Architecture

HTA’s architecture strategy for 81-83 George Street and 1 Barrack Lane delivers a Build-to-Rent led mixed-use development of 352 dual key homes supported by retail and resident amenity. Designed for volumetric modular construction, the scheme enables faster delivery, consistent quality and reduced embodied carbon. The design balances a modern modular approach with materials and proportions that respond to Parramatta’s historic context. The development is organised as a 42-storey tower rising from a podium that wraps around the 180-year-old Moreton Bay Fig tree. The podium accommodates retail, a residential lobby, parking, plant and communal resident facilities including a pool terrace, yoga deck, edible garden and amphitheatre seating. A rooftop lounge provides panoramic views of Parramatta. The tower steps back at upper levels to allow sunlight into surrounding streets and spaces. Its orientation gives homes good daylight, views and ventilation, while limiting shadow on nearby public areas and heritage buildings.

Apartments are designed to be flexible, with layouts that can function as one larger home or be divided into two smaller, self-contained homes. Typical floors accommodate ten homes, reducing to six on upper levels. Modules are based on a 3.5m width wrapped around a centralised service core. Cross-ventilation is achieved in 61% of homes, with all corridors naturally lit and ventilated. A standardised kit-of-parts approach to layouts, kitchens, bathrooms and balconies supports efficiency, with net-to-gross ratios between 78% and 84%.

The architectural expression is defined by its materiality. The podium is finished in brickwork referencing the convict drain and surrounding masonry, while the tower is clad in terracotta with both matt and gloss finishes designed to catch and reflect light differently through the day. The façade is articulated into vertical bays with scalloped detailing, drawing from mid-century proportions and creating rhythm and depth. The crown continues the terracotta language in lighter, more reflective tones, producing a distinctive skyline silhouette. A mix of brick, terracotta, glazing and GRC ensures durability and contextual richness. The form and material strategy also ensures sensitive integration with Perth House, Warders Cottage and the convict drain, reinforcing the site’s layered heritage.