Mary, Queen of the Family

Parramatta, Australia

This striking Catholic basilica in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia was a collaborative effort between Hord Architects and Franck & Lohsen Architects. This would be a transformative project for the Catholic community in the area and ecclesiastical architecture worldwide.

The massive nave accommodates 3,000 worshipers in a centralized floor plan of radiating rose layout - an homage to Our Lady. It is topped with an incredible dome as a beacon of Christianity to the wider community. The architectural language blends Byzantine and Romanesque influences with exterior striated stone patterns, Eastern details, iconography, and supporting smaller domes.

This 63,000 square foot campus plan also includes a parish hall and a three-story ancillary building for ministries and church administration, plus an underground 550 car parking garage and other public spaces such as a cafe.