Ravensthorpe Cultural Precinct
In 2019 ATC Studio was invited to create a concept scheme for the Ravensthorpe Shire Cultural precinct. With funding secured ATC Studio in Joint venture with Peter Hobbs Architects were successful in being awarded the design and delivery contract for the Precinct. Currently under construction tender evaluation, the Precinct is conceived as a suite of indoor and outdoor spaces that connect various existing public facilities in the centre of the town – the Town Hall, the Community centre, the playground, the Council offices, The Community Art Society, and providing new accommodation for the Community Resource Centre, a Elders centre, a Youth centre , a Playgroup facility and new council chambers and an extension to the council offices. The project is structured spatially around a series of internal and external multipurpose courtyards joined by covered verandas. The verandas perform two important functions: shelter from the elements for people when visiting the facility or moving from one area to another, and protecting the timber cladding from direct exposure to the elements. Where this is not possible, the timber cladding is made from double thickness tongue and groove boards, set vertically. The structural frame of the building comprises a series of identical engineered timber LVL [Laminated Veneer Lumber] portal frames fabricated in Perth by Timberbuilt Australia [https://timberbuilt.com.au/]. The cladding, decking, flooring Ceiling cassettes and internal panelling is Yellow Stringy Bark form WA plantations milled and cut to length before delivering to site by Ingelwood Products group at Oldbury. Yellow Stringy Bark [Eucalyptus Muelleriana] is naturally pest resistant and has a density similar to Jarrah when seasoned. The building will be sealed with natural oils when erected and then can be allowed to turn silver over time, or can be re-coated every few years with the simple application of another coat of oil if the shire decides to keep the appearance of the building as it is when completed. Construction is scheduled to start in August 2021.
This project was made possible by the Australian Governments Building Better Regions Fund (Round 4)