callan park
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Callan Park is a historically and culturally significant 61 hectare site on the southern edge of Iron Cove. The overall vision is for a unified and welcoming parkland that protects its valuable heritage and respects its indigenous history.

The parklands contain significant gardens and over 130 buildings and structures ranging from exceptional to low heritage value. Each building has been assessed for future use as well as exploring the benefits gained from the removal of intrusive low value buildings.

We were engaged to contribute an amenities building to the Waterfront Green project in conjunction with landscape architects Tyrrellstudio. This first stage of works involved the sensitive transformation of a section of the parklands that directly addressed Iron Cove and the Bay Run. Two low value and intrusive buildings were removed to open sight lines to significant vistas and to increase visual connection to the waterfront, being a community priority.

Work on the site requires extensive community consultation and strict adherence to the Callan Park Act 2002 along with Heritage Council and Local Council approval. New built forms must be sited within the original footprint and envelope of a removed building. Our approach aligned with this requirement resulting in a built form that is set back from the open space of Waterfront Green and nestled alongside an existing grove of Casuarina trees. Its unobtrusive location maximizes views to the water and connects to the network of new accessible circulation paths. 

We provided the Green with a high quality building in response to the significance of the site. Parklands pavilions were a reference point however the main driver was the immediate context. The building was to be welcoming so we sought to emphasis and celebrate entry, its place on the edge of the green and its relationship to the Cove. The little forest was also important given how significant culturally and ecologically Dal’wah (the casuarina tree) is 

to Country. We learnt from Bangawarra that it has traditionally been a place of protection and sharing so we wanted to acknowledge this by a direct architectural response. A curved timber dowelled screen is at once a spatial response to the edge condition of the building to the parkland space and a considered entry to the grove behind. An arched opening addressing the grove at the rear of the building reinforces its importance.

The roof form rises at both ends and this along with the splayed masonry walls and curved screen emphasis entry. The roof is also raised along its length adjacent to the trees both in acknowledgment and to maximise visual connection to them when within the building.

We selected pale hand made masonry to reference the sites sandstone outcrops and the many existing masonry structures. The timber dowels are light weight, thermally modified plantation pine and the steel structure is painted to provide maximize protection in a recessive colour.

Our little building seeks to passively participate in the new parklands. It is open, accessible, transparent, respectful of its place in this significant location.

project team / andrew stanic, jade grayson, sven bjekrhamn, rasmus lund
builder / eastside construction group
structural engineer / partridge
landscape / tyrrell studio
hydraulic engineer / inline hydraulic services
electrical and lighting consultant / lighting, art and science
photographer / simon wood