Fitzgibbon is a suburb of Brisbane. Before the community centre was built, the site resembled a refuse tip, so that a careful design of the external areas formed an important part of the new project, helping to link it with the adjoining bushland. To retain the existing stock of trees, the single-storey structure was set back diagonally from the road. The two community halls afford views of the landscape through the glazed rear facades, which can be fully opened. These multipurpose spaces, laid out as a pair, can be combined to serve a wide range of functions. In the other wing are rooms that can be rented out or used for ancillary purposes. The various functions are linked by a covered open space in the middle, from where paths lead out to the bush. Here, too, the architects have planned a cafe.
The restrained design of the community centre is distinguished from the surrounding developments by its use of materials, such as the preoxidized steel outer skin. An arcade along the street face is screened off by projecting louvres, while the facade behind is finished with dark-stained plywood elements. Windows with horizontal glass louvres facilitate natural ventilation, and the broad roof projections ensure adequate daylighting, at the same time preventing overheating. The closed rear facade to the ancillary spaces adopts the ventilating louvre concept with vertical projecting fins in the Corten steel skin.
The restrained design of the community centre is distinguished from the surrounding developments by its use of materials, such as the preoxidized steel outer skin. An arcade along the street face is screened off by projecting louvres, while the facade behind is finished with dark-stained plywood elements. Windows with horizontal glass louvres facilitate natural ventilation, and the broad roof projections ensure adequate daylighting, at the same time preventing overheating. The closed rear facade to the ancillary spaces adopts the ventilating louvre concept with vertical projecting fins in the Corten steel skin.