Considering Materiality as Identity for a New Community

Connection to the past is a cornerstone of creating a sense of identity. Understanding of your environmental context strengthens an emerging sense of place. For the growing community of Spring Farm, the materiality of the new community centre is a space to develop both their collective sense of identity and place.

As a newly developed region the landscape and ecology of the area is tied up with its history. The NBRS Community team designed the new facility with a suite of materials that connect directly to the environmental context of the site.

Timber

Both bush corridors and the landscape inform the use of timber throughout SFCC. Using both recycled hardwood and lightweight timber cladding the entire building is embedded with an organic language. The hardwood is applied on the pedestrian level to evoke a natural tactility and texture. In contrast the lightweight timber is used as a high level for a wider visual impact from a greater distance.

Sandstone

Encircling the community centre are a series of sandstone ballast blocks. Informed by the rock formations native to New South Wales, the steppers invite play with natural elements that are connected to the building.

White

The textured white render that wraps the exterior of the building ties to the history of the area. Informed by the sand mining, a historical industry of the area.