November 2006
Mernda Villages Neighbourhood Centre, Mernda
30.11.2006| The Mernda Villages Neighbourhood Centre, located in Plenty Valley, Victoria, will be a new community.The town planning of the Mernda Villages Precinct Activity Centre (PAC) involves the tying together of the different functions of the site.
These include a neighbourhood centre, schools, community facilities, housing and the Community Activity Centre. The design provides for a diversity of streetscapes with an urban quality, and the inclusion of environmental sustainable built forms and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). The masterplan shows a commitment to the formation of a nature reserve and the integration of the surrounding open spaces and landscape with the proposed built forms. This is achieved by the protection of the hundreds of iconic Red River Gums located in parklands and reserves across the site. The site entries and traffic movement have been designed to both visually and physically link the overall development with the main roads whilst strengthening the relationship between the village centre, the parklands, and surrounding neighbourhoods. |
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Yellow Box Spur, Bundoora
5.11.2006| Positioned at the gateway of the Plenty Gorge and the new community of University Hill, Bundoora; this building provides a wide range of spatial, cultural and functional needs to the community.
As an iconic building it provides a symbolic welcoming gesture and gives a sense of arrival to the new residential community beyond. Its pivotal location where University Hill meets the gorge provides the opportunity to celebrate the cumulating of services and entry to the Plenty Gorge trails. The dramatic canopy reception space invites the community to participate and experience the building via a covered plaza to an upper level restaurant / interpretation centre and lower level conference facilities. External finishes including timber, rendered masonry and stone combine to harmonise with the natural setting. The combination of soaring roof planes and terracing ramps lead the eye to the proposed lake, Plenty Gorge and the dramatic landscape beyond. |
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The Mill, Essendon
5.11.2006| The Essendon Cereal Mills redevelopment will rejuvenate and reinvent the existing 19th century grain refinement buildings. The Mill and adjacent Foundry to the north half of the site will be transformed into dramatic residential apartments while beautiful landscaping and contemporary, open plan townhouses fill the southern portion of the site.
The Mill forms the cornerstone of the Essendon Cereal Mills development. The Mill apartments enjoy generous exposure to both the sun and view to the city. The contemporary interior fit out contrasts with the original brick walls, polished timber floors and exposed roof beams to give these apartments a very unique living opportunity.The Foundry Warehouse Shells provide people with a blank canvas; the opportunity to create an individual and personal living experience with their own warehouse apartments. The shells all feature high ceilings or sawtooth roofs with high level windows, capturing the spirit of warehouse living. The Essendon Cereal Mills Townhouses are located in behind the old renovated Mill and warehouse. Protected from the surrounding streets, they centre on a generous garden courtyard. Internally they feature high ceilings, light filled rooms and views to both the northern treed suburbs and south to the city. |
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