2020 National Architecture Awards: The David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture

Jury citation

Sustainability, in its most broad sense, is central to the design intent for the Marrickville Library project. The building positively addresses environmental imperatives as well as community, education, heritage and cultural concerns in a most uplifting way. By incorporating an old hospital building, thereby retaining both history and embodied energy, the building embraces adaptive reuse and respects the site’s heritage.

The design uses an abundance of natural light and maintains comfortable conditions for the occupants using a mixed-mode ventilation system in which natural ventilation strategies are supplemented by heating and cooling when external temperatures are less moderate. The ease of connection between interior and exterior uses is supported by this strategy, creating seamless access to the colonnade, courtyard and play areas. The roof design makes use of the “stack effect,” where warm air rises and escapes through high, louvred roof exhausts. Sustainable timbers and recycled bricks are used throughout and a significant reduction in energy use was achieved.

The community has embraced the library as its own and visitation has vastly increased across the broad demographic.

Marrickville Library will be reviewed by Mark Raggatt in a future issue of Architecture Australia.

Project credits

Architect BVN; Project team Bill Dowzer, Alex Chaston, Andre Callanan, Andrew Buchanan, Andrew Fong, Arlyn Mangabat, Brian Clohessy, Catherine North, Chi Tang, Gero Heimann, Gianluca Gennari, Gary Cai, Carolyn Jo, Nikita Notowidigdo, Jahan Faeghi, Kerwin Datu, Kim Small, Marcus Rigon, Max Hu, Olivia Hyde, Paul Pannell, Peter Richards, Rose Emerton, Sam Williams; Builder Mirvac and CD Construction Group; Mechanical, electrical and ESD engineer Steensen Varming; Hydraulic consultant Warren Smith Partners; Quantity surveyor MBM Consultants; Landscape architect Aspect Studios; Signage and wayfinding Citizen; Acoustic, fire protection and AV/ITS consultant Arup; Heritage consultant GML Heritage; Planning JBA Planning; Access consultant Morris Goding; BCA consultant McKenzie Group; Traffic consultant PTC; Artist Micke Lindebergh

Marrickville Library is located in Marrickville, New South Wales, on the land of the Gadigal and Wangal peoples of the Eora nation.