Korumburra Community Hub

A new community heart

The conceptual design for Korumburra Community Hub is based on establishing a new community heart for the fastgrowing regional township and surrounds. The core idea: to create a welcoming and accessible multiple-purpose facility for the changing demographic of the region with many new young families moving into the historic township on the outskirts of Melbourne, as well as ensuring the project catered for the older residents from the surrounding traditional farming communities.

Linked to the heritage streetscape

Great care was taken to create a new series of public spaces that link into the heritage streetscape located on the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges. Multiple studies were taken to provide a new landscape and building that was fully DDA accessible on a challenging steep site. Clever use of materials and external seating areas provide a high level of amenity within a tight site. A key feature of the design philosophy was to maintain existing mature trees on the site while optimising views both into and out of the building.

A sustainable agenda

The Community Hub was designed to meet a highly sustainable agenda which drove all key design decisions. Siting of the built form to optimise access to light, and views and maintaining existing trees on site has contributed to meeting the environmental performance criteria. Solar Panels, water-sensitive urban design, rainwater tanks, locally sourced materials where possible and cross-ventilation feature in the facility. The Korumburra Community Hub has brought together multiple user groups all with diverse demographics including the Library, Local Heritage Committee, Mipara House Community and Social Services as well as the Council Service Centre. It’s a much-loved community facility revitalising the centre of the township.

Shaped around trees and views

The built form has been sculpted around both trees and views as well as responding to the passive design principles. Scale and materials enable the building to sit comfortably in its environment and surrounds. The complexity of the brief to cater for multiple users and concurrent functions on a site with a very steep topography required an innovative approach. A multi-discipline team added great value to the project including 3 Acres Landscape Architects, Hive Structural Engineers and service consultants. The team also worked closely with the multiple stakeholders and client team from the South Gippsland Shire. The project was delivered on budget and program.

Read more in Insights: Korumburra Community Hub.