The luxury InterContinental Parramatta is set to make an impact as part of the transformational 197 Church Street development.

Parramatta is undergoing a phase of evolution and prosperity in both the private and public sectors, which has led to many new developments in the CBD. 197 Church Street sits at the nexus of this transformation, at one of the city’s most culturally significant intersections. An InterContinental hotel - the first luxury hotel in Parramatta - will contribute to the city’s growth by bringing luxury to this new destination.

The project encompasses a 4,300 sqm site bounded by Church, Macquarie and Marsden Streets, including the 32-story hotel as well as 25 floors of commercial offices and significant public gathering spaces.

A site of such importance requires considered design thinking. Scott Carver Architects’ approach was significantly shaped by conversations with their indigenous partner, Matthew Fellingham, and what caring for Country means to First Nation peoples.

These conversations revealed opportunities to instinctually connect the architecture to the land through a design narrative that is rich in culture and heritage. The result is a through site link, Ngara Nura Way, that underpins the built form above, and bookends the customer journey and experience.

“Our key design principles are equal parts physical and philosophical, driven by geomorphology, contextual history, community, and the urban framework. Importantly, these key principles are also underpinned by cultural layering and connection to Country and ground the hotel and commercial towers as they rise to form a unique imprint on the Parramatta CBD skyline,” says Nicholas Bandounas, Director, Scott Carver.

Guests arrive to the hotel via Ngara Nura Way. The lobby presents visitors with a choice; join the action in the restaurant and bar, or slip away for a quiet cocktail in the lobby lounge. 200 generously appointed guestrooms provide accommodation for the 900sqm of meeting space, while the spa and pool offer a place to escape and unwind. The sophisticated collection of InterContinental experiences is complete with a visit to the rooftop bar, which features 360-degree views over two floors. From the arrival experience through to the rooftop bar, the hotel celebrates a sense of occasion at every touchpoint.

Jael Fischer, Director of Development – Australasia & Pacific at IHG Hotels & Resorts, which will operate the hotel, said: “As the world’s first global hotel brand that has been pioneering luxury travel since 1946, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is famous for bringing iconic properties with modern luxury design to destinations around the world. We are so excited to see InterContinental Parramatta come to life with this brilliantly cosmopolitan design that draws on the brand’s iconic heritage, with a strong connection to community. I’d like to congratulate Scott Carver and hotel owner, Holdmark Property Group, on creating the first luxury hotel in Parramatta, one of Australia’s fastest growing cities. We can’t wait to welcome it to the world when it opens in 2025.”

In relation to the 197 Church Street project as a whole, the hotel tower is grounded by Ngara Nura Way, and addresses Marsden Street in a tall and slender form. It speaks to the commercial tower it shares the site with through common horizontal massing breaks.

The sophistication and luxurious offering that InterContinental Parramatta will provide is expressed in the external architecture. The façade of the slender tower form speaks to attributes found in nature, that of dappling light, and the gradual layering of heaviness to lightness. This is reinterpreted using a diminishing density approach, where the façade detail becomes smaller and finer as you move up the towers, capturing light and celebrating height.

Overall, the project will contribute positively to the urban life of the precinct, connect with its rich history and culture, and align with the transformation happening in Parramatta.

a19eba6f-6544-417c-80e8-3e323e715422.jpeg