Urban Transformation Summer School 2023

We are proud to report the successful completion of the inaugural Urban Transformation Summer School (UT SS) organised and hosted by Western Sydney University that has been held between 17-24 February 2023 at Parramatta Engineering and Innovation Hub (PEIH), 6 Hassall St Parramatta.

As part of its investment with Powerhouse Parramatta, Holdmark Property Group has partnered with Western Sydney University to deliver a multi-disciplinary summer school focused on urban design, transformation, and holistic approaches to the built form.  The UT SS is led by Western Sydney University’s Chair of Architecture, Professor Paul Sanders and Professor of Practice, Peter Poulet, both of whom value the transformative potential of high-quality urban architecture. The UT SS will see students engage with a Western Sydney local council on a project to tackle real-world urban and architecture challenges. Students will generate solutions in a one week intensive 'think -tank' studio under the guidance of national and international academics and practitioners.

Fifteen students of the WSU Master of Architecture (Urban Transformation) program enrolled in the seven-day program, which was developed in collaboration with Hannah Slater (ARUP) and delivered by experts and leading industry stakeholders. With this high level guidance, students explored the impact of the Powerhouse Museum on urban transformation of the city of Parramatta across five themes, namely: 1. Art and Culture; 2. Liveability and climate change; 3. Design excellence and strategic approach; 4. connective urban tissue and role of public space; 5. River strategy. The final outcomes of the presentations of the UT SS student work will be published later as a booklet.

A special thank goes to #Powerhouse Museum team, # Holdmark, Keynote speakers and panelists: # Steven Toia, # Nicolas Moreau and #Hiroko Kusunoki, # Kelly van der Zanden, # Abbie Galvin, # Hannah Slater, # Nicolas Bandounas