Penrith City Council has unveiled the winning design for the redevelopment of its former chambers, a project touted as a catalyst for the revitalization of Penrith CBD.
A scheme by Woods Bagot was judged the winner of a design excellence competition. The commercial office proposal was described as “a highly advanced workplace [that] will feature a sustainable design, and activated public and retail spaces for the community,” Penrith mayor Karen McKeown said.
Woods Bagot’s design is a tripartite arrangement of distinct element, which can be programmed separately or as whole to allow the building to adapt to future needs.
The podium base mimics the scale and materiality of existing site, with a brick facade reminiscent of the former council chambers building. Reclaimed bricks from the existing building will be used to create ground-level planter walls in the proposed scheme.
The winning scheme for the redevelopment 131 Henry Street Penrith by Woods Bagot.
The upper tower will be a rectangular form that cantilevers over the podium base. Its glass and materiality will express the colours of the Blue Mountains, in reflection of Penrith’s role as a gateway to the natural attraction.
The third component of the design is a timber pavilion which will be raised to allow a future park to flow through the site.
The design also includes a new forecourt which will be located at a prominent corner of the site. The forecourt will include a tree in a circular planter, terraced brick steps, a water feature and public art.
“Reinforcing its place in civic life by providing a multitude of public uses, green space will flow through the site and connect it with the future City park, creating a heart to the civic and education precinct,” said Woods Bagot principal Jason Fraser said.
The winning scheme for the redevelopment 131 Henry Street Penrith by Woods Bagot.
The proposed building will accommodate 8,000 square metres of commercial space, ground floor retail, on-site parking.
Fraser also said the design of the commercial building was informed by rapid changes in workplace design and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme is also designed to be flexible and adaptable to changing needs of users.
“This building is fundamentally different from commercial buildings of the past. It will offer a diverse range of experiences where people can work one day in a garden in the sun, the next at a quiet indoor location and the following at a rooftop overlooking the park,” he said.
“Commercial buildings of the future need to overcome the tendency to be uniform – uniform lighting, uniform air quality, uniform spatial experience. Woods Bagot’s proposal for Penrith’s new community workplace deliberately moves away from this model.
“Deep analysis of both the progressive changes underway in workplace design and the impact of COVID-19 on how people work has generated Woods Bagot’s scheme for a diverse and adaptable, breathable workspace that promotes different ways of working for different people. The design also responds directly to post-COVID workplace conditions by providing a porous, activated ground plane with multiple entry points to prevent bottlenecks of people using the space. There are also diverse and adaptable spaces, natural ventilation and access to greenery.”
Competition judge Kim Crestiani,”The Woods Bagot scheme envisions the future of commercial workplace design, and also responds carefully to the surrounding context, in particular the climate and public domain outcomes. Beyond providing local employment opportunities during construction and on completion, the supporting retail offering and public spaces will help create a vibrant destination next to City Park which can be enjoyed by all. It is a pleasure to be involved in such a great project and I look forward to its realisation.”
The design will undergo further development and refinement. A development application is expected to be lodged by the end of 2021.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
