Walyalup Civic Centre

2022 National Architecture Awards: National Award for Urban Design

Walyalup Civic Centre | Kerry Hill Architects (KHA)

Traditional Land Owners: Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar nation

The design for Walyalup Civic Centre was the winner of an international competition. The project site is in Fremantle adjacent to a public space, Walyalup Koort. The project includes council chambers, office space and a lending library. The architecture responds to the centre’s location and typology. A continuous perforated-metal veil wraps the upper levels of the building providing shade, while operable windows and a large solar array mean the operation of the building can be carbon neutral.

The centrepiece of the project is the sloping lawn, conceived as an extension of the adjacent public space, connecting into the building. Beneath it is the public library, which is naturally lit through east and west courtyards.

The council chambers are situated at the top of the lawn in an elliptical stone volume with large apertures, ensuring that the democratic process is both visible and accessible to the public.

JURY CITATION

The brief for Walyalup Civic Centre, which was won through an international competition process, was to provide new life to an important historic precinct of Fremantle. Kerry Hill Architects responded with a project of absolute clarity, redefining the precinct with a strong sense of generosity and democracy.

This generosity is created through the skilful opening of the building to the public and the interconnectedness of surrounding streets and spaces. New perceptual possibilities are formed by sensitive connections between existing historic buildings. The opening of the ground plane stitches together once disparate spaces, offering moments of surprise and delight.

The generous gesture of the sloping front lawn is both playful and a joyful comment on the democratic West Australian culture. The residents of Fremantle and visitors have quickly taken ownership of this and the surrounding spaces. The inclined plane allows the public to look deep into the inner spaces of the council chambers, advocating a sense of transparency and accessibility.

The facade’s crisp, metal veil carefully reveals the interior, creating intrigue and allowing internal spaces to become more visible at night. The veil also protects the interior from the harsh summer sun.

Walyalup Civic Centre charges the entire precinct, inviting it to be activated by the public while ensuring that it remains comfortable even with only a few people. It successfully demonstrates the role that a building may play in transforming an entire precinct from forgotten and neglected space to a liberating place that enables many uses, and embraces all cultures, ages and demographics.

Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?

The Walyalup Civic Centre is a spectacular design with high quality finishing and has provided a comfortable and safe environment for our daily interaction with community members, general public and staff. The Centre provides many meeting opportunities, the sloping lawn with terrace, the lower ground courtyards and the William Street balcony.
The large extent of glazing and operable awnings provide natural ventilation and offer views out to Fremantle, providing a connection to the outside while working in a fantastic modern and flexible working environment. The filtered light provided by the canopy makes our days more enjoyable, productive and healthier.

Practice team:

Maricel Marbus, Project Team Member
Lucy Dennis, Project Team Member
Jacqui Armstrong, Project Team Member
Emily Sullivan, Project Team Member
Jasmine Pummer, Project Team Member
Nicholas Putrasia, Project Team Member
Simon Cundy, Project Team Member
Nick Derickx, Project Team Member
Levi Phillips, Project Team Member
Lee Kheng Teoh, Project Team Member
Alexandra Quick, Project Team Member
Martin Muchrone, Project Team Member
Devang Mawjee, Project Team Member
Lan Nguyen, Project Team Member
Ryan Brown, Project Team Member
Anna Siefert, Project Team Member
Gertjan Groen, Project Team Member
Seán McGivern, Project Team Member
Patrick Kosky, Project Team Member
Kerry Hill, Project Team Member

Builder:

Pindan Constructions and CDI Group

Construction team:

Inhabit Group, Facade Engineering
Edge Transport Solutions, Traffic Consultant
UT Consulting, AV Consultant
Altura Height Safety Professionals, Height Safety Consultant
Turner Design, Signage Consultant
Atelier JV, Heritage Structural Engineering
Hocking Heritage, Heritage Consultant
Encycle Consulting, Waste Consultant
Resolve Group, Building Surveyor
Firefly Point of View, Lighting Commissioning
Nothing Into Something, Specialist Lighting Design
PLAN E, Landscape Consultant
Marshall Day Acoustics, Acoustic Consultant
Link Engineering, ESD Consultant
PGD Consulting, Hydraulic Consultant
Best Consultants, Electrical Engineering and Vertical Transport
Stantec Australia, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Fire Engineering, Fire Services
Total Project Management, Superintendent Representative
Sirona Capital Management, Project Manager and Superintendent