Architecture

The Victorian government has unveiled the design for the final stage of the Geelong Arts Centre redevelopment by ARM Architecture.
The $140 million project at Little Malop Street will feature a distinctive draped concrete facade that references traditional stage curtains, performance tents and circuses of Victoria’s early colonial history.
The concrete canopy over the entrance reflects the shape of a calliope – a musical circus wagon – and Geelong’s historic Lascelles wool-store will also be reflected in the moulded concrete walls.
“Each element of the external design is enriched with a story of its own, whether that be visual references relating back to performance, the historical context of the site, or to Wadawurrung culture and traditions,” said Ian McDougall, founding director of ARM Architecture.

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Geelong Arts Centre Little Malop Street redevelopment by ARM Architecture. Image:

Courtesy Geelong Arts Centre

The practice worked with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation as co-designers to incorporate traditional stories of the lands, waters and skies into the design. Each of the four levels of the building will have a different Wadawurrung narrative: the colours of Moonah forests, local ochres, jarosites from Bells Beach and greenstone found at Dog Rocks in Batesford.
“The involvement in the co-design process with ARM brings to life the Wadawurrung spirit and cultural values of the Djilang (Geelong) and Bellarine landscapes,” said Corrina Eccles, Wadawurrung Traditional Owner. “This project continues to provide a gathering space for all, originally known as a place of many stories of our past generation where Wadawurrung gathered with ceremony, songs, dances, story-telling, and to now, a place for our present community, and our future Peoples in a new centre in the heart of Djilang enlivened with a platform for all to share creative narratives.”
Ian McDougall added, “The design has its own identity which feeds back into its location. It’s telling the story of Djilang (Geelong), and of the profound traditions of performance on the Wadawurrung site for thousands of years. This is what speaks to people all over the world though its design, it’s a celebration of everything Geelong is.”

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Geelong Arts Centre Little Malop Street redevelopment by ARM Architecture. Image:

Courtesy Geelong Arts Centre

ARM also worked with Wadawurrung artist Kait James, and local First Nations artists Tarryn Love, Gerard Black and Mick Ryan to showcase First Nations stories throughout the site.
The project will incorporate a range of flexible arts, performance and general community-use spaces, including a 500-seat theatre, which can expand to accommodate 800 and a 250-seat hybrid theatre connected to an outdoor plaza. Additional spaces such as foyers, bars and alfresco dining will be adaptable for a range of events such as concerts, exhibitions, festivals and markets.
“We wanted the internal design to be flexible in encouraging creative expression from all cultural groups in Geelong, and far beyond,” McDougall said. “Its interplay of texture and colour impart a curious and dynamic atmosphere, inspiring people to express their individuality in connection to the rest of society.”
There will also be a playful and interpretive light portal connecting Little Malop Street and Ryrie Street buildings.
“This design delivers on our bold vision for this project. It embraces the cultural precinct and challenges the idea of ‘black box theatres’ that turn their back on the world,” said Joel McGuinness, CEO and creative director for the Geelong Arts Centre. “Inspired by the principles of universal design, this outcome is welcoming, inclusive and facilitates joy and creativity, encouraging people to be part of Geelong’s creative community.”
The Little Malop Street redevelopment is the largest and final stage of the Geelong Arts Centre transformation, following the completion of stage one, the refurbishment of of the Playhouse Theatre by Studio 101 Architects, completed in 2010; and the Ryrie Street redevelopment by Hassell, completed in 2019. The Little Malop Street redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2023, when it will become Australia’s largest regional arts centre. The project is a partnership between Geelong Arts Centre, Creative Victoria, Development Victoria and Lendlease. More

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A new primary school campus planned for the Sunshine Coast will replace traditional classrooms with open plan environments to suit a “team-teaching” model, according to the school.
Designed by M3 Architecture for the Suncoast Christian College, the new building will accommodate years 1 through 6, with the students split into three cohorts. Each cohort will be taught by a team of six teachers and teachers’ aides in a dedicated, open-plan space over two levels.
A tiered seating area in each of these open spaces will connect the two levels, providing a whole-group meeting place and allowing students to move between floors. Each cohort has its own maker space and kitchen, while an art room and performing arts space service the whole primary school.
M3 Architecture director Ben Vielle said the design responds to the location on reclaimed farming land, the climate and the school’s legacy. Founded in 1979 as the Suncoast Christian Academy, the school’s first building was an old pineapple packing shed. “Suncoast was founded on the idea of minimal means, with a focus on child development, wellbeing and community,” Vielle said. “We have respected and developed this ethos. The architecture takes its cues from an agricultural attitude and responds to the educational approach.”

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Suncoast Christian College building by M3 Architecture.

The building will be wrapped in a steel mesh, allowing maximum ventilation and light penetration through to the verandahs, while keeping students safe.
The open teaching spaces will be zoned and furnished to allow for multiple teaching modes, allowing teachers to tailor lessons to the abilities and learning styles of individual students.
The school’s principal Greg Mattiske said team teaching delivers the best social, emotional and academic outcomes for students. “Today’s students have diverse needs,” he said. “It’s too much for one teacher to have the burden of trying to be all things to all people.”
The school said the project was about to go to tender. “…this project has gone way beyond our expectations,” said Mattiske. “I want kids, staff and parents to come to the school and feel excited about this facility, and what M3 has done with the design is absolutely that.” More

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The Western Parkland City Authority has lodged plans for the first building to be built in the new Western Sydney airport city of Bradfield.
Designed by Hassell, in collaboration with Daniele Hromek of Dijnjama, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility is being pitched as a “shared platform for collaboration and innovation.”
It will be a place where government, research institutions and industry will lead research and product development in areas such as defence, space and aerospace, construction, energy and mining.
Hassell’s design aims to reveal some of the advanced manufacturing processes taking place, allowing the public to engage with the facility while not compromising on functionality. A central spine will be open to the public at all times and will have the potential to hold large events.

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Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility by Hassell.

The building will be designed to be flexible and adaptable into the future, with the timber structure constructed using prefabricated modular components mechanically fixed together “like a kit of parts.”
“…it has the ability to expand in the future, even ‘self-replicating’ using the advanced manufacturing hall to construct its own mechanical fixings used to bind the structure together,” Hassell states in planning documents. “At the end of the buildings life it can easily disassembled, relocated to a new site.”
The site is located on Dharug Country and the design aims to respond to Country and connect the building to the broader landscape, context and history.
“The collaboration with Daniele Hromek from Djinjama laid the foundations for a design response that listened to Country and in turn produced an architecture that is unique to this place,” states Hassell.

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Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility by Hassell.

The building’s columns will be articulated to reflect surrounding clusters of trees, for instance, while the “canopy” of the roof will catch water for a richly planted, landscape of local species and water features, celebrating “the meandering and ephemeral water of the Cumberland Plain.”
“The architectural expression is soft with no sharp edges, responding to this being women’s place and the ideas of water and fluidity,” state the architects. The building will later be given a Dharug name.
NSW minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the building would represent an exciting first step for the airport city.
“The design shows what a high-tech, shared-use hub will look like,” he said.
“The first building will house share-use advanced manufacturing equipment for research institutions and partners to translate ideas into products for manufacture in the Western Parkland City. Visitors will see that this is a place of advancement, collaboration and learning.”
Construction on the nearby Western Sydney International Airport terminal, designed by Woods Bagot, started this week. The Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
The state-significant development application is on public exhibit until 12 December. More

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