By Jon Lowe Architect
In dire need of some love, the existing community centre at Dulwich with it’s haphazardly converted structures and utilitarian front extension (larger hall at the rear) is about to get an upgrade. The redevelopment will demolish the old sections that are in poor condition and retain and upgrade the main large hall, with a new purposed-built stage at the rear and a new glazed entry foyer addressing the street.
The low-height residential scale of the new entry foyer’s form is broken into three volumes, with wet areas in recycled-brick veneer, painted white, the new entry with a raked ceiling, recycled brick face-finish, glass facing the street, and the new storeroom in contrasting colorbond cladding. A generous entry canopy continues existing roof pitch out to face the street providing excellent sun shading to north and east and the brick wing wall shades the western sun. New brickwork uses a feature projecting pattern to soften the façade and help it feel more welcoming, and a feature blade separates the two volumes and provides opportunity for signage. The rear extension follows the existing roof line and is lined in recycled brickwork to match the adjacent walls. The existing hall will be refreshed internally - timber frames and beams painted white, existing brick walls to be repainted and straw ceiling left as a feature.
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