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Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre
Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre
Project Featured on May 23, 2016
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Other Projects by Charles Wright Architects
Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre
Project Featured on May 23, 2016
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2012
SIZE
100,000 sqft - 300,000 sqft
CAIRNS BOTANIC GARDENS VISITORS CENTRE
AWARDED
BUILDING OF THE YEAR AND A PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE AWARD AT THE 2012 AUSTRALIAN
INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (AIA) AWARDS IN QUEENSLAND
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK:
We set-out to design a “green” building which represents a paradigm shift for Cairns,
moving away from the conventional building vernaculars toward new and
progressive solutions that can be applied anywhere on a tropical latitude. There
was a collective desire to attract both national and international attention,
which would also aid in creating new opportunities and connections to existing
facilities, communities and groups.
PUBLIC AND CULTURAL BENEFITS:
A new, iconic gateway into the botanic gardens and tanks
arts centre precinct – “a democratic public space under-cover” – a challenging
new architecture for the tropics which will act as an attractor to assist
Cairns in its mission to be seen as a progressive city nationally and globally
significant.
RELATIONSHIP OF BUILT FORM TO CONTEXT:
Council called for the building to be long, low and
blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment (ideally invisible). We
proposed a design which literally reflects the gardens as camouflage for the
building with visual effect similar to the suit as worn by the alien hunter in
the original 1987 Predator film. We sited the new building to straddle and
activate the pedestrian promenade linking the gardens with the Arts Centre,
acting as an open and flexible conduit into the interpretive and performative
spaces.
PROGRAM RESOLUTION:
The functional brief was very tight for the allotted site
and constrained by existing paths, roads, easements, mature trees and a
gradient that made the delivery of universal access particularly challenging.
The northern block contains the café terrace and opens to
the major interpretation display and information space.
The southern block is an office building for council staff
with a naturally ventilated corridor serving a linear sequence of cellular
office spaces that all open out to the shared staff terrace on the south. This
thin plan configuration encourages maximum use of passive cross-ventilation,
augmented by efficient ceiling fans. Individual AC control when combined with
an insulated internal thermal mass helps to minimise annual energy use through
a mixed mode operation.
INTEGRATION OF ALLIED DISCIPLINES:
The project team had a collective desire to develop a
world-class ESD, flexible office and mixed use public facility which wasn’t
reliant on complex technological solutions or costly maintenance. We
collaborated closely with council’s public artist to incorporate art glass
within the glazed promenade facades.
COST/VALUE OUTCOME:
The client engaged in the choice of costed design
strategies for the planning and form. There were significant mutual benefits
such as the non-briefed inclusion of the informal amphitheatre as an
alternative to excessively high retaining systems. The project was delivered
under budget.
SUSTAINABILITY:
ESD initiatives include solar panels for feedback into the
energy grid, stormwater harvesting tanks, mixed mode air-conditioning systems,
low energy light fittings throughout, low water usage fittings, long life cycle
efficiency materials and construction, solar treatment to all windows,
naturally ventilated circulation corridors and shaded exposed thermal mass
internally.
RESPONSE TO CLIENT AND USER NEEDS:
Cairns Regional Council sought fresh and challenging ideas
to create a memorable piece of tropical architecture, which has unquestionably
been achieved. The Visitors Centre has already become a new landmark for the
city.
AWARDED
BUILDING OF THE YEAR AND A PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE AWARD AT THE 2012 AUSTRALIAN
INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (AIA) AWARDS IN QUEENSLAND
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK:
We set-out to design a “green” building which represents a paradigm shift for Cairns,
moving away from the conventional building vernaculars toward new and
progressive solutions that can be applied anywhere on a tropical latitude. There
was a collective desire to attract both national and international attention,
which would also aid in creating new opportunities and connections to existing
facilities, communities and groups.
PUBLIC AND CULTURAL BENEFITS:
A new, iconic gateway into the botanic gardens and tanks
arts centre precinct – “a democratic public space under-cover” – a challenging
new architecture for the tropics which will act as an attractor to assist
Cairns in its mission to be seen as a progressive city nationally and globally
significant.
RELATIONSHIP OF BUILT FORM TO CONTEXT:
Council called for the building to be long, low and
blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment (ideally invisible). We
proposed a design which literally reflects the gardens as camouflage for the
building with visual effect similar to the suit as worn by the alien hunter in
the original 1987 Predator film. We sited the new building to straddle and
activate the pedestrian promenade linking the gardens with the Arts Centre,
acting as an open and flexible conduit into the interpretive and performative
spaces.
PROGRAM RESOLUTION:
The functional brief was very tight for the allotted site
and constrained by existing paths, roads, easements, mature trees and a
gradient that made the delivery of universal access particularly challenging.
The northern block contains the café terrace and opens to
the major interpretation display and information space.
The southern block is an office building for council staff
with a naturally ventilated corridor serving a linear sequence of cellular
office spaces that all open out to the shared staff terrace on the south. This
thin plan configuration encourages maximum use of passive cross-ventilation,
augmented by efficient ceiling fans. Individual AC control when combined with
an insulated internal thermal mass helps to minimise annual energy use through
a mixed mode operation.
INTEGRATION OF ALLIED DISCIPLINES:
The project team had a collective desire to develop a
world-class ESD, flexible office and mixed use public facility which wasn’t
reliant on complex technological solutions or costly maintenance. We
collaborated closely with council’s public artist to incorporate art glass
within the glazed promenade facades.
COST/VALUE OUTCOME:
The client engaged in the choice of costed design
strategies for the planning and form. There were significant mutual benefits
such as the non-briefed inclusion of the informal amphitheatre as an
alternative to excessively high retaining systems. The project was delivered
under budget.
SUSTAINABILITY:
ESD initiatives include solar panels for feedback into the
energy grid, stormwater harvesting tanks, mixed mode air-conditioning systems,
low energy light fittings throughout, low water usage fittings, long life cycle
efficiency materials and construction, solar treatment to all windows,
naturally ventilated circulation corridors and shaded exposed thermal mass
internally.
RESPONSE TO CLIENT AND USER NEEDS:
Cairns Regional Council sought fresh and challenging ideas
to create a memorable piece of tropical architecture, which has unquestionably
been achieved. The Visitors Centre has already become a new landmark for the
city.
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