Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Aboriginal Community Centre
In collaboration with Gregory Burgess Architects.
Wunggurrwil Dhurrung is a new community centre in Wyndham Vale, one of Victoria’s urban growth areas. An early stage of the development planned throughout this precinct, the Centre is uniquely responsive to the site and the community that it serves. Combining a centre operated by the Koling Wada-Ngal Committee for Indigenous people with an Integrated Family Centre and community spaces, the building is a demonstration of how community can come together and create new opportunities for all.
“Wunggurrwil Dhurrung means Strong Heart in Wathaurung. The heart of the building, the centre, is the connector, soak, gathering place, and it beats.”
This is a truly integrated centre – a landscape with a building in it, high ESD performance in every element, supporting a user experience of connection to nature, to place, and to community.
The building can be modified by users – opened or closed to the central heart or to the performance space, screens can be moved depending on wind or rain conditions, opening or closing circulation areas.
Carefully designed openings provide natural light and ventilation throughout, mechanically supported when conditions require. The building management system is responsive to both weather conditions and user changes, adapting to maintain optimum efficiency.
The building is carbon neutral, with 420m² solar PVs generating 56.5kw of renewable energy. The building achieved a Certified 5 star Greenstar As Designed (As Built certification in progress).
As well as the environment, the design supports people, by providing a workplace that enhances wellbeing. Zero VOC materials are used. The ergonomic work spaces are carefully scaled, connected to nature with expansive views of the sky, and have places to gather as well as retreat.
Visitors enjoy intuitive wayfinding, inviting spaces to pause and a calm and uplifting environment.
