Barry Curtis Regional Park

Part 1 – Precast concrete stair tower block: This Amenity building signals an entry point and corner marker assisting with orientation within Barry Curtis Park. The stair tower successfully achieves this, acting as a spatial reference within the vast landscape of the Park. The strong vertical element creates a powerful visual connection, clear building entry point and is in dialogue with the existing building located at Stancombe Road.

Part 2 – Amenities/viewing platform block: An extrovert, this smaller block's character is defined by distinctively bold colourful steel cladding. Appealing to a younger audience this ensures the building embraces a playful and youthful character. The viewing platform provides an elevated vantage point for viewing the skate park and surrounds.

Part 3 – Multi-use meeting room block: An enclosed more introverted block, the multi-use meeting space is clearly contrasted with the vibrant amenities form. Constructed of concrete block, the modular surface is animated by sliding shutters to create three operable façades. This allows mediation between the requirements of security, privacy, ventilation, lighting and acoustic issues. At night, to ensure security and to vandal proof the glazing, the large steel shutters can ensure the box is completely closed.

Part 4 – Canopy: Providing an element of shelter the canopy corresponds to the Stancombe Road building. A strong horizontal element it also defines another intermediate outdoor space. The use of timber is a reference to the park settings.

'Dressed' or 'veiled' in an additional layer the amenities/viewing platform block is clad with a wall of spaced vertical steel flat bars coated in a vibrant, frivolous and youthful colour scheme. These wrap around the entire form, extending vertically to become a partially transparent viewing platform balustrade.

With true exhibitionist qualities this bold steel form will appeal to the younger generation and skater attitudes while also more functionally allowing for effective vandal proofing and security due to its hard wearing qualities. Creating breakpoints in the bars to ensure they are less dense at windows and openings will allow for ventilation, light and views where required. Using colour as a bold statement ensures the building will be visible from the street and fast moving traffic. It also ensures the building holds a public character. The CMYK colour wheel forms the basis of the colour scheme, made up of the three pure colours, secondary and tertiary colours, as it makes its way around the building façades.

Architectural specifier: The Architecture Office
Building Contractor: Watts and Hughes Construction Ltd
Painting Contractor: Contract Coatings
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2011

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