Hughes Street Car Park

The project rises to the pragmatic challenge of extending an existing car-park structure, with a flexible sustainable design conceived for future conversion to commercial retail and offices, with the predicted advent of reduced car ownership in the future. The parallel challenge is an act of civic placemaking - the creation of a striking new addition to the public realm in the heart of the Western City - celebrating its location, function as well as the rich multi-cultural setting in the heart of Sydneys vietnamese community, amongst market stalls and traders.

Our proposal reconciles complex and conflicting planning needs with a simple solution . The external articulation of the building includes a facade conceived as a three dimensional tapestry of colour. Referencing the bright colours of the market stalls adjacent, elevations to old and new structures, parking and ancillary areas are screened with aluminium veil - a layered array of coloured aluminium tubes which serve to filter light whilst allowing cross ventilation. Contrasting the coloured screens, in time, integrated facade planting will soften the building form and bring a strong sense of nature into the heart of Cabramatta's commercial district.

The completed design sees the completion of a missing jigsaw piece in the redevelopment of the Cabramatta CBD. With the completion of the building, an unsightly open car-park is transformed with an act of civic generosity. Internal planning of the new structure, and traffic and vehicle movement in and out of the building have also been determined to allow future conversion of the adjacent streets to a shared zone - further enhancing the public realm and completing the jigsaw.

Roof mounted photovoltaics are included as part of a project wide ESD strategy. Below the photovoltaics, electric car charging stations are included for free use by the community.