New South Wales
The design of Blacktown Animal Rehoming Centre (BARC) balances the highly technical requirements of animal welfare with the need for a safe workplace and welcoming adoption centre.
BARC comprises a set of separate, elongated buildings; of fingers, reaching toward the woodlands of the Western Sydney Parklands. These fingers maximise cross ventilation and solar access, and prioritise proximity to nature, reducing stress and improving health of staff and animals.
Each building is drawn together and linked via a bold colour scheme and a 120m long, 4.5m high, multicolored artwork a collaboration with artist Lymesmith that evokes the plumage of native birds, and unifies, screens, and protects from the street the activity within.
As a council operated facility, BARC must accept all animals brought in by council rangers or citizens. Each is quarantined, given health checks, vaccinated, desexed, fed, washed; and then nursed back to physical and mental health ready for adoption.
SCA’s BARC design has revolutionised animal rehoming. Drawing on a study of international best practice, the assessment, care and presentation of animals is brought to the fore to deliver higher and faster adoption rates. Akin to a hospital design, the facility is purposeful in providing efficient, easily cleaned and maintained facilities. It does this in an entertaining environment for the animals and one that presents them, for adoption, in the most engaging manner. The animals benefit by less stress; operational costs for an essential Council service are reduced; and adoptees are educated on their responsibilities and the needs of their future pets.
Arterra, Arborist
Aspire Sustainability Consulting, Section J Consultant
Bloodline, Dog Housing Consultant / Fabricator
BMG, BCA Consultant
Bylett & Associates, Accessibility Consultant
Catchment Simulation Solutions, Flood Consultant
Douglas Partners, Geotech Engineer
DSC, Services Consultant
Ethipet, Cat Housing Consultant / Manufacturer
Innova Services, Fire Engineer
Jabin, Facade Engineer
JMD Design, Landscape Consultant
Lymesmith, Architectural Colour Specialist
Mahaffey Associates, Concrete Consultant
Marques Interiors, Interior Designer
Morris Goding, Accessibility Consultant
MRA Consulting, Waste Consultant
Northrop Consulting Engineers, Structural & Civil Engineer
Olsson Fire & Risk, Fire Engineer
Prensa, Contamination Consultant
Rodney Stevens, Acoustic Consultant
RP Infrastructure, Project Manager
TTPP, Traffic Engineer
Urbanite, Signage & Wayfinding
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
