We were delighted to participate in The Architecture Symposium: An/Other City, held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on Friday, 29 November. The Design Speaks forum, organised by Architecture Media, was expertly curated by Andrew Burges and Maryam Gusheh, who did a fantastic job bringing together an exceptional group of speakers and crafting an engaging, thought-provoking theme.
Parramatta was used as an example of a second city within a capital city. Parramatta holds a dual status: it is both peripheral to the globally recognised City of Sydney and uniquely positioned as the most centrally located urban area within greater metropolitan Sydney. As Australia’s second European settlement and one of its most multicultural localities—where over 60% of residents were born overseas—Parramatta represents a fascinating urban narrative. The session explored the emergence of new cultural infrastructure in Parramatta as the city redefines its identity and equivalence with Sydney on a global stage.
Steven Toia, Principal at Genton, was delighted to present the Powerhouse Parramatta, accompanied by a video contribution from Moreau Kusunoki, who were unable to join live. This presentation provided an exciting opportunity for the MKG team to discuss the Powerhouse Parramatta project, its impact on urban environments, and the broader shift towards decentralised cities.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Andrew and Maryam for inviting us to speak and a special thank you to Georgia Birks and Sophia Buckle of Architecture Media for their support. Many of our team members from Genton attended the event, leaving inspired by the insightful talks and enriched by the collaborations and conversations we shared with colleagues from other practices during the breaks.
Photo credit: Anna Kucera
