H2o Architects

Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre

Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
© Trevor Mein

AVONDALE HEIGHTS LIBRARY AND LEARNING CENTRE

H2o Architects

ARCHITECTS
H2o Architects

PHOTOGRAPHS
Trevor Mein

AREA
1625.0 m2

LOCATION
Melbourne VIC, Australia

PROJECT YEAR
2010

CATEGORY
Library, Learning

Text description provided by architect.

The Avondale Heights Library and Learning Centre is located on a prominent corner site opposite a McDonald’s restaurant and adjacent to the local shopping strip and automotive repair garages. It is amid the quintessential Australian suburb famously celebrated by Barry Humphries.

Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
© Trevor Mein
Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
© Trevor Mein

Following a decade of modest local development, the Victorian Government proposed a new community resource combining an existing former school gymnasium with a multipurpose hall and associated learning centre. The integration of services allows the centre to become a ‘one stop shop’ for a wide range of community needs.

The existing gymnasium is centrally located on the site bordered by Military Road and Clarendon Street, while the new development area extended as a large, uninterrupted green field site bordering Clarendon Street.

Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
© Trevor Mein
Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
© Trevor Mein

The gymnasium was previously used by community groups and the nearby Avondale Heights Primary School.

The centre was to be responsive to local residents and interrelated to their social, leisure, information and learning needs. This presented the opportunity for a significant, easily found and adventurous building reflecting community cultural aspirations.

Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
© Trevor Mein
Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
© Trevor Mein

The three principal building elements – existing gym, learning spaces and library – are functional and architecturally prosaic.

Howard Arkley’s use of bold colourings and exaggerated patterning have inspired the design. Budget constraints and functional requirements dictated a simple building form, expressed as two volumes.

During construction Moonee Valley City Council determined that the project include library facilities. This required that the documented multipurpose hall be reconfigured as a lending library. The changes were accommodated within program and budget.

The buildings and the spaces within have been designed and planned with future flexibility in mind creating possibilities for future change of use or alteration of occupation.

Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
© Trevor Mein
Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
© Trevor Mein

As a result the centre can cater for groups from as small as 3 or 4 in the small meeting rooms to seminars or training sessions with 50 - 100 people.

The design was also informed by liaison with VicUrban, the developers of the adjacent site, particularly in relation to traffic access and management and the creation of walking routes through the site to the local shopping area.

The building was designed to minimize use of energy by reducing heating and cooling loads and where possible, passive heating, cooling and ventilation are used instead of mechanical systems.

To this extent features of the sustainable design are water collection, solar hot water system, south facing saw toothed roof to the Library area to provide natural daylight, BAS and Lighting control systems with low energy fittings and sensitive material selection.

Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
© Trevor Mein


Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
Floor Plan
Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
Plan


Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
South Elevation
Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
East Elevation
Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
Section
Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre
Drawing

H2o Architects
T +33 9 64005281 F +33 1 44549164
H2o Architects
10 Cité d'Angoulême, 75011 Paris, France