a community in western sydney sees the completion of the sculptural ?woodcroft neighbourhood centre,? a building characterized by an undulating serpentine roof suspended over a glowing, translucent volume. designed by carter williamson architects, the project replaces the original center which had been destroyed by fire in january 2015 by three local youths. the new robust, fire-proof building now stands to connect and engage the socially and culturally diverse community while signaling a transformation of the area through design excellence. the team initially approached the project with consideration for the entire site, orienting the building toward the adjacent lake as well as the woodcroft green ? a festival venue. this orientation allows the center to engage with both landscapes, which are deeply valued by the community.
images by brett boardman, ben guthrie, alex niass
 
 
designed by carter williamson architects, the structure of the woodcroft neighbourhood centre is expressed in brick, concrete, timber and steel ? fabricated to be warm, textural and robust. inside, the center performs at a range of scales to accomodate its diverse programming. three core sections are gathered under the distinctive serpentine roof, whose rise and fall reflects the different volumes of interior space. the roofline can be read on many levels ? from a continuous, enveloping surface, or as an architectural gesture. its form is drawn from the internal program of rooms and spaces, the...