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It’s a very pivotal site in a master planning,
central town sense.
It’s an exciting site. We studied the whole linear strip
and were very keen to engage in a crucifix plan, along
the main rail line and retail strip. We wanted the building
to be engaging across 360 degrees. There’s no real
front and back. You can view and enjoy the building
from many angles.
Moe is an unexpected location to find remarkable
architecture.
It’s a bold move. The town and community was a little
down and lost. We felt this was an opportunity to really
do something quite strong and for the people to feel
very proud of this new building. And people do.
We read about the local community bringing visitors
from neighbouring areas in to stay, to see this building.
We felt that it was needed and it is very bold and iconic.
Architecturally it’s hopefully the start of a whole new
renaissance of contemporary buildings in the town itself.
These types of buildings can be viewed by the
community as a great showcase for the architect with
their big presence and yet disconnect entirely at
pavement level.
Moe sits within the Latrobe Valley and a lot of people
forget that it is literally a valley. This building does two
things; at a lower level it gently does represent the
movement of a river. It’s a very subtle, low form, the
single lower level stretches out to maximise viewing into
and out of the spaces. The upper level reading rooms
are on axis with Mount Baw Baw so you can be in those
spaces and see the mountains.
One of two cantilevered north-facing
reading rooms that combine Viridian
EnergyTech™ with broad external louvres,
mediate strong summer sun yet admit
lower level winter light.