VISION Issue 41 | Page 9

9 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.