Matraville Youth & Cultural Hall

Preserving a grove of native trees inspired the layout of a local hall.

A grove of mature native trees determined the plan of a new community hall for Randwick Council in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The inverted L-shaped layout allowed the trees to be retained, with a much-loved blackbutt tree informing the geometry of the entry sequence.

 

 

The entry is signposted with a playful skylight shaft of fibreglass, a beacon that lights the space and emits a soft glow at night.

A wide stair and accessible pathway with shaded veranda welcome visitors into a vestibule space which features a mural by Indigenous artists Re-right Collective and local school kids. This entry lobby and a toilet corridor airlock are separated from the main hall, whilst storage is accessed directly from the main space.

The expression of the building is one of a tough, yet playful exterior, with a warm and welcoming interior. Materials have been selected to be robust, tactile, and sustainable. The exterior is painted brick in colours expressive of the local coastal environment, with corrugated zincalume steel and polycarbonate. The primary structure and internal lining are made from glue-laminated plantation hardwood timbers and the floor of Australian hardwood.

A stack effect with a high opening to the north and lower opening to the south increases natural ventilation and lighting. Large operable wall panels allow summer breezes to naturally cool the building. The southern wall is made of a translucent polycarbonate insulated wall system that allows natural light and insulation. Ceiling fans provide cooling, and in winter recirculate warm air generated by a reticulated underfloor heating system.

The nearby reserve site is activated with landscaping. Other environmentally sustainable features include solar panels, heat pump, rainwater re-use, EV chargers and dedicated EV parking spaces.

Matraville Youth & Cultural Hall Gallery

Plans

Project info	Details
Team	Sam Crawford, Benjamin Chan, Ken Warr, Sofia Nay
Builder	Gartner Rose
Consultants	Structural & Services Engineers – Stantec Arborist – Tree IQ Landscape Architect – Place Design Group Access Consultant – Funktion BCA Consultant – Anthony Protas Town Planning – A Square Planning Waste Management Consultant – Dickens Solutions Water Services Consultant – K.R. Stubbs & Associates Acoustic Engineer – Day Design Traffic Engineer – TTPP Section J Consultant – Partners Energy QS – Wilde & Woollard PCA – CityPlan Lobby Mural Artist – Re-Right Collective
Client	Randwick City Council
Photographer	Brett Boardman
Awards	2025 Australian Good Design Award – Winner, Architectural Design Better Future Sydney Design Awards – Public & Institutional – Gold 2025 Sustainable Building Awards – Public Buildings – Shortlist 2025 AIA NSW Awards – Sustainable Architecture – Shortlist 2025 Randwick City Council Architecture and Urban Design Awards Best Urban Project – Commendation 2025 Randwick City Council Architecture and Urban Design Awards Best Sustainable Design – Winner 2024 Timber Design Awards – Finalist – Public Building
Published	Detail ArchDaily Australian Design Review InDesignLive Green Magazine Architecture & Design (Australia)
Completion	2024

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