A proposal for a new community hub at a seaside South Australian suburb has been released. Designed by Adelaide-based JPE Design Studio, the proposal combines a library and community centre together within the former town hall.
JPE Design Studio was appointed in 2021 to develop a concept plan in partnership with the City of Charles Sturt for the project at Henley Beach, about 11 kilometres from the centre of Adelaide.
The design for the hub uses the existing library site on Seaview Road and proposes to adaptively reuse the adjacent historic town hall to create an adjoining community centre.
According to JPE director Josephine Evans, the idea behind co-locating the two services under one roof was to add flexibility and create a central resource hub for the Henley Beach community.
“Co-located with the RSL club, the big opportunity is to create an integrated public destination that is activated and connected to the coastal precinct and the vibrant local lifestyle,” said Evans.
Leveraging the activity to the south of the site at Henley Square, the design intends to create a porous and permeable edge, Evans said.
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JPE Design Studio
Following consultation workshops with stakeholders last year, six key themes emerged that have informed the backbone of the design. These included a place to strengthen the community that engenders a sense of belonging and offers quality community experience. Stakeholders also specified the need for a dynamic destination that was well connected and could celebrate the unique qualities of the suburb.
These presented in the design themes as one consolidated location that engaged with outdoor spaces and celebrated heritage aspects while activating the street scape and fostering connection within the community.
Evans said the architectural response to the brief specifications for new volume was to reorient the main space on a diagonal axis. “The resulting high volume within creates a spacious environment for the collection and reading area and the ability to draw air through the space to capture the sea breezes,” said Evans.
Another key response was to create a permeable floorplan, “to enhance indoor/ outdoor activities and engagement with the main street,” she said. “We see the interior as a terraced ground plane, adapting to the different levels much like the beach itself.”
Plans will be open for public consultation until 3 April.
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JPE Design Studio
The site has maintained a strong community presence for around 100 years with the current library building existing since 1995. Today, many of the library roof trusses require repair and the size of the current community centre can no longer adequately support the community.
The plans for a new community hub balance the heritage considerations with addressing contemporary community needs. “The continuation of collection space [between the Town Hall and the new extension] will allow for a seamless transition between the old and new, creating one place that provides opportunity for the community to gather, share and connect,” said Evans.
The hall’s grand heritage stained-glass window will inspire the scheme for the interiors.
“The main street facade is designed to be robust, textured and protective while filtering the sun and referencing the concrete breezeblock architectural typology of the area,” Evans said of the intriguing hit-and-miss brickwork of the new build. The architects also envisage using a locally-made aerated concrete manufactured out of recycled content.
The project is anticipated to cost around $7 million, funded partly by the federal government. The remaining funds will be raised through the sale of several under-utilized council-owned buildings.
A report will be presented to Council in May 2022 with the outcomes of the community engagement, the concept and cost plans. Subject to council endorsement, construction will commence in late 2022 and take around 12 months to complete.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
