Governor Phillip in search of good farmlands and place for the new settlement). 24th April 1788.
Freshwater Square – the original junction of fresh and salt water.
At the Heart of the Sydney basin.
Place of change- Fresh- Salt
River- Ocean
Darug- European
Old World – New World
Where the natural landscape of Parramatta Park and the river meet the urban order of the CBD.
Natural- Urban
Organic – Rectilinear
The central element of River City Square is a rock pool, expanded from the current water area where naturally shaped “large flat stones” are combined with pure circular forms. The Rock pool can be walked across, wandered through, paddled in and sat around.
The water level changes according to the tides, as it cascades down over a range of pools, playing with the level change between the water above the Marsden St weir, to the river level below. It can also be drained to low level for a special event where more space is required.
The space around the River City Square is limited, contained, and inwardly focussed.
THE GORGE is a trafficable building, which will be the entertainment focus of Parramatta.
Program – A convention centre, that can utilise the existing theatres when unused.
Art Gallery
Outdoor theatre space- with the landscape of the building creating an amphitheatre.
People can walk up on to it- getting high enough to see up and down the river, across Parramatta Park, as well as over the CBD and up the river towards the ocean.
In one area the Gorge drops down to the rockpool, as the cliffs of Sydney often do to create the dramatic spatial contrast of the Sydney basin bush.
Parramatta is at the heart of The City in Nature.
The relationship between our amazing natural setting and the built form is the spark that makes all of Sydney so wonderful, so well known and so liveable.
The Opera House forms are somewhere between natural shells and the sails of yachts on the harbour. Ocean swimming pools are another amazing blending of the natural and man made aspect of Sydney’s setting.
Parramatta is flat, and in the middle of the Cumberland Plain.
A Rockpool and Gorge- referenced from the Gorges of the Blue Mountains and the deep cuttings through sandstone of the Hawksbury River, and the original Parramatta River made thousands of years ago as it cut through the Sandstone of Sydney Heads.
These are the symbols of this new civic and cultural precinct – natural elements from the Sydney basin, shaped to form a spectacular urban square, in the tradition of Sydney’s great icons.
A soaring, exposed timber structure will hold up the large folding roof form that creates the landscaped cultural building that will become the focus of civic life, the place for major gatherings where World Cup Soccer is watched, where Royal Weddings and Local Festivals are enjoyed by thousands of people, together in the heart of Sydney.
The new form wraps the existing theatres, creates new foyer spaces, and allows a multi-level convention centre/ arts building to be built. Each level can come out onto the roof form- with views of the CBD and surrounds.
People can walk up the surface of the building, where timber inserts will create grandstand pockets for small gatherings or for these can combine for watching performances in the square and screens at major events. Stages could float out on the rock pool, or waters can be drained, mirroring the original tidal flow of this section of the river.
BASE : A sandstone base drops from street level down to create the rock pool, where cultural spaces and restaurants will get close to the water level- and natural  environment.
FINE GRAIN: The Church Street hospitality precinct is continued around the edge of the Rock Pool- and North facing cafes and restaurants created.
Behind the Fine Grain eat street strips, residential towers are built to contribute to funding of the cultural gorge building.
This square will also replace the possible square further East along the river, where apartments can be built instead, to further contribute to the funding of this precinct.

“Here the tide ceased to flow and all further progress for boats was stopped by a flat space of large broad stones over which a fresh water stream ran.” Surgeon John White (with Governor Phillip in search of good farmlands and place for the new settlement). 24th April 1788.

Freshwater Square – the original junction of fresh and salt water.At the Heart of the Sydney basin.
Place of change- Fresh- Salt River- Ocean Darug- European Old World – New World Where the natural landscape of Parramatta Park and the river meet the urban order of the CBD.  Natural- Urban Organic – Rectilinear The central element of River City Square is a rock pool, expanded from the current water area where naturally shaped “large flat stones” are combined with pure circular forms. The Rock pool can be walked across, wandered through, paddled in and sat around.The water level changes according to the tides, as it cascades down over a range of pools, playing with the level change between the water above the Marsden St weir, to the river level below. It can also be drained to low level for a special event where more space is required. 
The space around the River City Square is limited, contained, and inwardly focussed.
THE GORGE is a trafficable building, which will be the entertainment focus of Parramatta.Program – A convention centre, that can utilise the existing theatres when unused.Art GalleryOutdoor theatre space- with the landscape of the building creating an amphitheatre.People can walk up on to it- getting high enough to see up and down the river, across Parramatta Park, as well as over the CBD and up the river towards the ocean. In one area the Gorge drops down to the rockpool, as the cliffs of Sydney often do to create the dramatic spatial contrast of the Sydney basin bush.
Parramatta is at the heart of The City in Nature. The relationship between our amazing natural setting and the built form is the spark that makes all of Sydney so wonderful, so well known and so liveable.The Opera House forms are somewhere between natural shells and the sails of yachts on the harbour. Ocean swimming pools are another amazing blending of the natural and man made aspect of Sydney’s setting.
Parramatta is flat, and in the middle of the Cumberland Plain.A Rockpool and Gorge- referenced from the Gorges of the Blue Mountains and the deep cuttings through sandstone of the Hawksbury River, and the original Parramatta River made thousands of years ago as it cut through the Sandstone of Sydney Heads.These are the symbols of this new civic and cultural precinct – natural elements from the Sydney basin, shaped to form a spectacular urban square, in the tradition of Sydney’s great icons. 
A soaring, exposed timber structure will hold up the large folding roof form that creates the landscaped cultural building that will become the focus of civic life, the place for major gatherings where World Cup Soccer is watched, where Royal Weddings and Local Festivals are enjoyed by thousands of people, together in the heart of Sydney.The new form wraps the existing theatres, creates new foyer spaces, and allows a multi-level convention centre/ arts building to be built. Each level can come out onto the roof form- with views of the CBD and surrounds.People can walk up the surface of the building, where timber inserts will create grandstand pockets for small gatherings or for these can combine for watching performances in the square and screens at major events. Stages could float out on the rock pool, or waters can be drained, mirroring the original tidal flow of this section of the river. 
BASE : A sandstone base drops from street level down to create the rock pool, where cultural spaces and restaurants will get close to the water level- and natural  environment.
FINE GRAIN: The Church Street hospitality precinct is continued around the edge of the Rock Pool- and North facing cafes and restaurants created. 
Behind the Fine Grain eat street strips, residential towers are built to contribute to funding of the cultural gorge building.  This square will also replace the possible square further East along the river, where apartments can be built instead, to further contribute to the funding of this precinct.

River City Square:

Location: Parramatta City Centre. NSW, Australia
33°48’40.07″S, 151° 0’13.07″E
Client:  Parramatta Council
Team: Thierry Lacoste, Craig Allchin.
Date:  Competition 2011










Water square

















an artificial hill with commanding views of western Sydney.
















wrapping the existing post-modern theatres
















Rem Koolhaas defines public space as a place where anything could happen at anytime. This water square is a wild urban space, continuously changing, always surprising.