Winning the international design competition for the cultural precinct in Sydney’s Parramatta, COX Architecture and 3XN Architects, in collaboration with Aileen Sage, Turf Design Studio, and Bangawarra, have unveiled the design for Riverside Theatres in Sydney. The project translates the architectural expression of permeability and invitation into a tangible narrative that bridges innovation with contextual sensitivity. The winning design integrates the complex requirements of state-of-the-art performance spaces with a dynamic architectural form.
Twisting Timber Forms Define Riverside Theatres
Strategically positioned as a cultural anchor for Parramatta across the new Powerhouse Parramatta museum, the project intends to attract over 400,000 visitors annually, shaping the transformation of Parramatta and Greater Western Sydney. The dynamic twisting timber structure defines the identity of the form that directly responds to the Parramatta River’s curvature.
Responding to the riverside location, the architectural design of the Riverside Theatres transcends traditional theatre typologies to become a civic extension for public engagement. Sculpted through dynamic geometry, the building’s external form gently twists and modulates, serving a functional purpose by visually and physically linking the building to its natural context.
The partnership between COX Architecture, a major Australian practice, and Danish firm 3XN Architects strikes a balance between conceptual vision and resolved spatial layouts. Fred Holt, Partner in Charge of 3XN Australia, describes the design as an opportunity to create a structure that is welcoming, porous, and permeable with a high level of sustainability, specifically the 5-Star Green Star goal.
The core concept of permeability will be achieved through diverse architectural strategies to blur the boundary between the theatre and its environment. COX Director Joe Agius emphasized that the design process was deeply rooted in the site’s First Nations origins and sense of place, while COX Director Brooke Lloyd further noted that the team sought inspiration from a First Nations narrative from concept through to detail.
The redevelopment plan transforms the local theatre into a major performing arts centre, replacing the existing Riverside Theatres complex, which had been limited by its capacity, comprising a 761-seat Drama Theatre, a 213-seat Lennox Theatre, and an 88-seat Rafferty’s Theatre. Embracing the notion of public realm design, transitional spaces such as pathways, landscaped terraces, and improved civic access draw visitors from the Church Street entry to the riverfront, creating a continuous public space.
The new design will dismantle the existing structure, only retaining the core Drama Theatre structure and replacing it with vastly expanded facilities, increasing the total capacity to approximately 2,780 seats. The Lyric theatre features an auditorium layout that includes stalls, a single dress circle, and two levels of side balconies, ensuring exceptional sightlines from every position for remarkable proximity between the audience and the stage.
Studios and Cinemas: Flexible Interiors
A new 424-seat Studio Theatre will offer local experimental works and smaller dramatic productions and maximize artistic flexibility for companies such as the National Theatre of Parramatta. Complementing these venues, a smaller digital studio and an 80-seat cinema will accommodate the digital arts programming, film screenings, and technical rehearsals.
The existing Playhouse theatre is preserved and refurbished into a 760-seat venue. Bangawarra has proposed First Nations-inspired interiors across the performance spaces, blending contemporary architecture with culturally resonant design concepts. The twisting timber structure embodies a commitment to advanced contemporary construction techniques that align with the project’s sustainability goals. Scheduled to be completed in 2028, Riverside Theatres is envisioned as a world-class performing arts centre and exemplar of contemporary cultural infrastructure.
Riverside Theatre Project Details
Architects: 3XN Architects, COX Architects, Aileen Sage
Location: Sydney, Australia
Landscape: Turf Design Studio
Consultant: Bangawarra
Visualizations: © Aesthetica Studio
