The City of Shellharbour is a local government area in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia.
The city is located about 100 kilometres south of Sydney and covers the southern suburbs of the Wollongong urban area centred on Shellharbour.
In 2022, it had an estimated population of 79,573.
DesignInc and Lacoste + Stevenson were commissioned to design the new cultural heart of Shellharbour.
The building incorporates a plaza and public library, a 350-seat auditorium and museum space, community rooms, local council chambers, offices, and a service centre, with 170 car parking spaces for staff and public use.
Occupying a steep site between commercial and residential zones, the Shellharbour Civic Hub has a complex curved roof structure that mediates the different street alignments and contours and extends shading around its perimeter.
Architecture and urban spaces that incorporate principles of biophilic design have more relevance to a place and offer a more positive and meaningful experience for users.
Shellharbour Civic Centre is inspired by its natural surroundings and is a subliminal representation of Shellharbour’s coastal landscape.
Some elements of biophilic design that are embodied in the project include:
- The long and low volume sweeping across the site mimics the contours of the land.
- The gabion wall cladding at the base of the building is filled with blue metal stones, reflecting the colours and form of the nearby escarpment.
- The library and public spaces are enclosed with glass and timber posts to evoke the Illawarra forests.
- The white soffit accentuates the wave-like form of the roof, referencing the surf, and the white cladding on the tower is suggestive of fluid clouds.
Richard Does, Director at DesignInc Sydney, reflecting on biophilic design and how it relates to Shellharbour Civic Hub said:
The building evokes wonder and embraces nature through views, natural light, and material choices. It is a wonderful architectural expression of the Shellharbour community and landscape.
Project Awards
- Good Design Awards, Public Space, Award of Excellence for Architecture and Urban Design
- 2020 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, Civic Landscape, Award of Excellence 2020
- Public Architecture Award, NSW Australian Institute of Architects 2019
- City Library Award, Australian Library and Information Association 2019
Project Details
Project Size – 14,000 m2
Project Budget – $80,000,000
Completion Date – 2019
Building Levels – 6
Project Team
Architecture
DesignInc
DesignInc is an award-winning architectural and design practice with offices in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney in Australia.
Their multidisciplinary teams are united with a common vision to make a difference in the health and happiness of people’s lives through the quality of the environments they help create.
Lacoste + Stevenson (Architects in Collaboration)
Lacoste + Stevenson is an award-winning creative practice specializing in art, architecture, and urban design established by Thierry Lacoste and David Stevenson in 1997.
Landscape Architecture
Turf Design Studio
Turf Design Studio offers a rare depth in thinking for major developments and the public domain; weaving together planning, design and ecology into a vibrant tapestry – creating places that are functional, fit for living, and where the hand of the designer remains largely unseen.
Photography
Sandor Duzs
Sandor is an architectural photographer and registered architect with both local and international experience working on complex projects.
Photo Gallery
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Design © 2022 DesignInc and Lacoste + Stevenson. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2022 Sandor Duzs. All Rights Reserved.
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