Gadigal people of the Eora nation
NSW
The redevelopment of Green Square prompted the Archdiocese of Sydney, Sydney Catholic Schools and Sydney Catholic Early Childhood Services, to consider the future of a leafy site in Rosebery, on Gadigal Country. The project encompasses an entire block. Former convent and rectory buildings make way for the reimagining of this place with the church enhanced as its centrepiece. The project was realised in 3 stages: (1) 60-place early learning centre (ELC), (2) renovation to the existing Church, (3) 420-place primary school. It provides multi-purpose gathering spaces for the school, parishioners, youth groups, local community groups, and adult education, explicitly inviting the intersection of these communities. Synergy is built across the block and with surrounding neigbours. The retention of mature trees and increase in overall numbers is a significant outcome. Canopy cover already exceeds the city’s 2030 target. Importantly, access to this privately owned landscape remains open to the local community.
St. Joseph’s school precinct is a carefully considered and well executed collection of community and education buildings occupying an entire inner suburban block in Rosebery. The siting of the new school is such that its sweeping curved footprint opposes a challenging and sloping topography to create a private, central courtyard plan.
The learning spaces recede away from the corner of the block to preserve existing mature swamp mahogany trees, and generous projecting outdoor learning platforms extend from the built form to engage with the trees.
Entry points are marked with playful blue pitched forms that are scaled to balance their roles as civic markers while respecting neighbouring residential lots and the adjacent church building. Public-facing walls of recycled brick provide a textural relationship with the surrounding houses.
With a well-executed masterplan, St Joseph’s Precinct has embedded itself into the neighbourhood, providing a welcoming and inclusive environment of rich learning and community spaces.
Rachel Neeson, –
Stephen Neille, –
Tamas Jones, Project Lead (Primary School)
Tess O’Brien, Project Lead (Early Learning Centre)
Kristina Sahlestrom, Project Lead (Church)
Kirsty Hetherington, Masterplan Lead
TTW (Primary School + Early Learning Centre), Civil Consultant
Cantilever Engineers, Structural Engineer
Sprout Studio, Landscape Consultant
Impact Group (Primary School + Early Learning Centre), Project Manager
Newton Fisher Group, Quantity Surveyor
Northrop, Services Consultant
Mersonn, Town Planner
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.
