Niall McLaughlin set to design new Sydney cathedral
London studio Niall McLaughlin Architects has unveiled its initial design for a cathedral in Sydney, Australia, which will form part of the country's first new cathedral precinct in over 100 years.
Set to be built in Sydney's Waitara suburb, the building forms part of a wider project to transform a 7.7-hectare site into a spiritual centre for the Diocese of Broken Bay.
According to the diocese, the building will be the first Roman Catholic cathedral precinct to be "masterplanned from its inception" in Australia for over a century.
It will be designed by Níall McLaughlin Architects, which is led by Níall McLaughlin, who was recently named the winner of the RIBA Royal Gold Medal. The design will be developed in collaboration with Australian studio Hayball.
"We are delighted to work on this significant project to help create an enduring spiritual, civic, and cultural precinct that places the faithful at its centre," said McLaughlin.
Cathedral informed by the Hawkesbury River
The design will be informed by the Hawkesbury River that connects the diocese's 26 parishes with timber framing and sandstone facades referencing forests, bluffs and caves that surround the river.
It will connect to the nearby St Leo's Catholic College, with the aim of developing a "virtuous circle" of Catholic life, from baptism through to early learning, primary, and secondary education.
Surrounding the cathedral will be several other buildings that will contain residences for the bishop and clergy and offices for the diocese.
Housing and a series of public amenities will also be built as part of the project, including a cafe, bookshop and publicly accessible roof gardens, along with a pastoral centre and parish hall.
Appointment "signals we are moving ahead with confidence"
According to the diocese, the appointment of McLaughlin marks the ambition of the project.
"The cathedral precinct is a home for faith, a place for community, and a commitment to the faithful of today and for future generations," said Archbishop Randazzo, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Broken Bay.
"The appointment of Níall McLaughlin Architects signals we are moving ahead with confidence to create a community legacy for generations to come," he continued.
McLaughlin, the London-based Irish architect, is widely known for his focus on craft and restrained materials, with diverse portfolio spanning buildings for education, cultural landmarks and housing.
His notable works include the Bishop Edward King Chapel in Oxford, built in 2013, and the New Library, Magdalene College, for the University of Cambridge, which won the 2022 Stirling Prize.
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