Mt Roskill Library & Fickling Conv. Centre Three Kings Reserve
CONTEXT & DESIGN
As an asset of Auckland Council, the Fickling Convention
Centre and Mount Roskill Community Library offer fundamental
services to the surrounding community. This much needed
redevelopment provided the opportunity to not only improve the
facilities and rectify existing problems with planning, security
and identification but also create a strengthened legacy for the
present and future community.
The lower level Fickling Convention Centre accommodates
rooms for hire of varying sizes, and the upper level houses the
Mount Roskill Library (second busiest in Auckland), and
incorporates the Citizens Advice Bureau.
The design objective for this project challenged us to deliver a
contemporary, innovative facility that is vibrant and engaging,
ensuring greater flexibility of use.
With renewal and refurbishment of community facilities it
is important to achieve a sense of public ownership, providing
spaces that people enjoy and occupy as their own - in this case,
move them from the prosaic to the delightful.
Sustainable methods were applied; not only in the material
sense, but in taking disused or underutilised spaces and embedding
them with new purpose and functionality - the old stairwell was
extruded to become two new Community tenancy rooms for smaller
public meeting groups. The Library staff area relocated into a
disused tenancy space releasing an extra
120m2 into the library for
greater public use. Vertical screening to the western façade
mitigates summer afternoon heat gain.
The Library entrance features the insertion of the 'Light
tower,' creating a sense of lightness and volume, with better
circulation and enhanced security. Reused 'front of house' desking
was reconfigured in a new location essentially "greeting" users as
they come into the library. A mature Camphor Laurel
removed to provide a stronger entry axis to the Library, machined
and designed into a laminated display case at Library entry, still
engaging users with the scent of camphor.
Design elements and colours incorporated into the renewed
facility reference the local context; acknowledging people, history
and landscape - new slot windows colour reference the volcanic past
and Manukau bush fringe of the area. Entrances to both facilities
were realigned to provide enhanced flow and more direct access;
they use a uniform language of Cedar entrance posts referencing the
historic double palisade defense systems of Puketapapa.
Connections to the surrounding landscape were improved, with the
lower level boasting new outdoor spaces for users of both
facilities to enjoy.
NEW ZEALAND PROPERTY COUNCIL, RIDER LEVETT BUCKNALL
MERIT AWARD - SPECIAL PURPOSE CATEGORY 2012