23
This new pavilion as administration
and function facility, resides quietly on
the ground’s northern edge with a vista
of oval, sky and historic grandstand
made possible with Viridian glazing
as peerless window to the action.
Suburban sports facilities are enjoying
a revolution and it isn’t of the cycling
variety. Spurred on by the quality
of major stadia rising in many major
cities and regional centres,
the downstream effect is one
of heightened expectations.
O
ne example is at inner-city Port Melbourne by the
sea, where the Australian Rules VFL oval is among
the beneficiaries. And it’s a major turnaround from the old
hose-out shed to real style and quality.
Much of the credit at Port Melbourne can go to K20
Architects whose low-rise timber and glass beauty is an
aerodynamic model of sleek, economic efficiency. Many
councils shy away from such results in the misguided
belief that decent design will be seen as budgetary excess.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Such design for a sports/administration facility
and community, social, cultural hub straddles a chasm.
And it provides the stage for a high-performance resource
costing no more than a bland, poorly functioning box.
PROJECT
Port Melbourne Football Pavilion,
Victoria
ARCHITECT
K20 Architects
PRINCIPAL GLAZING
Viridian ThemoTech™ incorporating
ComfortPlus™ Clear
TEXT, IMAGES & FILM
Peter & Jenny Hyatt