Enlivening the community through a central and inviting place to gather, the Ipswich Central Library and Tulmur Place is imagined as a culturally expressive and inclusive space for people to come together. Through references to the surrounding natural and built context, Buchan’s architectural and masterplanning approach draws from a rich and diverse history and layers new elements to encourage engagement.
Cited in the centre of Ipswich, the Library and Tulmur Place connect previously disparate entities, with a lushly green and enjoyable pathway promoting safe passage, as well as providing enriching public amenity intended to cater to its diverse cultural audience. Specialised lighting and a light-art façade inject and animate the space further, extending dwell time into the evening and offering activities along Nicholas Street.
Principal Gerry Holmes describes the rigorous architectural, masterplanning, interiors and brand experience approaches undertaken by the team to ensure a considered understanding of context. In responding to the unique sub-tropical climate, he says, “We were mindful of the need for ample vegetation, integrated seating, shade structures and water elements to combat the heat, the façade faces west, and there were concerns about reflections, we abated these through the façade blades and the application of specific colours and resulting dappled shade.” Gerry continues, “There was an emphasis on considering the communities needs and what would be comfortable, and to minimise the glares’ heat.”
Upon responding to the brief, Buchan considered Ipswich’s high predicted growth rate for young local families. “Part of our intention was to create an enduring and thriving civic park for the city, one that focuses on engagement and promotes a healthy community.” Associate Katrina Tolhurst says. The design and planning acts as an extension of the council’s vision and the community’s values. “The Library opens onto Tulmur Place where there are water features for interaction, places for people to sit out on the lawn and in the shade under pavilions, which integrates the culture and surrounding workforce together in the one space,” Gerry says.
The resulting forms seen in both plan and elevation follow organic shapes found in nature and mimic an encouraged cohesiveness within the space. The approach to materiality was about responding to the natural environment, encouraging a sense of movement and how that influenced the design of the library. Katrina continues, “The combination of metallic elements, with water, reflections and natural textures create a balanced and responsive environment, specific to the climatic conditions”. Gerry adds, “The library has very deep overhangs and appears like a pavilion, we tried to make the building and landscape feel like one cohesive space, where lines are blurred between the inside and out.” The void that punctuates the entry marquee acts as a visual cue for visitors to identify the entry point of the library.
With surrounding area being home to a collective of residents from 163 differing countries, Ipswich Central Library and Tulmur Place focussed on ensuring the needs of the local community were met in both functionality and design.
