ROYAL PARK BUNINYONG COMMUNITY HALL

The Royal Park Community Centre is located in Buninyong on the corner of Hedrick and Warrenheip Streets. The broad context encompasses a domestic backdrop with varying eras of housing mostly post war from 1950’s to current and the recreation reserve. The site of the proposed community centre is located on the north section of Hedrick Street and looks south onto the soccer recreation reserve and west onto the community gardens/ events area.

After listening to members of the Buninyong community and council, it became clear that the design should strongly incorporate sustainability, community and local.

In terms of sustainability the design aims to incorporate appropriate solar access with north facing glazing and shaded west facing glazing. Thermal mass concrete floors and rammed earth walls help reduce the heating and cooling loads on the building so that it can be as comfortable as possible without the overuse of mechanical heating/ cooling. Thermally broken double glazed windows are also proposed which help thermal comfort levels. And the building is openable and closable for natural ventilation which is flexible with the seasonal Buninyong weather conditions.

Community is incorporated by allowing the design to be utilised by many user groups as the community sees fit. These spaces become a place for different user groups to congregate in their chosen activity. The main multi-purpose areas can be divided into two areas or kept as one. These areas can open up to the outdoor areas making it one large indoor/ outdoor area. The outdoor areas are also flexible spaces and can be used for such events as open-air markets, community events or sports teams needing some weather protection. The facility also encompasses accessibility with DDA bathrooms and entry points to the north and south. There are also kitchen facilities to allow food and beverage to be served.

Another important design component whilst planning out the community centre was local. This was incorporated via how the building engages its environment and through materiality. Via handpicked views, the building can look out to important local context features such as the community gardens/ events area to the west, the soccer recreation reserve, highlight windows engaging the hills/ sky and the domestic context. In terms of materiality rammed earth walls have been chosen as they are an opportunity to use local soil which highlight the different tones/ textures of the Buninyong area to help inform the architecture. These walls become a very strong and permanent component of the design which

The outcome is a community centre that engages sustainability using the sun, materials, ventilation and glazing. It also aims to become a meeting place of congregation for the community engaging many user groups in the local area. And the architecture aims to engage the local area via its use of local soil for the rammed earth walls and the engagement of views to its context.