The New Dulwich Community Centre.
After languishing in the back streets of the inner eastern suburbs this hidden gem has been deftly regenerated. The original hall has been repurposed with an inclusive new stage, family friendly wet areas and a welcoming new entry foyer.
Location Kaurna Country (Dulwich)
Client City of Burnside
Architect Jon Lowe
Interior Design Jon Lowe
Structural Engineer P & G Structures
Services Engineer BESTEC
Quantity Surveyor CSC
Builder Camco
Completed 2023
Photographer Jonathan VDK
The low-height residential scale of the new entry foyer’s form is broken into three volumes, with wet areas using salvaged recycled-brick, the new entry with a raked ceiling (matching the main hall), high-performance glass facing the street, and the new storerooms in contrasting cladding.
A generous entry canopy extrudes and continues existing roof pitch out to face the street providing excellent sun shading to north and east while the brick wing wall shades the western sun. Textured brickwork patterns help to soften the façade and reference some of the contextual architectural character.
Super-flexible and Value for Money.
The existing hall has been refreshed with all new energy efficient services, carefully integrated with the original internal finishes: expressed timber beams and frames painted white, existing walls repainted and straw ceiling left exposed as a feature.
The redevelopment demolished and removed the sections of the old structures in poor condition, including the front hall, and retained and upgraded the main large hall. Materials like brick and timber were salvaged during the demolition process and re-used in the new work.
Permeable paving in the off-street carparking together with new accessible amenities has considerably enhanced the usability of the facility.
The modest extension at the rear of the property follows the existing roof line and is lined in double brickwork with double glazing and additional ceilings for acoustic separation.
