Charles Street Square. Parramatta Quay

Reconnecting city and river

Service
Environmental Design

Scope
Masterplanning
User journeys
Signage strategy
Signage & wayfinding design
Placemaking
Tender documentation
Construction documentation
Implementation and defect reporting

Charles Street Square transforms Parramatta’s river edge into a civic destination, reconnecting the city to the water through a series of generous public spaces, terraces and walkways. As a key gateway between the CBD and the Parramatta River, the precinct needed to be both intuitive to navigate and rich in identity, supporting everyday movement while elevating the experience of arrival.

The challenge

The project brought together layered conditions. A new public domain stitched into an established urban fabric. Multiple access points, level changes and circulation paths. A diverse mix of users, from commuters and locals to visitors discovering the river for the first time.

The challenge was to create a signage and wayfinding approach that could operate seamlessly within this complexity, guiding people clearly and confidently while remaining embedded within the architectural and landscape language. It needed to feel considered, not overlaid. Civic, but not institutional. Distinct, yet restrained enough to sit comfortably within a highly designed public realm.

The solution

Extrablack worked across the full environmental design scope, from masterplanning and user journeys through to signage strategy, detailed design and implementation.

The approach centred on clarity and integration. Wayfinding elements were carefully positioned to align with key decision points, supporting intuitive movement rather than relying on excessive signage. A consistent visual language was developed to unify identification, directional and interpretive elements across the precinct.

Materiality and form were closely coordinated with the surrounding landscape architecture. Vertical markers, directional blades and integrated elements were designed to sit comfortably within the terraced environment, complementing the warm, robust palette of the public domain while maintaining legibility at all scales.

Placemaking played a key role. Interpretive moments and subtle graphic interventions add depth to the experience, connecting people to the site’s identity and reinforcing Parramatta’s evolving riverfront story.

The outcome

The result is a clear, confident and cohesive wayfinding experience that supports both movement and moments of pause. Visitors can navigate effortlessly between the city and the river, while the signage system quietly reinforces the character of the place.

Charles Street Square has quickly established itself as a vibrant civic destination, balancing functionality with a strong sense of identity. The project has been recognised with multiple industry awards, including the 2024 AILA National Award of Excellence for Civic Landscape and the 2024 AIA NSW Urban Design Award, reflecting the strength of the collaboration and the quality of the public realm outcome.

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