Type Office Architectural style Contemporary architecture | Phone +61 3 8792 8999 | |
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Location 53 Webb Street, Narre Warren, Victoria, Australia Address 51 Princes Hwy, Dandenong VIC 7014, Australia Hours Closed today SundayClosedMonday9AM–5PMTuesday9AM–5PMWednesday9AM–5PMThursday9AM–5PMFriday9AM–5PMSaturdayClosedSuggest an edit Profiles | ||
UnitingCare Connections is a contemporary office building, located at 53 Webb Street, Narre Warren, which is within close proximity to Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, and the town centre on the Narre Warren railway station. The property occupies 3 parcels of land with a combined area of 5267m², and was previously the Narre Warren Primary School, circa 1950. The building, designed by Harmer Architecture, had commenced construction in 2006 and was completed in March 2007. The building was designed for Connections, an agency of UnitingCare that is involved in social welfare programmes, which primarily focus on youth services in Narre Warren.
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Description
The UnitingCare Connections building designed by Harmer Architecture can be recognised by a noticeable use of white brick for construction of the perimeter walls and yellow brick for the front section of the building. Other parts of the building were constructed with the use of aluminum sheeting or galvanized iron cladding such as alucobond for the façade. The awnings located on the back are constructed with modulated perforated metal external sun screens. The use of skillion roof for the front portion of the building is apparent on the overall form of the building. The work spaces of the building are organized towards the back of the building with the separation of four different sized rooms to accommodate for the size of the work teams and assembly. These open work spaces are naturally ventilated and also receive North light and look out onto a view of the landscape. The faceted North wall takes advantage of the site slope so that the interior does not appear confined but rather relates more closely to the landscape setting in which it is placed.
The current Connections facilities at Narre Warren is located in a collection of pre-existing school buildings scattered throughout the site. The size of the main weatherboard building is 450m² and it has a staggered building footprint. This Connections facilities building is newly constructed and sits amongst a portable classroom, a galvanised iron clad shed and a galvanised iron clad garage on the site.
Design Approach
Prior to construction, the Narre Warren office lacked a strong street presence, with carparking dominating the Webb Street frontage. The addition of a new Administration Building provided an opportunity to strengthen the community link already established by the work of Connections in the area. The aim was to provide an efficient, inspiring and safe workplace and a welcoming and accessible facility for visitors to the site. The following is a list of design aims that were considered: