Nestled in the leafy eastern suburb of Ivanhoe, The Centre is an iconic art deco landmark that provides a versatile civic space for members of the community to hold functions, events and gatherings.
The architectural cues and grandeur of The Centre date back to its conception in 1937, as the Heidelberg Town Hall. In 2017, the City of Banyule embarked on a $23m redevelopment of the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub, with plans to construct a new state-of-the-art community facility which would be positioned next to The Centre. The redevelopment would revitalise the suburb of Ivanhoe and reinforce its importance as a thriving centre for the local community.
It was essential from the outset that the redevelopment project would provide modern, cutting edge facilities, while retaining and paying special consideration to the heritage-protected Town Hall building erected in the 1930s. Landscape consultants ACLA were contracted to design the external surroundings of the Library and Cultural Hub, with construction works projected to complete by late 2020.
The scope of works included a subtle but effective upgrade to the entry plaza in front of The Centre. Paving upgrades and a new suite of modular concrete furniture were added to the site, bringing increased street presence to the building by creating a visual focus point. The curved, organic seating forms are at once aesthetically pleasing and efficiently functional, allowing visitors or passers-by to interact, even if for a short time, with the footprint of the building.