Location \ Springvale Victoria
Client \ City of Greater Dandenong
Budget \ $12M landscape
Duration \ 2016 – 2021

RWA collaborated with Lyons Architects on the Springvale Community Precinct which will become the primary community hub of the Springvale Activity Centre – a vibrant and multicultural civic, retail and commercial focus of Melbourne’s South East which is being developed as part of the 20 year program of renewal and revitalisation.

To view a 360 tour of the original competition design please click here

The 4 hectare site, located on Springvale Road, will accommodate the important civic infrastructure for a new Library and Community Centre, the repurposing of the old Springvale City Hall building as an event and community venue along with new public gardens, play areas and outdoor performance spaces. Located in close proximity to key civic landmarks and public transport, the Community Precinct will continue to be an important public asset and focal open space providing a multitude of recreational amenities which will attract residents from both the local neighbourhood as well as the wider region.

By wrapping the new community centre around a significant strand of remnant river red gums, the importance of the land and the protection of the Australian landscape is a central motif. A diversity and abundance of cultural references in the material and planting selections are inspired by the surrounding suburban fabric and its many social and cultural groups. They become the principal drivers of the precinct design providing a welcoming and inviting fresh insight into amazing Springvale.

The project was featured in the Brickworks Built with Brickworks video series. To view the video please click here or read the full case study by Brickworks here.

Recipient of the following awards:

The William Wardell Award for Public Architecture and an award for Urban Design at the 2021 AIA Victorian Awards. The Jury says the project “embodies the spirit of public architecture” that “balances charming Australian irreverence with evident respect for the importance of representing people and place”. 2021 Good Design Awards 2021 – Gold Award for the Architectural Design – Commercial and Residential category.
High Commended Bruce MacKenzie Landscape Award at the Think Brick Australia Awards 2021.

Landscape architecture renders above by Scenery. Images above by John Gollings