As a simple gathering place for a small, disparate rural community, economy was the focus for most design decisions. We needed a simple building of ‘maximum value for minimum cost‘, to achieve its low $1,962 per square metre construction rate, which had a lightness and a clear legibility of structure. Flexibility was the overriding principle to address the different needs of the 14 user groups.
A rudimentary character, feel and ‘raw’ aesthetic talked to the values of the rural community and place. Relaxed and comfortable for public meetings, the hall enables the local community to advance its artistic and cultural endeavours in a non-institutional environment. Additional to the ‘normal’ community hall offering, the beyond the brief veranda adds to the relaxed and non-hierarchical atmosphere with a sense of ‘domestic’ outdoor space with public scale.
The veranda and grassed outdoor room as a ‘stage’ set, enable performance, screened seating nooks allow for smaller groups and intimate meetings, whilst large indoor meetings and events can happen from the hall interior. Engaging local context celebrates the agricultural ‘shed’ and rural Queensland vernacular with the language of the exposed timber framing, corrugated iron and and simple form of the polycarbonate lightbox shaded with a generous brimmed hat skillion.
Prone to flooding in most sustained rain events, the raised platform, ramp and stepped veranda deals with drainage and flooding on the site, which provides an elevated prospect across the sports oval for view and breeze. Whilst not a complex building with a complicated program, the hall fundamentally needed to provide a variety of spaces or settings for large or small gatherings, facilities for providing refreshments, storage and amenities.
Using affordable engineering driven structure and typical timber framing techniques, the ‘structure’ is the building, its all exposed and on view for achieving maximum economy as well as a simple no nonsense, ‘raw’ aesthetic Services and storage spaces were minimised to maximise internal and external ‘open’ area, ensuring cost effectiveness, as well as the use of inexpensive materials and finishes. Using single skin twin wall polycarbonate cladding provides insulation and a complete enclosure of natural light with no need for secondary internal lining.
Low tech garage doors and gas strut hoppers promote large ventilated openings for maximum airflow and connection to landscape. Beyond the Hall’s passive design ideals for site and climate, the social sustainability is valued through fostering a comfortable community place. Made with local hardwood and plantation pine framing, by subcontractors from the Gympie area, the legibility of the exposed timber frame structure celebrates the carpenters who made the building, and the timber history of the region.
Walls generous with natural light, do not require artificial light during daylight hours, whilst ample natural ventilation ensures no airconditioning is required due to cross ventilation, fans and rotary roof ventilators. Delivering flexible, maximum internal area and external open space for all, rather than addressing desires of any individual user groups has shaped an equitable community place for the 1,920 people of Curra.
