Peter Bennetts Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Australian Institute of Architects

Dwaarlindjirraap Suspension Bridge | iredale pedersen hook architects and ARUP

The 105m long Dwaarlindjirraap suspension bridge crosses the Murray River close to the Baden Powell campground and forms the central element of the Dwellingup Adventure Trails experience (Dwellingup & TrailsWA Projects), a 30km+ dedicated single track mountain bike trail and upgrade of 8km of the existing Munda Biddi Trail.

The bridge is located in a natural setting within a National Park, the Murray River has significant cultural heritage value. The trails project anchors the ongoing development of Dwellingup as a major tourism centre for the region.

The bridge enables a new experience of the Murray River, an opportunity to engage with the river and the dynamic environment. Movement and exposure to the elements are carefully considered and balanced with requirements for safety and significant visitor numbers with differing accessibility needs.

Bob Hawke College Stage 2 | Hassell

Stage Two of Bob Hawke College is a singular, four-storey campus building presenting a new northern façade facing onto community green space. A fluted, precast concrete Theatre is embedded into the heart of the building, anchoring the park facing corner of the site amongst mature heritage trees. The integration with existing parklands emphasises the sense of an urban multistorey school in a garden setting. An internally expressed ‘mega truss’ system above the Theatre supports a planted roof terrace breakout space for students looking onto community green space.

Co-located curriculum areas such as performance, visual art, media, music and general learning are directly linked with informal, independent learning breakout spaces. Visual arts ‘super studios’ have a north facing work terrace adjoining the community Greenlink.

Landscaped courtyards range across different locations and levels. The vertically dispersed landscape strategy links with surrounding community parklands and has resulted in significant net addition of precinct greenery.

Aire Apartments | Rothelowman

Aire is a premium multi residential building in The Orchards in Norwest, Sydney. Sekisui House’s master planned community is sustainable and sociable; residents have connections to nature; architecture has presence and permanence; and dwellings are designed for long-term living. Rothelowman enshrined these values in the architecture, interiors and landscape of Aire, holistically entwining the built form and functional performance.

Aire’s organic form and precast concrete palette are drawn from a river pebble. The dual form and rounded corners respond to the site and increase solar access, privacy and views. The 57 dwellings are individually tuned for light, ventilation and outlook, and the range from one to four bedrooms creates a mix of households in one building. The communal lounge and rooftop pool provide social amenities for all residents in The Orchards. Aire’s elegant form and façade also reinterpret Sydney’s Art Deco apartments, instilling a sense of place and perpetuity in the new growth area.

54 Wellington | Wardle

Two contemporary commercial buildings are set within a collection of existing functioning telephone exchange in Collingwood. The buildings create an exemplary workplace for sustainability, health and wellbeing while respecting heritage and encouraging commerce.

A lower scale companion building defines a new laneway through the site. The taller main building is set back from Wellington Street, attracting activity and creating an intimate location for tenants and community.

The companion building is a solid campanile form with a bronze patina. A private roof garden is a verdant, green contrast to the urban setting. To the south a sawtooth roof form, is turned on its end to create a fourstorey glazed façade that draws in diffuse southern daylight.

The main office building incorporates an ordered pattern language that recalls the façade explorations of early Melbourne modernism. An emphasis on the vertical creates an unusual façade grid with sun shading fins providing additional texture.