The Lake Neighbourhood Centre, The Ponds

The Neighbourhood Centre consists of a single storey building and car park located at the beginning of a new 2,000sqm landscaped park with a children’s playground, informal performance space and shelters which are an integral part of the development. The community centre facility consists of  activity spaces, meeting areas and secure play areas. The centre acts as a venue for the local community and is accessible from the adjacent roads by public and private transport, as well as from the path and cycleways that are part of The Ponds overall landscape scheme.

BHA were the lead consultant, working closely with Blacktown City Council  who will maintain and operate the facility, Savills Project Management  and Urban Growth our client  to develop a community facility that will become a focal meeting point for residents and visitors to interact and build strong community bonds.

The final design brief, room sizes, users collaboration with the building, and the building environment have been arrived at through proactive workshops with Blacktown Council and Urban Growth.

The Centre incorporates two activity rooms, a  commercial kitchen, meeting room, outdoor secure courtyard with play area and covered verandah. The proposal also includes a spacious lobby and  gallery area which ties together these activities and links the building to the adjacent parkland.

The integration of the artwork wall is a key design feature. The project incorporates a corten steel artwork at the entry to the building that has been designed by local aboriginal artist Chris Edwards. The artwork called Bloodlines, symbolises the coming together of communities. The artwork weaves seamlessly  with the architectural form.

Site and Access

The Neighborhood Centre building and car park are situated in the east corner of the site. The site slopes gently from Camomile Street to ironbark lake.The location of the building enables  a park area to the west of the site.

The buildings overlook the ironbark lake  and the adjoining parklands. This orientation provides privacy to neighboring properties whilst expanding views and access to the parklands for the users. Its location addresses the pedestrian links between Camomile Street and The Lake path network, and gives a visual link through the lobby into the parkland beyond.

design intent

The architectural form of the building is comprised of two pavilions  over a single level which are simple yet elegant, juxtaposed with a playful curved wall which showcases the indigenous  artwork at the building entry.

The building sits elevated above the public pathway, providing a unique view of the parkland in which it is nestled and ironbark lake to which it is orientated.  The facility’s contemporary design embraces ideas of openness and transparency ensuring optimal natural daylight is captured within.

The internal spaces, which open onto the buildings verandah encourages the connection of internal and external. The building is anchored by the timber sculptural central spine that is used to transverse the building allowing for the parkland and built form to fuse seamlessly and strengthened by its limited material Palette of steel, timber and glass used honestly to  demonstrate their inherent  texture and colour.