Kings Park

Kings Park
© D-Max Photography

KINGS PARK

Donaldson + Warn

ARCHITECTS
Donaldson + Warn

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Daniel Grinceri

PROJECT DIRECTOR
Geoff Warn

PROJECT LEADER
Daniel Grinceri, Steven Postmus

ARCHITECTURAL GRADUATE
Talya Mossenson, Dean Ismail, Adam Reynolds

ASSISTANTS
Robert Hutchinson

INTERIOR ARCHITECTS/DESIGNER
Jennifer Vos

PHOTOGRAPHS
D-Max Photography, Robert Frith

AREA
7500.0 sqm

YEAR
2012

LOCATION
Kings Park, Australia

Text description provided by architect.

A new building in Kings Park is an important commission. This is our fourth structure in Perth’s most treasured public park.

Kings Park
© D-Max Photography
Kings Park
© D-Max Photography

As part of the Naturescape precinct the Kings Park Education facility is an environmental awareness centre and home base for the educational programmes run by the Botanic Parks and Gardens Authority.

While the building is primarily for school children it is also used for public presentations and functions.

Kings Park
© D-Max Photography
Kings Park
© D-Max Photography

The expressive and experiential architecture has a significant sustainable agenda focused on generating solar power and reducing energy consumption while participating in a discourse on the aesthetics of sustainability.

By folding together the building and its site and re-vegetating the earth roof with natural flora the design prioritises a direct relationship between people, their accommodation and the natural environment. 

Kings Park
© D-Max Photography
Kings Park
© D-Max Photography

The faceted plan, arcing around the site contours, utilizes the benefits of good orientation, and thermal mass plus the adoption of double glazing, LED lighting, recycled materials, cross ventilation and solar water heating are combined to maintain a comfortable and attractive interior. 

The facility consumes 60% less power than an equivalent building and it reduces greenhouse gas (CO2-e) emissions by 30.2 tonnes per year.

Kings Park
© D-Max Photography
Kings Park
© D-Max Photography

Pam Gaunt’s thoughtfully integrated art use light and draw inspiration from the architecture and its setting and some specific indigenous plants. 

Each piece is solar-powered, a reference to photosynthesis, and the main piece monitors and calibrates the building’s power consumption during its different modes of use. The results are visually engaging, interactive, and subtly didactic works.

Kings Park
© D-Max Photography


Kings Park
Kings Park
Kings Park
© D-Max Photography
Kings Park
© D-Max Photography


Kings Park
Section
Kings Park
Diagram


Kings Park
Plan
Kings Park
Site plan