Newlands Community Centre
NEWLANDS COMMUNITY CENTRE
CCM Architects
ARCITECTS
CCM Architects, Spencer Holmes Structural, Michael Stretton Building Services
YEAR
2008
LOCATION
Wellington, New Zealand
CATEGORY
Community Center
Text description provided by architect.
This project is a community centre for the people in the outer residential suburb of Newlands, Wellington.
The site is at the back of a small suburban shopping centre and immediately adjacent a tavern (it is actually built on one of the taverns old carpark areas.) CCM Architects was commissioned to provide a design that met the aspirations of the Newlands Community.
Carried out over a period of two years the issues were many and varied. The design solutions needed to address the following issues .
Identity; This is a strong community who wanted to have pride in their community centre.
Urban Design; The site is at the back of an older suburban shopping area and the urban form needed transform and reinforce a street presence from what was essentially a sea of asphalt.
Site Contour and Orientation; The site had a cross fall of three metres. This needed to accommodate level access for people with disabilities. Street Presence; The site is situated on a back street.
It was critical that the building be easily identified from a distance. The 3 metre cross fall dictated the entry location to the southern side of the building in the right of way adjacent the tavern.
So it was a critical issue to ensure the entrance although around a corner, was signalled from the street and easy to locate for visitors.
Community; With many varied and competing interests the design had to provide a functionality that accommodated the communities outline brief.
Cost; Being publicly funded the project required transparent processes that were cost effective.
Ongoing Maintenance; The project needed to be easily maintained over the long term.
The building has been open since late last year and is proving a destination and popular venue for the community.
