The brief called for a new playground, amenity blocks, event space, car parking, shade and BBQ facilities and CHROFI joined McGregor Coxall to design and deliver the project. Together we approached the park design as a response to the scale and character of the greater site context with a strong environmental and sustainable agenda.

TheAmenities Buildings and Shelters are driven by an adaptive design response to the existing structures on the site. Rather than demolishing the existing structures the new designs continues the tectonic language and introduces robust materials that age and patina over time.

A progression of pavilion types culminates in a generous public place for community events connected to a large playing field. The architecture is simultaneously robust and delicate, grounded through sturdy timber columns and timber plank walling, all overlaid by finely detailed, translucent oversailing canopies generating filtered light. Materials used are familiar yet display an attitude of fresh invention. The engaging, spare expression is enhanced by playful elements such as the coloured glass tiles and vegetated walls.

The Events Space Building is a multi functional pavilion and forms part of an ensemble of amenities and shade structures which are distributed throughout the park. The building provides a back drop to the major events space within the park and continues the language of the other park structures through materiality and detail. The designs seek a simple, timeless expression that continues the visual language of the existing structures and nestles comfortably in their bushland setting.

A translucent fibreglass roof allows daylight to diffuse through a perforated zincalume soffit creating a soft, cool day lit glow within the amenities and events pavilions while lending a distinct visual lightness to the roof plane.

A delicate structure consisting of thin CHS steel rods amplifies this perception of lightness while a fine steel plate round the perimeter of the roof creates a thin leading edge and partially conceals the depth of the roof buildup. A hot dipped galvanised steel structure with recycled hardwood timbers gives the primary material expression. The inherent imperfections and variations in these two materials is celebrated throughout the design. The perforated soffit reveals visible layers of structure creating a visual complexity within the roof buildup when viewed from below.

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