Planning the Broken Hill Library and Community Hub
Client: Broken Hill City Council
Collaborators: Neeson Murcutt + Neille Architects
Location: Broken Hill, NSW
Year: 2018-2019
Cultural needs in a rural setting
Brief
One of Australia’s most isolated regional centres, Broken Hill has a rich and proud history as the country’s longest-lived mining city. It is a known tourist destination for its heritage attractions and houses a strong creative community of artists and filmmakers. Broken Hill City Council put out an open tender for suitable architect-led teams to help them understand their cultural needs and plan a new and improved library and community centre on Argent Street.
Approach
Left Bank Co. joined the winning multidisciplinary team led by Neeson Murcutt + Neille Architects , and was tasked with leading the community and stakeholder consultation to define the cultural priorities and how this new proposed facility could respond to them. Following a program of engagement and collaborative planning with the wider project team, the results of this work played a critical role in shaping the direction for this multi-purpose hub, with the outcomes presented for testing, refinement and endorsement with the community.
Impact
Endorsed by the community and Council, this direction informed the strategic vision for the Architectural and Design team to deliver upon in the next phase of work, and also shaped the narrative for a city-wide Cultural Framework.