The Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC) project is a keystone project representing the first major redevelopment of the Noble Park pool since it first opened 50 years ago. Noble Park, within the City of Greater Dandenong, is home to an ethnically diverse community. A key objective of the redevelopment was to provide a recreation destination where different cultures can meet to relax and socialise. The design does this through its strategically located congregational areas including a café, central foyer, and public use zones such as multi-purpose rooms that appeal to a range of user groups. The aquatic components include a new 50m heated outdoor pool, indoor program pool, splash pads, aqua play equipments and the rejuvenated Noble Park water slide.
In collaboration with a community artist, Emma Anna, a series of ideas based on the community's reflections when considering the nature of an aquatic leisure facility were pursued. The result was a unique reflection on Australian bathing culture.
A series of patterns and motifs were developed referencing wave forms and the interweaving lines of water as visual metaphors.
The eight colours carefully selected for the colour palette include a range of blues representing water and the sky, greens representing grass, and yellow representing the sun - all natural elements at play within the facility and applied across various facets and features of the building.
A graphic expression of stripes was applied to reference iconic summer beach towels and umbrellas.
Fundamentally, the use of a range of colours as a visual metaphor represented the diversity of the Noble Park community.
