Architect's Statement

The Design Team's objectives for the Springwood Community and Cultural Facilities Upgrade has been to deliver a contemporary, high quality, sustainable building design of distinctive architectural character.

The design is characterised by a series of carefully proportioned 'portals' constructed of thermally efficient rammed earth walls, timber linings and high performance glazing to house, protect and differentiate the various functions.

The rammed earth walls separate the different activities within, whilst the scale, modulation and materiality fo the building compliments the existing Library, Theatre and Braemar Gallery.

The new development houses the:

• Neighbourhood Centre and Community Services Offices;
• 450-500 Seat Theatre, Community Dining Room and kitchen;
• Childhood Health Centre;
• Multipurpose Function Room and Meeting Spaces;
• Council/Library Service Point with staged Library refurbishment;
• Upgraded and expanded parking facilities; and:
• Landscaped Forecourt, including Braemar landscpe upgrades.

The existing landscape is an amalgamation of mismatched levels, stairs, paths and asphalt roads, which lack clear delineation of car and pedestran movement.

The new design separates vehicular and people movement and delivers a finely detailed ground plane linking the north and south sides of the site via a through-site link within the building.

The linking of these edges will encourage community participation and interaction within the building and in the new landscape spaces which contain:

• A children's play-space;
• Outdoor function space;
• New tree planting;
• Shaded lawn spaces; and
• Upgraded Braemar landscape.

The forecourt has been designed to provide a safe and inviting space for families and the community to gather.

The building will be an exemplar of public building sustainable design with the key initiatives being:

• High performance facades including rammed earth walls and double glazing;
• In-floor heating and cooling with energy efficient air-conditioning;
• High efficiency light fixtures, plant and equipment;
• Naturally ventilated circulation spaces; and
• On-site water capture, storage and reuse.

The new building design opens the site to the north, creating an inviting street address and a positive and complimentary contribution to the Springwood Civic Precinct.