Wellard Community Centre

The brief was to design a focal point of the newly developed The Village at Wellard which would act as a catalyst for commercial and multi-residential developments in the area. The design was determined by a prominent corner location on the intersection of the two main streets and compliance with The Village Design Guidelines.

The building form addressed the streets with zero setbacks and generous canopies to promote pedestrian circulation along the surrounding footpath infrastructure with the carpark hidden behind the building. The entry forecourt, is designed as a negative space between the two wings of the building, which steps away from the street corner and draws the public inside. It is emphasised with a prominent two storey geometric canopy which follows on from the strong geometric building forms and façade treatments. Transparency in and out of the building is an important feature to promote a close relationship between the activities on the streets and in the building. Use of robust materials was essential to ensure longevity of the building particularly at the pedestrian level and minimise maintenance and life cycle costs.

The design had to achieve flexibility of use, programming and management and provide a highly functional and efficient building which would cater for a wide variety of age groups and facilitate creative, educational and social programs. The planning of the building was generated through close consultation with the client and the user groups. The ground floor caters for more structured activities while the first floor offers maximum flexibility of use with multipurpose spaces that could be completely opened up or subdivided depending on the requirements. There is also a mix of informal break-out spaces that cater for casual uses by user groups and community art displays.