Sunbury Community Arts & Cultural Precinct | Architecture Associates with Openwork

The Sunbury Community Arts & Cultural project is situated within Jacksons Hill, a large heritage precinct. This project adapts a former Female Refractory Ward and 1960's outbuilding into a vibrant, diverse arts & cultural precinct accommodating an art gallery, community theatre and work spaces for creative community. Our design response could be described as surgical, working closely with heritage advisors, Heritage Victoria, community and stakeholders to ensure interventions are sensitive and nuanced, adding layers to the already rich base. The original refractory building is anchored by large corner rooms and its axial plan pivots around four large courtyards. Corner rooms are adapted into larger public programs, such as a new art gallery and potters workshop- while smaller rooms are converted into studios and workspaces. The adaptation of the original dining hall sees it become a flexible performance space that provides a flat floor venue for the community to programme into.