Clarence Plains Child and Family Centre
Project date: April 2011 - Category: Education , Interior , Health CareEncompassing a number of outlying suburbs on the eastern shore of Hobart, the Clarence Plains district is spatially contained by a ring of rolling hills. The new Child and Family Centre will provide the community with a range of integrated services that support families with the health, care and education needs of children from birth to five years.
The centre’s welcoming plan of two opposing arcs embraces and connects with the local primary school, residential precincts and other community facilities to reinforce the notion of a community hub. The facility straddles an existing council walkway to incorporate an existing building, refurbished to become the new Neighbourhood Centre.
The design re-works local materials and forms, providing a building with a familiar and recognisable language to the residents, somewhat akin to the home environment. The roof form creates a memorable expression which resonates with the surrounding topography.
The layout of the centre juxtaposes an open plan model with designated spaces, a communal ‘lounge’ separating child-oriented areas from education, counseling and administrative spaces.
The interior explores the concept of the ‘Big House’, configured as a continuous, flexible space of experiences which encourage children’s learning through imaginative play. This concept extends to the exterior play spaces, a dynamic relationship with the landscape forming an integral component of the facility.
A timber portal frame marches through the centre, supporting clerestory windows to provide light from above and a connection with the sky, shown to enhance child development and well being. A neutral colour and material palette forms a latent canvas for the children to embellish.
The centre’s welcoming plan of two opposing arcs embraces and connects with the local primary school, residential precincts and other community facilities to reinforce the notion of a community hub. The facility straddles an existing council walkway to incorporate an existing building, refurbished to become the new Neighbourhood Centre.
The design re-works local materials and forms, providing a building with a familiar and recognisable language to the residents, somewhat akin to the home environment. The roof form creates a memorable expression which resonates with the surrounding topography.
The layout of the centre juxtaposes an open plan model with designated spaces, a communal ‘lounge’ separating child-oriented areas from education, counseling and administrative spaces.
The interior explores the concept of the ‘Big House’, configured as a continuous, flexible space of experiences which encourage children’s learning through imaginative play. This concept extends to the exterior play spaces, a dynamic relationship with the landscape forming an integral component of the facility.
A timber portal frame marches through the centre, supporting clerestory windows to provide light from above and a connection with the sky, shown to enhance child development and well being. A neutral colour and material palette forms a latent canvas for the children to embellish.
ARCHITECTS IN ASSOCIATION:
PTA ArchitectureSTATUS:
Construction 2011
Royal Hobart Hospital Access and Patient Flow Unit
Project date: January 2011 - Category: Health Care , HeritageThe Tasmanian Government has resolved to retain and upgrade the Royal Hobart Hospital on its current site, maintaining the Heritage-listed Liverpool Street Forecourt and 1938 former Acute Wing as the primary public entrance to the hospital.
The design of the new Access and Patient Flow Unit extends the hospital footprint into the Forecourt, consolidating a number of dislocated administration functions into one unit which will be responsible for the admission and discharge of patients.
The new work has been respectful of and sympathetic to the character of the existing building with its strong symmetry, streamlined styling and horizontal emphasis, the curved form of the addition taking its cues from the layout of the original forecourt driveway.
The building is articulated as two symmetrical wings which highlight the existing central entry point as a contrasting vertical element. The existing canopy will be removed and relocated to increase the visibility of the Ola Cohn sandstone statues.
A new semi-circular steel and glass canopy extends over the kerb-side car spaces to allow patients to be dropped off or collected under shelter.
The leading edge of the main roof draws on the strong horizontal aesthetic of the balcony edge on the existing building, wrapping down at the sides to book-end the new additions.
Internally, the new work creates a warm and nurturing environment for both staff and patients whilst also providing a contemporary orientation space befitting of its status as the State’s leading public hospital.
Patient waiting areas and kiosk are placed within the continuous, transparent outer edge of the development to provide an external connection and promote a sense of wellbeing.
The design of the new Access and Patient Flow Unit extends the hospital footprint into the Forecourt, consolidating a number of dislocated administration functions into one unit which will be responsible for the admission and discharge of patients.
The new work has been respectful of and sympathetic to the character of the existing building with its strong symmetry, streamlined styling and horizontal emphasis, the curved form of the addition taking its cues from the layout of the original forecourt driveway.
The building is articulated as two symmetrical wings which highlight the existing central entry point as a contrasting vertical element. The existing canopy will be removed and relocated to increase the visibility of the Ola Cohn sandstone statues.
A new semi-circular steel and glass canopy extends over the kerb-side car spaces to allow patients to be dropped off or collected under shelter.
The leading edge of the main roof draws on the strong horizontal aesthetic of the balcony edge on the existing building, wrapping down at the sides to book-end the new additions.
Internally, the new work creates a warm and nurturing environment for both staff and patients whilst also providing a contemporary orientation space befitting of its status as the State’s leading public hospital.
Patient waiting areas and kiosk are placed within the continuous, transparent outer edge of the development to provide an external connection and promote a sense of wellbeing.
ARCHITECTS IN ASSOCIATION:
Vincent Chrisp ArchitectsSTATUS:
Concept Design 2011
Barrington Aged Care Facility
Project date: January 2006 - Category: Health Care , HeritageBarrington Lodge is an aged care facility owned and operated by the Salvation Army in New Town, Tasmania.
This project comprised a major redevelopment which increased the accommodation from around 10 to 60 beds, in the process raising the standards to contemporary levels.
Although situated on a large site, the design constraints were considerable: after excluding a steep portion of the site and taking into account high voltage cables, existing buildings, access issues and heritage constraints, the available site area proved to be very tight.
The original Barrington building has been retained, its setting and approach enhanced and its visibility form the street preserved. Barrington has been carefully integrated into the overall design and the many new building elements are respectful in their relationship to the heritage building.
Internally the planning layout has wide, well lit circulation areas, carefully positioned sitting and lounge spaces, enclosed gardens and generous common facilities - a pleasant environment for the residents and staff alike.
This project comprised a major redevelopment which increased the accommodation from around 10 to 60 beds, in the process raising the standards to contemporary levels.
Although situated on a large site, the design constraints were considerable: after excluding a steep portion of the site and taking into account high voltage cables, existing buildings, access issues and heritage constraints, the available site area proved to be very tight.
The original Barrington building has been retained, its setting and approach enhanced and its visibility form the street preserved. Barrington has been carefully integrated into the overall design and the many new building elements are respectful in their relationship to the heritage building.
Internally the planning layout has wide, well lit circulation areas, carefully positioned sitting and lounge spaces, enclosed gardens and generous common facilities - a pleasant environment for the residents and staff alike.
STATUS:
Completion 2005
