Gimuy Walubara Yidinji People
Queensland
Far North Queensland
The Manoora Neighbourhood Centre is a sustainable and accessible community hub created to support gathering, care, and connection for First Nations people within its residential setting. The Centre provides flexible spaces for community services, education and support, in a calm, welcoming environment that prioritises dignity, cultural awareness, and everyday use.
The design places community life at its heart, with clear circulation and strong indoor–outdoor relationships that extend activity into shaded seating areas, a community garden, and a generous covered threshold. Internal spaces include shared areas, meeting rooms, and acoustically treated quiet rooms that support both collective activity and privacy.
A perforated aluminium screen wraps the building, filtering light and shade in reference to the trees within the nearby parklands. This layered veil provides privacy and climate moderation while symbolising renewal, continuity, and connection to Country. Passive design strategies, access, materials, and layouts ensure the Centre will support community needs.
Evoking remembrance, the Manoora Community Centre offers local residents healing, gathering and connection. The architecture promotes inclusion through the clever use of communal ground floor spaces, which promote a sense of belonging and partnership.
The spaces are designed to be quiet and reflective with generous acoustic treatments. Connection is maintained to then environment through large opening doors, which invite cooling south east breezes and filtered light but also allow overflow into the shaded patio connecting to the community garden.
Drawing parallels with the family home, the large kitchen space is the focal point of the interior, allowing volunteers to oversee the preparation of meals fo rlocal children.
The relaxing open lounge provides users a chance to engage with one another, while the formal training room offers a space for community meetings or online training.
Upstairs represents the administrative zone with accessible office space, and private kitchenette. Shading to windows allows filtering of the harsh westerly sun on the Murray Street elevation.
JMC Architects have designed a built form which compliments the vernacular and scale of Murray Street within a sustainable framework, yet most importantly offers a beacon representative of community pride, resilience and achievement.
Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year
Evoking remembrance, the Manoora Community Centre offers local residents healing, gathering and connection. The architecture promotes inclusion through the clever use of communal ground floor spaces, which promote a sense of belonging and partnership.
The spaces are designed to be quiet and reflective with generous acoustic treatments. Connection is maintained to then environment through large opening doors, which invite cooling south east breezes and filtered light but also allow overflow into the shaded patio connecting to the community garden.
Drawing parallels with the family home, the large kitchen space is the focal point of the interior, allowing volunteers to oversee the preparation of meals fo rlocal children.
The relaxing open lounge provides users a chance to engage with one another, while the formal training room offers a space for community meetings or online training.
Upstairs represents the administrative zone with accessible office space, and private kitchenette. Shading to windows allows filtering of the harsh westerly sun on the Murray Street elevation.
JMC Architects have designed a built form which compliments the vernacular and scale of Murray Street within a sustainable framework, yet most importantly offers a beacon representative of community pride, resilience and achievement.
COLORBOND Shortlist, Sustainability shortlist
The Manoora Neighbourhood Centre redefines community support through a sustainable, accessible, and welcoming design. Thoughtful spatial planning and material selection ensure adaptability, enabling diverse community use and supporting the NGO's operations. After-hours secure access to ground and first-floor spaces enhances usability, fostering greater inclusion.
Designed with equity, diversity, and cultural awareness, the centre creates a respectful and welcoming environment, particularly for First Nations Peoples. Strategically located near essential services, it serves as a resilient and empowering hub—encouraging connection, collaboration, and long-term community well-being.
Julianne Field, Project Architect
Wojtek Kaminski, Graduate of Architecture
Sara Raso, Interior Designer
Geoff Mortoon, Draftsman
Daniela James, Design Architect
Baker Building Certification, Building Surveyor
STP Consultants, Structural Engineer
STP Consultants, Hydraulic Consultant
STP Consultants, Civil Engineer
Sequal Electrical, Electrical Engineer
Cairns Energy, Energy Efficiency Consultant
LID Consulting, ESD Consultant
Landplan Landscape Architecture, Landscape Architect
ATP Consulting Engineers, Acoustic Engineer
RPS Cairns, Environmental Engineer