Sydney has the Opera House, Paris has the Eiffel Tower, New York has the Empire State Building, and soon Parramatta will have Phive.
With its vibrant red and orange roof now installed, the iconic new – and instantly recognisable – community, cultural and civic building in the heart of Parramatta’s CBD is rapidly taking shape and nearing completion.
Designed by a team led by internationally acclaimed and award-winning French architect Manuelle Gautraud, Phive (5 Parramatta Square) is Gautrand’s first Australian commission. The $136 million community facility joins her prestigious international designs including Citroën’s Flagship Showroom on the Champs-Elysées in Paris and Louis Vuitton Maison in Seoul, South Korea.
“Phive is the centrepiece of Parramatta Square’s $2.7 billion transformation – a landmark addition placing Parramatta on the world stage,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis said.
“It will be a state-of-the-art community and cultural centre for everyone to come together, chat, learn and be inspired.
As part of its cutting-edge design, Phive boasts a unique smart mixed-mode ventilation system that allows its giant louvres to respond to weather conditions, including heat, wind and humidity. The louvres automatically open and fill the building with fresh air and natural light as needed.
“The pandemic highlighted a need for well-ventilated buildings. In a new COVID world, it is vital we offer healthy, safe spaces for our communities to enjoy – and Phive does exactly that,” Cr Davis said.
Phive was designed by a team comprising Gautrand’s French firm and Australian firms DesignInc and Lacoste+Stevenson, represented by Richard Does and Thierry Lacoste. The design won an international Design Excellence competition in 2016.
Gautrand is internationally renowned for her exceptional designs and was the winner of the acclaimed 2017 European Prize for Architecture.
Constructed by Australian group Built, the building extends over the original, heritage-listed Parramatta Town Hall, creating a modern interface with Parramatta’s rich history. The building’s suite of smart tech features includes an automated library book-sorting machine, self-checkout kiosks and self-return library shelves alongside smart furniture with in-built power and data charging points for visitors.
More than 549 unique tessellated façade panels in five vibrant colours across the roof, along with a programmable digital lighting system, create a unique and striking building.
Phive will also feature:
- A world-class public library
- Discovery Space and cultural heritage displays,
- Heritage research services
- Ground-floor foyer (the ‘Urban Living Room’)
- Community collaboration and creative spaces
- New state-of-the-art City of Parramatta Council Chambers
